The Dreams We Share
Chapter 13 Two to Tango
On Wednesday, before heading to work, he received a call from Allie. She was excited to tell him that Candace and her parents were fine with Jack spending time at their house while Lucas worked. He had promised Allie he would call Elizabeth in the late afternoon. It was now 5:30 and he thought he would find her home. He had an hour before he had to leave for dinner at the Peterson's house; so, he went to the library and sat in his favorite chair and dialed.
"Hello, this is Elizabeth," he heard her say.
"Elizabeth, it's Lucas."
As if he needed to tell her; his voice was so deep and rich, something she had always loved about him. "Hi. How are you? Is everything okay?" she asked.
"I am fine; everything is okay. Really good in fact. The project I have been working on is going exceptionally well. I even have found time to attend more social functions lately. You have heard of James Peterson of course, the Minister that I am working with closely. His wife Mary has been acting as a mother hen and encouraging me to come out of my office from time to time." He was not ready to tell her that he had met someone he liked very much. Just like Arawyn, he did not want to share yet. He knew with Allie coming into town, he probably wouldn't be able to keep the "secret" much longer.
"Well, that is good to hear. All is well here. Jack misses you of course."
"Well, I am actually calling about that. Allie is coming to town in a week and will be here for several days. She will be visiting Constance Peterson."
"Yes, she told me," Elizabeth replied.
"Well, I am calling to ask you if Jack can come for a visit. He would stay with me except for when I have to be at work and then he has been invited to stay with the Petersons. Constance is Allie's age and Emelia is a couple of years older and Mary will be there too." He paused to gage her reaction. She was quiet for a minute.
"I don't know, Lucas. This would be his first time away," she told him.
"I promise you we will take very good care of him. I would never ask if I did not believe that. You know how much he means to me. And we will call you every evening before bedtime," he assured her.
"I worry about the train ride, Lucas. I know Allie is an adult now, but it is a lot of responsibility to travel alone with him."
"If that is your main objection then we can overcome it. They will be returning on a Monday, and I am travelling that day up north of Hope Valley, I can drive them home on my way. And as far as coming here, perhaps I can ask Robert to escort them here and then return to Hope Valley on the next train." Lucas paused, thinking about options. And then after some hesitation he said, "of perhaps Nathan would be willing to escort them, if Bill can cover for him."
"You want him to come badly enough that you would have Nathan bring him?" she said with some surprise.
"Yes, I hold no grudge against Nathan. He and I are past all of that. Yes, there was a twinge when I first found out that you were pursuing a relationship, but your happiness is what I always cared about most. I am at peace with everything now. We all must move on and that includes Nathan. I want Jack in my life, and I want the two of you to be supportive of that," he told her with sincerity.
"Lucas, you have always been the best man I have ever known. I mean that… without exceptions," she said. "I give my approval. I already know that he will be happy about this. I hear him nagging Allie to take him with her."
"Yes, she called me to let me know that she was accepted to the University of Alberta here in Edmonton. She was babysitting Jack and he got on the phone to ask if he could come too. I did not want to give him any commitment until Allie spoke to the Petersons and if they were amenable, then I could speak with you," Lucas told her.
"I was wondering what prompted this sudden desire to have him visit during your busiest time," she laughed.
It was good to hear her laugh, he had to admit that he had missed it. But it no longer elicited the longing that it once did. "Well, it would have been better another time when I could take some days off, but with Allie and Candace willing to watch him during the daytime, it will be fine. And we will have the weekend where I can focus my attention on him. I will take him to the lakeside beach where I found some pebbles that I collected for him. He will have a great time."
"I am sure that he will. You two were always as thick as thieves. Do you want me to speak to Robert? He does not have a phone so it might be easier if I speak with him. Allie has the dates I assume. And if that does not work out then I will ask Nathan or Bill. I am sure we can make something work. Thank you for inviting him," Elizabeth said.
"And thank you for trusting me with him. I will take good care of him and make sure he enjoys his time. One more thing I almost forgot to ask you. Mary is the head of a women's group that clothes and feeds the poor in the St. Joachim area. I have volunteered to serve dinner there before and read the children a story after they eat. I would like to take Jack with me when I go next week if that is okay with you. It is at the church, and he will be safe." Lucas told her.
"That will be fine, he is old enough now to understand that there are people not as fortunate as we are. Even in Hope Valley there are those that need a helping hand on occasion," she replied.
"Good. I must go now. I have a dinner engagement this evening."
"Goodbye, Lucas. Thanks for calling. I will let Jack know that he will be going on a grand adventure to see you."
"Goodbye, Elizabeth. Let him know that he can call me any evening before the big day."
"I will," she said and hung up the phone.
They had a date with Arawyn scheduled for Saturday, but he just could not wait that long to see her. He rang her up and asked if she was available for lunch on Thursday. She accepted as long as they could leave at 12:00 and be back for a meeting by 2:00. He met her at the entrance of the university at noon, and they walked to a nearby café where they ordered sandwiches.
They made small talk as they waited for their order to arrive. Once they had their sandwiches, Lucas turned the conversation to a more pointed discussion.
"Well, you may know that Allie will be coming to town for a few days to stay with Candace Peterson. But I wanted to tell you that Jack Jr. will be coming with her to stay with me while she is in town. When she called me last, she was babysitting Jack and he asked to speak with me. He told me he misses me and asked if he could visit me. I cannot get away from work right now, but I did not want to disappoint him either as he knows Allie is coming to town. So, Allie asked the Peterson's if she and Candace could babysit him at their house during the day until I am free in the evenings. It will be for just a couple of days during the week and then I am available on the weekend. They are happy to have him over, so I called his mother and persuaded her to let him come. They will arrive on Wednesday evening, and I will drive them home the following Monday. I have a business trip planned north of Hope Valley that week."
"Oh my, that is very sweet of you. I know how busy you are, but I can tell you are looking forward to seeing him for more than a stop through," she told him.
"Yes, I do miss him. And he is growing up so fast; soon seeing me may not be so important to him and I will have missed this opportunity. Does that make sense?" he asked her.
"Yes, it does. We must capture the important moments, when they happen" she said.
"Yes, carpe diem," he said to her eliciting a vigorous nod as a response as she had just taken a bite of her sandwich.
"I will be gone most of the week and return on Thursday evening. Then I have another set of unexpected visitors from Friday and through the weekend," he explained. "You know I told you that my parents generally stay in San Francisco for a month in the summer." She nodded. "Well, they are on their way down and asked if it was a good time to visit. They scheduled their trip so as to be here for the weekend so that I might be available. I told them to come. I have not seen them since the Christmas Holidays."
"Oh my, you are going to be very busy, but it is the good kind of busy." She smiled at him. She liked the fact that he wanted to tell her about this to let her know that he would have commitments that might interfere with their budding friendship and the time they sought with one another.
Lucas reached across the table palms up asking for her hands. She set aside her sandwich and placed her hands in his. "I want you to know because I do not want you to think that I don't want to spend time with you. Truth be told, we do not spend nearly as much time together as I would like. That is why we are here today, because I missed you and could not wait until Saturday." He held her gaze as he spoke to ensure she got the message he was trying to convey.
She nodded, still maintaining eye contact she said," I missed you too. It has been only a couple of weeks since I first saw you and already you have become an essential part of my life. I do like you very much and I want us to be the best of friends."
"Just friends?" he asked.
"Lucas, you have your fingertips on my pulse. You tell me if that is the reaction of someone who wants to be just friends." She said it without embarrassment. She was going to be completely honest with him. She had decided to seize the chance and was not going to act like a simpering female. It was not her style, nor did she have time for pretense.
"Yes, I feel your reaction to me, and I can tell you that it pleases me. When we meet and I first see you it is like I have been waiting only for that moment. You have me quite bewitched, Arawyn. I want you to know that. I think you are not unaware of my growing affection for you."
"And I return that in kind. I want to take this slowly, but not too slowly," she told him. "Slow enough to be sure that we know one another, that this is not just a fleeting fancy, not just chemistry as it were. But I do believe that we will know soon enough if we are truly compatible as more than friends. You have been open and vulnerable to me, and I am being totally candid with you."
"And that is why I want to be with you all that we can manage; so, we know. I too do not want to take it too slowly," he told her. He squeezed her hands and then released them.
They finished eating their sandwiches in silence. It would be time to return to the university shortly, but he decided on something. "Arawyn, it might be too early in our relationship to ask you to meet my parents. But I seldom get to see them so it might not be until the holidays before I see them again. I would like them to meet you while they are in town. Perhaps I can host a dinner party at my house and invite the Peterson's and your aunt and uncle so that you don't feel as pressured. I can introduce you as Daniel's niece and a good friend. Both are true."
"They will be here in two weeks? I would be delighted to come to a dinner party. Let's leave the details of how we will proceed with introductions until the time is closer. Is that all right?" she asked him.
"Perfect, I will speak with Gustave and Marcus, and we will send invitations for Saturday two weeks from today. He looked at his watch, "I suppose it is time to get you back to work." He rose and pulled out her chair for her; and they left for the brisk walk back to the campus.
"Would you like to meet Jack Jr.? I asked if it was okay to bring him to the church. Perhaps next Thursday, if you are volunteering, we could come, and I will help serve again and I can do story time with the children too. Jack will love it; he has always been my best audience."
"Sure, I would love to meet him. And we can always use help. I am serving on Thursday, so it is a date," she said.
He smiled at her letting her know that he was happy that she wanted to be in his life. He walked her to the entrance of the university. "Thank you for joining me for lunch," he said.
"And thank you for asking me. I look forward to our date on Saturday. I will be at the church much of the day, but I have someone who will fill in for me at the dinner service," she told him.
"I am sorry, I forgot that you are busy on Saturdays," he told her.
"No need to apologize, it was no problem to have my friend fill in; I do the same for her on occasion. I must go as I need to grab my notebook from my office before, I head to my meeting."
She seemed reluctant to go, but he did not want to make her late. He wanted her to trust him not to interfere with her work. He took her hand and brought it up to his lips and placed a soft kiss on it. This time it was not in fun like he had done at her door the other night. This time he meant for her to feel it; to let the shiver run up her arm as she felt the warmth of his lips against her skin. For her to feel that lingering sensation as she remembered him the rest of the day.
"Au revoir, Arawyn. I will see you on Saturday." He released her hand and turned to leave. She watched him until he was back at the entrance when he turned and gave her a wave before slipping through the door. She took her left hand and rubbed her right arm that was still tingling from his kiss; she could feel the spot where his lips had touched.
On Saturday, Lucas arrived to pick up Arawyn just at the stroke of 7:00; he rang the bell. He was greeted by the housekeeper who let him into the foyer. Despite Arawyn's desire to keep quiet about their relationship, he could not see her leaving the house on a Saturday night all dressed up without her escort coming to the door.
"Lucas, I would say it is a surprise to see you, but it isn't. We are expecting you. Arawyn tells us that she has been invited to dinner," James had been informed by the housekeeper that he was waiting in the foyer.
"Yes, she accepted my invitation. I hope that you and Mary have no objections. Perhaps I should have asked you first," Lucas said.
"Mary is thrilled, and I go along with whatever my wife tells me in these matters. But no, no objections whatsoever. She is a grown woman and quite capable of making her own decisions."
"Well, I am glad to hear that. We are just getting to know one another at this point. We did not want to get anyone jumping too far ahead…. You understand?"
"Absolutely, Mary can barely contain herself. Arawyn said she would not bring you here if she could not control her enthusiasm," James laughed. "So, she is on strict orders. I am not sure how long it will last, so be patient with her."
Just then, Mary joined them. She had been upstairs with Arawyn. "Lucas, it is nice to see you." He kissed her on both cheeks in French fashion. "Arawyn will be right down; she sends her apologies for not being quite ready."
Just as he was about to answer her, Arawyn appeared at the top of the stairwell and descended to join them. It wondered how long it might take him to get past the point where he had to clench his jaw in place in order not to let it fall open. She wore a pale-yellow gown of wispy fabric that fell to mid-calf. She had left her hair down except pulled up at the sides into gold combs. The fiery tresses had been brushed into soft waves. She simply took his breath away.
"I am sorry Lucas for being a few minutes late. Aunt Mary is not doing so well at her promise to keep from meddling. She felt I was not dressed up enough and insisted I change."
"Mary, what did we talk about?" said James.
Mary looked at them all sheepishly, but Lucas stepped in to save her. "Arawyn, I am sure what you were wearing was perfectly adequate, but this was definitely worth the wait. You look lovely," he told her with an appreciative smile. Do you have a wrap? It will be nippy outside."
Mary had fetched her evening wrap from the closet in the entry. She handed it to Lucas who held it up for her as she slipped it on over her shoulders. His touch was light and brief as he did not want to appear forward, especially in front of her aunt and uncle. He held out his arm for her," shall we?" he asked; and she linked her arm into his.
Lucas turned and wished the couple a good night. "We will be dining and then dancing; I expect to have her home before midnight."
"Have a good time," said Mary as they left the house.
"We will try our best, Auntie," Arawyn said as they descended.
They were dining tonight at one of the nicer hotels that also boasted a large ballroom. Friday through Sunday night they featured live music. On those days they offered three set menus; Lucas left it to the lady's choice as he was content with any one of their menus. She opted for the menu featuring grilled lamb chops. It came with a cold cucumber soup for a starter, he had had it once and it was delicious. They made small talk during their starter, but as they waited for their entrée, she decided to take on a deeper topic.
"So, tell me more about your parents," she said.
"Well, my father believed in the importance of finding your soulmate. He waited for five years for my mom to finally agree to marry him. He knew she was the one for him and he waited patiently for her. My mother was focused on her work, and it took him a while to convince her to be a wife and mother. She says she did not take naturally to motherhood. Not when I was very small anyway. When I was older and could share in her interest in literature, we became much closer. I am an only child, and my childhood was a bit lonely, but I knew I was loved. I fortunately was gifted with a vivid imagination and as soon as I could read, I dove in with relish. I visited places that I may never go to, met people that I will never meet. I have both ridden dragons and fought them, saved maidens in distress, and climbed the highest mountains…" He trailed off.
"Now, tell me a little more about your family," he asked her.
"Well, I told you that my father is Irish and worked in the Diplomatic corps in Europe. He met my mother at the Inn that her parents owned. She was helping with reception during her summer break. She was planning to become a teacher. But she met my father when he was just entering the corps and it was love at first sight. They were married before the summer ended and I was born nine months later. My brother came two years later and then my sister two years after that. My parents are still very much in love."
"As, I said, father waited for mother. They loved each other deeply but they were both terribly busy and did not pay attention to the fact that they were drifting. My mother in particular had retreated into her work. About five years ago my father left my mother. She ended up in Hope Valley to visit and to work with Elizabeth on her book. She brought Elizabeth into her confidence about what had happened, and my mother took her advice and reached out to my father. They reunited and have been very happy since. They both now pay attention to their relationship as well as their work," Lucas told her.
"I think that is why my parent's marriage has been so successful. They find time for one another. It helped that my mother did not have a career. But my father always kept her happiness as his number one priority, and she in turn gave up her plans for him and for the love of the family they would have together. He retired from the diplomatic corps when we moved to Canada and came to work for the Lieutenant Governor in Quebec. He works for the crown. My brother is following in his footsteps, he is in the diplomatic corps. My sister is a teacher; she teaches mathematics in a secondary school in Montreal where my parents live."
Their waiter arrived with dessert; it was a slice of almond torte with a dollop of whipped cream and a few raspberries on top. The music had started while they finished savoring their dessert. It was a foxtrot and he smiled at her. "We will have to try another you know," he said.
"I am ready as soon as you are. Let's join in the next number." As the song was ending, he helped her from her chair and then approached the dance floor ready to begin the next dance. They were a bit surprised when they heard the strains of the Argentinian Tango. She looked at him, "do you tango?" she asked.
Instead of answering her, he took her hand and showed her. The tango was a sensuous dance, and his height and build suited the dance perfectly. She was also tall for a woman and matched his moves with relative ease. They twirled, strode and dipped with the exaggerated movements of this classic dance. It was intoxicating. The other dancers had backed away to give them space as they were by far the most skilled and striking couple on the floor. As the music was ending, he took her into a deep dip, and she raised one leg and braced it against his thigh. He felt the warmth and perspiration from the exertion of the dance, but the heat in his core came from the sensuality that flowed with it. He helped her back to her feet and felt her trembling and could see beads of sweat along her brow. He took her hand in his and took her back to their seat which was tucked in a corner just off the dance floor. He helped her into her chair and turned it around sideways. He removed his jacket, first retrieving his handkerchief. He bent on one knee and dabbed at her brow to dry away the perspiration. He took the lush tresses of her hair and wound them around his hand and lifted them so he could also dab the back of her neck. He could smell her parfum, it was not lilacs that she had worn before; it carried the faint scent of roses that had warmed in the summer sun. He got back to his feet and let her locks fall behind her once again. He had felt the soft luxury during the dance and now he would always crave the feel. He was glad that she had not bobbed it like so many women did these days. That would be criminal, he thought to himself.
"Thank you," she said not quite looking into his eyes. She was embarrassed. The dance had been raw and seductive, and she had succumbed to it.
"I will be right back he said," as he headed over to the bar to get a picture of ice water and two glasses. He also asked for two cloth napkins. He returned to their table and poured her a glass which she sipped; she then rested the glass against one cheek and then the other. She felt calm return to her as she felt the coolness of her glass against her warm cheeks.
He sipped from his water and then used one of the napkins to wipe his brow. He watched her with a very soft smile. "You were magnificent," he told her. "It was the dance of a lifetime. Wherever did you learn?"
She met his eyes, "my mother would be happy to hear that ballroom dance classes have paid off. My brother and I both attended them. We learned to waltz and tango together. But while we both were good technically; this was like nothing I have ever experienced." She blushed but it hardly mattered since her cheeks were already flushed from exertion.
"I too had lessons when I was a teenager. I did not have a sister but there was always a deficit of boys in the classes, so finding a partner was easy. I hated it, but I too had a mother that pushed me to do it. I was later grateful that I had been forced."
They chatted for a while and once they were rested, he asked if she would like to waltz. She agreed now that she had recovered and let him lead her into the strains of the Dance of the Flowers. It was magical, light and yet dramatic, as they glided around the floor. He was more liberal with the spins than when they had waltzed at the Premier's Ball as they now were more in tune with one another. She realized she was not only spinning with him but falling fast as well.
He drove her back home a little past 11:00. They sat in the car for a while, neither wanted to part yet. He reached up to touch her hair. "It is truly beautiful you know. Not only the color which is splendid but the softness and the weight of the luxurious waves. Now that I have touched it, it will be hard to resist."
"You are one to talk about hair. You have the most beautiful hair I have ever seen on a man. It makes me want to reach out and run my hands through those waves, but I resist. I want to savor the anticipation for a while longer," Arawyn blushed in the dark.
He listened to that beautiful lilt of hers as she admitted her feelings. He would never tire of listening to that voice. He would never tire of looking into those eyes. Or watching as a blush kissed that creamy skin. He was staring at her mouth; those full lips; he wanted to tug on that lower lip with his teeth, trace the edges with his tongue…. "I have to stop," he thought to himself as desire was beginning to overwhelm his senses.
"Arawyn," he whispered. "I think you better go. "I want to be a gentleman, but I am struggling at the moment. Let me take you to your door." She nodded and he came around to help her get out. She linked arms with his and they made their way up the stairs.
"It has been a wonderful night," he told her. "I will never forget it."
She knew he was speaking of the passion of the tango that had been all consuming. "Nor will I," she told him.
He turned her hands palm side up and placed a kiss in each one. He then curled them up as if to hold in the kiss. "I will bid you good night," he said. He waited for her to enter the house and then turned to make the journey home. This was going to be a long sleepless night he feared.
