Lark did not return to the hospital again. He worked from home mostly and had carved out a career for himself as an author. He made more than enough money to support himself and added to the fortune he had built up over the years.
When the doorbell rang a few days after he had visited Lynn in the hospital, he was surprised. He was not expecting anyone. He had few visitors since as an author he was able to maintain a largely reclusive lifestyle which served him well.
He made his way to the door to answer it. As he reached the door he felt his transformation begin. He quickly incanted the words of the spell that masked his transformation and then peered through the peephole set in the door.
It was Lynn. Lark opened the door and smiled. “This is a surprise,” he said smiling.
Lynn smiled. She was carrying a big bag with something in it and the aroma of fresh, warm food reached his nose. His stomach growled hungrily.
“I hoped it would be a surprise,” Lynn smiled. “I brought you lunch.”
Lark stepped back, “Please come in. I think you have timed your arrival perfectly.”
Lynn stepped into the house and looked around the entrance hall as Lark closed the door. He offered to take the bag of food from Lynn and she gladly let him relieve her of it.
Lark led the way to the kitchen with Lynn in tow. He placed the food on the island in the center of the kitchen and busied himself removing plates and cutlery for them.
“No need for that,” Lynn said. “We can just eat from the containers if it’s all the same. Save you the hassle of having to wash dishes later.”
“That’s how I always see it too,” Lark smiled. He removed the containers from the bag and opened them. Steam rose towards the ceiling. Each container had roast beef and potatoes with gravy in it. Vegetables had been added to each meal as well.
They carried the food to the dining table and sat down to eat. Lark thanked Lynn for the food and they began to eat.
“Have you recovered?” Lark asked.
“Not fully,” Lynn replied. “The doctor said I need to take it easy for a while, at least another three to four weeks before I can start to do more strenuous activities.”
“Well, best you follow the doctor’s orders,” Lark said between mouthfuls of food. “Are you on leave now?”
“Actually no. I freelance. I’m a social media consultant so my time is largely my own. I have informed my clients what happened so I haven’t lost any clients.”
“I’m glad they’re so understanding. It is Christmas after all though. You should just take time off as far as possible to recover.”
“I will soon. I have a few jobs to finish and then I’ll be able to take a break. My work’s not strenuous anyway so I can do some work while I’m resting too.”
They spoke a while longer and Lark enjoyed his time with Lynn. He thought he felt old feelings stirring in him again and he took every opportunity he had to glance at Lynn and study her. He marveled again at how their paths had crossed across so many miles and years. He had first met Lynn as Erin in Ohio and here they were in New York.
Lynn eventually left Lark and he wished her a Merry Christmas not expecting to see her again before then.
Christmas morning arrived and Lark woke early. He left his home and headed to church. He found peace and calm in the Christmas carols and the fellow worshippers on the morning of Christmas. He always enjoyed going to church and often remained behind after the service finding solace in simply being quiet and praying after everyone had left.
Today was no exception. The minister saw Lark sitting on his own after the service and approached him.
“Merry Christmas,” the minister smiled.
Lark stood. “Merry Christmas to you too, father,” Lark replied.
“Are you alone?” The father asked.
“I am yes,” Lark replied.
“Well the Lord is with you. Especially today. Go in peace,” the father said as he turned and headed back to the pulpit.
“Thank you, father,” Lark said. He left the church and pulled his cloak tightly around him. He walked back to his home and passed a bakery where he bought some steaming hot bread. He arrived home and had just deposited the bread in the kitchen when the doorbell rang.
He felt his transformation begin again as he approached the door. He looked through the peephole and saw Lynn.
Lynn waited for the door to open. She heard the door being unlocked and then it opened. She smiled as she held out her present to Lark. “Merry Christmas!” she said brightly.
When Lark got over his surprise, he smiled and let Lynn in. She climbed the last steps and entered the house. Lark closed the door behind her.
“Merry Christmas and thank you!” Lark exclaimed as he relieved her of the present she held. She reached up and kissed him on both cheeks.
“I wasn’t expecting company,” Lark smiled. “This is a surprise.”
“A pleasant one I hope,” Lynn smiled.
“That it is. I was just asking myself why I cooked so much food when it’s just me at home for Christmas. I wasn’t expecting anyone so if you’ll help me go to war with the mountain of food I’ve made, it’s the best way I can repay your kindness for your visit and your gift.”
“That will be fine,” Lynn smiled. “Can I help with anything?”
“Just laying the table,” Lark said. “The food is ready.”
Lynn followed Lark into the kitchen and he showed her where he kept the crockery and the cutlery. She laid the table while he took the food from the warming drawer and the oven and carried it to the table. Once all the food had been placed on the table, Lynn was shocked.
“You must have been expecting an army or something,” she said.
“Or something,” Lark said. “I usually take the surplus food and give it to a shelter for homeless people. It is Christmas after all and they should also enjoy a decent meal if they can. I can’t feed everyone but I try.”
Lynn laughed.
They sat down and began to eat. Lark poured them some wine and they took their time enjoying the food which Lark informed Lynn, he had cooked himself. She was amazed by his cooking skills.
When they were finished two hours later, they felt as if they had known each other for a long time already. They joked and laughed and got to know each other better. Lark made them each an Irish coffee and when it was finished, Lynn pretended to doze off in the armchair in which she was seated.
Lark eventually dozed off in the armchair where he was too. When Lynn was sure that Lark was asleep, she got up quietly and leaving the blanket on the armchair, she sneaked away to explore the house. She walked softly and looked into each room. The house had four rooms. It was not an extravagant house but simple. Plain. She guessed that Lark hid the wealth he must have accumulated over the years well. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t after his financial wealth. She was after his magical wealth.
The first room Lynn found was a study or office. The walls were covered by bookshelves. She moved to the bookshelves and removed a few books. She paged through the books. They were all simple reading books. She found no magical books at all. Why would he put his magical books on shelves where they could be found anyway?
Lynn searched the shelves frantically but quietly searching for hidden levers or buttons that would slide a panel away which would give her access to a secret room where he stored his hidden knowledge. She could not find any.
Giving up on the study, Lynn quickly moved to the bedrooms and searched them as thoroughly and quickly as she could. She knew she would not have a chance such as this again soon to search the house. She had just finished the second bedroom when Lark spoke from behind her.
“Do you like it?”
Lynn jumped and let out a small scream. Placing her hand on her chest she turned to face Lark. “My God! You scared me!”
“I’m sorry,” Lark chuckled. “I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay,” Lynn recovered quickly. “I shouldn’t have been walking around your house. You must think I’m nosy or something.”
“Not at all,” Lark said. “I’m also curious about other people’s houses. I always want to see how they’re laid out and decorated.”
“I know. I can’t help it,” Lynn agreed. “Sorry.”
“So, do you like it?” Lark asked again.
“I do. It’s nice. It’s been done very tastefully. It feels so cottagey and homely. It’s peaceful and calm.”
“That’s how I wanted it to be,” Lark replied. “Have you seen the whole house?”
“Not the main bedroom yet,” Lynn said.
“Well come, let me show you,” Lark said. He led Lynn down the passage until they reached the main bedroom.
“It’s beautiful!” Lynn exclaimed. The bed was a king-size four-poster bed. Paintings hung on the walls and the cupboards lined one wall. The cupboards all had mirrors attached to them making the room look twice as large. One set of cupboard doors with mirrors hid the entrance to the walk-in closet and the bathroom. Lark showed her the closet and the bathroom.
Lynn took the opportunity to study the closet and tried to determine if there was a safe or anything hidden in it but she could not say for sure. If she lingered any longer in the closet, she might have raised Lark’s suspicions. They returned to the living room. Lark went to the kitchen to make coffee for them. When he returned Lynn was sitting on the armchair she had pretended to fall asleep in earlier. He placed her coffee on the coffee table and sat down opposite her.
“Thank you, Lark. It has been a most enjoyable day,” Lynn said.
“It has indeed,” Lark replied as he sipped his coffee. He noticed Lynn was looking at him and when their eyes met, he felt a familiar flicker between them. He was tempted to cross to Lynn there and then and take her in his arms. He thought she was experiencing similar feelings as he was but he could not be sure. She held his gaze a few times and smiled when she caught him looking at her. He blushed when she caught him but he did not sense any resistance.
He had not known her long though and did not want to rush things. Times had changed and people who were attracted to each other were a lot more willing to be intimate with each other a lot sooner than in the days when he had first met Erin.
They made small talk and finally, Lynn stood to leave.
“Perhaps you can come for lunch tomorrow too,” Lark suggested. “I have more than enough food for both of us and it’s certainly not going to eat itself. After tomorrow, I will give whatever is left to a shelter for homeless people.”
“That would be nice,” Lynn said. “I would like that. Maybe I can help you take the food to the shelter tomorrow evening.”
“That would be nice,” Lark said.
Lynn made her way to the door and Lark showed her out. He stood at the top of the stairs and watched her as she walked down the street.