For the next two weeks, Marcus and Cara were insatiable around each other. While she helped Marcus heal better, they explored their relationship to new heights. With physiotherapy, Marcus could start walking around in clutches. His ribs were healing and looked better with each passing day. Adam, Liam, and Vera were overjoyed to have Marcus around. He pampered them and played with them, helped them with their homework, making them completely crazy about him. He bonded well with Marianne and slowly learned all her work, taking care of her like a pro, making Mrs. Davis upset. Marianne on the other hand started demanding his attention more and more with every passing day. The pressure on Aunt Maggie and uncle Joe reduced a lot with the presence of Marcus and Cara in the house and life became bearable and worth living. Every day Marcus made sure that they all enjoyed themselves the most!
Cara had to return to work since she had lots of earlier commitments. Although she refrained from traveling all over the world for live performances, she went to the recording studios every day. She had posted a video of herself and her whole family and captioned it well. She reached out to her fans thanking them for the support and informing them that she wasn’t under a threat anymore. The video went viral and people congratulated her on the birth of her baby. Some demanded a wedding date seeing Marcus in the video clipping.
Cara was at peace with her life having found her happiness with Marcus at last. She had been working on a beautiful song and now it was complete. She went to the studios and worked on it with her team.
Right here, right now, I feel free, I feel alive,
The reason is you, my love, my life.
You light up my world,
You’re the reason I’m still around,
You saved me, you healed me so,
I never needed anything more.
So smile my love and hold me closer,
Love me wild, love me tender,
Our lonely days are over.
We’ve made it through tears and laughter,
Let’s make it a happily ever after,
We can be together forever.
You fill my life, you’re one of a kind,
You steal my heart with your dazzling smile.
You are a ray of sun through my darkest night,
I’m addicted to your shining light,
You’re the only one I’ll ever want,
You’re in every beat of my heart.
So smile my love and hold me closer,
Love me wild, love me tender.
Our lonely days are over.
We’ve made it through tears and laughter,
Let’s make it a happily ever after,
We can be together forever.
The song came out well and Cara started recording it to perfection. At home, she sang the song to the one it was written for, her Marcus, with so much love that it brought tears to his eyes. She was the only one who wrote such touching lyrics for him, meaning every word from the bottom of her heart.
“Isn’t she amazing?” asked Vera, clasping her hands together. “I wish I could meet someone and perform like her!”
“Do you wish to become a singer?” asked Marcus.
“No, I want to learn to play the piano. Singing isn’t my forte,” said Vera with a chuckle.
“Why didn’t you tell me before? It seems like mom’s musical genes must have passed on to you as well,” said Cara, looking extremely happy. She arranged for a music teacher for Vera to teach her at home after school. Vera received her first piano as a gift from Marcus. It brought tears to her eyes and she couldn’t thank him enough. Playing the piano had been her dream for a long time but due to a shortage of funds, she never voiced her wishes.
Adam was doing exceptionally well in his studies while Liam showed a keen interest in Fine Arts just like Marcus. It gave Marcus immense pleasure that Liam wanted to follow in his footsteps. He taught Liam from scratch and he picked up exceptionally well. A month passed by and Marcus was up on his feet. He had a studio built in another wing of the house. Liam helped him with it as they shared a common interest in art.
Last week, Cara had spoken to old Ben Duncan and asked him to come over to LA and live with them. She wanted to send him the tickets but he declined. His life and his memories were in Southampton and he regularly visited his daughter and wife’s grave there. He wouldn’t want to go anywhere else in the world, leaving them. Cara understood and didn’t pressure further.
“My daughter’s friend, Kate called me last week. She needed help. I rescued her from her abusive husband and sheltered her at my place. She reminds me of you and Amelia. Don’t worry about me, Cara. I can’t leave her all alone here and come over. Take care of yourself and keep in touch,” said the old guard. Cara was glad that he was happy to help Amelia’s friend.
It was evening and she walked into the studio and looked around mesmerized by the paintings around her. She found Marcus and Liam standing in front of an incomplete painting. “Wow! When did you paint so many?” Cara asked Marcus with disbelief.
“I just did one and the rest Liam has done,” informed Marcus, looking proud. Cara’s jaws dropped seeing the sensational paintings all around.
“Wow! They look so much like yours,” she exclaimed.
“That’s because I want to be like Marcus. I’m following his footsteps,” said Liam with a shrug.
“The next exhibition will be a joint one, showcasing our work,” announced Marcus proudly.
“Really? I can’t believe it,” said Liam, giving Marcus a hug. He left when Mrs. Jenner called him for dinner.
“So, where are the paintings that you bought from me? We could have them all here in the studio,” said Marcus. Cara caught his hand and led him towards their bedroom, making his eyes widen like saucers. He had spent a month in that room yet hadn’t seen the paintings anywhere around. She led him up to the backside of the room and opened a door that had been locked for so long.
“Where does this lead to? Isn’t it a dressing room or something?” he asked with confusion. Cara smiled and shook her head.
“No, it’s my private haven, a place to escape from the harsh reality!” she opened the door and Marcus gasped seeing the huge gallery in front of him, beautifully decorated with all his paintings adorning the walls. They were perfectly arranged in a sequence in such a way as if to tell a story, their story. The lighting effects and the textured walls made the place a beautiful private haven. The gallery opened onto a deck with cozy seating niches to spend a perfect evening with one another. The sprawling gardens beyond, the huge marble water fountain surrounded by a manicured flowering garden was simply out of the world.
“Wow! This is amazing! Why didn’t you show it to me before?” asked Marcus, exploring the place.
“I used to spend my time here when I was all alone. Your paintings reminded me of the moments we had shared and I used to feel as if I was closer to you. Then Frederick took me away and my life turned into a nightmare. Now for a month that we were together, I was so lost in you that I had completely forgotten about this place,” she said, looking at him expectantly.
“Do you like it?” she asked eagerly.
“I love it. I’m glad that these memories are still with us. I didn’t want to sell these paintings but then when you didn’t return even after a year, I lost hope. Thank you for preserving them. We could spend our free time here,” he suggested.
Vera came in to inform them that dinner was served. After dinner, they walked hand in hand on the lawns under the moonlit sky, sitting beside the fountain, and gazing at the stars.
“I’m starting a new series on twilight. Even Liam is doing a few,” he said proudly.
“Thank you for taking him under your wing, Marcus. I’m sure he will do well just like you,” said Cara.
“I’m doing nothing. He’s very talented,” said Marcus.
“So is Adam but he is more into his studies. He wants to become a doctor when he grows up,” said Cara proudly. “Earlier I used to be clueless about how I would manage their education but now I’m thankful for the opportunity God has given me,” said Cara.
“I think you too should continue your studies. You should complete your graduation at least,” suggested Marcus.
“You’re right. I will,” she promised.
They returned to the sanctity of their bedroom and Marcus led her to the bed. Cara immediately knew what he had in mind. Two days ago the doctor had already declared him fit to resume normal life and Cara was eagerly waiting for him to make a move.
“It’s time to show me how much you want me, Cara,” he said, his eyes devouring her with their intensity.