After Two Months
Christian and Skylar finally bade a tearful farewell to her grandparents, Caleb and his family. Seeing his miraculous improvement, Christian’s doctor had given him permission to travel. Christian couldn’t contain his excitement, and they packed up to leave the next day.
“Keep us updated, Chris. Don’t overexert yourself,” said Lillian, with tears in her eyes. She still didn’t want her youngest sibling to leave, but Christian didn’t listen to her logic. Ever since Grandpa Ben died, Lillian almost doted on Christian like a mother. He didn’t mind, and neither did Skylar.
“Don’t worry so much about me. I’ll call you every month. Happy?” Christian wiped her tears and hugged her.
“No, I’ll wait for your call every week.”
“Take care of yourself, Skye,” said Granny, hugging her to her bosom.
“Yes, granny, you too.”
“Video call us whenever you can,” said Grandpa Phil.
“Sure, Grandpa.” Christian hugged her grandpa. After Grandpa Ben’s death, he had grown more attached to her grandparents than before.
Christian limped towards Caleb’s car with the aid of his walking stick. He was glad that he didn’t need his wheelchair anymore. In the last two months, he had conquered his inhibitions, and his fears and attained the impossible. He had gained almost 80% mobility in his legs. Of course, the credit went to Ted Johnson too who relentlessly coordinated with his doctor and helped him recover.
Caleb drove them over to the airport.
“You both can call us anytime for help,” reminded Caleb for the umpteenth time as he helped them with their luggage.
“Yes, bro. We will,” said Christian, giving him a hug too.
An hour later, they boarded their private jet and relaxed as they headed home. “I’m so happy to go home,” said Christian. This time, he had been away for the longest period.
“Me too. So, will I join your office?”
“Yes, you will join our office.” Skylar smiled, leaning against his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her. For the last two months, they had made out every day whenever they got time. It energized them and gave them the zeal to live. Christian got over his depression and looked forward to the time they shared every day. Skylar knew he was well now! She waited for him to initiate their lovemaking! Maybe once he gained full mobility in his lower body, he would let go. She waited for the day eagerly!
They reached LA in the evening and his chauffeur, Steve Green, drove them home. Skylar stared at the beautiful orange hues of the setting sun spread across the sky, reflected far across the beach and ocean. The car sped along the ocean drive overlooking Venice Beach, and Skylar smiled at her husband. It was so exhilarating to return home, where her heart wanted to start a family with the man she loved. It was a completely different feeling from the last time she was here with Christian. She was in denial then. Yet she loved her future home a lot more than her own house. It was strange that she felt a deep connection to the place the moment she saw it.
“Home at last!” she breathed, unable to contain her excitement, as the car entered the driveway of their majestic villa. Christian smiled at the blissful look on her face. The way her eyes twinkled with excitement, he hardly could stop his own heart from thumping wildly. It seemed his heart would jump out of its ribcage in anticipation. This was the moment he had been waiting for in the last two months. He wanted to claim her completely in the sanctity of their bedroom, their haven. He was fine now and couldn’t wait to consummate their marriage.
Joanna Franklin, his housekeeper, and Katherine Brown, his cook, came rushing out to welcome them eagerly. Christian had already informed them of their arrival.
“Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. St. James,” said Joanna, helping them carry their luggage inside.
“Please call me Skylar.” Joanna smiled at her warmly as they followed her to the master bedroom.
“How are you now, Mr. St. James?” asked Katherine, at seeing him limp a little with the aid of his walking stick. Christian had updated them long ago about his accident.
“Much better. I’m thankful to be able to walk again!” Skylar looked around his bedroom. It would be their paradise for now, but it wasn’t the one he used to occupy upstairs.
“That’s good to hear. Can you come over to the dining room for dinner? Or would you like to have it here?” asked the kind cook.
“We’ll come over in a few minutes, Katherine.” Joanna, too, left with Katherine, and Christian turned to face her.
“This wasn’t your bedroom before.” Skylar inspected the ground-floor bedroom that overlooked the backyard and the ocean beyond. It was much more spacious than the one upstairs, but what caught her breath was the view outside. She walked over to the huge floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that opened up to a deck bathed in moonlight.
“It’s so beautiful, Christian! Why didn’t I see this place the last time I was here?”
Christian came over to stand behind her, his chest brushing against her back. “It wasn’t there then. I asked Joanna to get the villa renovated in our absence. She suggested we join the gym and the entertainment rooms to produce this bedroom suite. I can’t climb the stairs frequently until I’m completely healed. So until then, we can stay here. Do you like our new bedroom?”
Skylar reached up and planted a kiss on his lips. “I love it, just like I love everything you do.”
“Let’s have our dinner. We can take a stroll on the grassy lawn later. I’ve heard it’s therapeutic!” said Christian, leading her toward the dining room. Katherine had prepared a wonderful dinner and left. Joanna served them the food and left too, at Christian’s insistence.
Skylar smiled at their efforts, feeding her husband a bite of the smoked Salmon and trout pasta. He fed her a slice of Katherine’s delightful Chiffon Cake.
“Mmm, I can die for this!” She served herself another slice, forgetting about the pasta altogether. Christian smiled, knowing her weakness for desserts.
“And I can die for you.” She stilled and looked at her husband.
“No, Christian. Promise me you’ll never risk your life again the way you did. I can’t live without you. I want you to always be there with me wherever I am.” Christian smiled and gazed at her, his heart skipping a beat.
“I can’t promise that, my love. Just pray that we don’t face such a situation ever where I have to risk my life to save yours.”
After dinner, they walked hand in hand, barefooted on the grassy lawn. Bathed in moonlight, with a soft breeze blowing from the ocean, it was pure bliss. Christian didn’t need his walking stick at all. It was the weekend, and they weren’t in any rush to report to the office the next day.
“Will you join me on a date tomorrow?” His sudden question left her speechless. They had gone out plenty of times, but this time it would be very special indeed. It would be their first date as a married couple in love!
“I can’t wait to. Where will we go?” Christian chuckled at her excitement, unable to tell her that he didn’t want to go out anywhere. He wanted to plan something at home for her. After globetrotting for almost five months, he wanted to experience everything with her here, at home.
“I wanted to plan a special date at home, but we can go out if that’s what you want.”
“No, I love the idea of a romantic date at home.” Christian flashed her a dazzling smile, eager to plan it out to perfection. He didn’t divulge much detail about their date, and Skylar soon forgot about it. He led her to the sit-out on the porch and they sat watching the ocean waves shimmering under the moonlight.
“This place is so soothing. I can sit here the whole night with you and watch the waves hit the beach. I don’t know why I feel such a strong connection to this house,” said Skylar, gazing into his blue eyes that twinkled like the stars up above.
“Maybe because I bought this place for you.” Skylar gaped at him in disbelief. She distinctly remembered the way she had fought with him the last time she was here. If only she had known the intensity of his feelings for her.
“You did? How did you know I would love it so much?”
Christian smiled and leaned in towards her as if about to tell her a secret.
“Since childhood, you wanted to live in a sunny villa by the ocean! It has been your childhood dream. Granny told me all about it. I knew I would always fulfill that dream for you and I have.”
“Oh, no wonder! Why didn’t you build your dream house, Christian?”
“My dream house is the one where you are, Skylar. I always dreamed of marrying you one day and bringing you here.” His words brought tears of happiness to her eyes. She had tormented him enough. Now, it was time to make up, to fulfill all his dreams and his wishes.
“I’m glad it has come true. Shall we go inside and fulfill another dream of ours?”