Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1927
C lara
Having missed the dinner hour, William and I are tucked behind a column in the grand ballroom of The Hotel Vancouver, nibbling from a plate of cheese and crackers he managed to convince a waiter to bring us. Taking in the elaborate decor, I am in awe of the time and effort put into the fanciful decorations, and I imagine the hotel in its natural glory would have been more than enough to stun me.
The chandeliers glow warmly, hanging from the ornate ceiling, its design as fascinating as the artwork adorning the flock-papered walls. Champagne flows like a fountain over a tower of glasses, the shimmering, gold-tinged liquid cascading from the top to the bottom. I can barely tear my gaze from its magical lull.
A band plays an upbeat tempo, and dancers fill the floor. Though we are essentially on the outside of the festivities, I am having the time of my life watching everyone. William doesn’t press or hover. He simply smiles, observing me as I take it all in.
With the last cracker gone, he sets the empty plate on a tall, round table and reaches for my hand. “May I have this dance?”
“Oh, I’ve never…” Embarrassment warms my cheeks.
“Come.” William inclines his head toward the dance floor. “It’s merely an excuse for me to hold you in my arms. If our feet move a little, then we’ll be doing quite well.”
I take his hand and let him guide me onto the dance floor. The band transitions from the up-tempo song into a ballad. The timing is perfect. With my hand in William’s, I make a wide circle onto the floor and raise my right hand into his left.
“Ah, you have done this before.” He winks at me.
I let the words settle between us, then clue him in to my thoughts. “Only with my father. I used to dance standing on the tops of his feet while he moved around the room. I was little, of course, but it is a fond memory I keep tucked in my heart.”
“Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart with me.” William’s sincerity warms me through, and I feel as though I’ll never know the cold again.
“I suspect you might be winning more than one piece of it, Mr. Thompson.”
We dance in silence through three more songs, our eyes never leaving one another. When the band strikes up a faster rhythm, we are unfazed, content to remain as we are, in each other’s arms. Only the stilted conclusion of an unfinished song and the announcement that there is one minute to midnight tugs us from our trance.
Instead of releasing me from his arms to ready ourselves for the countdown, William pulls me closer, his warm breath caressing my cheek as he leans his mouth toward my ear. A most delightful shiver runs through me as he whispers, “Clara, may I kiss you at midnight?”
He doesn’t pull back to examine my expression. He waits patiently for me to answer. I feel every beat of his heart as it thrums steadily against my own chest. The countdown begins, with the crowd yelling, “Ten!”
I startle but recover myself with speed. I have?—
“Nine,” the crowd yells, their excitement growing like a raging river.
—seconds to decide if I will allow William Thompson to be someone truly special in my life.
“Eight.”
Someone I can safely set boundaries with and share wonderful moments with.
“Seven.”
Someone who feels like home, while making me feel completely safe and comfortable.
“Six.”
I feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek, and like a magnet I lean into his embrace.
“Five.”
Who am I kidding?
“Four.”
He already is all of those things, and I know for certain now that I want him to be more.
“Three.”
I angle my chin and pull back slightly to peer into his soft, grey-blue eyes.
“Two.”
I move my hands, placing them lightly behind his head. They move of their own volition, my fingers snaking among the curls at the base of his neck.
The crowd screams, “One!”
I feel the heat of a blush as I consider my words. Determine to be undeterred, I tug my bottom lip between my teeth and let my gaze fall to William’s waiting lips. “Not if I kiss you first.”
“Happy New Year!” The entire ballroom seems to be shouting.
His cheeks colour. I feel the strength of his hands at my waist as he inches me closer. A fleeting, wide-eyed, boyish grin draws me in as my lips press to his. As I melt into his embrace, the room and everyone in it disappear.
Minutes pass as we stay locked in one another’s arms. The excitement of the bustling crowd jostles us. The band erupts into a boisterous number while confetti scatters from the balcony above us. All of it, I am sure, is stunning, but neither one of us pays it any mind.
William tilts his head back to meet my eyes. “Happy New Year, Clara.”
“It certainly is.” I sigh before tugging him closer for another kiss.