72. Roman
The jolly monk introduced himself as Brother Antoine, and he offered me a tour of their small winery. Since I was considering the monastery as a last-ditch effort if Isabel rejected my proposal, I thought it might be good to get a friendly foot in the door.
Brother Antoine poured wine like we were on a Caribbean cruise, and it was a few hours later before I walked back to the village, a very cool breeze nipping at my heels. Winter was here and I could only imagine how cold it was getting back home. Soon snow would turn Belmont Manor into a magical place, and I had dreams of taking Isabel back there and celebrating Christmas as a family.
Finally I reached the door to my shoebox, and I was about to enter when the nymph cranked open the abbey’s kitchen door, those emerald eyes burning a hole in my back.
“You had people worried,” she said. “Next time, at least tell someone where you go.”
I swung around. “But honey badger, you know exactly where I went. Because you were hiding from me on your way back… But here I am. So, by all means, tell the people I’m fine.”
Watching her pout like she did when there was hell for me to pay, I had to summon every fiber in my body to not throw her over my shoulder and drag her into my place. And judging from the ferocious glint in her eyes, I’d say there was a great possibility that she wouldn’t be fighting me with all her might.
“I have something to talk to you about,” I said. “So, let me know when you’re ready to have a conversation. Okay?”
And with that I went into my place and closed the door behind me with an assertive thud. I didn’t wait to watch her reaction, but at a guess she wasn’t terribly impressed.
Between the wine and the jetlag, I was running on empty, so I took a nap upstairs. By the time I woke up, it was dark and drizzling rain outside. When I looked out the window, the only light on in the abbey was in Isabel’s room. It was directly opposite me, and only a few yards away. My frustration peaked.
Then I saw it, a few small pebbles in a potted plant on the windowsill outside. I opened the window, took a pebble, carefully aimed at Isabel’s window--and missed. I didn’t do so well the second time either. There was more to this pebble-throwing things than you’d think. The fifth pebble hit the target, and I was almost positive Isabel would simply ignore it. But her curtains parted and the nymph stood there in a t-shirt that barely covered her thighs, inhaling a frantic breath. The restless gleam in her gaze told me all I needed to know.
Could her resolve finally be wavering?
As we stared at each another through the foggy drizzle, I let the sight of her wash over me. I needed to hold onto that, because this was the moment that might change everything. I offered her a smile, and after an unbearable few seconds, she smiled back. She turned to her small closet, took out her coat, and with one parting glance back she switched off the light and left her room.
Thirty seconds later she was at my door, and she didn’t even have to knock because I was already there.