|
|
......A week later...........
"So, what can I expect at this little dinner party
of yours?" LaCroix asked.
"Well.... dinner, first of all," she joked.
"Sorry."
"And afterwards? There won't be any games
in which I will have to grunt like a pig will there?"
Natalie laughed. "No. There is one game I
would like to play, however."
"I thought the evening was going by
too pleasantly."
"The game I want to play is called 'I Have
Never'. The point of the game is to say something that you have never done,
but everyone else has. It's really fun."
"So, I have never seen the sunset in nearly 2000
years would have me as the winner in this game?" La Croix asked, his back
to her.
Natalie went to comfort him. Maybe the game was
a bad idea after all. Then, as she looked at him, she realized he was smirking.
He was joking. She would have to remember he didn't carry half the melancholy
with him that his son had. Seeing her look of concern change into a smile,
he took her in his arms.
"How about; I have never seen eyes more beautiful
than yours?"
"Well, I don't know if you'd win the
game, but you've definitely won the girl." She kissed him.
The evening was very enjoyable, even if the
party went on a little too long for LaCroix's tastes. When he put on his
favorite CD and the translation came back to her, she laughed.
"Subtle, Lucien. Very nice. Let's just
hope no one here speaks Italian."
"No," he whispered back. "Let's hope everyone left
speaks Italian."
Accendi un fuoco e poi
restiamo soli!
Noi.
Light a fire and then
let's be alone
Us.
The next night
It was perfect at last. He surveyed the room with a look of satisfaction.
The white and red roses, the candles, her favorite wine. The bath was drawn.
He looked impatiently at the clock. It had been nearly three hours since
she had called. The music. What would she enjoy? He looked at the choices.
He was sorely tempted to choose the Italian. He refrained. Instead, selecting
a sonata.
Food. She would be hungry when she arrived, and
although he wanted her that way....perhaps a light snack of cheese, fruit
and crackers would be nice.
Natalie. This would be an evening to remember for all
time. He imagined how she would look and feel and taste as he took her
in his immortal embrace.
He felt a presence. Not hers. Nicholas. His child had
impeccable timing. Someone must be with him, because he knocked on the
door.
"Yes, Detective. How can I help you?"
LaCroix was baffled as Nicholas embraced him, tears running
down his cheeks. His partner, also was in tears. "Nicholas?"
..............................................
He held her small tape player in one hand, the urn in the other. His hand trembled as he pushed play. A song tumbled forth:
When the dark would fill before me
and all the paths were overgrown....
He resented all the prying mortal minds and endless questions. Who was he and what right did he have to her belongings indeed. How dare they question him. The tape was made for him. It was his. She was his.
I did not believe because I could not
see
though you came to me in the night
Though the dawn seemed far above, lost
you showed me your love in the light
of the
stars
'Will you please call me, Natalie? At least for tonight?'
'The only things that remain constant are them... The idea of
you looking in on Nicholas from your lofty perch in the sky is
undoubtedly appealing to the hopeless romantic.'
'You don't know why you're attracted to me, Natalie?'
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
'This was one way to hold you forever.'
'You will be gone before my son can wake up and he will find that he
and I are alone in the world once more.'
That wasn't explanation enough. Not for them. The accusation still shone in their eyes. This is the man who stole Natalie from Detective Knight. Wrong again. He had thrown her away.
.... from the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and the fire
He stood on the deck of the boat. Their boat. His last reminder of her after this final wish was granted. Cremation, no body donated for science. Had there been even a small chance of life, she would be with him still.
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
e un attimo cosi
vale un' enternita
Though we share this humble path alone
How fragile is the heart
Give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars
"Lucien, I've decided."
"Decided what?"
"To come across. I'm ready. I can't wait,
in fact. When I get home.."
"You tell me this on the telephone?"
"Sorry, I was just so excited. I couldn't
wait. I love you......"
Breathe the life into this feeble heart
lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes patched with tears
arise above these earthly cares
Nicholas arrived. It would serve no purpose to lose
his son now, as well.
"It appears we are alone once more, Nicholas. We
can either commiserate and help one another through this loss, or we can
turn on each other yet another time. Will we honor her memory?"
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Please remember me
He had hoped her voice would remain on the hand held
recorder she used in her work. Even if it was just autopsy notes,
the sound of her.... The tape rolled on through the minutes and then- she
spoke 'So what do you think of the song? I can't imagine a time we'd
have to be apart, especially considering my decision. We will have forever.
But maybe if I went on vacation- you could listen to this. Keep you
company.' She laughed. 'It gets better. I've even worked on a little Nightcrawler
commentary for you.' She cleared her throat. 'So, here gentle listener,
audience of one, I read this today and pass it on to you. On the shore
people cheer, waving good bye as the ship sets sail, getting farther and
farther away. Finally just a speck in the distance, on the horizon
until she can't be seen any longer. "She is gone," someone says. But just
at that moment when she has disappeared
from view, on another shore others wait, anxiously scanning the horizon.
And they spot her. "Here she comes!" comes the glad shout. And that is
dying.'
A little too cheery, I suspect for you. But I liked
it. Goodnight, Lucien.'
LaCroix opened the urn and scattered the ashes
out to sea.
His son remained uncharacteristically silent
in his grief. LaCroix pushed rewind.
The end of (06/07)
Back to Part Five! / Onto Part
Seven!
