Chapter 254: Cecile XXIV

Chapter 254: Cecile XXIV—The Ring

 

           

            Jana fell asleep quite quickly after Cecile had tucked her in. She took a shower, her second shower since the attack, and after she had dried her hair, she noticed that it was close to eleven. She sighed and looked at the bed. She didn’t think she would be able to sleep tonight. They had given her pain medication at the hospital and that should have made her groggy, but she wasn’t.

            She had seen her eyes in the bathroom mirror; there were burst capillaries in them, flecking them with red spots that made her feel damaged and self conscious. Jana had asked her earlier what was wrong with them. Cecile had told her simply; that he had tried to drown her and the lack of oxygen had burst small veins in her face.

            It looks so cool! Jana had breathed.

            Perhaps it was a good thing that Danny had not come to her today and seen her in such a sorry, wounded state. It still hurt. Wouldn’t he have heard something by now? She knew it was presuming but she had to know. She made sure Jana was sleeping soundly and she tiptoed upstairs and picked up the wireless phone in the kitchen.

            Danny answered the phone, “Cecile!” He exclaimed.

            “Danny,” Cecile breathed into the phone, she could hear the pent up despair and worry in his voice and it melted her nervous heart. “Danny!”

            “Cecile!” Danny said again, “Baby are you hurt bad? What happened? What’s going to happen? I’ve been waiting for something from you.”

            Then why didn’t you come! Cecile’s mind screamed. Why didn’t you come to me when I needed you? Why can’t I scream this to you right now? “I’m going to be fine,” Cecile said. “I’m just a little beat up.”

            “God!” Danny exclaimed. “If he were still alive I swear to you Cecile I would be in jail right now for killing him.”

            “No, Danny,” Cecile replied. She was sick with the thought of death and rage. “No there are better things to do than to fester in hate.”

            She heard Danny sigh and she sighed as well. She didn’t really know what to say and judging from his silence he didn’t either. “My mother is back,” Cecile said.

            “I know,” Danny replied. “Mimi told me.”

            “She did?” Cecile said feeling an alarm stir inside. “When?”

            “I came over as soon as I heard,” Danny said. “I wanted to be with you so badly but, she told me that your mother was here… I couldn’t put you through that, you know? A scene, being forced to make a choice right after you’d been attacked.”

            It made sense. Cecile could see that immediately. It would have been selfish of her to orchestrate a family drama right in the faces of everyone that afternoon. But did it make too much sense? Michele had deliberately stopped him? What were her reasons? She wanted to believe it was for the reason Danny had just stated but if that were true, then Michele would have told her that Danny had been by. Of course she could have forgotten… “Danny I wanted you,” Cecile said, “I didn’t want my mother.”

            “Really?” Danny asked in an almost timid voice.

            “Danny I need to see you, please,” Cecile said. “Please come over, please right now!”

            “Wouldn’t I be disturbing the family?” he asked.

            “Not if I open the door for you and you don’t knock,” Cecile said. “Please Danny, come to me now.”

           

 

            Jana was a heavy sleeper. Danny had gone immediately to the little girl as she lay curled in fluffy down blankets and pressed his hand over the top of her blond hair. The move seemed so fatherly that Cecile was instantly touched, imagining how he would be with a daughter. Danny turned around, his eyes glistening. “Did he hurt her?”

            Cecile shook her head; she reached out her hand to his and pulled him close. “Keep your voice low so we don’t wake her. No he didn’t hurt her, I couldn’t let him.”

            Danny sniffled. “Cecile, he would have killed you.”

            “He didn’t,” Cecile replied, “And it wasn’t in God’s Plan for him to kill me, I suppose.”

            Danny hugged her and pulled her against his body. Cecile closed her eyes and for the first time that day she felt real tears in her eyes but she didn’t let herself sob. She only let them fall slowly, let them sting in the cut on her face. Danny did not seem off put at all with her injuries and she was thankful for that. He kissed her on the forehead and she looked deep into his eyes.

            For two hours they whispered to each other. At first he had asked her what happened, he wanted all the details, including why this happened and how it could have. Cecile felt better telling him everything. She told him about her initial fear, the pain, the near drowning and the overall peace she had been blessed with once she had made her peace with God. She even told him all about Jana’s pet spider, and how in the end, they owed their lives to that creature. Danny giggled about that.

            They then began to talk about memories, about the times when they were the most happy. For Danny, it was the moment he saw her tears on the grass, after he had accidentally plowed her down running for a football. He had decided, he said, at that moment that he would take care of her forever. Cecile didn’t know how to respond to that, she couldn’t possibly tell him how immeasurably happy that made her.

            Cecile told Danny her fondest memories were fast becoming their ice skating sessions. “I feel so safe out there with you,” she whispered to Danny. “I’ve never felt such a bliss before. It hurts so much, on my feet and my legs, and it’s so cold but I feel so happy. Especially when you smile and hold onto me I can’t believe I haven’t let you take me sooner.”

            Danny closed his eyes, a small smile on his mouth. Cecile kissed his cheek.

            Jana coughed from the bed and Cecile looked over towards the little girl. Her eyes were still closed but she said in a clear voice, “Ooo you’ve got green eyes! You’ve got blue eyes!” She muttered something else and her breathing went back to baby snores.

            “Talks in her sleep?” Danny asked.

            “Yeah,” Cecile replied. “She was last night too.”

            “Last night?” Danny asked.

            Cecile nodded and looked at him. “Jana was scared last night, because the blasted bathtub was making so much noise. So I let her sleep with me.”

            Danny kissed her hand. “You’re such a nanny!” he taunted.

            Cecile narrowed her eyes, but she was smiling back at him.

            Did all of that really happen today? Cecile thought to herself. She felt so safe, so complete right now with Danny that she couldn’t comprehend that she had ever felt different today. The stiff, itching pain on her face and the dull, throbbing bruise on her chest where that man had kicked her reminded her that all of it had happened. Was it God’s will? She had to wonder. What lesson had she been taught today?

            “Cecile,” Danny whispered and he moved away from her and reached into his pocket. “Hon, your mom came back early, and something else did as well.”

            Cecile saw the velvet box and knew what that was. Her hand went to her mouth and she began to fervently wish that she wasn’t so sorry looking. Danny deserved a better presentation of her!

            But Danny didn’t seem to mind. He took her hand in his own and kissed it and then he opened the box and slipped the ring out. Cecile felt high and airy as he lifted her hand and slipped the ice cold piece of jewelry onto her finger. It slid on easily and yet felt secure, it was a perfect fit.

            Cecile felt her heart throbbing as she gazed at its sparkle on her finger. The gem was a ruby, blood red and glinting on the simple golden band. The ruby was framed by tiny, twinkling diamonds; she had never felt so precious before. “Danny!” she gasped.

            “I almost picked an emerald,” Danny said in an almost sheepish voice. “But I couldn’t find one that perfectly matched your eyes. And the ruby, it, I hope you like it. I meant for it to represent…”

            “Who cares what it represents!” Cecile exclaimed with a smile and a whisper. “It’s gorgeous! Danny it’s perfect!” She gazed at him, felt so warm, she felt so much devotion and attachment and hated herself as well for not holding onto him with more fire. It was real now, they were to be married, and would have children and her mother would see this, and she would accept it.

            Danny laughed quietly. “Now what?” he asked.

            “You’re supposed to kiss her now, that’s what!”

            Danny and Cecile looked at Jana in surprise. The little girl was sitting up, a huge grin on her face and a twinkle in her large blue eyes.

            “Good advice kiddo!” Danny said and he winked at Jana.

            Cecile laughed and let Danny wrap her in his arms and give her a big kiss. Jana giggled and clapped her hands. Cecile couldn’t help it; she laughed and pulled away from Danny, pressing her fingers over her mouth. She looked at Jana, “You’re supposed to be asleep!”

            “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jana said, “Lemme see that ROCK!”