Haeven (22 page)

There was a dress frame fitted with a
remarkably elegant evening gown standing where he pointed, “What is
this?” I asked as I took a step towards it.

“A dress, for you, of course!  I am
here to see that it fits properly.”

I frowned, “But why?”

Gianni shook his head, “I do not have the
answer to that!  I only know the dress is yours and that I am
here to make it perfect for you.”

“Who is the dress from?”

“Why, Herrik, of course!  Who
else?”

“And you’re sure he didn’t say what it was
for.”

“He did not,” Gianni replied somewhat
miffed.  He glanced at his watch and grew a little impatient,
“There isn’t much time!”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, “I just…this is
all very unexpected.”

“Sì, but that is of little consequence to
me.  I must do this favor for Herrik and have it done by 4 am
tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Sì…please put the dress on,” and as if to
encourage me further he unzipped the gown and slipped it from its
frame then roughly handed it to me.

I didn’t waste any time after that and
quickly stepped into the changing room and stripped from my clothes
and wiggled into the gown.  A minute later I opened the door
and called to Gianni who helped me with the zipper.  He was
sitting on my bed with a sewing basket that held all the immediate
tools he would need but he quickly stood up when he heard me and
moved me towards the mirror.

“Stand here,” he kicked a step stool I used
to reach the things on the top shelf of my closet towards me, “no
wait,” then he ran into the closet and returned with a pair of new
shoes that must have been purchased specifically to wear with the
dress.

I tucked my feet into them and climbed onto
the stool. 

“Buono!  Now stay still.  If you
move I will prick you!”

Gianni started at the top and worked his way
down.  He measured and folded, pinned and muttered, made
impressions with his chalk and forbid me to take so much as a
breath during the entire process.  When he was finished he
insisted on removing the gown for me so that I wouldn’t undo any of
the delicate edicts he had made for himself.

“Huh, don’t be modest, bella donna! You
haven’t an inch of flesh to be ashamed of!”

It was extremely discomfiting to have him
strip me from the dress and when he was done I grabbed the first
thing I could find in my closet to cover myself with.  I
hadn’t worn it for years but Herrik’s shirt concealed just enough
for me to regain my composure. 

As I fastened the last of the buttons Gianni
turned to me and said, “I can see myself out.  Be ready for
me; tomorrow at 4!”

“4 am?!” I said aghast.

“Sì!  Ciao Emily!

The following morning came far too soon and
I woke to the sound of someone trying to wake me.

“Emily?” Penny gently shook me. “Emily,
sweetie, Gianni is here.”

“Oh, ugh...” I moaned, “I must have
forgotten to set my alarm.” I sat upright and after stretching like
a cat rubbed my eyes awake. “Just give me a min…” I started to say
but Gianni was impatient and before I realized what was happening
he flipped the lights and began setting my dress up next to the
changing room.

“We mustn’t waste any time,” he called over
his shoulder, “if there are any changes that need to be made we
will have to make them here and now!” Once the dress was arranged
he turned and faced me where I was still lying in bed.

Penny held her hand out to help me up as
Gianni glared across the room at us while tapping his foot
impatiently. I smiled up at Penny and shaking my head slung my legs
over the side of the bed. I peeked over to where he was standing,
“Let me freshen up a bit and I’ll be right there.”

I hurriedly made my way to the bathroom and
when I returned Gianni immediately motioned me to the corner,
“Here, let’s get this on.”

I shrugged out of my pajamas and let him
slide the dress over my head. His manner immediately changed from
edgy and irritable to focused and professional as he zipped me
in.

“Shoes,” he mumbled as he glanced around for
them.

“There,” I pointed and Gianni quickly
fetched them and let me hold his hand for balance as I tucked my
feet into them one by one.

“Ah,” he smiled as I stood up. He began to
circle me and reaching out tugged at the fabric in several
different places as he went. “This is good…and good...mmm,
hmm…excellent,” he paused a moment. “Walk for me,” he commanded. I
took several steps, “Turn, come back,” he said. “How does it feel?
It’s not too tight, no? You can breathe?” Then before I could
answer, “Sit. How does that feel?” I sat as he instructed, “Cross
your legs….yes, very good. How does it feel? How does it feel?” he
asked again, “You haven’t answered me!”

I hadn’t had a chance because every time I
opened my mouth to speak Gianni instructed me to do something new
or spoke before I could get a word out.

I laughed a little, “It feels wonderful,
Gianni! Just perfect!” I grinned fully enchanted and completely
satisfied with the way the dress looked and fit.

“Yes…yes it is perfect,” he beamed and began
gathering up all the things he had brought for precautionary
purposes. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Gianni handed me a small jewelry
box. “Herrik sent these for you to wear with your dress. You have a
wonderful time tonight. Give him my best.”

“I will,” I promised and before he could
step away I grasped Gianni’s free hand and gave him a heartfelt
kiss on the cheek, “Thank you, Gianni.”

“Tsk, tsk,” he waved me off, “none of that
mia bella!” and though he sounded brusque and disgruntled with my
action his eyes and smile were full of glee.

Gianni showed himself out. I opened the box,
“Ooh,” I whispered delightedly. Inside was a pair of delicately
hung teardrop diamond earrings. I went to the mirror and slipped
them into my lobes. When I stepped back to admire them Penny gave a
quick knock and stepped into my room.

“Gorgeous,” she sighed as she looked me
over.

“It is isn’t it?” I ran my fingers over the
fine fabric of my dress.

“I meant you, silly!” Penny chided. “Would
you like me to help with your hair and make-up?”

“Would I?!”

I rarely wore make-up and though I could,
for the most part, manage to get my hair into something resembling
a style I leapt at Penny’s offer. She had me take a seat at the
vanity and after tucking a towel around my shoulders got to work.
She did a remarkable job and throughout the entire time she was
working all I could think about was how excited I was to hear
Herrik’s praise but when we finally heard the buzzer my heart
filled with panic.

I had never felt more beautiful but was
suddenly so nervous that I couldn’t keep myself from hanging back
as Penny answered the door. My eyes were downcast while Herrik and
Penny said hello to one another but I thought I could feel him
looking at me. It helped me find my courage and I took a deep
breath. When I finally looked up I caught them both admiring me
from where they stood just inside the doorway.

“Oh, Emily! Just look at you!” Herrik
stepped towards me, “You look exquisite. Stunning…just
amazing…absolutely amazing!” He placed a feathery kiss on my
cheek.

I smiled broadly and blushed from head to
toe.

I was tongue tied as he drew back. I wanted
to return the compliment and say something nice about him and the
way he looked but I was too dumbfounded to utter a single word
other than a soft thank you. Herrik was by far the handsomest man I
knew but I had never seen him so impeccably dressed and
meticulously groomed. It was intimidating despite all the
confidence I felt in my own appearance.

Fortunately Penny gave full voice to all the
compliments that were swimming around on the tip of my tongue. I
nodded assent to every one of them before I finally managed to add
one of my own.

“You do look very… handsome…” I whispered.
There were a hundred other adjectives that my mind suggested but
none of them sounded appropriate enough to speak aloud…majestic,
noble, stately.

“Aww, thank you! Thank you both,” Herrik
grinned good-naturedly. “Well, I hate to rush you but we really
must be going. Do you have a purse? Is there anything you need
before we leave?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you for reminding me. I’ll
be right back.”

I grabbed a matching clutch from my bedroom
and tucked a few odds and ends into it before checking myself one
last time in the mirror. A moment later I returned to the hallway
and as I approached noticed Penny handing Herrik my coat which he
carefully tucked over his elbow.

“Just in case,” Penny smiled.

“After you,” Herrik opened the door, said a
quick goodbye to Penny and motioned me through.

“Have a good time!” she called as I glanced
back to wave goodbye.

It was quiet and dusky-dark while we walked
side by side through the garden. Neither of us spoke and after a
few minutes I began to feel as though Herrik had lost some of his
buoyancy. I might not have noticed if he hadn’t been so happy and
jovial just a few short moments beforehand.

“Is everything alright?” I asked in a hushed
and subtle tone.

“Oh, yes,” I heard a faint smile in his
voice, “I was just thinking; wondering how long it’s been since you
came to us.”

“It feels like forever,” I sighed
wonderingly.

Neither of us seemed to know what more to
say and though I wanted very much to know what was on his mind he
left my curiosity unsatisfied. I distracted myself by savoring the
scents and sounds of the garden while we moved through it. Then we
both spoke at once.

“It seems like I’ve always been here…”

“It seems like you’ve always been here…”

We stifled our respective laughs. I couldn’t
see him clearly in the dark but I could picture him perfectly.
Somehow I knew that despite the little burst of humor we both felt
something was troubling him. He shifted my coat to his opposite arm
to free his hand and I cautiously reached out to take it. I gave it
a little squeeze and some of the apprehension I was feeling lifted
with the reassuring squeeze he gave me back.

“So…”

“So…” Herrik replied.

I waited a moment hoping he would take the
initiative and begin our conversation. He seemed reluctant to speak
though and it gave me the impression that if I pressed him again
and asked if he was upset he would likely tell me something I
didn’t want to hear. I decided I would rather not take that risk
and chose another topic.

“So is today a surprise or is there any
chance you will tell me where you’re taking me?”

“Not a chance!” he said most definitively as
we stepped from the garden and wound our way towards the
elevator.

I raised my eyes and studied him, “You’ve
put me through an awful lot of trouble for whatever it is. Surely
you can give me a hint!”

“Surely I cannot.”

“Suit yourself,” I shrugged and tried to
appear indifferent to the rejection.

I could see that he was smiling from the
corner of my eye and feeling the warmth and happiness we typically
shared on these occasions starting to return made me smile too.

“Are you hungry?” Herrik asked as he helped
me into the car.

“Very! But I’m not sure I should eat or I’ll
risk bursting out of this dress!”

“Gianni would never let that happen. I’m
sure there’s a bit of give in there somewhere,” he looked me up and
down.

I knew it wasn’t intended the way my mind
interpreted it but I suddenly felt a pang of delight by the idea
that Herrik was attracted to me. I sensed myself flushing with heat
and color and immediately turned away. Herrik must have felt it too
and awkwardly cleared his throat before starting the car.

“Dinner first then,” Herrik said as we
pulled from the garage.

“Ah, yes, dinner…I always forget,” I
sighed.

“I can take you to breakfast if that is what
you’d prefer but you’re not exactly dressed for it.”

“No, I am not. Dinner’s fine; great
actually,” I said as I thought about the possibilities.

I felt a slight but unobtrusive tremble in
my mind, “I know just the place.”

Herrik took me to an elegant little bistro
and after selecting a bottle of wine the sommelier suggested he
ordered for the both of us. I always marveled that no one ever
seemed to notice that even though he raised his glass and held his
fork and knife neither food nor drink ever passed his lips. Herrik
made all the appropriate motions and gestures even dabbing the
corner of his mouth with his napkin now and again but it was all an
effortless act.

Occasionally he would lay his silverware
down and he would reach across the table and run his fingers across
the back of my hand so he could vicariously enjoy whatever it was
that I was enjoying. I loved his touch; so cool and smooth, gentle
but with a restrained and invigorating strength. Halfway through my
meal we switched plates so he wouldn’t miss out on what he had
ordered for himself.

Despite his earlier hesitance to speak he
carried our conversation through much of our meal. I ate and drank
as much as I dared then excused myself to freshen up. When I came
back I found that Herrik had taken the liberty of ordering
dessert.

“Oh, no! I couldn’t! I’ve already eaten far
too much.”

“Just a bite then. Please. Just a taste so I
will know.”

As I sat down Herrik reached across the
table and gathered up a forkful of cheesecake. He held it to my
lips, “Close your eyes,” he softly implored, “savor it…really taste
it…” I let it sit on my tongue for several moments then slowly
chewed and swallowed. I opened my eyes; Herrik’s expression clearly
showed the rapture he was in. “Heaven,” he grinned then signaled
the waiter for our check.

Once we were outside Herrik offered me his
arm and suggested we walk for a bit rather than head back to the
car. He led me for a number of blocks before turning a corner and
moving us towards a rather large, well-lit building set back from
the street. At first glance I thought it was a church but then I
noticed the throngs of people moving up the stairs towards the open
doors. Then I realized that it was a theater; one we hadn’t yet
been to.