Chapter 32 Thirty Two
DECEMBER
A blanket of white had enveloped the world, trees wore wearily on its head the pristine snow. People covered in fluffy coats walked down the streets, a soft crunch of snow under their feet. Some stayed in as the woods burnt fiercely but slowly in their fires, their roofs encrusted with frost. Some watched through the window fascinated by the beautiful scene and eerie silence.
An old man worked on his snow covered porch, while the rest made pure love warming themselves without fire — but sex. No, it was love.
Children dressed like dolls played outside running around with happiness with the thought of going home to hot chocolate, sweet crackers and midnight stories. Some went sledding while the others made snowmen.
Far away from the happiness, euphoria and subtle mixed emotions… far away from the shouts and cries stood the Xavier's estate. It had been refurbished and shown clearly in the frozen sky. Annie had lightened the house; she added brightly coloured flowers and more lighting. She changed the curtains to something close to normal, but left Dylan's room that way, dark and strangely calming.
Dylan couldn't object not because Annie was his woman, but she had requested it.
Back after Amy's abduction months ago, Annie feigned like she hadn't forgiven him for shooting her almost to her death.
“You're not going to have it easy with me, Mr Xavier,” she joked but still kept a straight face, eating an already peeled orange. She learnt that from him; the straight face.
“I don't know what to do, milkweed, I've done everything you wanted,” he sighed, not even he could understand women. Annie turned to him, her face, a rosy look. “I want one more thing…”
“Anything,” he replied, giving up and he couldn't take back his words when Annie changed the house to a whole new look.
But that was months ago.
Dylan returned home earlier than usual, his black suit replaced with a dark winter coat. The temperature was so low, the snow turned to thick ice. He removed his gloves going into the kitchen to find Annie making cookies with Amy. He walked up behind her and held her waist.
“You will never stop sneaking up on people, Dylan,” she laughed and let him press his lips to her cheeks. “You're back so early.” He shrugged letting out a small laugh, “I guess people in my line of work deserve a winter holiday. It's like zero degrees outside,” he joked, kissing her lips, feeling her slim waist with his large hands. “Amy's here,” she whispered, this time he chuckled finally leaving her to her work.
“Daddy!” Amy screamed as she came out from the small store in the kitchen. She ran towards him and into his arms. “How're you doing, my beautiful buttercup,” he cooed, kissing her cheeks. She blushed and whispered a little too loud, “Annie would be jealous.” They laughed, including Annie.
Dylan carefully let Amy come down from his arms. “I want to talk to Annie, beautiful. Go along,” he said, patting the little girl's hair. She nodded and ran off.
Annie turned to him, still aware of the oven. “You want to talk to me? Did something happen at work?” She asked unconsciously, playing with her hair. Dylan giggled like a ten year old who just heard a joke from his crush. “Yes, something did happen, but it's good news,” he said and grabbed a cookie from the kitchen counter not caring if it was still hot. Annie glared at him, but decided to let it slide.
“Tell me”
“No, I want you to guess.” His voice sounded mischievous but extremely excited. Annie rolled her eyes going to the oven and turning it off. “Let me guess, my name's cleared and the police have found the culprit who killed the politician's son. So I'm a free woman now and practically all over the news now.” Dylan stared at her, his jaws dropped and for a moment, it looked like the world had paused.
Dylan laughed a small laugh regaining his composure. “You always hit the nail in the mast, baby girl. I'll give you that,” he said, stretching out his hands to take another cookie, but she glared at him and his hands found their way back to his pockets. “Oh, so I was right?” He shrugged.
“It's not a surprise again, I was expecting you to squeal with joy,” he said, slightly disappointed. Annie hugged him, scattering his gelled hair. “I'm happy, sweetheart, you always make me happy.” - she let him be and took the tray of cookies to the other end of the kitchen counter and continued. -“You know I always forgot that I was a wanted person. Tell me how they found out the real culprit.”
Dylan huffed, cold air escaping his lips, he stroked his hair before he spoke. “I was doing an underground investigation about the case, just to find out my late cousin, bless his soul, was in a lot of mess, gambled quite a lot with desperate people and made them owe debt”- he sighed his hands back to his pocket. - “So on a good day, he played with the so-called politician's son, bless his soul too. Lucian knew who he was and played him bad, made the poor boy owe up to three million dollars and threatened him to pay up,” he said, his voice blunt and plain holding no emotions, grief or concern whatsoever.
“So, I'm guessing the young man didn't pay?” Annie asked, engrossed in the conversation wanting to know every detail.
“Oh no, he paid, but Lucian threatened him with something I still don't know about and told him to pay another three million before he would let him go. Well, he tried to fool my cousin, but you know how he is, killed him and did his thing,” he said, resting his side on the counter.
“How the fuck did he put the blame on me?”
“Well, let's say, you were the best person to nail the murder on and he didn't like me so…” he let his voice trail, guessing Annie already understood the whole story.
Annie breathed out, all that didn't matter and what mattered was she was a free woman now. Stronger and better not the naive Annie of months ago.
She was truly content with this life.
She walked up to him holding the tray and let him take some. “Go shower, and come down for food,” she said and he kissed her quickly on her hair.
“You can go see Cammie, your best friend today, I paid her a little visit before I came home”
“What?!” She screamed out of excitement and confusion. Dylan laughed a little. “She has a lot of questions for you, sweetheart.” He winked and increased his pace with Annie chasing after him.
Annie sat in a corner of the restaurant waiting for her best friend, Cammie. She carefully observed the restaurant probably due to boredom.
People muttered while the TV was on with sports playing. A lady who sat alone at a table drank her soda while cleaning her tears, but fresh tears kept rolling down her cheeks. A man fondled with a ring while talking to a lady.
A whiff of air freshener passed her nose,it smelled like pineapple and was strangely refreshing. Different aroma from foods filled the restaurant; steak, Chinese food, local food, sushi — even coffee.
Annie shuffled her shoes on the floor, tapping her fingers on the table. She felt the table cloth, it had a fine texture and flowery designs. She knew instantly that it was expensive.
Picking up the menu for the second time, she checked what they offered; pasta, salad, sushi… it was impressive. Annie placed the menu carefully on the table and checked the time on her watch.
7:00pm
Just then, the door swung open revealing her best friend. She was dressed casually, a big white polo top, black baggy pants and a black face cap.
Still the same girl. Annie thought, her lips spreading into a smile.
She waved at her motioning on her to come. Cammie approached her in quick steps and sat opposite Annie, her lips were dry — no trace of smile.
“Bitch,” she said eyeing her friend.
Annie sucked in air through closed teeth. Months had passed since she last saw her best friend and here she was sitting opposite her and thinking things would still be the same.
She opened her mouth to speak, “Cammie…”
“I've missed you bitch,” Cammie interrupted, a smile creeped its way to her dry lips until her teeth pushed it's way to appearance, her beautiful diastema showing. Annie felt relief wash over her and she remained relaxed. “Your boyfriend came here saying you would come to see me this evening,” she continued, assessing her friend. “You've changed Annie, you look… extraordinary!” She exclaimed as Annie laughed raising her hand to signal the waiter.
“I'll have a bowl of ice cream with cherry toppings,” she ordered.
Cammie looked at her friend as though she were mad, slowly nodding. “Same.”
There was silence between them even after their order was served until Cammie spoke. “I was really scared. Thought you had died…” she said quietly, a sob threatening to escape her throat, age pushed it down. Annie shrugged stuffing ice cream into her mouth. Although the weather was cold she craved it and Dylan taught her to always get what she wanted through any means. “I thought I would die too, I'm surprised I didn't.” She chuckled to herself.
The two friends looked out the window, the snow fell softly on the ‘white street’, lights decorated the roads as the night began to cover the sky.
“What happened all these months? You disappeared and just like that came back with a hot boyfriend.” Annie's cheeks turned bright pink as she pursed her lips. “You think he's hot?” She asked unconsciously playing with her hair. Cammie mock-laughed at her friend. “I know and don't let it get to you, sweetheart.” Annie felt if she kept blushing, her cheeks would burst, so she sucked it in.
Cammie checked the time, two hours had gone by so quickly, but she could stay all night to listen to her friend.
“It's already late, my hot boyfriend would be here to take me home soon,” Annie joked finishing her ice cream. The cold from the ice started to take effect and she needed her coat real quick. “You're happy… I'm really glad that you are Annie,” Cammie said and reached to pay her friend's cheeks.
Annie had been through hell since her childhood from both family and friends and seeing her this happy brought a certain feeling to Cammie — this was all she wanted for her.
“We'll see later in the weekend, maybe at your place, Annie and I'll tell you how I've been apart from miserable that is.” She shrugged. Annie looked intently at her friend, she noticed a beautiful diamond engagement ring on her finger, she gasped . They had a lot to catch up with on each other. “Just give me your phone number…”
Realization hit Annie, she still didn't have a phone. She lived so comfortably with the Xavier's that she forgot phones still existed. “I don't have one, let me have yours,” she muttered slightly embarrassed. She would tell him to get her one when they got home.
As Cammie wrote down her phone number in a piece of paper and gave it to her, a black Mercedes pulled over and she knew at the instant that it was her friend's boyfriend. The man came out of the car, he wore a black coat, he leaned on the car while his hands stayed tucked in his pocket. “I'll get going. I promise to call, bestie,” Annie assured, hugging her friend. “Go meet your hot boyfriend and later you'll tell me everything that happened to you, sweetheart.”
Annie nodded and turned to leave the restaurant. Turning back, she mouthed, “His name's Dylan Xavier.” Cammie's eyes widened as Annie left to meet Dylan.
Tonight was going just fine and the moon bore witness to it because it shone brightly in the night sky.
What anyone would need after a long cold day was a hot bath and that was exactly what Annie did.
Dylan sat on the bed, his legs wide apart. Though the weather seemed unfavourable, he was bare chested, his tattoo blessing his back. Annie came out of the bathroom, her towel wrapped around her breast as steam left her body.
“You seem excited, Mr Xavier,” Annie teased drying her body with a towel. “You notice everything, milkweed.” Annie smirked, going to the bed where he sat, she rested on his laps and kissed his hair. “I learnt from the best,” she breathed into his ear. Dylan groaned softly, his hands caressing her waist.
“Well since you've caught me, I want to take you somewhere -” he lifted her chin so he could gaze into her eyes.
They were beautiful . “- but you better get covered, it's going to be dead cold,” he grinned, his eyes glistened with mischief. Annie giggled pushing him to the bed. She lay on him, her smile reaching her eyes.
“Get dressed, before I change my mind and we'll have to go out naked in the cold,” Dylan said, cold air escaping his mouth. Annie gulped and moved away from him to get dressed.
“I'm ready, where do you want to take me in this zero degree evening weather ?” Annie asked sarcastically, she was fully ready to face the harsh weather; winter jackets, winter coats, boots… .
Dylan giggled going to hold her. He loved doing that lately — maybe not sex, but loved the feeling of her on him.
He sometimes feared he was going to run mad if that kept up.
But Dylan didn't care. He never did.
The weather was extremely cold, snow fell heavily from the sky, and that wasn't what Dylan had planned. He couldn't blame himself, the weather had it's own plan.
“Why the fuck would you take me to the middle of nowhere!” Annie screamed wearing her head warmer. As snow fell on her uncovered face, cold spread through her body.
“How the fuck do you expect us to…” her voice trailed as a ball of snow hit her face. She looked at Dylan like he was insane.
Dylan laughed moulding another ball with his hand. He threw it on her and she fell to the snow covered ground.
“You're too slow!” He yelled making another ball, but before he could throw it, Annie had tossed a bigger one at him.
“The weather is dead, Dylan and I might join it sooner!” She complained still moulding a snowball.
“When my mother still acted like a mother she usually said we should appreciate the little things and the big challenges. We're in the cold now, after sometime we'll get use to it that we wouldn't even feel it.” Dylan tossed a bigger ball on her and she laughed charging towards him.
Annie pushed him and they fell in the snow. “Now we're as dead as the cold,” she giggled pinning him to the snow and covering him up with it. Dylan pushed her off him protecting her head from hitting the ice. The two rolled around, tossing each other snow and making snow angels.
After a while, they lay deep in the white, no words said, just uneven breathing and snow.
“I love… I love you, Annie,” Dylan breathed out, his eyes shut. Annie smiled and turned to face him. “How much do you love me, Mr Xavier?” She asked and he chuckled.
“I'm no saint… I'm not Jesus, and sure as hell not the perfect man, but I'm very sure I'll die for you if it means you not leaving me.” Dylan opened his eyes and turned to her. moving closer to Annie, he lifted her chin and pressed his lips on hers.
She didn't hesitate.
Annie smiled and left a kiss on his nose. “So you love me that much?” Dylan nodded. “What about Amy?” She asked making him sigh.
“Amelia loves you, milkweed and she couldn't dream of any other person being her mother except you,” he said taking her gloved hands and pressing a soft kiss on it. Annie looked confused for a while. “What do you mean? I…” she let her voice trail as Dylan knelt on one knee, his eyes held plea and something she couldn't explain.
Annie stood up, her hands in a fist. She tried to understand the situation, or maybe she did but didn't want to believe it.
“I know it's the worse time to do this, I mean look at the weather, it's freezing and aside that, I've been a jerk. I kept telling myself I could never love someone else and I wasn't worth it, but Annie, you changed me…” Dylan looked into her eyes, they were watering.
“... When I shot you a part of me left and believe me I prayed so hard hoping you wouldn't die. I don't deserve you and sure as hell deserve it if you walk out right now and never come back. I love you, Annie and I want you to be my wife.” He breathed out bringing out a black diamond ring with her name engraved on it in white.
It felt as though the world had paused. Annie stared at his face and to the ring, the tears fell slowly down her cheeks. This wasn't what she had expected but she loved it. She loved him and she couldn't deny it.
Annie let out a soft chuckle, “Aren't you meant to say, ‘Will you marry me?’” Dylan bit his lips nervously.
“I'm not good at this kind of things. I promise to treat you right, beautiful and well, protect you… Will you marry me, milkweed?” He asked, his eyes holding hers.
There was silence for a while then Annie spoke. “Of course I'll marry you! I would've asked you myself if you hadn't!” she screamed her voice an echo.
Dylan grinned and wore the ring on her finger, he stood and kissed her of course she didn't hesitate. They fell to the ground.
The weather became a bit favourable as the snow fell softly to the earth. The two lay in the white like it was only them left in the world; one wearing a black winter coat and the other a white. Two different people with different personalities… people who had gone through hell and back.
This was perfect.
They were content.