I watch him silently as he puts on his tie, staring at the full body mirror. Tall, handsome and a dream in a black tux, hair stylishly gelled and soft pink bow tie.
Today is the day for Jill Salvatore and Gregory Salvatore's wedding anniversary. We said we'd be there but only one will attend and that's Keith. I can't go, more like Keith won't let me go, he is still convinced that a few more days of bed rest will do me some good.
I'd already told him that I'm fine and am capable of being on my feet for a couple of hours, but still, he had put his foot down and said to stay behind. Nothing seemed to convince him and now here I am, sitting on this bed, watching his every move, feeling bad for not accompanying him.
" I'll be back in an hours time."He tells me.
" Why?"
"Because." He turns around to face me. " I want to spend the rest of my night with you, instead of dining with boring people."
" It's your aunt's anniversary."
" And my wife will be alone."
" No she won't because I'm here." Theresa says, appearing on the doorway.
" Have you ever heard of knocking?" Keith asks.
" Have you ever heard of keeping your door closed?" She shoots back.
"So have you prepared a speech?" I ask, earning their attention.
" No why?" He scrunches his nose in confusion.
" Well you have to say something. You know, to wish them well and stuff."
" My presence is enough." He says, coming over to stand in front of me.
He turns to Theresa, giving her a look." Okay, fine I'm gone." She waves her hand and walks out, closing the door behind her.
" You didn't have to- ," I'm cut off when his lips come onto mine for a kiss.
His kisses just do something to me and I can't help but melt into it. They take me to a certain high that it takes a while for me to come back to earth. A whimper slips from my lips when he breaks the kiss, giving me time to catch my breath.
" I don't want to go." He says, almost groaning out with his forehead against my own.
" You have to go"
" I don't want to go." He repeats.
" You have to go " I repeat, leaning back and looking up at him.
His palm rests on my cheek and I lean into his hand, holding onto his wrist.
" My angel. My heart. What would I do without you?"
" I love you," I tell him right before planting a kiss on his palm.
" I miss you already."
" I'll be there with you." I tell him.
" Tell me you love me."
" I love you ,with all of my heart." I say, smiling up at him.
" Damn it, I change my mind." He leans back, standing up straight.
" What?"
" I'm not leaving anymore, I can't leave you here."
" No you're going or I won't ever talk to you again." I threaten, with a straight face.
He groans out, rubbing at his face." Something tells me to stay here with you and- ."
" And your wife is telling you to go. Besides, you'll be there for at least an hour."
" Yes I will and when I get back, it's just you and me baby."
" You and me." I agree.
He smiles at me before stealing a kiss and heading for the door, only to stop in his tracks, making me frown.
He turns back around, rushing over to give me one last , long and sweet kiss that has me sighing. His nose rubs against mine, making me smile.
I giggle at his actions." You're acting as if you'll never see me again or I'll be dead."
His hands cradle my face.
" No, never say that." He shakes his head against my own." I wouldn't be able to bare it if I lost you, so don't give me such thoughts."
I nod against his forehead.
"Tell me you love me."
" I love you Keith Salvatore, I love you with every fibre of my being, I'm yours, my heart is yours."
" As mine is yours. I love you my angel." He pecks my lips before taking a few steps back.
I smile encouragingly, mentally telling him that I'll be fine here ,that he need not worry.
He finally heads out, after one last glance over his shoulder, making me smile in amusement for how worried he's being.
The door opens up again and I expect Keith to make another entrance, telling me that he's changed his mind but no, it's Theresa, who has a bowl of popcorn in her arm.
" Wanna watch a movie or something?"
" Sure, but can we watch those entertainment news first, I want to see Keith."
" You're such a fan." She smirks at me.
" Can't help it." I mumble, getting off the bed and walking past her, heading downstairs.
*******
" From what I witnessed, am I too forward to say that he's not that close to his family?"
" After his mom passed, they kinda drifted apart and I hope tonight there'll be some form of mending."
"Mhm." She joins me on the couch as we watch all elegant people walking in the big building, some posing for the journalists and all.
" I thought this was a wedding anniversary, not some awards show."
" I think it's because there'll be rich and famous people, besides, the Salvatore's are well known and loved."
" Well even so, I don't think I'd survive being there, listening to their boring music and conversations."
" You say it like you've been to one of them."
She shrugs her shoulders.
Watching everyone else, I think to how Keith was right to tell me to stay. Those are just not for me, elegance, business and money. Their conversations differ from what I'm used to. I'd rather just watch and let Keith do his thing, he's used to it.
" I'd definitely be bored." I mutter.
" Tell me about it. Though I would rock in one of those dresses." She points out a beautiful Navy blue gown, worn by someone passing by, arm linked with an older man in his late 40s.
As we are watching, my eye catches movement behind a couple that's speaking to some reporter. Just as the couple finishes and the couple move out of the way, I'm able to see a tall silver almost white haired man, standing in conversation with a blonde curly haired woman, who's back is facing the camera.
The more I look at him, the more he looks familiar.
" What?" I think I said that out loud.
" I think I've seen that man before." I glance at her.
" From where?"
" I don't know, he just seems familiar." I say, shrugging my shoulders.
The man starts to walk away only to glance over his shoulder, stealing a glance from someone.
That's when it hits me. The airport.
" What?" Again, what's with me and thinking out loud.
" The airport. When I had accompanied your brother, I bumped into him and meaning to apologise, he'd far been gone. Then the weirdest thing happened." I trail off.
"Okay tell me."
" Well I looked over my shoulder to find him already looking at me, but I didn't think much about it. As I was approaching the car, my arm felt weird almost itchy as if something had pinched me. That's when - oh my God!" I gasp, rising to my feet, a hand covering my mouth as my eyes grow wide.
"What, what - Kea, I don't like that look, I've seen it before. Tell me."
I turn to face her, hands trembling.
" I-I think that man did something to me."
Theresa now rises to her feet, her eyes narrowing.
" What are you saying Kea - Are you saying that man- ."
" After the airport incident and whilst with James later on, I started feeling dizzy and those dizzy spells have not left, ever since."
" Oh my God. Do you know what this means?" The minute she asks this, I hear a reporter mentioning the arrival of the Salvatores.
Turning to face the TV, I watch with a loud thumping heart as Jill and her husband walk on from their car, some of the family members, even Elena makes an entry. Then last but not least Keith, who earns most of the attention.
Flashes and questions are thrown at him but he looks unfazed, keeping a straight face on and taking a few pics. Just then Elena appears out of nowhere, standing close to Keith and making the reporters to go wild with their questions, the flashes more aggressive that I fear for Keith's eyes.
' Mr Salvatore, why don't you just make things official!' Someone shouts but they can't be seen.
The TV switches off right then and my head snaps to Theresa, who turns to me.
" We're going to that party."
"What?"
" We are going to that party, I'll call James." She says, walking out of my room.
I'm left to sit on the edge of my bed, trying to make sense of everything. I'm going to the party, the same one Keith told me not to, the whole Salvatore family will be present and most importantly, that man.
The man responsible for me being sick is there, I don't know what we will do once we are there but we are going.
Oh God, help me.
" James said he's got something for us, he'll be here around thirty minutes or so."
" What has he got?"
" Gowns. You didn't think we'd rock up there looking like this did you?....No, we've got to blend in." She says.
" Are you sure about this? I mean what if I'm wrong and- ."
" No, no. Someone had been messing with you, someone had been messing with my best friend and I'm not okay with that. Now we are going to go there and deal with that buster and his accomplices." She says, cracking her knuckles, a determined expression on her face.
My moment of shock at her determination is replaced with confusion." Accomplices?"
" Just thinking out loud. Anyway let me go take a shower before James gets here."
" Alright." I trail off watching her walk out of my room, leaving me replaying the word accomplices.
If that man really did something to me and he has accomplices, that means whatever plan the mastermind has, is big.
Well I still have to consider the possibility that I've mistaken the man on TV with the guy at the airport.
A knock on my bedroom door knocks me out of my thoughts.
" Come in."
The door opens and in perks Sarah." Hey, someone's here for you."
" James?" That was fast.
" No, the doctor."
" The doctor?" She nods. " But he came yesterday."
I'm so confused.
" Well he said that Keith told him to come and check on you." I sigh, rolling my eyes.
Oh Keith.
" Well I'll be right down, let me just call Keith and confirm." I tell her where she nods and walks out.
Walking over to my bedside table, I take my phone and decide to call him. All it does is ring, leading to voicemail. More then once, I sigh in defeat, deciding to send him a message, explaining about the doctor, but deciding to not tell him about me coming.
I walk out of my room and down the stairs, intending on finding out more about the doctors visit.
" Hello doctor." I say, advancing towards him.
He rises to his feet and meets me halfway, shaking my hand. " Mrs Salvatore, I'm sorry to show up here so late but I was told to come and check on you. "
" Oh you didn't have to do that, I feel fine."
" You may feel that now but we need to be sure. What you described earlier had me a bit concerned."
" Oh?"
" Yes, your level of fever was dangerous and it almost reached pneumonia."
" Really?"
" Yes, so I'd advise for you to get another shot, for precaution."
" Do you think it'll help?"
" Yes."
" Hm, could I do it tomorrow because I have somewhere to be right now? "
"Oh no worries, we could do it now, it'll only take 5 minutes." I bite my lip, staring at him and replaying his words while a sense of resistance is within me.
I don't know why, but I don't feel like doing it right now. But then again, Keith wants to be safe then sorry and the doctor is already here.
The doctor senses my hesitation and repeats that it'll be quick and I need to be safe then sorry.
" Okay." I tell him, nodding.
A bit later......
" Thank you doctor." I hear Sarah say, opening the door for him.
I rest my head against the couch, rubbing at the spot that I got the shot. The pinch is still there and at first I felt abit dizzy, but I'm fine now and more then ever, ready to go.
Not wanting anymore time wasted, I make my way to my room just to get ready. I hop in for a few minutes in the shower and then out, doing my hair and all that stuff. Whilst busy, I think of what I'll do once I'm there. How will I explain to Keith about why I showed up there?
I'll just have to think of something.
James finally comes by, bringing two gorgeous gowns. One navy blue one for Theresa and one blush almost pink one for me. No jewellery but my bare self, the dress shall do the talking and my hair is kept in a bun.
Excitement burns through my veins as we travel. I delete all doubts and focus on the positive. Finally arriving there, with nerves eating at me, I hold on to the last ounce of confidence.
It surely serves it's purpose when I'm alone, Theresa far gone somewhere. I walk with my head held high, clutching my silver clutch bag and having one goal in mind, to see my husband and tell him everything.
He needs to know.
Having entered the building and been led by a chauffeur to where the party is happening, I gulp down my nerves as we reach the room entrance, pulling my arm from the chauffeur's when the party comes into view, I on the top of a staircase. The party had been in full swing, and now I've started capturing a few eyes and it feels like that movie ' The Cinderella story', where she makes a late entrance.
My eyes furiously search for him as panic arises, with all eyes on me. I want to go back, this was a mistake.
Before I can even take a step back, I find him. He'd been sitting down when Elena pulled him up by arm and was leading him to the dance floor, but then as if he felt me like I've felt him so many times, he glances my way maybe twice, before he stops in his tracks, forcing her to stop.
So many emotions pass on his face, confusion, anger, shock and then last but not least, awe with a mix of amazement, where his lips part and eyes shine, smiling at me.
And that's when I feel it. I feel beautiful.