Post by paizlee on Nov 15, 2024 19:21:17 GMT -6
It had been almost two years of travelling back and forth. Every few months for a week or so at a time, returning back to the house they had moved into together. The one they had built into a home and brought Juliette home to from the hospital. Over that time, she had learned to be okay with missing him each time she left. After all this time, feelings that should have lessened or disappeared completely didn’t seem to want to shift.
Back in France, returning to the small town and had been raised in, Juliette was as settled as any child could be with a life split in two. But she missed it, her father was gone and any guilt, any ties she had left to the area went with him. So this time when she arrived back in the states, back at the house; she set their bags down with a small sigh.
”I’m coming back.” Here? She didn’t know, she had no expectations, hopes of course, but not expectations. ”I’ve put the studio up for sale, I don’t want to do this any more...”
He had his job, one he loved and he was proud of, that kept him busy all week, a small circle of friends he played golf with in the weekends, but something was always missing in his life, except for a week every two months.
It had been two years, and he still couldn't tell what went wrong. Perhaps the "natural" wear and tear every relationship seems to carry, that damn seven-year itch, a series of small disagreement and misunderstanding they couldn't elaborate and get over. It had been two years and still he was living two months at a time waiting for a week.
The two days before their arrival were always the hardest, perhaps even harder than the day of their departure. The tension, the impatience to see them, especially Juliette, the eagerness of melt in her embrace.
That's where he was when Tobie spoke those words. Holding their daughters in his arms, hearing the little one complaining about his beard tickling her face when she kissed her papà. His expression remained still, as he registered those words, his eyes moving from the little creature he was holding in his arms to meet those of his wife.
”Come on in, I made you breakfast.”
”Pancakes.? Juliette chimed in, the excitement clear in her high-pitched voice.
”Blueberry. Your favorites” Gian replied, placing a soft kiss on her blonde head.
”Did you hear what I said?” She felt impatient, like a small scratch in her throat, an uncontrollable sensation. She looked down at their bags and then back to her husband, who cradled their daughter in his arms so tenderly.
It reminded her of years past, when Juliette was still an infant and things hadn’t begun to get bad. The stresses of being a new mother, fraught with missing her own, knowing it was never a joy they would get to share had made her cold as the months past. Little things, became bigger ones until she felt lost in motherhood and it had been easier to do what she always did and leave.
Time changes people, offers them an opportunity to look back and see what they would change, which perhaps in itself is cruel because no one ever could.
Sighing she walked past the pair, running her hand over the back of her daughter with a smile that just reached her eyes. ”Why don’t you go and pick the best ones? And we will be through in a few minutes?” Her voice was soft and encouraging, something she was always careful to do. Kissing Juliette’s cheek and ruffling her blonde hair with a small nod.
Gian stood there, watching their daughter skipping all the way in the kitchen. He had set up everything for them, Juliette's favoring pancakes were on the table right next to her favorite mug, filled with warm chocolate milk.
”I heard you.” He said as he turned to watch his wife. His tone was the usual controlled one, his expression always hard to read. Which, in hindsight, didn't help them during those troubled days when the smallest things became insurmountable obstacles for the couple.
”You and Juliette can stay here, this is your home as much as it is mine.” Things between them have always been civil, almost amicable during these past two years they had been separated. Yes, there was always that awkwardness whenever they were staying under the same roof, their conversations reduced to a bare minimum. But they agreed that Juliette shouldn't be the one paying the price of their mistakes, not anymore than she was already doing anyway.
”I can give you some space, if you'd like. I have my room at The Academy, I can sleep there for as long as you need to sort your things out. I'll be back for lunch and dinner, for Juliette. We can..” His voice caught up in his throat as he said that word. It had been so long since he refereed to them as a 'we', they've been in a 'you and/or I' situation for even longer than two years. ”We can figure out something to tell her.”
Speak of the devil, the little one reappeared between them, grabbing the hem of Gian's shirt. "Come on papà, your milk is getting cold!"
Tobie swallowed hard, her jaw flexing just a little as she worked to control her emotions a little better, not truly capable of the appearance of disassociation from them as Gian was, the appearance of their daughters drew her attention, moving to take a knee she half whispered to her in French, explaining in as simple terms and possible that they would need another moment, her hand resting on Juliette’s cheek. All of her practiced control melted away when it involved that little girl.
When she stood again, she folded her arms at her chest and sighed, shaking her head. ”No, Gian. I don’t want you to do that...” she has tried to keep distance between them, never letting her feelings dictate the time they spend together, but she regretted that now. She was sorry for how well she had kept him behind a wall, there but out of reach.
She closed the distance between them, her face softening, her eyes almost pleading with him to let his own guard down just a little. ”What I want is to come home...” she let her hand reach for his, her fingers gently wrapping around his, a hesitant half smile as she spoke. ”If there’s still a home to come to, that is...”
For two years he had tried to ignore that voice telling him to call her back in his life. It wasn't a matter of stupid pride, despite what one can think based on the stereotype of the Italian Casanova, the whole idea of machismo never belonged to him.
He always respected her strong character and independence, it was what made him fall in love with her when she was just a young hopeful wrestler, working for his company in Italy. When she told him she was moving out to escape what became an unbearable situation, for as much as he wanted to stop her, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He let her go, holding out hope for this day to come.
”You are home, Tobie. This...” He raised their joint hands, bringing them to his chest. ”This has always been and always will be your home.” He let her feel his heart pounding, today just like that day in his family's chalet on the shore of Lake di Scanno. Their first escapade.
And he meant that.
The warmth of relief that washed over her when he took her hand to his chest, when he immediately welcomed her back in, bringing her back to the early days of their romance when everything was soft and simple and sweet; it was like a breath she had been holding for two years was finally exhaled. She let her body relax a little, the tension she had been carrying in place of fear that he would turn her away, lifted from her shoulders.
Without another word she leaned in, her lips finding his with a soft, familiar kiss. She lingered in that kiss for a moment, her eyes meeting his when she finally broke apart from it, one small nod of her head ”I know everything has been...” she didn’t have the words for it, wrong? Hard? Impossible… it didn’t really matter what the words were. ”But nothing has been right since I left, I promise, I want to do the work to make it right again.”
She had never meant anything more, coming home was like remembering everything she never forgot, never let herself forget and the only thing holding her back, her fear that he had moved on - better without her, was pushed from her mind by the feel of her hand in his.
There had been other women in his life on these past two years. Not many, and not one of them compared to her. No lips as soothing as hers, no scent as sweet as that of her hair as he twirled his fingers in while they locked in that long, sweet and long awaited kiss.
Two years canceled in the blink of an eye, two years of heartache, of never feeling complete disappearing in a heartbeat. Theirs, two hearts once again beating in unison.
It already felt like everything was right again, the missing piece of his puzzle was now back in its place. ”We both have work to do, but this is a good place to start.” He smiled with that smile she fell in love with, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close after being so distant.
”The very best place to start.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaning her head in close, forehead to his as she smiled, closing her eyes and allowing herself a moment to just be. To feel him there with her, their bodies close and their hearts even closer.
It was something she hadn’t let herself want for so long, but something that immediately felt right. There was no one who could or would ever compare and just as she pressed her lips to his for another kiss, another moment to surrender to, happiness filling that kiss with more warmth now than she had felt in too long.
Juliette appeared again, this time loudly voicing her disgust at their kissing with an exaggerated “YUCK!” Which only caused her to relax into him more, falling into laughter at their daughters outrage.
God, he missed that laughter. Maybe even more than her kisses. He echoed hers with his own, both of them letting go years of tensions and struggles into a moment of pure and unadulterated joy, that joy they had been denying each other for years.
”Welcome home, my love.” Four simple words he has dreamt of saying for so long. His voice a shaky whisper, filled with emotions.
Back in France, returning to the small town and had been raised in, Juliette was as settled as any child could be with a life split in two. But she missed it, her father was gone and any guilt, any ties she had left to the area went with him. So this time when she arrived back in the states, back at the house; she set their bags down with a small sigh.
”I’m coming back.” Here? She didn’t know, she had no expectations, hopes of course, but not expectations. ”I’ve put the studio up for sale, I don’t want to do this any more...”
He had his job, one he loved and he was proud of, that kept him busy all week, a small circle of friends he played golf with in the weekends, but something was always missing in his life, except for a week every two months.
It had been two years, and he still couldn't tell what went wrong. Perhaps the "natural" wear and tear every relationship seems to carry, that damn seven-year itch, a series of small disagreement and misunderstanding they couldn't elaborate and get over. It had been two years and still he was living two months at a time waiting for a week.
The two days before their arrival were always the hardest, perhaps even harder than the day of their departure. The tension, the impatience to see them, especially Juliette, the eagerness of melt in her embrace.
That's where he was when Tobie spoke those words. Holding their daughters in his arms, hearing the little one complaining about his beard tickling her face when she kissed her papà. His expression remained still, as he registered those words, his eyes moving from the little creature he was holding in his arms to meet those of his wife.
”Come on in, I made you breakfast.”
”Pancakes.? Juliette chimed in, the excitement clear in her high-pitched voice.
”Blueberry. Your favorites” Gian replied, placing a soft kiss on her blonde head.
”Did you hear what I said?” She felt impatient, like a small scratch in her throat, an uncontrollable sensation. She looked down at their bags and then back to her husband, who cradled their daughter in his arms so tenderly.
It reminded her of years past, when Juliette was still an infant and things hadn’t begun to get bad. The stresses of being a new mother, fraught with missing her own, knowing it was never a joy they would get to share had made her cold as the months past. Little things, became bigger ones until she felt lost in motherhood and it had been easier to do what she always did and leave.
Time changes people, offers them an opportunity to look back and see what they would change, which perhaps in itself is cruel because no one ever could.
Sighing she walked past the pair, running her hand over the back of her daughter with a smile that just reached her eyes. ”Why don’t you go and pick the best ones? And we will be through in a few minutes?” Her voice was soft and encouraging, something she was always careful to do. Kissing Juliette’s cheek and ruffling her blonde hair with a small nod.
Gian stood there, watching their daughter skipping all the way in the kitchen. He had set up everything for them, Juliette's favoring pancakes were on the table right next to her favorite mug, filled with warm chocolate milk.
”I heard you.” He said as he turned to watch his wife. His tone was the usual controlled one, his expression always hard to read. Which, in hindsight, didn't help them during those troubled days when the smallest things became insurmountable obstacles for the couple.
”You and Juliette can stay here, this is your home as much as it is mine.” Things between them have always been civil, almost amicable during these past two years they had been separated. Yes, there was always that awkwardness whenever they were staying under the same roof, their conversations reduced to a bare minimum. But they agreed that Juliette shouldn't be the one paying the price of their mistakes, not anymore than she was already doing anyway.
”I can give you some space, if you'd like. I have my room at The Academy, I can sleep there for as long as you need to sort your things out. I'll be back for lunch and dinner, for Juliette. We can..” His voice caught up in his throat as he said that word. It had been so long since he refereed to them as a 'we', they've been in a 'you and/or I' situation for even longer than two years. ”We can figure out something to tell her.”
Speak of the devil, the little one reappeared between them, grabbing the hem of Gian's shirt. "Come on papà, your milk is getting cold!"
Tobie swallowed hard, her jaw flexing just a little as she worked to control her emotions a little better, not truly capable of the appearance of disassociation from them as Gian was, the appearance of their daughters drew her attention, moving to take a knee she half whispered to her in French, explaining in as simple terms and possible that they would need another moment, her hand resting on Juliette’s cheek. All of her practiced control melted away when it involved that little girl.
When she stood again, she folded her arms at her chest and sighed, shaking her head. ”No, Gian. I don’t want you to do that...” she has tried to keep distance between them, never letting her feelings dictate the time they spend together, but she regretted that now. She was sorry for how well she had kept him behind a wall, there but out of reach.
She closed the distance between them, her face softening, her eyes almost pleading with him to let his own guard down just a little. ”What I want is to come home...” she let her hand reach for his, her fingers gently wrapping around his, a hesitant half smile as she spoke. ”If there’s still a home to come to, that is...”
For two years he had tried to ignore that voice telling him to call her back in his life. It wasn't a matter of stupid pride, despite what one can think based on the stereotype of the Italian Casanova, the whole idea of machismo never belonged to him.
He always respected her strong character and independence, it was what made him fall in love with her when she was just a young hopeful wrestler, working for his company in Italy. When she told him she was moving out to escape what became an unbearable situation, for as much as he wanted to stop her, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He let her go, holding out hope for this day to come.
”You are home, Tobie. This...” He raised their joint hands, bringing them to his chest. ”This has always been and always will be your home.” He let her feel his heart pounding, today just like that day in his family's chalet on the shore of Lake di Scanno. Their first escapade.
And he meant that.
The warmth of relief that washed over her when he took her hand to his chest, when he immediately welcomed her back in, bringing her back to the early days of their romance when everything was soft and simple and sweet; it was like a breath she had been holding for two years was finally exhaled. She let her body relax a little, the tension she had been carrying in place of fear that he would turn her away, lifted from her shoulders.
Without another word she leaned in, her lips finding his with a soft, familiar kiss. She lingered in that kiss for a moment, her eyes meeting his when she finally broke apart from it, one small nod of her head ”I know everything has been...” she didn’t have the words for it, wrong? Hard? Impossible… it didn’t really matter what the words were. ”But nothing has been right since I left, I promise, I want to do the work to make it right again.”
She had never meant anything more, coming home was like remembering everything she never forgot, never let herself forget and the only thing holding her back, her fear that he had moved on - better without her, was pushed from her mind by the feel of her hand in his.
There had been other women in his life on these past two years. Not many, and not one of them compared to her. No lips as soothing as hers, no scent as sweet as that of her hair as he twirled his fingers in while they locked in that long, sweet and long awaited kiss.
Two years canceled in the blink of an eye, two years of heartache, of never feeling complete disappearing in a heartbeat. Theirs, two hearts once again beating in unison.
It already felt like everything was right again, the missing piece of his puzzle was now back in its place. ”We both have work to do, but this is a good place to start.” He smiled with that smile she fell in love with, his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close after being so distant.
”The very best place to start.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaning her head in close, forehead to his as she smiled, closing her eyes and allowing herself a moment to just be. To feel him there with her, their bodies close and their hearts even closer.
It was something she hadn’t let herself want for so long, but something that immediately felt right. There was no one who could or would ever compare and just as she pressed her lips to his for another kiss, another moment to surrender to, happiness filling that kiss with more warmth now than she had felt in too long.
Juliette appeared again, this time loudly voicing her disgust at their kissing with an exaggerated “YUCK!” Which only caused her to relax into him more, falling into laughter at their daughters outrage.
God, he missed that laughter. Maybe even more than her kisses. He echoed hers with his own, both of them letting go years of tensions and struggles into a moment of pure and unadulterated joy, that joy they had been denying each other for years.
”Welcome home, my love.” Four simple words he has dreamt of saying for so long. His voice a shaky whisper, filled with emotions.