Part 5
"Firmin, please, try to understand it was just an innocent gift!" Cecile pleaded with her husband who paced the room frantically.
"A GIFT! No one gives a gift like that to a friend as 'gratitude for a well done tour.'" Firmin yelled as his face had turned a bright crimson color.
"This is why I was reluctant to show you till now." She said while staring down at the large opal surounded by onyx cast in pure 14kt gold. It sat on her finger as a perfect compliment to her plain wedding band. She sat the rings right next to each other so that she could remember the men she loved.
"How could you accept that ring from Armand....it is just like cheating!" Firmin began again. "I can't wait to see him next week....I'll give him a show of my gratitude!" He said while shaking a tensed fist.
"Well, I thought it was completely innocent. Besides, even you can see that Armand is a very lonely man, I'm just glad it brought him happiness." Cecile smiled as she saw her husband's fierce look fade into an almost realization.
"Okay, now, tell me again how it happend....?" Firmin asked with a sort of demanding tone.
"Oh, Firmin, it matters not. Just forget it and let's get some sleep!" She said with an irritated tone. Firmin gave a sigh as he walked over to his wife.
"Did he touch you?" Cecile looked down at the ring with a sad frown on her face.
"No, he would never." She looked back up at Firmin who gave her a desperate look.
"Please, Cecile, try to understand....I'm not a rich man and it pains me to see you receiving gifts from my friends. It's almost like....well, charity." He reached up to her face, cupping it with his hand while he gave her moist lips a soft kiss. Cecile smiled. Firmin was always so gentle, as if he didn't want to hurt her. She turned to blow out the candles. "Besides....you're mine!" He stated with a devilish grin. She turned and saw the rascally look in his eyes. She smiled a seductive smile and was soon wisked off her feet and thrown onto the bed as Firmin kissed her posessively. She returned his embrace, giggling, as they both enjoyed the warmth of each others body.
Cecile woke in the early morning. She turned to look at Firmin, who lay sleeping like a baby with his body cuddled close. His face rest on her chest as his one arm curled up so as to rest his hand on the round of her breast. She smiled at him, amused, but then her mind drifted back to the dream she had just exited with a reluctant adieu. It was about Armand, oddly enough. After making love to her husband, her eyes drifted down to the ring. She touched her cheek, so as to remember the kiss which was planted there gently, and with great care. Her lips tingled at the thought of Armand and the park...
Armand had gone shopping in the morning, and met Cecile for lunch at a small cafe. They chatted and ate. After that they both went to the park where they enjoyed the geese. Armand sat next to her on the park bench. She smiled at the beautiful pond and then felt as if someone was staring at her. She glanced towards Armand who gave a quick little smile as he reached into his coat.
"Cecile, my dear, you do too much for me." He said with a grin. She turned to face him, but downcast her eyes.
"Oh, it's nothing....I treat you like any other guest."
"Yes, but you're just so intelligent...it's irresitable!" He stated leaning closer. She looked into his bright blue eyes and smiled, embarrased.
"You're so cute." She said sincerely. Armand closed the gap between them by sliding against her thighs with his. "Armand?" She asked in surprise at his actions.
"Cecile, stop pretending...we would have made a wonderful couple. You would have loved being my wife!" She stared at him in shock as he bent closer and kissed her sweetly on the cheek. "Just remember me as you're living in this shit hole!" She gasped and slapped him across his chubby face.
"Armand....what we had together was long ago...and I love Firmin. I love our house, even though you might think it small. I'm perfectly happy here." She turned quickly and went to stand, but he grabbed her shoulders.
"Please, I didn't mean it that way." He whispered as he put his lips against her ear. She looked over her shoulder.
"Then how do you mean it?" She snapped at him sharply.
"If you and Firmin are happy together....so be it, but you would have had a marvelous life with me!" He then presented her the ring.
"No, Armand, you're not asking me to leave Firmin?" She asked while shuffling to the other side of the bench. Armand pursued by slidding with her. She finally had to hold him back with her hands. He grabbed her left hand and placed on her wedding finger, next to the band which promised her eternal devotion to Firmin the expensive opal ring. She stared at him in shock, but not for what he'd done, but for the size of the elegant ring. He gave her a lonely smile.
"No, of course not....it's just a token of my appriciation....or a show of my gratitude for a tour well done!" He smiled his cute little boyish smile that melted Cecile. She had never told Firmin, but she and Armand were a sweet couple in college. They had met at the library, where Armand asked her on a date. She was very beautiful, and he was very handsome and thin, so they decided that they would make a good couple. It became very serious and Armand was telling his friend Firmin all about her, or otherwise, bragging. Firmin had reacted in a very negative way. Armand wasn't used to seeing him angered, but Firmin didn't like that he himself could not even find a date. So, Armand quickly said "I'm just kidding...we're not dating. Actually, she told me that she would like to date you." He lied to Firmin, but Firmin was pleased with what he said. Armand then had to do something, because Firmin would not stop ranting about her. He asked Cecile to just humor him.
"You want me to what?" She asked with a confused look.
"Oh, you know...just make him feel like you like him. Go on a date or two, then you can break up with him." Armand said with a pleading look. Cecile looked at him and gave a disgusted sigh.
"Okay, who is it again?" She asked compliantly.
"Firmin Richard....he's a music major. You know....tall, blonde hair....the heavy one!" Armand said trying to describe him.
"Oh yeah! I realize now....oh, Armand...you know I only like thin guys..." She gave him a hopeless look.
"Cecile....it's only a couple of dates!" He pressed it and eventually they set it up so that Firmin would 'accidentally' meet her. Armand watched in delight as Firmin turned happy again with his new-found girl. Armand waited paciently for Cecile to break off the arrangement, but much to his discontent and disappointment, she continued to date Firmin, falling deeper and deeper in love. She wrote Armand a letter on the last day, when Firmin was graduating. Armand kept it close and knew it by heart. It said that she was forever indebted to Armand for allowing her to find such an increadible man and that they were leaving for Austria the next day to be wed and to start a life together. The letter caused Armand many tears, but he accepted it and moved on, thinking that it was the right decision. Now he regretted that decision. He wished that he had kept Cecile for himself so that he wouldn't be so lonely.
"I hope you like it?" He asked her. She smiled, happily, as she stared into his shining eyes.
"Yes, Armand, I love it....thank you so much. You have such a good heart!" She smiled and stroked his arm. Armand looked down at her slim hands then at her with a sly stare. In one quick movement his lips were upon hers. She gasped, but then submitted and returned the gentle pressure of his soft lips that caressed hers in a rythmic pattern. It felt like old times and Armand placed his arms around her. She arched her back and ran her hands down his chest then onto his round belly, which gave her a surprise. She had forgotten that she wasn't a young girl and Armand wasn't her boyfriend anymore. As she kissed him, it brought back memories of her teen years, but that plump stomach which pressed against her reminder her that she and Armand were through. She pushed him off with a stiffled arguement. Armand looked up in astonishment as she wiped her mouth and stood up. His hands fell from her back. She quickly looked around to see if anyone had noticed them. Armand sat confused as she looked frantically around. Seeing no one she sat back down and without a word, leaned her head against Armand's chest as she looked out onto the pond. Armand sighed and placed his arm around her as he rest his head against hers. Cecile felt the the fine cloth of the shirt which brushed her face. She began to cry realizing that even though she loved Firmin, all the finer things in life could have been hers. Armand lifted her head with his hand and brushed away her tears. She kissed the palm of his hand and smiled sweetly at him.
"We should go....Firmin will be home soon." She said happily. Armand looked sad that she had stopped the illusion. For one moment he felt as if he was a teen again, but she ruined it with talks of Firmin. She sat up and streached her arms. Armand sighed as he looked at the ground. She laughed which brought his attention to her shining face. "Don't look so serious." She warned. She had let all thoughts of him vanish, but he took her into his arms and whispered quietly into her ear before they left.
Cecile sighed at the memory as she gave Firmin a loving carress through his hair. Even in the late of the night, with her husband at her side, Cecile thought of the words Armand had said, 'No matter what, or who....I will always love you...so deeply.' The words echoed and resounded in her head as she thought of only 5 more days until they would visit Armand for a couple weeks.
Armand sat at home with his evening tea. He was going over some papers for the upcoming masquarade at the castle. He sipped and corrected as he quickly breezed through his mistakes. He was growing tired as he eyelids shut heavily. He put his papers aside and called for his servant who cheerfully came.
The days passed quickly and soon Armand summoned his coach in order to collect both Firmin and Cecile.
The train arrived promptly as Armand stood waiting on the platform. He greeted them and embraced them. Firmin's face lit up in delight at the sight of the carriage. He indeed was home again. Cecile blushed when Armand took her hand and kissed it, much to Firmin's discresion. They both avoided eye contact throughout the conversations.
The ride to Armand's home was filled with chatter. Firmin would say how much nothing has changed, and then Armand would correct him with little tidbits now and then. Cecile's mouth suddenly dropped as she stared into the distance.
"What's wrong?" Asked Firmin as he took his wife's hand. Her faced turned into a smile.
"Look at that chateau! It's beautiful. Everything is so elegant!" She said in delight. Armand took a small glance out the window and stated that her 'chateau' was indeed his home. Both Firmin and Cecile froze in shock as Armand broke into a sincere smile. The driver stopped and took their luggage into their rooms as Armand gave them the grand tour which was filled with 'ohhs, ahhs' and a couple 'where did you ever find this....it's beautiful.' Armand's grand tour took over an hour. He noticed that both Cecile and Firmin looked very tired, so he showed them to their rooms and allowed them to retire for the night.
"I don't like this!" Firmin stated as they settled in bed. "I feel so poor here. Why don't we leave a little early next week." Cecile stared at her husband with an amused look.
"Oh, Firmin, I don't know if I can survive this luxury! I'll try for you." She said gitty. "I will actually enjoy this. Just a reminder....we must pick up some costumes for the masquarade that Armand's employer is throwing. I can't wait to meet this man!" Firmin just smiled at his wife. She seemed so young. She was so full of life. He kissed her and dimmed the lights for the perfect mood. It was going to be a wonderful vacation.