Spring's Child

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

“If you’d like,” he said. “Think about it. Start giving me ideas, and I’ll do some research.”

“I want to go to Florence again, I know that.” She popped another stuffed mushroom into her mouth. Though here they were truffles, not mushrooms. “I hope I book a show. I hate not having something to do now.”

“I’m sure something will come along,” he said. He winced at how cliche and out of touch that sounded. “I’m sorry. I just…I have faith in you. I really do. You’ve made amazing connections in this city, you’ve worked your ass off for four years, you’re charming, easy to work with…I know I’m biased, but objectively speaking, if someone like you isn’t booking, something is wrong.”

Juliet shrugged. “We will see. It isn’t up to me really. I can do my best but that’s that. You know. You were almost in this world.”

Daniel chuckled. “It’s much easier for men,” he pointed out. “There are less of us. You’re doing all the hard work. I’m proud of you, though. Truly. You amaze me, sweetheart. Every day.”

“And you amaze me. Truly. I can’t imagine knowing all the things you know. You’re so…” she struggled to find the word. “Knowledgeable? No. Worldly. Maybe that’s it. You’re worldly.”

“It comes with age,” he shrugged. “It’s all about time, my love. Settling into yourself and settling into life.”

“I think it’s just you,” she said. She sipped her wine and hummed. It tasted expensive. She didn’t like to think about the money he spent on her. “Thank you for taking me out tonight. I needed it.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart. I could tell. You can spend the weekend with me, if you’d like. I’m at the practice tomorrow from seven until twelve-thirty. Other than that, though, I’m yours.”

“I’d like that,” she said and nodded. “It sounds good.” She loved staying at his apartment. Slowly she had been leaving clothes and toiletries so she was always ready for an extended stay.

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

She pouted. “I can’t help it.” She reached up and brushed her fingers over his features; his chin, his jaw, his cheekbones, his lips. “I have the most ridiculous crush on you.”

“And I, you,” he said back. He kissed her fingertips gently. “How are you feeling now?”

“A little better. Less confused. But I definitely feel sore.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you some medicine,” he said. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry if this interrupted anything. I feel bad tying you up like this. You’re busy.”

“Christine. You are my priority. It has always been you. Do not apologize,” he said firmly.

Christine’s cheeks turned pink, but she nodded. “I just…okay,” she whispered.

He stroked her hair gently. “Is there anything you want? Water? A book?”

“Just…just you for now,” she admitted. “And maybe heartbeats?”

“Of course,” he said. He grabbed his stethoscope again and began listening to her heart once more.

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

“If you’d like,” he said. “Think about it. Start giving me ideas, and I’ll do some research.”

“I want to go to Florence again, I know that.” She popped another stuffed mushroom into her mouth. Though here they were truffles, not mushrooms. “I hope I book a show. I hate not having something to do now.”

“I’m sure something will come along,” he said. He winced at how cliche and out of touch that sounded. “I’m sorry. I just…I have faith in you. I really do. You’ve made amazing connections in this city, you’ve worked your ass off for four years, you’re charming, easy to work with…I know I’m biased, but objectively speaking, if someone like you isn’t booking, something is wrong.”

Juliet shrugged. “We will see. It isn’t up to me really. I can do my best but that’s that. You know. You were almost in this world.”

Daniel chuckled. “It’s much easier for men,” he pointed out. “There are less of us. You’re doing all the hard work. I’m proud of you, though. Truly. You amaze me, sweetheart. Every day.”

“And you amaze me. Truly. I can’t imagine knowing all the things you know. You’re so…” she struggled to find the word. “Knowledgeable? No. Worldly. Maybe that’s it. You’re worldly.”

“It comes with age,” he shrugged. “It’s all about time, my love. Settling into yourself and settling into life.”

“I think it’s just you,” she said. She sipped her wine and hummed. It tasted expensive. She didn’t like to think about the money he spent on her. “Thank you for taking me out tonight. I needed it.”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

She pouted. “I can’t help it.” She reached up and brushed her fingers over his features; his chin, his jaw, his cheekbones, his lips. “I have the most ridiculous crush on you.”

“And I, you,” he said back. He kissed her fingertips gently. “How are you feeling now?”

“A little better. Less confused. But I definitely feel sore.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you some medicine,” he said. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry if this interrupted anything. I feel bad tying you up like this. You’re busy.”

“Christine. You are my priority. It has always been you. Do not apologize,” he said firmly.

Christine’s cheeks turned pink, but she nodded. “I just…okay,” she whispered.

He stroked her hair gently. “Is there anything you want? Water? A book?”

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

“If you’d like,” he said. “Think about it. Start giving me ideas, and I’ll do some research.”

“I want to go to Florence again, I know that.” She popped another stuffed mushroom into her mouth. Though here they were truffles, not mushrooms. “I hope I book a show. I hate not having something to do now.”

“I’m sure something will come along,” he said. He winced at how cliche and out of touch that sounded. “I’m sorry. I just…I have faith in you. I really do. You’ve made amazing connections in this city, you’ve worked your ass off for four years, you’re charming, easy to work with…I know I’m biased, but objectively speaking, if someone like you isn’t booking, something is wrong.”

Juliet shrugged. “We will see. It isn’t up to me really. I can do my best but that’s that. You know. You were almost in this world.”

Daniel chuckled. “It’s much easier for men,” he pointed out. “There are less of us. You’re doing all the hard work. I’m proud of you, though. Truly. You amaze me, sweetheart. Every day.”

“And you amaze me. Truly. I can’t imagine knowing all the things you know. You’re so…” she struggled to find the word. “Knowledgeable? No. Worldly. Maybe that’s it. You’re worldly.”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

She pouted. “I can’t help it.” She reached up and brushed her fingers over his features; his chin, his jaw, his cheekbones, his lips. “I have the most ridiculous crush on you.”

“And I, you,” he said back. He kissed her fingertips gently. “How are you feeling now?”

“A little better. Less confused. But I definitely feel sore.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you some medicine,” he said. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry if this interrupted anything. I feel bad tying you up like this. You’re busy.”

“Christine. You are my priority. It has always been you. Do not apologize,” he said firmly.

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

“If you’d like,” he said. “Think about it. Start giving me ideas, and I’ll do some research.”

“I want to go to Florence again, I know that.” She popped another stuffed mushroom into her mouth. Though here they were truffles, not mushrooms. “I hope I book a show. I hate not having something to do now.”

“I’m sure something will come along,” he said. He winced at how cliche and out of touch that sounded. “I’m sorry. I just…I have faith in you. I really do. You’ve made amazing connections in this city, you’ve worked your ass off for four years, you’re charming, easy to work with…I know I’m biased, but objectively speaking, if someone like you isn’t booking, something is wrong.”

Juliet shrugged. “We will see. It isn’t up to me really. I can do my best but that’s that. You know. You were almost in this world.”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

She pouted. “I can’t help it.” She reached up and brushed her fingers over his features; his chin, his jaw, his cheekbones, his lips. “I have the most ridiculous crush on you.”

“And I, you,” he said back. He kissed her fingertips gently. “How are you feeling now?”

“A little better. Less confused. But I definitely feel sore.”

He nodded. “I’ll get you some medicine,” he said. “Okay?”

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

“If you’d like,” he said. “Think about it. Start giving me ideas, and I’ll do some research.”

“I want to go to Florence again, I know that.” She popped another stuffed mushroom into her mouth. Though here they were truffles, not mushrooms. “I hope I book a show. I hate not having something to do now.”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

She pouted. “I can’t help it.” She reached up and brushed her fingers over his features; his chin, his jaw, his cheekbones, his lips. “I have the most ridiculous crush on you.”

“And I, you,” he said back. He kissed her fingertips gently. “How are you feeling now?”

“I’m gonna wear the pink dress,” Juliet told her mother over the phone. She was getting ready, doing her makeup at her vanity. Tonight was a date night with Daniel. He wasn’t on call, she had all her homework done, it was the perfect time to spend time together.

“And before you ask, he’s surprising me with the place we are eating so I don’t know where we are going.”

@christine-the-soprano-31

Juliet smiled softly at the word he spoke. He loved her. So much. And part of her wondered what she had ever done to deserve someone like him. “Maybe a cabaret or two,” she teased. “Maybe a show. Who knows what I’ll book.”

“A show, I think,” he said. “But before you book…I want to take you somewhere this summer. To celebrate your graduation and our anniversary.”

Juliet tilted her head to the side. “Where?” She asked. “I demand to know this time. My birthday surprise trip was torture.”

He laughed. “We can talk about that. I was thinking we could go to a few places. Depending on when and where we go, I thought I’d try to get us into a film festival. If we go right after graduation, we could do Cannes. If we go in late August, we could do Venice.”

Juliet blinked. “A film festival?” She murmured. She shook her head a little and grinned. “Really? I’d… I’d love that!”

“I have a few connections who could get us into either,” he chuckled. “I figured we’d either start the trip in Cannes if we choose that one, or end it in Venice if we choose that one. Your parents can come, too, if they’d like.”

Juliet giggled. “That sounds amazing.” Cannes! Or Venice! It wasn’t that Juliet hadn’t been to beautiful places, but going there with him? That sounded like a dream come true. “Maybe Venice. We can start in southern Italy and work our way up?”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.

“That’s exactly what she’ll want to do. Speaking of…how long until we can have sec again?”

Erik chuckled. “Insatiable as always. Give it a week at least. It’ll depend on how you feel.”

It’d started with a stomach ache. She hadn’t wanted to scare him, so she’d taken some tums laid down for a nap.

She wasn’t asleep for long before a sharp, stabbing pain woke her. The noise that had slipped from her was enough to bring Erik right to her side.

“Christine, sweetheart? What is it?” he asked. His eyes were filled with concern as he held her face.

“My stomach,” she told him. Her response came out as more of a whimper. “I tried to sleep it off, but it really hurts. I—I think I’m gonna be sick.”

@brave-heart-juliet

“I love you too,” he said warmly. He kissed her forehead once more. But secretly he was checking her temperature. No fever. That was good. And her heart and lungs sounded good too. He set the stethoscope aside. “All done. Want more water?”

“Just another sip,” she said. “Please.”

She took more than a single sip, and when she finished, there was a familiar, loving hand, stroking hair away from her face again. “So…so my surgery is over?” she clarified, her words coming out careful and slow.

“Yes. It’s over,” he said. “You have two small incisions. They’ll heal nicely. And barely scar,” he explained. “It’s all over.”

“Two small incisions to pull a whole organ out?” she asked, confused.

Erik chuckled softly. His thumb brushed over the crease between her eyebrows. “Yes, my love. Just two small incisions. For a small organ to come out,” he explained. “It was laparoscopic.”

Her heart stuttered the tiniest bit at his chuckle. Warm and rich and full of adoration. The kind that was reserved only for her.

“Oh…so…how does that work, again?”

“It’s simple really. One side is a camera. The other a tool,” he explained. But he left it there. He knew she was a queasy girl. “That’s all you need to know. It’s boring surgeon stuff.”

She still didn’t understand, but the idea of machinery being inside of her was enough to make her perfectly okay with that lack of understanding.

“Not boring. Gross, though. Definitely gross,” she said. “Your work does interest me. It amazes me, actually. I’m just…queasy.”

“I know I know,” he said. She was sounding more like her now. He kissed her fingertips before moving to feel her pulse. Steady. Strong. Just how he needed her. “I have to make a call…” he said.

“Can you stay just a little longer?” she asked, her eyes wide. “Please?”

“As long as you want me to stay,” he said. He stayed by her side, stroking her hair.

“Who do you need to call?” she asked.

“Daniel and Juliet…” he said. “They should know what happened. But I don’t want to worry them too much.”

“You’ll need to call when I’m close by. Juliet will have a cow if you tell her I had surgery and don’t let her talk to me.”

“That’s true. I fully expect her to storm in here and try to rip off my balls,” he said.