Chapter 153 SURPRISE
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It was a tremendous night for me, for us.
Finally, I am able to confess my love to her, the three words that I had never thought to say to her finally I have said them.
"I LOVE YOU."
She looks extremely shocked by my confession. I know, this wasn't expected at all.
Yeah, but unexpected things do happen, Tessy.
Our night was spent talking, laughing, revealing most of the things to each other about our childhood, our life after marriage, and many more things. We even had a couple of rounds of our lovemaking and each time it felt different to me.
It felt brilliant, It felt perfect.
****
I was reading a book calmly when suddenly Tessy comes over and pulls me with her, "Where are you taking me?"
Before I will get my answer, she enters the piano room and then pushes me to sit on the bench, "Play something for me." She says coquettishly and I frown.
I look at the piano. I learned to play the piano when I was in my teens. Most of the things that I have learned weren't my passion but my mother's wish. I loved her a lot and she too is a great mother, a great wife, and a great woman too.
My mother was my inspiration in everything until I started getting haunted by her memories.
I stare at the piano for a long time, my past replaying in my mind, my mother dancing happily when I play the piano notes and the sound starts filling our atmosphere.
Her smile was gentle, full of grace and affection.
"Play, Hubby," Tessy leans on the piano, and only then do I get my senses back, she starts wiggling her brows looking stupid and cute and I couldn't help but chuckle forgetting about all the stiff memories that my mind was playing a moment ago.
She has requested so sweetly, I should play for her.
Taking a deep breath, I press the key and start playing, again the flashes start playing in my mind.
My parent happy together,
My mother found out about Ann,
My parent having a fight over Ann,
My father never wanted to bring her back because she was born out of conspiracy. As he told my mother, he was drugged by someone and the woman slept with her because she needed a good price from him.
He paid everything to not let the scandal come out but later when she came with a child, a girl. He refused her immediately.
He told my mom she was a whore, selling her body was her routine and he didn't even believe Ann is really his child.
But, my mother was stubborn. She did a parental test and found out that Ann was indeed my father's blood.
Even being a stepmother she had fought for Ann's rights and I admire her more for being a righteous lady.
After a long legal battle, and arguments with my father, at last, the day comes when finally my parent decided to bring Ann back to our home, to live with a family, her family.
Before the day of her death, she had been restless, I played the piano to calm her perplexing heart.
She was finally relaxed and then asked me to learn this tune and then played it when Ann would come back here and we all would sit together as a family.
I was thrilled and excited.
She didn't know that night. I didn't sleep but learned that tune carefully and at last, I was able to play it fluently.
I wanted to give her a surprise but I couldn't as our car met with an accident.
I frown deeply, when my parent's faces flashes, all covered with blood and their eyes…
"STOP"
Warmth on my hand startles me and I am back to the light, where am I?
I am in the piano room and Tessy is looking at me worriedly, "I.." I begin but she stops me, "Don't say…" She covers my mouth and sits on my lap. Only then, do I realize that I am panting heavily as though I have run a marathon?
"I shouldn't have asked you to play the piano," Tessy's voice comes and I look down at her taking a deep breath, "I am glad you did."
Yes, true, I don't know for how long I had this fear and darkness in my heart as I haven't touched the piano since my parent's death, the first time in years when I had entered this room was with Tessa's seduction and the second time also it was her who push me here.
"You look in pain…" She reveals, her eyes filled with guilt and remorse.
"My mother, she always wanted me to learn piano, she loved it when I used to play for her. Before the night of her death, she was so restless that she couldn't fall asleep, and she then asks me to play piano because it makes her calm. I play for her, she smiles warmly and praises me. She tells me that when the whole family gets back, I will play a new note for them. I smile and agree, that night I spent hours learning this note from Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata… I was happy and excited and I wanted to give my mother a surprise when we came back home… But she never came back…"
Finally, I reveal to Tessa the thing that I haven't told Ann ever. Actually, I have never played for her. Only my mother and Tessy were able to push me to play the piano, Ann was never interested in music or she didn't want that darkness to vanish from my heart??
"I love you, Tessy," I pressed my lips on her forehead, pleased that she had taken me out of that dark room where I had been locked for many years.
****
The summer breeze teases my hair, it caresses the nimble fingers of a lover.
My lover.
Tessa.
I woke up suddenly, my room was shrouded in darkness and I felt warmth. I look down and my body is entangled with Tessa's and gradually a smile appears on my lips. Slowly, I detangle my body from hers and leave the bed.
It's my morning run time, I change into my running gears and then go straight to the backyard for a run. After running, when I return back I see Ann's text pops on my phone informing me about her short business trip to France.
That means I and Tessa would be living alone, and free.
BRAVO !!!
I don't think I ever feel that delighted about Ann's leaving the mansion. I had always been unhappy or slightly angry whenever Ann would leave me alone in the mansion but this time I feel immense joy because of Tessy.
F**k, if somehow Ann gets to know about my feelings she is going to throw Tessa away in a blink.
That thought terrifies me and I discarded it immediately.
I look at my sleeping log wife and then think of something. How about we spend a few days together, I should take time off from my work but Lillian she won't let me stay in peace not when we have a few meetings lined up.
I could attend them online, no?
An idea pops up and then I immediately dismiss it when I remember that those people are going to fly over here to Denver for the meeting.
F**K…
So then, what should I do??
Instead of thinking about my happiness, I think of Tessa and her happiness lies beside me, with Cyril, definitely.
I could drop her at her parent's home to spend a good time with Cyril. That would do. Also, she rarely leaves the mansion, Ann has caged her in the mansion as though she is a prisoner.
After breakfast, I pull Tessa out of the mansion and she looks terrified at the thought of leaving the mansion. God, how much I and Ann have changed her.
I feel terrible when I see her worried face, For F**k's sake who goes pale at the thought of leaving their own house. She should have the freedom to leave the mansion by her own will, at least. But who is going to make Ann understand this?
She just wants to keep her captive in the mansion, afraid of people knowing about her existence, her identity in our life.
"Please… please take me back, hubby… Where are you taking me?" Tessa looks terrified and keeps twisting her body to look for an escape from the car and finally sighing helplessly, I reveal the surprise to her.
"We are going to your parent's house. I will drop you there and then go to work, ok?"
"And Ann? What about her? We haven't asked her permission." She prompts, as though she is on pills and needles.
"Ann has gone on a business trip, she won't be back soon. Go and have some good time with your family. Don't overstress yourself." I tell her as I touch her forehead pressing her back on the seat to rest for a while but she's persistent.
"Andrew, still…"
Ignoring her protests, I raise the radio's volume and soon our surroundings fill with loud music.
She turned her head to the window and as they were closed and tinted she wasn't able to see anything. Sighing in disappointment she leans back to her place.
I smile, and then press the button to lower the glass, she again rises up to look outside, her hair bounces from the wind and once again I am struck by her beauty as I keep glancing at her from time to time.
I hope this surprise will brighten her day more.
