Chapter 39

 

Without incident or delay, Crispin and Gwen arrived in Toronto right on schedule. On the drive home from the airport, Gwen sat reflecting on their trip and everything they’d seen and done. She couldn’t help but feel disheartened to see it come to an end. She truly felt she could simply keep going, keep on travelling. With Crispin at her side, her anxieties seemed to have taken a backseat and it now felt as though anything was possible. She felt she could deal with any situation. Except one. Being apart from him. When they reached Kingston, and Crispin drove toward her apartment above the jewellery shop, the idea of not having him near weighed heavily on her mind.

“Hey, I’ll bet you’re looking forward to sleeping in your own bed tonight,” Crispin said, putting on a brave face as he parked in front of the shop.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, unable to mask the melancholy in her heart. “What happens with us now, Crispin?”

Feeling much the same way, he reached out and took her hand. “What do you want to happen?” he asked.

She smiled at the look on his face, mirroring her own sentiments. “I’ve gotten so accustomed to your face, to your company. At the prospect of not having you near, I’m feeling an bout of separation anxiety coming on.”

Crispin nodded and said, “You’ve read my mind.” He had been thinking the same thing all the way home.

“It’s just… I guess I don’t want this to end. I’ve had such a lovely time,” Gwen said. “I dread being away from you even for a few hours. I know you’re looking forward to getting home, to see your friends. I too want to go in and rest, get myself together for the upcoming week. But I can’t help it. I just want to be with you.”

Crispin’s smile couldn’t be helped. “Well, then let’s just be together, always.”

“Won’t you find it stifling?” she asked. “Having me around all the time?”

“Not in the slightest. Quite the opposite,” he said. “If I had it my way, we’d never part.”

“That sounds real nice, Crispin. I suppose it’s unrealistic, though. We both have lives to get back to. I have my job at the shop. You have classes to take, band practises and gigs all lined up.”

“True, unfortunately, we can’t be together every minute of the day, but we can move in together.”

“Move in together?” she repeated. “You mean find our own place?”

“I want us to live together, yes. Find our own place? Not yet,” Crispin confessed. “I’m not ready to leave the House of Goths. Move in with me there.”

“With you and your friends?”

“Yeah, why not? I have a big enough room, big enough bed,” he said with a wink. “You’d love my bed.”

“I’m sure I would,” she said pensively. “But I don’t know. Anyway, won’t they mind?”

“I don’t see why. But I can ask to be sure. Besides, it’s not forever. We would eventually get our own place. I want to be with you but I also want to be with my friends for a little while longer, at least until I graduate. And I want you to go back to school. Quit your job at the shop if you find doing both overwhelming. I just want you to finish your course. I feel it’s important.”

“I know it is,” she said with a heavy sigh. “But I can’t afford it. Especially if I quit my job.”

“Gwen, I’m ridiculously rich. You know that. Let me help you. What’s the point in having an absurd amount of money if I can’t support the woman I love while she finishes her education?”

“Well, when you put it like that,” she said with a smile. “Thank you. I would appreciate your help in that regard and I think I’m ready to try university again. But about moving in with you and your friends… are you sure? This is moving pretty fast.”

“Are you having doubts?” Crispin asked, dreading the thought.

“No way, I love you,” Gwen declared. “I’m in this for the long run. You’re stuck with me.”

“Good to know,” he sighed with relief. “I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather be stuck with.”

“But, Crispin, I don’t know about this moving in business,” she said with hesitation. If she had it her way, she would be happy to move in with him alone. But to move into the House of Goths felt a bit daunting. “I don’t think moving in with you and your friends is what I want. I wouldn’t feel right about it. I don’t know them. They don’t know me. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable with that. I hope you understand.”

“Of course, I do.” He brought her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss. “I was being selfish. Hey, it’s only a ten-minute drive back and forth from our homes. I’m sure we can divide our time between them. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect. Who knows, maybe after I get to know everyone, I’ll reconsider.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” He winked.

“So, what else are you planning to do with all your newfound wealth?” she asked, not wanting to end their time together so soon.

“A few things.” He turned in his chair and looked at her. “Planning on how to spend money is a great way to kill time on an eight-hour flight, especially when my travel companion sleeps the entire trip.”

“I was tired,” she said with a rueful smile. “Besides, it’s been a whirlwind of a vacation.”

“Truer words have never been spoken.”

“So what did you come up with?” she asked. “What will you do first?”

“Well, I figured with our summer tour coming up, we could do it in style,” Crispin said, his eyes lighting up. “Maybe I’ll buy a state of the art tour bus for the Kingston Quartet to travel in. Or maybe I’ll just fly everyone to wherever we like. By the way, you’re coming with us. You know that, right?

“On tour with your band?” she said wide-eyed. “Absolutely! Where?”

“Across Canada,” Crispin said. “We do it every summer.”

“I’d love nothing more than to keep on travelling with you, Crispin,” she said wistfully. “You are the best travel companion.”

“Well, perhaps after the tour, the two of us could travel the world,” he suggested. “If you like we can stay in all sorts of chintzy B&Bs even if we don’t have to.”

“Oh, wow, that would be a dream come true!” she said with a smile.

“Speaking of dreams, after I graduate, I’d like to open up an Art Therapy practice.”

“That would be perfect, Crispin.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna run it by Kell, too. I think he would be into it. Heck, even Dorian might be want to be involved. We’ve all had a rough go of it as kids growing up. Between us, we could write a book about it,” he said, snapping his finger. “Hey, maybe that’s what you should do. Write a book about us.”

“A book about Goths?” she said, quirking and eyebrow. “House of Goths, an alternative set of talented individuals coming together, forming a band and overcoming adversity and rising above personal challenges?”

“Yeah, why not? But don’t forget the falling love bits. That’s where you’ll make the most sales.” He leaned in real close. “I can help you with the sexy parts.”

“I’m sure you can and I’ll hold you to it!” Gwen giggled, pondering the idea. “Do you think it would sell?”

“Depends on the writer. And I believe you have it in you to make it a bestseller.” He winked.

“Wouldn’t that be something?”

“So, what do you say?” Crispin asked. “Ready to go back to school, finish your course and write an international bestseller?”

“It’s not exactly historical fiction, but I think it might actually be better. Kind of an old world mystique with modern day characters. Wow, what a great idea!”

“Perfect, you can use the time on tour to plot it all out,” Crispin said. “Maybe even have it all written by the time we head back to Harlow Manor.”

“Oh, I don’t know if it’ll be done that quick,” she said with a smile. “So, when do you plan on returning?”

“Maybe in the Fall. Christmas for sure. I want to invite my friends, too. Maybe we’ll have our annual Halloween party there. I’ll even fly everyone in for the event.”

“Now you’re talking like a true billionaire,” she teased. “Just don’t let it get to your head.”

“Never, that’s why I have you and that’s why I want to keep my friends close.”

“Well, I suppose I should go on in,” Gwen said, taking a deep breath. It was only 6 PM but they were both weary from the flight. “You should head home, too. I’ll bet you’re looking forward to seeing your housemates.”

With a nod, Crispin agreed. He then carried Gwen’s luggage up to her place above the shop. After taking a look around the small but cozy bachelor apartment, he sighed when she walked him to the door.

“Goodnight, sweet Crispin,” she said, giving him a kiss. Sensing his need for more than that, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close. Her heart leapt when he let her hold him without hesitation. He had come a long way from when they had started out. He no longer worried she would leave him and therefore enjoyed being held. She loved him. She had told him many times. Every time she spoke the words, he had rewarded her with a heart-melting smile. “I love you. I’ll miss you tonight. But I look forward to seeing again, real soon.”

Holding her tightly in return, Crispin eventually forced himself to release her. But not before a series of emotion packed goodbye kisses. “God, this hurts,” he groaned, chuckling at himself.

“It does. I agree,” she said, stepping back and smiling at him. “But you know what?”

“What’s that?”

“I’m looking forward to seeing you again and again and again…”

“Haha, I get it. Come here.” Once again her took her into his arms and kissed her. “Sweet dreams, Gwen.”