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BETHANY HADN'T SEEN Suki. They hadn't taken her with them. No, Bethany was all alone, surrounded by gangsters with guns, and she had no idea where Rocco might take her or what he'd do to her once they got there.
Her heart cried out for Paul as she closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat, hiding beneath the pretense of having a headache and trying to shut it all out. Even as she tried to pretend she was calm, however, her heart raced, her mouth went dry, and terror gripped her.
They were nearly out of town when a police car pulled them over. She opened her eyes and peered out the window.
“What do they want?” the driver asked the other man in the front seat. Rocco hadn't bothered to introduce her to any of the other men keeping company with Mr. Capone.
He shifted his gun from the casual position on his lap to an active one, sticking the barrel out the window and resting his hand near the trigger.
“It ain't like them to stop us for anything. It's a message for Mr. Capone.”
The men kept their guns visible as the policeman walked toward Mr. Capone's car.
It was Paul.
He'd come for her, wearing a uniform belonging to the local police. Bethany's heart beat faster. She forced away her surprise and closed her eyes. No, no, no. They'll shoot him. He came to rescue me, but they'll shoot him.
If that happened, her heart would never recover. She opened her eyes and focused on his face. This might be the last time she ever saw him, so she wanted to memorize his face, every feature.
He approached their car and said to the driver, “Do you have a Miss Robinson in here?”
“Yeah.” Rocco narrowed his eyes and fingered his gun as if he'd like to use it. “But she's with me, and she's of age now.”
“That's not why I need to bring her in.” Paul turned his gaze on Bethany. “Miss, if you'll step out of the car, these men can be on their way. We don't want to slow Mr. Capone down any more than we have to.”
Bethany reached for the door handle.
“Wait a minute,” Rocco said. “What do you want with her?”
“The sheriff has some questions for her. Nothing to do with any of you.”
Mr. Capone's driver honked his horn. A signal that Mr. Capone had grown impatient.
Rocco deepened his scowl and looked at Bethany. “Go on. I can't come with ya. I'll call ya later, doll.”
“All right.” She opened the door and stepped out on shaky legs.
Paul walked over to her, took her arm in a firm grip, and led her over to the patrol car. Before they reached it, the drivers of the other cars hit the gas and raced off down the road. Within moments, the line of black cars was out of sight.
He opened the door for her and she got in, her whole body shaking.
“Oh, Paul. I, I was so scared.”
“I know, baby.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close, then kissed her once on the forehead. “I don't know what I would've done if anything had happened to you.”
“How did you know?”
“I've been watching them. I thought you were safe until Rocco hustled you into the car.”
“I tried to call you.”
“I was working, baby. Thought you'd stay in your room until tomorrow.”
“How'd you get this car and the uniform?”
“I'm a man of many talents.” He winked at her and unbuttoned his shirt. “Time to change back, though. We'll have to leave the car here.”
“How will we get back?”
“I thought we'd walk, if you don't mind. That'll give us plenty of time to talk.”
“Yes, I'd like that. My aunt and uncle must be worried.”
“Then perhaps your uncle will see the sense of your leaving town earlier than he'd planned. Especially since Rocco might come back to look for you.”
“Oh, but I don't want to go.” She placed her hand on his arm. “I want to stay here with you.”
“My work here is done.” He covered her hand with one of his and gave it a slight squeeze before letting go. “I'll have to leave soon, too.”
“Oh, I see.” Her hand dropped away. “Now that they're gone...”
“Yes.” He nodded.
Sadness filled her at the thought of being apart from him. He removed the uniform shirt and reached for his own shirt. She took in the muscles of his shoulders and arms as he stood wearing only a sleeveless white undershirt. The urge to run her hands up his arms and shoulders came over her, but her shyness won out and she held back.
Blushing, she glanced at the ground, traced a half circle with the toe of her shoe, and waited for him to put his shirt on.
“I want you safely away from here and out of Rocco's reach as soon as possible.”
“I understand,” she said softly, her head still down.
Dressed now, he said in a quiet voice, “Penny for your thoughts.”
“I wish we had more time together.” She gazed back up into his eyes.
He reached for her hand, threaded his fingers through hers, and said, “Let's make the most of the time we have and enjoy this walk.”
“Yes.” She smiled.
He tightened his fingers around hers as they walked towards town. Her heart soared at the simple act of holding hands. She wanted to memorize the way his eyes softened whenever he looked into her eyes. Wanted to remember every detail of his face and the sound of his voice, so she could carry it with her forever.
If this was goodbye, she wanted it to stretch out as long as she could. She didn't want to think of the word, didn't want to say it.
After they had walked along for a few moments, she stopped.
“Wait. There's something I have to do.” She pulled her hand free, reached for the pearl necklace, and pulled it over her head.
“I never want to see this again,” she said. “I'll leave it at the front desk with a note for Rocco, and they can deliver it to him when he returns. I can't stand to have it touching my skin.”
“I'll keep it until we get there, so you won't have to touch it.” Paul held out his hand.
She handed him the necklace. He placed it in his pocket, and when he brought his hand back out, he held another box wrapped in pink paper.
“I bought this for you for your birthday, but wasn't sure if you'd want it.”
“A gift from you, Paul?” Bethany clasped her hands together. “Of course I want it.”
She held out her hands, and he handed her the present. She tore off the paper as fast as she could and opened the box.
Inside was a pair of silver and blue earrings in the shape of two delicate butterflies.
“Oh, Paul.” Bethany caught her breath. “They're beautiful.”
“I'm glad you like them.”
“They're Pipevine Swallowtail butterflies.” She looked up at him and let a deep smile spread across her face. “From the day we met at the park.”
“I wasn't sure you'd remember.”
“Oh, yes. I remember. I will always remember.”
“They aren't as fancy or as expensive as your other gifts.”
“This is the best gift I've ever received.” She put her arms around his neck. “I'll treasure them always.”
He bent for a kiss, and she raised her head to meet his lips. The kiss was sweeter for the danger she'd faced down and the relief they both felt at being together. The kiss went on longer than any of the others they'd shared, and she knew she'd always remember this moment.
Each time Paul kissed her, he left her with a memory she'd treasure, hopefully all the days of her life.
“I can't wait to wear them.” Bethany reached up to remove her gold earrings and replaced them with the butterfly earrings. She dropped the gold earrings into her coin purse. Looking up at Paul, she smiled. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” He cupped her chin and took her in with a loving gaze. “They suit you.”
“Oh, I can't wait until I can see them in a mirror when we get back to my hotel room.”
“I'm glad you like them.” He smiled. “They match your eyes.”
“I wonder if the butterflies are in our special spot today.”
“We can find out.” He reached for her hand and together they walked toward the hotel.
As they strolled along they spoke of his life in Chicago and hers in Ohio. Of how how his father had been a dependable policeman and hers a wealthy man who enjoyed drinking and driving new cars much too fast. Both men had died too young.
They passed a store window and Bethany paused. “Oh there must be a mirror inside.”
“Let's go in so you can see them on.”
Bethany beamed up at him as the earrings dangled by her ears. Paul pushed open the door, which jangled the bell above it, and they entered.
A sales clerk approached. “Can I help you?”
“We would like to borrow your mirror for a minute.”
“Yes, of course.” She gestured to a mirror on the side wall. “Over there. And if there's anything else I can help you with please let me know.”
Bethany walked over and viewed herself in the mirror. The delicate butterfly earrings were perfect and the blue did match her eyes.
“Oh, Paul, they're perfect. Just perfect.” Eyes sparkling she turned back toward him. “I love them.”
He took her hand in his and pulled her close. “And I love you.”
Her heart fluttered. “Oh Paul, I love you too.”
He bent down brushing her lips with a soft kiss and then said; “Now let's go to our special place and see about those butterflies.”
“Yes, I'd like that.”
Holding hands they left the store and headed for the hill with the balustrade bandstand hill where they'd first met.
When they reached the spot, he stopped.
“This is where it all began.” He touched one of her butterfly earrings and gently caressed her ear. “In the middle of all those butterflies is where I first saw you.”
“Yes,” she smiled and then sat on the same bench she'd sat on that day, arranging herself just as she'd been when he'd first seen her. She smiled up at him. “I was sitting right here, reading.”
“If I could have a picture painted of anything, this is what I would want painted.” He smiled. “Bethany beneath the butterflies.”
They smiled at each other in silence, sharing the moment.
“Be very still,” he said.
She froze, breathing softly as butterflies flitted around them, surrounding them, reminding them of the day they had first met.
He picked a flower and tucked it into the collar of her dress. “Now, don't move. Let's wait and see what happens.”
The butterflies danced in the air while Bethany basked beneath the love shining from Paul's eyes.
“You're not watching the butterflies,” she said.
He smiled. “No. I'd much rather watch you.”
She blushed, and a butterfly paused near the flower on her dress.
Bethany held her breath and watched the butterfly without moving her head or speaking, afraid she might scare it away. If only she could capture this moment and store it away.
Finally she whispered, “I wish we could stay here forever.”
When he didn't answer, she looked up at him and searched his eyes to find a look she couldn't decipher.
Then as if he'd just realized he hadn't answered her, he sent a loving look and said, “I was memorizing the moment. So I'll always remember.”
“Oh,” She breathed in and let another smile spread across her face. “Me, too.”
“It seems neither of us wants this to end.”
“I want to be with you, wherever you are.” She couldn't keep the longing of her heart to herself. She wanted him to know how she felt.
He met her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I'm more than sure.”
“I think that can be arranged.” A slow smile spread across his face. “We can discuss that in a moment. First, however...” He dropped onto one knee and leaned in to kiss her.
She melted into his kiss until she wasn't sure where she ended, and he began. Their kiss was sweet and strong, promising much for the future and expressing their gratitude at finding each other. When they broke apart, tears filled Bethany's eyes.
“Tears?” Paul cupped her chin. “We can't have that.”
“They're happy tears.” She laughed.
“Well in that case,” he reached for her hand and helped her rise. “We can allow those.”
She looked up into his eyes.
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and said, “Now, before we get back to the hotel, let's discuss what you want to do with the rest of your life. Now that you're of age and can choose for yourself, I want to hear what you would like to do.”
They took a long walk through town and talked for hours about her dreams and his, about ways they could be together while they pursued their dreams and of the steps they would have to take to make it happen.
Bethany decided she wanted to go to college and become a librarian, since she always kept her nose in a book. She had experienced enough excitement and adventure in her life already without ever having to visit a foreign land. All she wanted or needed now was to have Paul by her side. He'd keep her safe, encourage her dreams, and nurture her independence.
Paul promised to leave Chicago and transfer to a police department in the town where she went to college so they could be together. She'd be far from Rocco's reach, and from the gangster's reputation of going through women, she figured he'd forget about her in time. In the meantime, Paul would be there to make sure she stayed safe.
They both wanted children, and if her aunt and uncle refused to agree to their marriage... well, Bethany didn't really need anyone's approval.
The approval shining in Paul's eyes was enough.
The End