Page 37 of Broken Butterfly
Thankfully, she changes the subject to something I’m more than happy to talk about. “Elizabeth is a very talented pianist,” she tells Eduardo. “Perhaps you wouldn’t mind playing for us again after we eat?” she asks me.
“It would be my pleasure. I composed a new song last night. I love your Steinway, by the way,” I tell Eduardo.
“Before I forget,” Tatiána says, looking to Fallon, “I had to make a last-minute decision. Eduardo and I will be leaving tonight to go back to Madrid. We would still like to show you around town before we leave. You are both more than welcome to stay and enjoy the house for as long as you would like.”
I’m a little disappointed because I was hoping to spend more time with her, getting to know Fallon’s sister better. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything couldn’t be more wonderful.” She beams, grabbing hold of Eduardo’s hand on the table. “I didn’t want to say anything until I was able to tell Eduardo first, but…I’m pregnant.”
Fallon is up and rounding the table to hug his sister before I can tell her congratulations. Dual emotions swirl around my mind; happiness for Tatiána and a sad sense of loss for Elizabeth Ann. I choke down the melancholy and join Fallon in celebrating their good news.
“How far along are you?” I ask her.
“Twelve weeks.”
“I’m so happy for you,” I tell her and kiss each cheek.
“Thank you, Elizabeth. Now, let’s finish lunch, listen to you play the piano one last time, and enjoy the remaining hours we have together.”
Tatiána wasn’t exaggerating when she said lunch was their big meal of the day. We eat and talk under the gazebo for about two hours before Tatiána asks if I’m ready to play something on the piano. After hearing me play the song I wrote for Fallon and a few other classical pieces, Eduardo writes a name and contact number on the back of one of his business cards and hands it to me. He tells me if I ever decide to pursue a career as a concert pianist, I should give the number on the back of the card a call. It’s for someone who works with the Spanish Symphonic Orchestra in Madrid. I’m a bit dumbstruck by his offer, so I say thank you and tuck the card away in my dress pocket, knowing it’s a path in life I will never want to follow professionally. I’m determined to become a doctor, but Eduardo’s compliment is still flattering.
Afterwards, we’re driven into Barcelona and spend the rest of the day walking around the city. It’s a phenomenal city with incredible architecture; Gothic-style being my favorite. Tatiána and I exchange contact information and she invites me to come back to visit her in the future, with or without Fallon. We do a little window shopping and a little real shopping. I add to my collection of souvenirs I’ve bought from every place Fallon and I have visited. I think it’s going to take a suitcase of its own to carry back all the things I have purchased for Ryder, Jayson, Julien, Elijah, Meredith, and Trevor. I also sneak in a few surprise items that I will give to Fallon later, and pick up a few baby items that I give to Tatiána as a thank you for hosting me in her home. Knowing all the different foreign transaction fees I’m accruing, I don’t want to see my credit card bill next month.
Tatiána and Eduardo make their departure around seven in the evening, leaving me and Fallon to while away the rest of the night together. Fallon takes me to the Gothic Quarter, and we party until two in the morning. Once we return to the estate, it’s almost three and I’m utterly exhausted from my long day. I flop down on the slate-blue and pale yellow striped sofa that sits in the family room. Fallon makes himself comfortable next to me and picks up my legs to drape across his thighs. I’m about to ask him what he’s doing when he starts massaging my feet, and I emit a very unladylike moan.
“You sound like a fucking porn star,” he muses with a chuckle and I slap his leg.
“Don’t ruin my Zen, asshole. Oh my God, that feels incredible,” I enthuse, falling back on the arm of the sofa and closing my eyes in pure pleasure at what his hands are doing to my feet. I purr like a cat getting its ears stroked. “What do you think about becoming an uncle?”
The rhythm of his hands slows. “Shit, it never occurred to me. I’m going to be an uncle. Christ, that kid is so screwed.”
I peek over at him. “Fallon, you are great with kids. Don’t sell yourself short. You’ll spoil that kid rotten.”
“At least I know he or she will have two great parents and a loving home,” he replies.
And just like last night, my heart breaks for the boy he once was. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
That catches his attention. “What I usually do. Enjoy a tumbler of good scotch and find a hot girl or two to fuck.” I kick him in the ribs with my left foot, making him grunt.
“Why don’t you spend it with me?” I throw it out there hoping it’ll stick. I’ve got a plan in mind. Something I’ve been thinking about the past few days. I don’t know if the boys will still want me coming home with them like we planned, so if that falls through, I will create my own Thanksgiving with Fallon, and somehow convince Trevor to come as well. I’ll invite Meredith, too. And if I do go home with the twins and Ryder, Fallon can still join us. I’m going to make sure that Fallon’s Thanksgiving and Christmas this year are good ones filled with laughter and love.
Fallon says incredulously, “You want me to spend the holiday with you?”
“Did I stutter?”
He pulls my legs and slides me down the sofa in punishment for my sass, then braces himself over me. “Why?”
I slide back to sit up and tuck my legs underneath me, my dress spreading out and draping down the front of the sofa. “Why not? Do you already have plans, or anything better on your turkey day to-do list other than a ‘good scotch and a hot fuck’?” I say with air quotes.
He turns over and lays his head on my lap. His beautiful blue eyes fix up on mine. “No, but—”
I stroke his sandy-blond hair the way I know he likes it. “Then it’s settled. With you around, it’ll be the best fucking Thanksgiving ever,” I exclaim, trying to sound like him.
Fallon doesn’t respond for a minute and I wait anxiously as he processes through his thoughts. I hear his phone ding and he holds it out to the side where I can’t see it. He takes a quick look then puts it back in his pocket. “Are you sure, Elizabeth?”
Without hesitation, I answer, “Absolutely.” And then I aim my arrow true to its target when I tell him, “You’re my friend and I love you. I couldn’t imagine you not being there to share the holidays with me. That includes Christmas as well, by the way. What do you say about getting a ten-foot tree? I’ve always wanted a huge tree.”
I expect Fallon to give me one of his cocksure grins or one of his mirth-filled laughs. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he flat out said no, or better yet, fuck no. What I never would have predicted was for him to flip back around, get up in my face, and plant a whopping big kiss to my mouth. It’s not a sexy kiss filled with tangling tongues or a sweet kiss filled with airy caresses and barely-there touches. It’s a kiss where he smashes his lips against mine in a way that feels like desperation. I’m too stunned to react at first because it came out of the blue. I’m about to push him off of me when Fallon pulls back and places something small and metal in my hand.
