Chapter 20

It was a beautiful Saturday, Spring having finally made it’s mark on their tiny town. Jack had given Klara the day off, insisting that she enjoy the fresh air for some much needed alone time. Klara had been spending all of her time with the girls, teaching them to read and write in the morning, using their help to make lunch and dinner, and then reading to them before bed. Jack loved his sisters, but he knew that too much time with any child could make an adult weary, especially one who had been thrust suddenly into motherhood.

Maman and Papi had left their house a month ago, and Klara seemed more determined than ever to take good care of the girls. She knew exactly the kind of danger they faced, especially with all of her experience with the runners. Even after a month, they had still not heard from his parents, he knew Klara was worried, and he hoped the fresh air and sunshine would do her some good.

He was climbing the stairs with three sandwiches and three tall glasses of milk, and heard giggles coming from Arabella’s bedroom. “Is anyone hungry?”

“Starving!” Arabella squealed, jumping from the pillow she was sitting on. She was wearing an oversized dress, with a hat, pearls hanging from her neck.

“Me too Jack.” Emmaline said, less enthusiastically, dressed in the same style as her sister.

“May I join you both?” he asked with a bow.

“Of course sir, but you must be wearing a jacket, this is a reputable establishment.” Arabella instructed.

“Very well, I’ll just be a moment, don’t start without me.” He set the tray on the floor and went to his room. He found an old dinner jacket of Grandpere’s in his closet and slid into it before rejoining the girls in the bedroom.

“You look very handsome sir, won’t you join us for lunch?” Emmaline giggled.

“Thank you very much Miss, you are looking quite beautiful yourself.”

The three of them enjoyed their simple sandwiches, pretending they were wealthy customers at a gourmet restaurant. The girls were giggling, and Jack was half doubled over with laughter. He had never had such a fun time with them, probably because he had never been able to spend quite so much time with them. The age gap had certainly hindered their relationship as brother and sisters.

“Alright, let’s get cleaned up.” Jack smiled, after playing with the girls for hours.

“But we’re having so much fun!” Arabella whined.

“I know girls, but don’t you think it would be wonderful if we had all the laundry down, folded and put away before Klara gets home?”

“Would she be very happy if we did that?” Emmaline asked, suddenly excited, her bright blue eyes shining.

“I think she would be very happy to come home and have nothing to do.”

“Come on Ari, we can help fold the sheets!” Emmaline began throwing the clothes off of her, her hat and dress flying. She was just about to pull off a ring and throw it into the heap when Jack stopped her.

“Where did you get this Emma?”

“It was on the dresser.” she said shyly. “I was going to put it back, I swear! We were just dressing up.”

“I know darling, you’re not in trouble.” Jack smiled taking the ring from her. “But how about we say, we don’t play with the jewelry anymore, just the clothes. Do you think you can manage that?”

“Yes Jack.”

Jack twirled the sapphire in his hand, it was clearly worth a lot, set in antique silver, the gem sparkling as it found rays of light. Thinking back on his early days with Grandmere and Klara, he remembered it always being on Grandmere’s hand. Surely the ring held some significance. While he gazed at the beautiful piece of jewelry, an idea formed in his mind, an idea that twisted his stomach in ways it had never turned before, an idea that made him shake with the very anticipation of it. He could hardly stand the thought of waiting, but he would have to wait, at least until Klara got home.

“Can I just say one more time, thank you for doing the laundry, and for fixing dinner.” Klara giggled, drying the last plate.

“You do so much for us all, we all wanted to do something for you, give you a whole day off. I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me wash those dishes. But since you wouldn’t, how about I make us some tea, and we play a game of chess?”

“Checkers?”

“Checkers it is.”

“I’ll make the tea, you set up the game?”

“Klara, it’s supposed to be your day off, I can make tea and set up the board.”

“Ok, I do kinda have to use the bathroom.” Klara blurted, dashing from the kitchen.

Jack laughed as he filled the tea pot with water, his relationship with Klara had certainly become more relaxed in the past month, despite all of their added stress. He could barely hear her feet in the hall upstairs, she was clearly trying to be quiet, not wanting to wake the girls up. She had been so excited about their effort while she was out, that she insisted they all have fun, and saved the dishes until after they were asleep. Jack had finished with the tea and was just placing the last black piece on the board when Klara entered the parlor.

She was wearing a pair of light cotton weave pants, with a large sweater that hung almost down to her knees. Her brown hair fell in tired curls, tied loosely in a ribbon, draped over her shoulder, pieces tumbling around her face. There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face, her cheeks shiny and freshly scrubbed. She grabbed a pillow from the couch and dropped down to the floor, the pillow beneath her, her head resting in her hands.

“Ready for me to beat you?”

“I don’t think so Klara.”

“I warn you, I spent a lot of summers playing checkers with my Grandpere.”

“I think I can manage.” Jack winked, motioning for her to make her first move. She bent her head down, deep in thought, the tip of her tongue finding it’s way out of her lips. With one finger she slid a black piece forward, her finger lingering for a moment before she was finally satisfied. Her gaze stayed on the piece, as if analyzing her decision.

“Your turn!” Klara laughed. Jack realized he was staring, and moved his thoughts to the game. He carefully moved one of his red pieces, only to get a laugh from Klara, clearly he had just played into her strategy, though he had no idea how. Their game continued, Klara giggling like a school girl after Jack’s every move, hopping over his red pieces like there was nothing to it at all. Klara was deep in thought over another move, Jack had only six pieces remaining, and he couldn’t wait any longer.

“Klara, will you miss me when the war is over?” he asked, watching her slide a black checker forward.

“Please, don’t...” she said quietly, shifting uncomfortably, her eyes glued to the board.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t talk about that...”

“I’ll miss you.” he said quickly, not allowing her the opportunity to stop him. He needed to say it, he needed to say it all.

Klara looked up for the first time during the game, her green eyes glistening with tears. “I’ll miss you too.” she sniffed. “Now can we please get back to the game?”

Jack moved another piece, but continued. “I’ll miss your eyes, your smile, your laugh, the way you wash the dishes with your hips swaying back and forth. I’ll miss you songs, your scent, the curves of your face. I’ll even miss taking cold showers if it means you aren’t there to use all the hot water. I’ll miss your strength, your stubbornness, even your anger. I will miss every ounce of you, every stitch that makes you who you are.”

He paused, looking up for the first time, unable to do so before, he saw Klara’s eyes still glued to the game board, unblinking, her hand frozen on a black checker. He continued, not trusting himself to stop now, afraid he’d never be able to get the rest out. “So, as I realized how deep a hole losing you would leave, I knew I couldn’t do it, I knew I could never let you go.” He reached across the board, lifting her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. “Klara, I love you more than I thought I could ever love anyone, and I know I should have told you sooner, but I was so afraid to hear you say it was all just pretend. That I was nothing more than a fake husband, helping you to avoid the notice of the Germans, someone you’d be happy to be rid of at the wars end. And while that still could be your response, I think I would always regret not asking this one question.”

“What question?” she whispered, her eyes wide.

“Will you stay married to me? After the war is said and done, will you stay with me, will you be my wedded wife until death do us part?”

Tears were falling down her cheeks, a mingled expression on her face. “Whatever your answer, I will be your husband for as long as I live, and I will cherish, protect, honor and serve you until the day I die. For quite some time, you’ve been the perfect wife I’ve imagined raising my children with. No one else could ever be suitable.”

Klara let out a half sob then pulled herself across the checker board, destroying their game. Without answering, she welded her lips to his, kissing him with a passion he had never felt before. He held her tightly, his mind and soul lost in the woman he adored. Suddenly she pulled away, just far enough to break her lips from his.

“Yes,” she whispered with a giggle, “I’ve loved you since before Grandmere died. I thought when you pulled away from me that night, that you were trying to say you didn’t feel the same way about me. I was discouraged, which was why I was so angry with you, it was easier to be angry, than hurt. But then, these past few weeks, I’ve been feeling entirely different, and I know you were just trying to protect me. And, to hear you say you love me...”

Jack couldn’t help himself, letting his mouth fall on hers again, smothering her with kisses. After another moment, she broke free again, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. “When can we be married?”

Jack stood, then bent down to pick Klara up from the ground. He looked into her eyes, a sly smile on his face. “That’s the beauty of it...we already are.”

“Are you sure that’s not sinful somehow? We were just pretending then, we didn’t mean it.” she asked, concern in her eyes.

“Well, we are married in the eyes of the law, we have the document to prove it. And if it will make you feel better, we can find a pastor tomorrow and say our vows again if it’s God’s eyes you’re worried about, and mean them.”

She shook her head, “I don’t need a pastor, but I would like to mean them.”

Jack understood her meaning and set her down. He straightened his clothes, took Klara’s hands and cleared his throat. “I, Jack Barrett Eiffel, take you, Klara Ann Kemp to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, until death separates us, I pledge to you my love and faithfulness.” Jack dug into his pocket and pulled out the ring that had been lingering there. Klara gasped as he slid the blue sapphire on her finger.

“Grandmere’s ring!”

He nodded, “The girls found it today, while they were playing dress up, Grandmere would have wanted you to have it.” Klara stared up at him, unable to speak, then she turned around and dashed up the stairs without a word. Jack was left in the parlor, confused for only a second before she returned, taking his hands in hers.

“I, Klara Ann Kemp, take you, Jack Barrett Eiffel to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, until death separates us, I pledge to you my love and faithfulness.” Klara too reached into her pocket, taking out a gold band, sliding it on Jack’s finger.

“Where did you...”

“It’s Grandpere’s, Grandmere would have wanted you to have it.”

Jack smiled at the amazing girl before him and whispered, “May I kiss the bride?”

Klara smiled coyly, “She would be upset if you didn’t...”

Jack placed one hand firmly behind her knees, the other behind her back and swept her into his arms. He kissed her once soundly on the mouth then carried her upstairs to the bedroom, her fingers wrapped in his hair, her head nestled into his neck. They were as quiet as they possibly could be, closing the door and locking it to make sure the girls would not be able to enter without them knowing. Jack laid Klara on the bed delicately, her hair spread across the quilt seductively. A flicker of uncertainty graced her face for one second, and then it was gone, relaxation and desire replacing it. Jack pressed a kiss to her lips and knew they were both finished pretending, forever.

There you have it, the moment you've ALL been waiting for! I really loved writing this one, so I hope you really enjoyed reading it!! This is not the end of the story though, Klara and Jack still have a few more hurdles to jump over, so stay tuned! Thanks so much for reading, and reviewing, I appreciate it so much!