12: Man With a Plan

Eager to put the past behind them like a distant nightmare, Harper finds solace knowing Clyde has been working diligently behind the scenes to give her a life of happiness.

As if all had been forgiven in that instant, she affirms her saintly heart by gripping a fistful of his stretchy shirt to pull him into a burning kiss.

Joy swarms her core at the familiar comforting, warming embrace of her husband.

This is the man she fell in love with.

-This- is the man she married.

Pretending the Clyde she's crossed paths with over the last month was just a figment of her imagination, a tiny blip in time of bad behavior, she sinks into the loving exploration of his mouth.

Every second they spend in peace, growing closer to becoming one as he opens his heart to her, she feels whole again.

Clyde gently squeezes her shoulders and deepens the kiss, broad palms stroking and kneading her back until she sighs in defeat between his lips.

She was his; a thousand times over, the longer they embraced, she knew they belonged together.

Caressing her butt with a firm palm, withdrawing from her wet bliss with a delicate nip, "As much as I -really- want more of your sugar," he runs his thumb along her bottom lip with a hazy smile.

"I won't be the reason The Belle of the Ball don't got enough time to get ready," cupping the side of her face and smooching her softly, his words visibly register on her face as she comes back from the universe she was drifting through.

"B-belle of the–," going quiet, cheeks reddening, "A ball? We're going to a ball?!"

Clutching his forearms, doing her best to withhold her elation, Clyde grins at very sight of happiness flooding her face.

Nodding his head slowly with a cool restraint, she copies his movements in disbelief until her smile stretches from ear to ear.

"Wait," her smile drops into a frown, "I don't have anything with me but books," her hand falls from him to her side.

Capturing her eyes then nodding to the back seat, mocking disappointment, "You really think I wouldn't come -fully- prepared?"

Shaking her head with a guilty "no," his eyebrows bounce before he taps her nose.

Tucking her side bangs behind her ear, "I wouldn't be a very good man tryin' to fix things only to miss a few steps," he guides her head back slightly.

"God as my witness," brushing his nose faintly across hers, "Summer 2031 marks the rest of our lives."

Pecking over her eyebrows, "And you're gonna see nothin' but," planting kisses along fluttering eyelids, ""New Clyde" from here on out," his breath tickles her lips before she opens her eyes to get lost in a green sea.

Swallowing down the overwhelming anticipation attached to his words, she allows the tides in his eyes to capsize her, throwing caution to the wind.

*****

Harper is dazzled by the personal, golf cart tour across -their- fifty-three acre, hotel-vineyard complex. Delighted to learn the winery has been reconfigured into an organic, flat and sparkling juice farm that also produces jellies and syrups, she questions whether or not she should learn about agriculture instead.

Nah.

He's clearly got enough hands on deck to make this new, family business a worthwhile success whether she works pushing pills or not.

Clyde drops her off at the restricted, main house to show her around before leaving her to get ready in the costume he carefully picked out for her.

Giving Harper the master bedroom with an attached bath, she nearly dances behind french doors to a grand balcony overlooking the main entry and adjoining patios when she's finally alone.

This place was more beautiful than any dream; could it truly be their home soon?

After parting from his wife, Clyde does a final once-over on the musicians, hors d'oeuvres, and decorations in the old winery's restaurant-turned-ballroom with two adjoining patios.

Satisfied with the set-up of an adults-only, evening masquerade, he glances over the deserted "Kids' Zone" in the distance.

Stocked with rides, games, and vendor stands, he hopes the entire complex will be overflowing with townsfolk over the next week so he can get far more in profits than what he put in.

Realizing guests are starting to arrive by the time he makes it back to the three-story, main house with a walk-in cellar, he works on getting ready in his old room.

Standing in his dated yet well-kept, black stone bathroom with silver fixtures and glass accents, he ties the black silk to his mask behind his head.

Staring at his reflection, a tall, well-built man dressed in a black tuxedo with a crushed, red velvet vest and gold accents, he smirks at the sight of his intricate, matching wolf's mask.

His sleek, case-less phone dings and the "Man With a Plan"'s face lights up.

Getting a message of completion from the hired beautician to do Harper's hair, makeup and nails, he sits on his bed to tie black and gold dress shoes into a bow.

Forming his fingers into the shape of a gun and shooting at his big, bad wolf in the mirrored dresser's reflection, he saunters across charcoal gray carpet to grab his decorative cane resting beside the door frame.

Running calloused digits along glossy, black lacquer, he traces the folds of an intricately carved, red rose with accent, green leaves dusted in gold.

Knowing he may not be a perfect man, he takes pride in knowing that being raised by avid party-throwers made him talented at planning perfect evenings.

Ready to find his red-cloaked prey, Clyde makes his way up one side of a double staircase to the third floor in full costume.

Nodding to the beautician with a cheeky grin as he passes her in the open, cylindrical hall, the pep in his step slows until he stands just outside the double doors to his parent's old room.

Swallowing hard, checking his great-great-grandfather's pocket watch for the time, he breathes deep at the ticking, filigree gold that reads 7:45.

Tucking the family heirloom back into a silk lined pocket, concealing his thrilling anxiety for an evening of socializing ahead, he knocks at the solid, white doors.

The right door swings open and as if the angels above snatched the very words from his tongue, Clyde falls speechless while laying eyes upon his beloved Harper.