The Greatest Mind I Ever Knew

Chapter 20: Messy Suits and New Roots

The next day was a Sunday, which meant Lotan and I had no obligations. I was no longer working, even though it gutted me to have to leave ballet for a while: I was only just entering my third trimester and still in peak physical condition! My pirouettes were still the best in the troupe, and my poise and grace and elegance remained, even if my hormones did tell me otherwise. I was still a good dancer, but standing on your toes for twelve hours a day definitely isn't so rewarding when there's five pounds of baby and belly hanging off the front of your body! My midwife had been warning me for the last two months that I could hurt myself by dancing so intensely, so I figured it was about time to start listening.
               I continued to exercise at home, but my back ached in places that hadn't before and my energy was spent far more easily. Recently I'd found myself eating more and more sweet things and carbs to keep me going: luxuries I'd seldom given myself until then!
               Being pregnant actually relaxed me, somehow. Having a baby in my womb felt like a constant reminder that my life was never going to be lonely or boring again. I'd spent my whole life up to this point striving, working, struggling, practising for one thing: to be the best ballerina in the English National Ballet. But truthfully Faith would always be better than me, and for the first time I didn't mind it. I loved dancing and I always will, but I didn't mind taking the time out to focus on bigger things. I even enjoyed it. I'd much rather have been in my comfy slippers on a Wednesday morning than in Faith's ballet shoes!
               In fact, life was so idyllic at that time, that my only problems were Lotan's long hours at work and his lack of sleep at night. Five days a week he was out from dawn until dusk rehearsing with the orchestra, or seeing to his duties as Jasper's assistant. And when performing nights popped up he'd obviously be out even later. But even after a show he'd come home, tired and messy-haired, and play his piano in the living room for a few more hours until he dropped off from sheer exhaustion! Then two hours later he'd be back at it again.
               Bedtimes were becoming lonely for me. But things would change now. Lotan had promised me he would try to fix his sleeping problems, and I was going to hold him to it. And as for the long hours at work... He was merely settling into a new job, right? He was doing something he loved, and learning to do it even better. It would take some time for him to find the perfect balance between that and me. I had to be patient, and supportive. Besides, once the baby came he'd make more time for his family. ...Right?

That Sunday at least, Lotan and I could spend as much time together as we wanted. For once I woke up in the morning to find him lying beside me, his eyes open but blinking heavily. The sight of him made me want to cry. He'd really done it this time! He'd stayed beside me all night, knowing he wouldn't sleep but resisting his piano for my sake. He'd done exactly as I'd asked, even though it must have driven him mad to lie there for so long with nothing to do.
               Eventually I swallowed back the emotion and rolled over to face my sweet fiancé. Lotan looked over at me and smiled. I smiled back.
'You stayed.' I murmured, nestling into him closely. He inhaled deeply, and let it out again. His long fingers began to twirl a wave of my hair.
'Yes.'
'Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me.'
               His eyes brightened up a little and his arms held me with more strength.
'Good, my love. Good. You are beautiful sleeper, Olivia.'
'You're a flirt.'
'You are easy to flirt to, baby.'
               I giggled, partially because he'd placed a warm, tingly kiss on my forehead, and partially because of how he pronounced the word 'flirt'. It was almost as charming as the way he said my name.
               My fiancé looked at my smile for a while, then said decidedly, 'I take you to a ball very soon, my love.'
'What!' I choked, instantly shaking my head in surprise. Then I gestured down to my bump. 'Lotan, I-I, I, we can't! I don't think they make ballgowns in maternity sizes!'
'Then I will finding someone who make them!' he said, his tone and face very serious about this. 'Remember, dear lady, Jasper said, doors are, er, er, open now, for me. We will, er, be inviting to very many balls and parties and dinners! And I taking you to all of them, and French kissing you in the gardens outside and I give you many beautiful wines and champagne and flowers and new dresses! And not just, I also will fix my sleeping.'
               I stared over at him now, as surprised as I was smitten. Did he really want to talk about this again so soon?
'Really?' I asked gingerly. He nodded.
'Yes, Olivia. I will asking help.'
'From who? What kind of help are you talking about?'
'Any helps! Anything.' he said, still stroking my hair. 'Therapy, medicines, God, anything. And I will keeping to ask help until my head is fixed.'
               Smiling widely now, I quickly grabbed Lotan's head with both my hands and kissed him.
'Thank you, honey!' I beamed afterwards. 'You're the best, do you know that? You're the best!'
               Lotan relaxed and chuckled. I quickly added into his ear, 'Just don't take me to a ball until after the baby comes, alright? I want to be able to drink and dance all night without feeling like my back is about to break.'
'Well,' he said, nodding sympathetically, 'then we must waiting, but I am, er, er, take you more places than balls, Olivia. Today I take you for a date.'
               My eyes sparked.
'A date!? Yay! Where?'
'Er,' he thought aloud, 'we may, er, er, er, going the cinema, and this café you are like, with the, er, this, er, fruit, the drinks, the - ugh!' Lotan groaned and shook his head. 'I can't speaking English today, my love.'
'You've been speaking very good English so far.' I told him gently. 'I think you're talking about the smoothie café I like, right? If you prefer, you can tell me what we're going to do in French instead. Then it'll be a surprise as well as very romantic.'
               Lotan smiled appreciatively and said the rest in his native tongue. I listened but instantly forgot every syllable he said: I'd been more than a little distracted by his eyes and hair and body and beautiful, beautiful smile.