The Two Worlds of Marinette

Chapter 5

For the first time in Luka's life, he had considered backtracking on his word. All weekend he could feel the tension in the air between him and Marinette, and it made it difficult for him to even enjoy strumming his guitar. For the most part, Marinette had spent her time up in the attic, working on her sewing machine, its rhythmic sounds echoing through the old wooden floorboards.

More than once, Luka had his hand on the receiver of the telephone, ready to make the call to Bob Roth and cancel the whole thing for Marinette's sake, but then he would change his mind. Bob might have been many things, but he was his promoter and getting a French artist a spot on British prime time tv was no small feat. He had an obligation and he couldn't change that, even for the love of Marinette.

Then there was the other thing. Marinette was acting differently. She had always been a very affectionate person, wanting lots of hugs and kisses and reassurances, and Luka had always been eager to lavish her in them. Now he felt he had been more alone over the weekend then he would have been by himself in a hotel in Paris. Even when he went to kiss her goodnight, she would turn her head just enough so it would land on her cheek before disappearing up to the attic, the sewing machine running until late into the night. Packing his bag, Luka looked at the second train ticket in his wallet, but she wasn't coming.

"Is it worth me asking one more time?" Luka asked as he stood out the front of the house to wait for his taxi. "There's time if you want to throw a bag together and come with me."

Marinette shook her head, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "I'd only be in your way."

"Hardly." Luka scoffed. "When have you ever been in my way?"

She gave him a half smile. "Well, I'm planning on doing some research this week. There's an elderly lady they call Aunt Lily that Miss Bustier told me about and I'd like to talk to her and see what she remembers about this house and the people that lived here."

Luka nodded his head, but he had reservations. "I hope she can give you the answers you're seeking." He said, his voice sounding a little more strained than he would have liked. He'd had enough time over the weekend to stew over his absurd jealousy of a man that had been dead for 75 years and yet he couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling that perhaps there was something more to it than he wanted to believe.

"I hope so too." Marinette agreed, oblivious to Luka's inner turmoil. Her mind was clearly on someone else and Luka could feel it deep in his chest. Luka then dug into his pocket and took out a small box, turning it over in his hand before giving it to her.

"I was going to give you this for your birthday, but I decided, why wait?"

Marinette opened the box and inside was a stunning oval shaped blue opal pendant with flecks of electric green and violet on a gold chain. "Oh Luka." She exclaimed, taking it out of the box. It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it." He said, taking it out of the box. "May I?" Marinette nodded and Luka carefully brushed her hair to the side and clasped it around her neck. He let his hands run down her arms before turning her to face him. 

Marinette touched her fingers against the smooth stone. "I'll wear it always." She promised. "To keep a part of you with me."

When the taxi arrived, Marinette walked with him down the drive and watched as he put his bag in the boot. When he came closer to kiss her goodbye, she turned her cheek to him once again. Luka wanted to fight against it, to grab her face in his hands and claim those lips that had been his so many times before. But that wasn't him. Whatever it was she had to process, he just had to let her do it and hope she would still be there when he returned. Luka pressed his lips to her cheek, letting them linger before pulling back, the sweet scent of her perfume following him.