Dreams Can Come True

17. The Spark

As dusk fell outside, Bill and I stood by the large window in his apartment. The city shimmered in the twilight, and I felt the warmth of Bill's presence beside me. The atmosphere was charged with emotions, and I knew it was time to go see Bill's mother, Simone.
I glanced sideways at Bill, his eyes reflecting the tumultuous feelings coursing through my veins as well. In an almost whispering tone, I addressed him, "Let's go see your mom now." Bill looked at me, his eyes mirroring a mixture of determination and gratitude. Without saying anything, he nodded in agreement.
"Mom," began Bill on the other end of the line, "we'll come over tonight. There are things we need to discuss." He listened to her response for a moment and nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Yes, we're okay, but there are developments you need to know about."
As he spoke with his mother, I felt a mixture of emotions inside me. There was a desire to reassure Simone and let her know that we were safe. But there was also a deeper uncertainty about how she would react to the news of our reunion. A little voice in my head wondered if she would understand, if she could share in our happiness. I wanted to explain to her as soon as possible that Bill and I were back together, that our love was stronger than any storm.
Bill ended the phone call and looked at me with a determined gaze. "She's glad we're coming over," he said.
Bill saw the concerned look in my eyes as we prepared to go to his mother's house. He brought his hand to my face and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "Are you sure you want to go? After that break-in, I understand if you're not in the mood," he said, his voice tinged with concern. I felt the warmth of his hand on my skin and smiled slightly.
I shook my head and looked at him with determination. "No, I want to go see your mom. She deserves a proper explanation after the last time I was there." My thoughts went back to the tumultuous visit to Bill's childhood home, where everything seemed to escalate. Now, with a renewed relationship and a strong bond with Bill, I felt the need to set things right.
Bill nodded understandingly. "Yes, she does," he confirmed, wrapping his arm around me. "What are we going to tell her? Something about a spark?" I asked, looking at him expectantly.
Bill looked thoughtfully ahead, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he deeply contemplated the question I had asked him. His eyes, normally so expressive, now seemed busy unraveling his own thoughts. After a moment of silence, he looked me straight in the eyes, the intensity in his gaze reflecting his sincere reflections.
"Elise," he began in a calm voice, "at the gala, we found each other again," Bill began with a certain seriousness in his tone. "It was as if time stood still, and I realized how much I missed you. The spark, as you call it, was indeed back. In fact, it felt like it had never been extinguished. I felt complete when I had you back in my arms, and since then, every day with you has been a gift." His words touched me deeply. I could hear the sincerity in his voice and felt a warmth spread through my body.
Then, with a mischievous smile breaking through his serious demeanor, Bill added, "And yes, the spark has certainly reignited, both emotionally and, shall we say, physically." His remark was followed by a playful wink, and I couldn't help but laugh.
Tom, who had been watching this scene with interest, couldn't resist adding his unfiltered opinion. "A sexual spark at the gala, you mean!" His comment brought a smile to my face as I looked at Bill. The spectacle was inevitable, and I saw Bill's expression change from surprise to mild irritation. In response, I heard Bill roar next to me, "I was drunk, Tom!" His voice sounded powerful.
Tom, not particularly impressed by Bill's reaction, continued his provocative remark. "Yeah, yeah, Bill hooked up with the other Elise after the gala," he said with a grin. Automatically, I grabbed Bill's hand, not to comfort him, but to show him that I could take a joke.
Bill immediately started to defend himself. "She seduced me, and..." he began, but before he could finish his sentence, I put my finger on his lips and looked him straight in the eyes. "Doesn't matter what happened after the gala," I whispered, "but I think it's a believable story to tell your mom," I added, with a smile.