Our Heart - The Greatest Showman {Book 2 of "One Heart"}

Chapter 14

Phillip's Pov 

Since I've met Lizzy, I've come to find a new definition of the term Calm. Calm is the forest right after the dawn light has kissed the colours into being. Just being there brings the soul into sweet surrender, at one with nature, vibrant yet relaxed. Every fragrance is fresh, like the page of a new book. Each burst of birdsong is unique, a live chorus to waken the mind, to shake off whatever sleepiness remains. Thoughts and feet wander, lungs fill, time rolls by in its silent and endless way.

Calm is Lizzy standing their with me while we waited for her carriage to come. I had my arms wrapped around her waist while hers linked around my neck. I rested my chin on top of her head. 

However, the noise of reality had to come remove us from this dream-like state -this feeling of calmness. 

"I probably look like a mess" She giggles as she began to dust the dirt of the edges of her gold dress. I gently pushed a whispy bit of hair out of her face and pressed my lips to her forehead. "You look perfect." I whisper, only enough for her just to hear it over. 

Lizzy laughs, the strand of hair I had only just pushed back falling into her face once more. "You Phillip Carlyle ." She paused to stand on her toes to kiss me, "are a romantic at heart.", another kiss. "And I love you for it." 

She gave me one more kiss, longer than the others, before running to hope in the carriage. Leaving me there to smile most likely like a fool. 

****

Not long after Lizzy left - Barnum, W.D, Charles alongside a couple of the other circus performers showed up. W.D had asked if we could have his party at our place as it had the biggest yard as I believe we were going to build a small bonfire later on. 

I noticed W.D was standing over to the side, drink in hand, looking out into the paddocks. I walked over. 

"You alright?" I asked, I wasn't really sure how to approach W.D sometimes. He was just so to himself most of the time. Also, I'm pretty sure there, several, times when we first met he wanted to kill me. And for most of them, I don't think I would of blamed him. 

"Yeah, just thinking about tomorrow and every day after that." He stopped for a few moments, "What is it like? Being Married?" He asked hesitantly. 

"It's..." I tried to search for the right words, "It's what gives my life purpose. Knowing that Lizzy loves me and I love her, it gives my life meaning. It has clarified so many things and shown me things I never thought I would understand." 

It's true though. Before I met Lizzy, I was a nobody who was a somebody. Playing the same old part. It had, my life had, no purpose. I was playing apart of somebodies else's dream, not my own. 

Lizzy is my dream. She has been since I met her. 

"Even with all that's happen, how do you guys have a normal life? With the circus? I mean, did you two even have a honeymoon?" 

Come to think of it, we didn't have a honeymoon. I could surprise Lizzy.....  I trailed off momentarily before coming back to answer W.D's question. 

"I've found that nothing with Lizzy and I will ever be 'normal' as you say. But even with everything that's happened, I wouldn't change a thing." 

"Was your first year hard? Lots of people say it is, but you two seemed to do so well," W.D  said.

"We still are in our first year, I believe we are at 6 months." I smile, making W.D chuckled  little bit, "Hardto say. I don't think it was the marriage part that was so hard as much as the events that came with it. 

"Did you fight?"

"Are you kidding? That's what we're best at!" We shared a laugh. Lizzy and I were good at arguing over the tiniest to the biggest things. Still, that had died down a lot.

"I don't know why it feels like such a big deal," W.D  said, his laughter fading. "We wanted to get married for so long. Why does it feel so overwhelming now that we are?"

"It's the title." I took a sip of champagne. "It's scary to be a husband. It feels like there's more to lose. I worry about that title more than running the circus and managing that." 

"Really?"

"Really."

W.D was quiet, considering this.

"Listen," I started. "This isn't me kicking you out of the circus or anything. You're always welcomed. But maybe what you and Ailsa need is a break from all this, just you too."

"What, like a trip away?"

I nodded, "Take some time with Ailsa and decide where you wanna go. Then you guys can have some time alone, and decide what you guys want to do."

"You and Lizzy do fine here."

"We're a different couple." I pointed out

W.D looked down, and I could see that something about this made him feel like he'd failed.

I clappedhim on the back. "I don't trust many people the way I trust you. You've done alot for Lizzy. Just go look. See if there's something out therethat you two really love, and if there is, consider it a gift from us." 

A smile was etched onto W.D's face as he took another sip of his drink. "Thank you," He said. Letting both of take another drink before he spoke once more. 

"Maybe you should take your own advice and have some time away with Lizzy".