Belly of the Beast

Chapter 12

Our plane to Verona left at noon. So, naturally, Griffin was at our door at six AM with her big announcement. "I'm officially a teenager!" She fist-pumped the air, filling the quiet apartment with the sounds of childish merriment. It was infectious, and before I knew it, I was reminiscing about my thirteenth birthday party. I'd invited my crush and left him feel me up behind the garage.

"What were the first words you said as a teenager?" I asked, sliding a piece of sourdough bread into the toaster.

Griffin slowed down to consider my question. "I can't remember. Maybe they were, I'm officially a teenager! I've said it several times already. Where's Vincent?" She glanced around, suddenly  frantic.

"He's in his office making sure the universe's projected investments are on target. Don't worry. He's packed and ready to leave at nine AM sharp."

"Okay. I'll be back at eight-forty so we can ride the elevator together." Griffin swooped down to kiss the dogs, who followed her to the door, looking both disappointed and relieved when she left. There was always that cool-down period after Griffin vacated a room.

I buttered my breakfast and walked it into the spare bedroom. I still needed to fill my toiletry bag before I could officially count myself ready. As I sat on the end of the bed eating bland toast, I surveyed the suitcase for items I might have forgotten. What would it be like to travel with a baby? Would I need a separate bag? A baby bag?

My parents used to give me gum to chew on the airplane when my ears popped, or when I got nervous. They spent a lot of money on gum during family vacations. Now, I had my own wings. I could fly to DC without burning fossil fuel. They would flip if they saw me landing in their backyard. I really needed to tell them about that strange piece of my life.

A sting on my palm had me balancing my plate on my knee as I inspected a small abrasion there. When had I done that? Probably during my rendezvous with Vincent in the aquifer. He had me pinned to the wall pretty good. That was fun, right up until the end when he said I'd burned him. 

Then there was the incident with Sam. After we'd left Dmitry's estate, Sam called and said he'd seen a winged man inside the maze who looked like the statue. When Vincent probed further, Sam admitted to seeing horns on the guy's head. Vincent tried to reassure him, using his no-nonsense voice, that he most likely saw a gollum checking-up on them. The horns were just his imagination running wild. After the call, when Vincent confirmed that none of his comrades from New York were in the area, we knew Sam had seen our spy.

I heard a plop and looked at the floor to find my toast there, butter side down. Damn. A perfectly bland breakfast wasted. As I got on my knees to clean it up, I noticed a slip of paper attached to the underside of a small table. The neatly-folded note was held in place by two pieces of tape, clearly put there on purpose.

I worked the paper free, then I sat down and opened it, my curiosity trumping any fear of consequences. The first thing I noticed was the handwriting. It was definitely feminine, and it began To my darling Vincent. Holy crap. Was it a love letter?

Suddenly, I had the urge to return the letter to its hiding place and forget I ever saw it. But I couldn't do that now. I'd already seen it. Maybe destroying it without reading it would be a better option. But I'd always wonder what the letter said.

My Darling Vincent,

You may never read this because I plan to leave it somewhere you may never look, but I still must write it because to deny my love for you would be like denying the sun existed. You have brought me more joy and more pleasure than I could ever find in my lifetime. You will forever be the marker of excellence by which I judge all others. Tragically, the gollum who has won my hand will never win my heart. While you say an ocean couldn't stand in the way of our love, you are not the one being asked to leave your family on the other side of it. I hope you will someday forgive me and find love again.