Chapter 28

It was weekend, and Johnathan arranged on leaving for the Saint Michael's Abbey, an ancient hilltop pilgrimage. As he went out and waited for Liza and Herbert to join him, he caught a glance of fog. He desired to cancel their visit, but they went there. As they left for the visit and simultaneously Rosalie, Angie and George entered the estate. She was aw-struck when she realized that Johnathan lived her in his childhood and is currently living in there. Her heart started beating fast and she repeated to herself, 'Calm down! We are here, and we will at least get to see him!'. She was so happy that she would faint, and Angie just knew that she desired to jump out with excitement. 'Oh, God! Angie I cannot wait to meet him!' she held her hand quite strongly. 'It would be a grand surprise to him to meet you like this! He wouldn't have expected that at all!' Angie remarked.

Johnathan and Herbert took a good hike and Liza just delayed their visit to the site due her exhaustion and slow pace. But they made it here. The view was grant, the beautiful mountain complimenting the morning sky. The architecture in itself was grand and amazing. It was the first time his half siblings visited this place, but he came here once with his mother. He doesn't remember the visit very well but her knew the place. He felt at peace when they went inside the historical site and the stood there silently for some minutes.

He doesn't remember what he wished for in his heart, but he desires to meet Rosalie after a long time. Rosalie introduced herself to the maid and she invited them in the house. She prepared their rooms and prepared lunch for them. That was the hospitable nature of the estate whenever guests arrived, and it didn't change as Johnathan's mother started this traditional. She rested a great deal and then visited the garden where all sorts of statues rested. They appeared to tell her story of loneliness and melancholy as she sensed their energy. As she touched them, she saw a lonely woman and her pain shifted to her own. She placed a hand on her heart as it ached so severely that she felt dizzy. She bends down and sat down for a bit which made her clothes damp and wet.

They have a good time exploring every corner of site but when the noon struck, they decided to return back home. It was evening by the time they reached Johnathan's manor house. Herbert and Liza decided to return back to their palace as their mother would be concerned. Johnathan remarked, 'I had a really good time, we will visit the Paradiso National Park next week!'. Liza complained, 'Why not this week?'. Johnathan laughed a little and said, 'Because I have some work to get finished with and I am getting old! I need some good rest to recover!'. Herbert told Liza, 'Come on, Liza let him rest and recover we do not want him to slow us down like you!'. Liza complained, 'John . . .. look he is being mean to me!'. Jonathan spoke, 'Come on, Herbert be a nice big brother! Do not tease our princess!'.

As Johnathan stepped out of the car the maid was waiting for him at the front door. 'Sir, you are home! We have some guests of your waiting for you since noon!' she informed him. He asked, 'Who are they? They introduced themselves while he walked in with her in the main entrance!'. He glanced around and caught sight of Rosalie and he thought for an instance, 'Am I imagining?'... Simultaneously the maid briefed him, 'Sir, the lady introduced herself as you friend and her name are . . ..!'. He uttered, 'Rosalie!' with a surprise as if he was in a trance. 'Oh sir, there you are sir! Right on spot!'. He didn't know how to approach her because he couldn't tell if it was really her. She walked to him, and he gazed at her carefully to realize that she was actually there. He could hear his heartbeat echoing loud in the empty hall where the steps from different room led to.

She waved him and spoke to him, 'Hello, John . . ..! How are you?'. He turned red and replied to her with disbelief, 'Hi Rosalie, I am good! Are you actually here?'. She smiled tenderly and nodded in affirmation. He touched her hand and then embraced her, 'I missed you a lot, Rosalie!'. It was a moment in which something less than an embrace wouldn't do. Rosalie almost felt her breath lost but she responded in an equally warm manner in a rough voice, 'That is why I came to her to you as I missed you abundantly!'. He realized that he is squeezing her and then loosened his clench. 'I am sorry! I just couldn't contain myself!' said Johnathan. 'It is alright John, you left without saying good-bye! That was not fair!' she protested. He took her in his study where they sat down and he told her, 'I couldn't dare saying good-bye I wanted to but then it would have been hard to leave! So, I had done that!'.

'Alright, but you could have told me if you desired to visit Italy! You didn't ever mention that!' he remarked. 'Yes, I didn't actually desire to visit Italy . . .. there is a reason I came here and . . ..!' as Rosalie articulated these words a knock interrupted them. The butler told them, 'Sir and dear lady, the dinner is ready! You must join us! I have asked Mr. and Mrs. George Earl to join us as well! They will be there in a brief moment!'. 'Shall we?' said Johnathan to Rosalie and both of them went to the dinning which Rosalie explored before Johnathan could feed her about the history of the things over the dinning there. They both were so pleased to have each other in front of them that they could just talk about anything at that moment. Angie and George joined them in their conversation and enjoyed a good minute till mid-night. They resorted to their rooms and for the first time that place felt bright and alive that night to Johnathan.

He was excited and couldn't sleep he had a lot over his mind, and he needed to talk to her about that. He was not hesitant after finding her here in his estate far from her own hometown. She was happy and fearless and even more eager to meet him. That was clear to Johnathan and now the question was of whether they both had any affection towards each other. It was evident that they had it and anybody could tell the way they talked to and looked at each other, they were not just in love they were madly in love. But an affection can be misunderstood and both of them were careful not to make that mistake. Even though confrontation and confession may end up in a dreadful nightmare of one-sided love, but they were eager to know the truth.

Rosalie looked out the window of her room and down in the garden, the sky though it was hazy provided her with strength and hope enough to tackle the hardship. She went into the study where she hoped she would find him, but he was not there. She lit the lamp and burnt the fire in the fireplace. She sat down on his couch and waited for him to turn up, she asked herself, 'Will he come? Is his heart as eager as mine?'. And the gentle opening of the door with Johnathan's entrance that followed told her much more than she could take in. He came close to her and took her hand in his eagerly and moved his stood near the couch she just sat on. He asked her, 'I am over the moon to have you here but there is just one thing that concerns me!'. She inspected him with curiosity, 'I know you are an adult and wouldn't bother taking permission for what you do! Mind me! I love your unapologetic manner but is your mother aware that you are here with me?'. 'Yes, she is, Johnathan! You are so gentle dear friend! She is confident in me that is the reason she sends me off here accompanied with my legal guardians!' she responded. 'I am just relieved to know that!' he told her.

'I want you to come with me!' he said as he took her hand. 'Alright!' she said, and he placed a scarf that he had in his study on her shoulders to secure her from cold. They both went out to the garden for a stroll on that beautiful stary night. They walked silently arms in arms, the cold even felt pleasant, and it was not cruel. They gloomy stone statues even rejoiced at their arrival and felt pleasant and sincere in their celebration to the end of the cruel melancholic nights of Johnathan. He questioned her recalling a significant question, 'How long will you stay here?'. 'I don't really know I want to stay here forever . . ..!' her eyes twinkled with imagination of never-ending love for him.