Chapter 37: A Better Man
The cold late December air felt good against Angela's cheeks as she walked along the grounds outside of the Goth mansion. It had snowed for Christmas, just enough to coat the ground but now most of it had melted.
The earth was still frozen though and Angela smiled, enjoying the sound of her shoes on the hardened earth and frosted stone.
Soon she was in the rose garden and she took a seat on the bench to wait. She heard the door close and then the sound of approaching footsteps almost immediately afterwards.
"This is where you want our first date to be?" Gunther sounded skeptical as he took a seat next to the redhead.
"It's pretty." Angela answered simply.
"But we could have gone to the opera, or perhaps a play. The Russian ballet is in town for the holidays..." he said, glancing over at Angela hopefully.
"All too public." Angela replied in a tone that indicated they had discussed their options many times over already.
"And this is not? We're out in the open." He pointed out.
"Do you see anyone?" She countered.
"Just the one that matters."
Angela smiled as he draped an arm around her shoulders. "I know it's cold..." she admitted then added, "But...it's beautiful here and...I want today to have some good associations. In case, we get bad news."
"Ah..." Gunther gave her shoulder a squeeze. He knew of course what she was referring to.
It was December 27th.
Today François Renault was to appear in court to receive his sentence. Angela could have gone to witness it, to see with her own eyes. Her family and Gunther had volunteered to accompany her for moral support but she declined. She had no wish to look into that face again, no matter the result.
The very idea of looking into the eyes of the man who would have killed her to satisfy his twisted obsession made her shudder.
Gunther gave her hand a strong squeeze. "We will know soon."
Angela returned the squeeze then rose, moving away from Gunther. His lawyers were to call with the result. Any moment now...
She tensed and turned back to Gunther when she heard the sudden ring of his cell phone. Their eyes met and he tried to look reassuring as he answered.
"Yes? Yes, she is with me."
There was a long silence then as Angela watched Gunther anxiously. He was frowning, occasionally mumbling, "I see", his eyes on the frozen ground at his feet. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Angela, Gunther ended the call with a quick, "Thank you".
"Well?" she asked tentatively, hands unconsciously balled into fists at her sides.
Gunther sighed as he slid his phone back into his jacket pocket then moved forward to gently take one of Angela's hands. "He will be institutionalized for the rest of his life. In five years...he will undergo another psychiatric evaluation but...even if he improves...he will not be let out of that place. A good evaluation only means he will be moved to a different wing, perhaps get a few privileges but...he will not be allowed to leave. It's over."
He pulled Angela into his arms then in a strong, protective hug.
For a moment she couldn't believe it. She blinked several times as she held onto Gunther. It was only when he pulled away slightly to rub his thumb over her cheek that she realized she was crying.
His voice was soft, soothing. "...it will be alright."
She shook her head a little, her own voice was unsteady. "I know...it's just..." she swallowed, trying to collect the whirlwind of thoughts that were rushing through her head. "Thank you. I know...I know it's because of you. I would have never been able to hire good lawyers on my own."
He simply drew her close once again at the words, a palm cupping her head as he held her against his chest. His lips brushed the top of her head.
She sniffled a little but remained silent. Content for the moment to simply draw strength from the arms around her.
Gunther rubbed her arms briskly, a quick kiss brushed to her cheek. "Come on. Let's go inside. We can have hot chocolate to warm up."
Angela smiled and nodded. "How can I say no to that?"
Soon they were both sitting by the fireplace, nursing their cups of steaming hot chocolate. Angela's eyes roamed the room. "I really can't believe how you've changed this place. I thought it was elegant before but now...it's so beautiful and much warmer."
He smiled, "I'm not finished yet. I...still have plans for the bathrooms and the master bedroom will be repainted as well."
"Why all this sudden change?" Angela asked.
"Well..." he began after a long swallow of hot chocolate. "It's my home. I thought perhaps it was time I made it feel that way."
Angela smiled, "I'm happy to hear that." Her eyes swept around the room again. "It is truly too beautiful to let go of. They just don't make places like this anymore."
"It's amazing what fresh paint can do." Gunther admitted then looked at Angela seriously. "The truth is...all this..." he motioned to the room. "Is because of you."
"Me?"
Gunther nodded. "That day...before we went to the beach, you said you found this place beautiful but that all it needed was a little love. Not that I ever let this place fall into disrepair but neither did I do more than was necessary. I let my memories, my grief and my sadness cloud my vision. All I could see was the darkness here."
He looked around the room, shaking his head as he continued, "I forgot myself. And I felt bound to keep everything the way my parents had left it. But by doing so I was also keeping myself trapped in a vision they had of me. What my father wanted me to be." He frowned, his voice growing quiet. "I was punishing myself in a sense. For not being what they wanted me to be, when they wanted me to be it. Even though I tried...after Lily died. I suppose I felt I should be miserable in this house. After all I had done to disappoint my family." He finished with a sigh.
Angela remained silent but she reached out for the man's hand and offered a gentle squeeze.
Gunther smiled softly. "But...your words opened my eyes. Because of you...I began to see life in things, in this place, again."
He leaned closer as he spoke, gaze intent on hers, one arm drawing her closer.
She let her head tilt slightly, eyes almost closed as they drew together slowly. She felt his breath against her lips and the heat from his skin.
Her heart was beating impossibly loud.
But instead of their first kiss Angela was left startled when Gunther straightened and pulled away with a quiet curse.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He slid his phone from his pocket with a sigh. "I am..truly sorry. It was on vibrate. I had forgotten..." He frowned down at the flashing number before setting the phone back on the coffee table. "I should have turned it off..." he murmured.
Angela studied Gunther for a long moment before patting his knee. "Call them back. From the look on your face, it was important. It's ok."
"I will not tend to business on our date Angela." Gunther tried to insist.
Angela laughed. "The moment is gone and besides, now you'll be distracted." She offered him a reassuring smile. "I'll still be here. Call them back."
When Gunther made to move towards Angela in protest, she quickly snatched his phone and pressed it into his hands.
"Call." She reiterated.
While Gunther was on the phone, Angela decided to retreat outside once again to give him privacy. She was enjoying the fading colors of sunset when Gunther joined her.
"I am sorry...I hope you are not too cold." Gunther said, immediately reaching out for the redhead.
"No...just enjoying the beauty of the sunset.You really have a spectacular view. I can't believe you can actually see the ocean from here. I can't imagine what it must be like...waking up to this every morning."
"The view is even better from my bedroom." he said quietly.
Angela looked up at him, for a moment unsure and surprised by his words.
He frowned at her expression then stepped back with a slightly strangled protest. "Oh. Oh! No. I did not mean that as a proposition or anything indecent. I...it..." he floundered before gesturing up towards the mansion. "It is much higher from my bedroom and the balcony so you see more of the water from that vantage point. That's all."
"Gunther, are you...blushing?" Angela quietly teased.
"No." He grumbled unconvincingly, eyes avoiding hers. Then sighed in defeat as she took his hand. "Yes. Perhaps I was."
"Will you show me the view from the balcony?"
"I can. If that is what you wish." he answered with a nod.
Her smile was soft and her words were quiet as she asked, "And what do you wish?"
"Me? I would..." he paused, gaze at last meeting Angela's. Her green eyes met his warmly. He did not see the point in putting it into words. She knew what he wanted. They both did.
What he wanted since the moment they first danced on that bridge. From the instant he felt her close in his arms. He drew her to himself without another word.
There was nothing tentative or shy about the way he kissed her. Gunther held Angela firmly in his arms as their lips met in a slow but crushing kiss.
Perhaps he should have been gentler but he felt a desperate desire for the woman in his arms. It seemed too long he had wanted this. Now here she was. Her lips soft and acquiescing to his, her hair sliding through his fingers when he cupped her neck.
When her lips parted with a warm sigh he only drew her closer then lifted her from the ground for a moment in a powerful hug. Her laugh was bright and happy. The sound made him smile widely.
Then her lips brushed his cheek and the heat of her breath on his skin sent shivers down his spine when she murmured, "Let's go inside."
"Yes." he agreed, gently setting her down. Hand in hand they ascended the stairs.
They stood together, Gunther's arms wound around her for almost an hour. They watched the sky slowly darken and the first few stars twinkle above them.
Gunther rubbed Angela's back, lips brushing her temple. "I wish...I did not have business to attend to New Year's Eve. I would much prefer going to Bridgeport with you."
"Are you sure? I doubt you'd enjoy Yesna's crowd..."
"You mean her band-mate, Tristan?" Gunther grunted quietly.
Angela laughed. "I meant the whole band scene in general actually."
"Perhaps you are right...Well." He straightened, "Shall we go inside? We could eat or-" he sighed, once again interrupted by his cell phone's insistent ring. "Excuse me."
He retreated into his bedroom to answer the phone, holding the door open for Angela. "No, I'm glad you called. You have more news? I see. So that is how she kept it from the media." He moved through his room, motioning for Angela to come closer as he ended the call with, "Yes. Thank you again Detective Moran."
He tucked his phone back into his jacket and quickly shrugged out of it, then held out his arm to take Angela's coat as she wiggled out of hers as well.
"Emily? Was that about the case you hired her for?" Angela asked once their coats and hats were hung up.
Gunther nodded. "It was her earlier as well." Gunther motioned for Angela to sit as he took a seat. "You see I've been having Cornelia investigated."
"Why?" Angela asked, surprised.
Gunther then proceeded to relate his confrontation with Cornelia and how the news of her bankruptcy had prompted him to investigate the downfall of her family's business in order to make certain that her accusations regarding his own father's part in it were unfounded.
"Detective Moran affirmed my beliefs. My father played no part in her family's downfall and as I believed, had no more knowledge about her family's troubles than I did." Gunther went on to explain.
Angela frowned. "But...what happened? Poor business management?"
"Apparently her father...gambled his living away without feeling the need to ensure either of his daughter's futures. From what Detective Moran tells me...it seems like he trusted that Agnes would be taken care of by her husband...and Cornelia..." He trailed and sighed.
"By you." Angela supplied.
Gunther nodded. "But. Agnes is a widow. And Cornelia has been surviving solely on shares of her family business that she sold. That however was some years ago. By now their money is all but gone."
"How? I mean...why didn't she re-invest or find work?" Angela asked, confused. "I know what it's like to struggle for money but...you do what you got to do."
"Cornelia only realized how terrible her situation was after her father's death. And even then, I believe it must have taken her some time to fully comprehend it. You have to understand Angela...for a woman like Cornelia the notion of being penniless is absurd. An impossibility. She was never taught how to do without. And sadly...Agnes...cannot help. she is much altered after her husband's death. I had my suspicions about her depression but the detective confirmed it. Between her husband's death and suffering a miscarriage...Agnes is in no state to help Cornelia manage their finances." Gunther finished with a frown.
"But maybe...if she could find work-" Angela began.
"No." Gunther interjected. "Cornelia would never consent to working at anything that would tarnish her family's name. Even the way she arranged to sell her shares...it was done in a way so that the public would not know."
Gunther fell silent then, studying Angela. She seemed troubled, even upset. He frowned, "You seem...upset. Forgive me. I only wished to be honest with you because...deceit is no way to begin a relationship."
Angela closed her eyes with a nod. "I...understand. Thank you." She straightened, her eyes meeting Gunther's seriously. "But...now that you know all this, what will you do?"
He sat back in his chair at that. Do? If he were to be honest he could say he had not planned to do anything. Only if his family had been involved would he have taken some action to remedy the situation. As things were...he could not help but feel Cornelia was getting her just desserts.
However, from Angela's stare he was sure she would not be pleased with that declaration.
At last he said, "I do...feel great sympathy for Agnes. She has been through much."
"That's it?" Angela was shocked. "Gunther. You could help these women! I mean..." her voice grew softer, "Couldn't you help them? Somehow?"
Gunther was uncomfortable. He had nothing against helping Agnes. She had always been kind and down to earth and he had enjoyed her extensive knowledge of books when they were younger. She had made many of their family gatherings bearable.
But Cornelia...
"You...are asking me to help the woman who is responsible for François Renault finding you. The woman who prevented me from being with Lily." Gunther said quietly. "She...has done everything in her power to make my life miserable since I broke off our engagement."
Angela remained silent, staring at her knees.
"You...still think I should help? Even after all she did? Angela..." Gunther shook his head. "I can assure you, Cornelia would show you no such kindness."
"Why should that matter?" Angela said immediately.
"She resents you. I get that. And sadly that means she won't be kind to anyone you happen to be close to. But...please...don't let yourself get consumed by blame. Blame can lead to obsession and misery." Angela thought of François with a grimace. "Cornelia might be walking that painful path but that doesn't mean you need to follow her."
Gunther's frown deepened. "I am hardly about to embark on some nefarious plan for revenge."
"I know but..." Angela sighed. "This cycle of blame between the two of you needs to stop. It's not healthy. And so what if she doesn't like me?" She shrugged. "She's mean and an elitist but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve some compassion Gunther. She's still a human being."
Gunther took a deep breath, hands falling limply at his sides. "I...I am not certain I am ready to forgive Cornelia for all she has done."
Angela stepped closer, cupping Gunther's cheeks in her hands. "I understand. Forgiveness takes time. I just worry. I don't want you losing yourself in anger and blame. That's the kind of negativity that weighs on a person's heart and stops them from enjoying life to the fullest."
Gunther closed his eyes, forehead briefly leaning against Angela's. "I don't know what I can do. I don't even know if Cornelia would accept assistance...she is...very proud."
Angela offered Gunther a small but encouraging smile. "But you can try."
Gunther nodded, straightening as he met Angela's gaze. "I will." he said seriously.
He would do his best. Not because Cornelia deserved it, not because he was ready to be on amicable terms with his former fiancee but because when Angela Dunne looked into his eyes, believing in his goodness, it made him want to be a better man.
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Continue to Chapter 38.