Chapter 44: Best Laid Plans...
"If you're worried she still loves him, just ask." Frida said quietly to her brother as she sipped her morning cup of coffee.
Gunther sighed and glanced up at the ceiling where the shower could be heard upstairs. "Just like that?"
Frida shrugged, keeping her voice low. "It's better than worrying isn't it? Anyway, how do you think it is for her knowing how deeply you loved Lily."
"That's different." Gunther protested.
Frida arched an eyebrow. "You're right. Living in the shadow of someone passed from this world is much more difficult. Because in your eyes Lily will forever remain as you loved her."
Gunther frowned. He really hadn't thought of that, how his past love might affect Angela.
The shower stopped and they both heard Angela's footsteps approaching the top of the stairs soon after.
Frida watched her brother fret and fidget and shook her head, keeping her voice quiet as she rose from the table to clear her dishes. "I really don't think you need to worry. I've seen how she looks at you."
Gunther smiled a little and nodded to the redhead as she entered the kitchen, wrapped in a borrowed bathrobe.
"Hungry?" He asked as he pulled Angela into a hug.
"Mmhm." Angela smiled as she returned the hug and then offered a little wave to Frida. "Hey."
Frida grinned as she watched her brother and his new girlfriend. "You guys are too cute."
Angela giggled softly as Gunther bade her to sit and he began preparing pancakes for breakfast.
"Well. I'll leave you two lovebirds, I have a patient to check on." Frida said brightly with a wink. "See you two later."
Angela waved and Gunther nodded over his shoulder to his sister.
"Feeling better today?" Gunther asked as he served Angela her pancakes.
Angela beamed up at him, "Much. Thank you. I really don't know why I let what Kevin said get to me."
Gunther sat with his plate then reached out to pour their tea. "What did he say? You never said last night."
Angela shook her head and shrugged. "Oh it's nothing. He just had some questions about my job at the magazine."
Gunther arched an eyebrow over his cup of tea.
"He just thought I could do better." She clarified. "He's very ambitious and you know he's the type of guy that doesn't settle so, he just figured I should be doing something more directly related to my writing instead of beginning as an editor."
"Being an editor is excellent experience and it does not forbid you from writing and submitting your own work. Especially now that Alice Monroe knows your writing, knows you're capable. I don't see how this is a bad thing at all for you." Gunther countered.
Angela smiled, green eyes twinkling over her teacup. "I agree." She reached out to squeeze his hand after she lowered her cup, still smiling. "See? That's what I mean by you soothing me. And in the end, you know much more about the publishing world than Kevin does. He's just...very set in his opinions." She finished with a small shrug.
Hearing Angela dismiss Kevin's words set Gunther at ease. She really did seem in much better spirits than the previous day which was she insisted, all thanks to spending time with Gunther. It made him happy knowing he could relieve her anxiety. After all, when you care for someone deeply, being able to ease their burdens is a tremendous thing.
Indeed as he dressed for the day he was beginning to feel rather foolish for doubting her feelings.
It seemed his sister was right.
Relieved by that realization, Gunther finished getting ready and rushed back downstairs to the redhead who waited for him in the living room.
"Ready?" He asked with a grin.
They had decided over breakfast to spend the day outside. Angela had suggested somewhere by the river but Gunther had some other ideas. He knew of niches in nature that were more private where they could have a picnic in quiet and peace. After of course, they stopped by Angela's so she could change.
"Ready!" Angela chimed as she rose from the couch.
"I'm just going to check my messages. I put my phone on vibrate last night so we wouldn't be disturbed." Gunther explained as he slid his phone from his pocket then frowned at the screen. "My message box is full..." he murmured.
Angela stepped closer. "Maybe there was an emergency at work?" She suggested.
"I doubt it...the offices are all closed after 7pm." Still he lifted his phone to his ear to listen.
Angela frowned as Gunther's expression went from confusion to increasing alarm with each message.
"My god..." he muttered in disbelief, eyes wide as they met Angela's, phone still glued to his ear.
"What is it? What happened?" she asked anxiously.
He nodded towards the TV, words rushed as he still listened to the frantic voices of Bernard, Cornelia and a dozen others whose names he could not register. "Turn it on."
Angela fumbled with the remote until she got the channel Gunther wanted. Her eyes widened immediately in horror.
"Oh my god..." she echoed.
The Goth Mansion was aflame.
As Gunther and Angela stared at the TV screen in shocked disbelief, the image of his family home burning through the night taunted them.
Angela silently reached out for Gunther as the image continued to flash on the screen. A female reporter's voice explained the scene as footage of firefighters rushing towards the Goth home played before them.
"It is unclear as yet what caused the fire in this historic home. We understand that in recent months, Gunther Goth had been doing extensive renovations inside the Goth Mansion in an attempt to modernize the ancient building. Thankfully there was no one inside and no one was hurt in the blaze. No news from Gunther Goth yet on his reaction to this tragic fire. We hope to bring you news of his reaction, a little later. We did however manage to catch up with his former fiancée, Cornelia Crumplebottom. Here is what she had to say about this terrible incident:"
Gunther lowered his phone and wrapped his arms around Angela as Cornelia's face replaced the traumatic image of his family home burning in the night.
Cornelia's voice was unsteady and her expression was wrought with obvious worry. "I've tried to reach Gunther but have been unsuccessful. I...it's hard. Seeing something like that. Our families were very closely knit growing up and I have a lot of memories there. Seeing it go up in flames...it's just terrible. There are no words. I'm just glad no one was inside when it happened."
The reporter continued, "Though Mr. Goth has been unreachable, we have been told by his assistant and by the mansion's housekeeper that it is likely due to the fact that he was scheduled to be out of town. We will have more on the Goth Mansion fire, later this evening."
Gunther shut off the TV and sank onto the couch, Angela at his side, arms still around him.
"I'm so sorry Gunther..." she whispered.
He stared at the blank screen. "I can't believe it."
"I...I have to tell Frida!" he said with a start.
"Can I do anything to help?" Angela asked, eyes still wide.
Gunther inhaled deeply and tried to calm himself, tried to think of everything rationally. "No...no...I will call Frida, Bernard and Cornelia. Then I will call the insurance company and I will see about...making a statement for the press." He swallowed, frown deep as his mind raced over the details of what to do. "Actually. You could do something for me."
"Anything." Angela nodded.
"Stay here? For Frida? I will have to head back to Sunset Valley, survey the damage myself, see what can be salvaged..." he trailed, shoulders sagging with his sigh.
Angela let her arms slide around him, voice soft, "Are you sure you don't want me to go with you? You shouldn't have to deal with this alone."
Gunther forced a tight smile as he gently took Angela's hands in his. "No. I will take care of this. Just...be here for Frida when she returns and...I will call you the moment I sort everything out."
Angela still didn't feel right letting Gunther face this great loss alone but she did understand his reservations in having her accompany him. Their relationship was still a secret from the public and to be seen now would just be an unnecessary addition to the media fanfare.
Gunther left quickly and after she watched him leave, Angela curled up on the living room couch to await his sister's return and follow the situation with the Goth Mansion on the news.
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Continue to Chapter 45.