PART III - Chapter 30: THE ONLY ONE

 

Chapter 30

The Only One
(Ó 2010)
 

Four Days Later

Logan stood next to Miriam with great anticipation. They stood together at the front door that was once Lily’s apartment, which he decided to move into on the day he and Lily were married. Miriam had arranged for Logan to revisit his and Lily’s first home by contacting the current tenant, a man named Nathaniel who worked in an upscale women’s boutique in Paris. When Nathaniel learned of just who it was that Miriam wanted to bring to his apartment, he was more than agreeable to do so.

“There is no reason for you to be nervous Logan,” Miriam said to him, “when I spoke with Nathaniel about this he was more than cooperative.”

It’s not that Miriam,” Logan said as he looked around the hall, “it’s that so many memories are running through my head by just being here. I remember the first time I ever was here. I haven’t been back here since Lily and I moved to the village. It’s a bit overwhelming to me right now.”

“I understand my dear, are you ready then?” She asked and Logan nodded ‘yes’. Miriam then gently knocked on the door.

“Just one minute please!” They both heard coming from the other side of the door. In a few seconds the door opened and there stood Nathaniel. He was a very handsome young man with blond hair and green eyes. He was wearing a charcoal grey suit with a tan dress shirt, gold and black striped necktie and had a carnation on his lapel. “Hello.” He greeted Miriam, “It is so nice to see you again.” He looked up at Logan and extended his hand, “And this must be Logan! I am so pleased to meet you. When Miriam came here the other day and introduced herself, then told me of the surprise that she wanted to give you, well I was just pleased to do so. Please come in both of you.”

Miriam and Logan entered the apartment, and with that every moment of Logan’s life with his Lily came flooding into his memory. He just began to quietly look at every inch of the room. The furniture was different, however the color scheme on the walls were the exact that Lily had when she and Logan lived there. All in her favorite pastels, the exact same colors, and Nathaniel’s furniture and his décor matched and blended with those colors.

Logan then said, “The walls and colors, they haven’t changed a bit, they’re exactly the same.”

“Oh yes,” Nathaniel said, “the girl who was here before I moved in never changed them either. I love the pastels, the do so much good for one’s mood.”

“That’s what Lily said,” Logan said solemnly, “she’s the one who painted these walls, and she said the same thing you just did.” He looked towards the bedroom, “Is her room still in …?”

“Lavender?” Nathaniel answered, “Yes, it still is. In fact I have had these walls repainted in the exact same colors with the exact same shades. Your late wife painted these walls you say?”

“Yes, yes she did.”

“I must say, she had impeccable taste. I loved her color scheme the second that I saw it.” Nathaniel said. The he and Miriam just watched Logan as he gazed at the room. Nathaniel then said, “I hope that you do not think that I am being forward if I tell you something, or think that it may not my place, may I say something to you please?”

Logan looked to Nathaniel and said, “Sure, say what’s on your mind.”

“When I first moved in here, everyone told me of your beloved late wife and of who she, and you, were. I’ve lived here for some time now, and all in this borough who knew her or knew of her speak of her in such high regard. She was loved … and is very missed by all here. For someone to have that type of impact on people… well … that is truly a beautiful legacy.”

Logan looked at Nathaniel with a small smile and said, “Thank you, thank you very much. That was really one of the nicest things that I have heard about her. I appreciate it very much.” Logan then began to look around with some astonishment.

Nathaniel then said, “I have an idea. Would you like some time alone here Logan? Would you like to look around here by yourself?”

Logan looked at him and quietly asked, “May I?”

“Why but of course.” Nathaniel said. He turned to Miriam and said, “Why do not you and I go over to the café down the street and have some coffee? We can get better acquainted. Besides, you can tell me all about your salon, I have not been very happy lately with the one I have been with and I believe I need a change. Let us go shall we?”

“That is very kind of you Nathaniel,” Miriam said, she looked to Logan, “Is that alright with you Logan?”

“Yes, I’d like that very much.” Logan answered, “Thank you … thank you Nathaniel … very much.”

“Let me get my coat, you just make yourself at home here Logan.” Nathaniel said, he went to the closet and put on his coat. He then stepped over to Miriam and offered her his arm. He opened the door and said to Logan, “We will not be long, go right ahead and look around.” He and Miriam then stepped out of the door, and when it closed he found himself suddenly in complete silence.

The memories burst into his mind. He first looked to where Lily had her sofa and remembered the first night he came here, the night when they made up over the misunderstanding of where he was those four nights after he first met her. Logan then stepped over to the window where she would stand and wave to him when he was down in the street looking up. He then remembered the countless times where she and he would just sit together on the sofa, he holding her under his right arm.

He looked to his right wrist where his silver bracelet was, then looked to the window again. That is where she would have her Christmas Tree, which was the spot where she gave the bracelet to him.

He stepped over to the small kitchen and remembered the countless times she would be standing at the stove to prepare her tea.

He then stepped over to the bedroom and then entered it. He looked to where her bed once stood. He remembered the first night that he came in here and had to reveal the scars on his body to her. That would turn out to be the only unpleasant night that was spent in here. He remembered as he watched her from the bed sometimes, her walking around the room and just babbling on about something. Of the times in the bed, not only the love making, but of all those times where he would hold her under his arm, she propping herself up to look at him while she and he would just talk to each other, about anything and everything, in the serenity of the softly lit lavender room. He just stood there for a long while and looked around the room.

He then stepped over to the bathroom and opened the door. He looked at the bath tub itself, and when he did, one great memory then dominated his mind - - -

- - - He came home very early in the morning, around 1:30 AM. He had been gone for a whole week’s time on a crucial surveillance mission for the Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit. The only news that Lily was receiving about him was coming from Captain Thiebulet himself, who would phone her two or even three times daily to inform and reassure her that her Logan was doing well and was safe. Even though the good Captain used his most convincing of tones, it could not keep Lily from worrying so.

Logan came directly home from the offices of Captain Thiebulet, who told him upon his arrival that all reports and debriefings can wait until the next afternoon, that he had to go home immediately to his Lily. Logan was trying to be as quiet as possible when he was opening the door to the apartment in order to not wake her. However, unbeknownst to him Lily was already wide awake. She had been lying in the bed reading, trying to fall asleep, but it had been hard for her to sleep with Logan gone.

Lily heard the door beginning to unlock and she quickly left the bed and stood in the small hallway. She watched then as the door opened quietly and as Logan stepped inside, trying to be as quiet as possible. He then looked up and saw Lily standing there in her lavender pajama pants with the match tank top. She became very excited and said, “Logan … you’re home!” She then ran to him and jumped up and into his arms and began kissing him on his face.

“Whoa … I didn’t wake you up did I?”

“No, no, no honey.” She answered, “I was wide awake, I could hardly sleep at all while you were gone. I was so worried.”

“Oh Lil Girl, there was nothing to worry about. Just doing my spying from a distance thing that’s all.”

She tightened her embrace around his neck as he still held her up and then she gave him a long kiss. She then looked into his eyes and said, “It all doesn’t matter now luv, you’re home and that’s all that counts.”

Logan at that moment realized that he had something that he hasn’t had in some time. He looked back at her and said, “Home? Yeah, I guess you’re right. I am at home now aren’t I?”

“Of course you are luv, what ever do you mean?”

Logan looked into her eyes and said, “Where ever you are Lil Girl, that’s where my home is.”

She then kissed him again and then said, “Come dear, I’m going to draw you a nice hot bath, you look as though you could use one.”

“That sounds real good.” He said as he released his embrace on her. Lily then went into the bathroom and turned on the faucets to fill the tub. 

She then stepped back to the living room to see Logan as he was removing his jacket slowly due to his fatigue. “It will be filled in a few moments luv, how would you like a glass of wine also?”

“Sounds just as good sweets.” He then made his way to the bathroom through the bedroom. Lily went into the kitchen to open a bottle of wine. Logan saw as he entered the bathroom that Lily had added some bubble bath to the filling tubs and the foam on the hot water made it look even more inviting. He quickly then removed the rest of his clothing, and then stepped into the tub with one foot first, followed then by the other. He slowly then sat down into the tub and felt himself being engulfed by the warmth of the water, he then let out a small moan of pleasure. He sat back on let the water fill the tub more, slowly consuming the rest of his body. He then sat up, took the washcloth and soap that Lily placed there for him and began to wash himself.

Some moments later Lily came into the bathroom to see him as he was washing himself, she had in her hand a glass of chilled white zinfandel. She watched him for a moment as he washed his face, arms and chest. He then looked up to her and she stepped over to the tub and handed him the wine. “Here you go luv.”

“Aren’t you having any?”

“I will momentarily luv, here, give me the soap and washcloth and I shall scrub your back.”

Logan then said with a slight hesitation, “Aw, you don’t have to do that.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said smiling at him, “you’ve been gone a long while and I want to pamper you, hand them over darling.” Logan then handed her the soap and wash cloth somewhat apprehensively. “Now then, lean forward luv.” He did so and he felt as she first rubbed the soap bar over the skin of his back, he squirmed ever so slightly as the soap passed over the “S” scar, then upward to his shoulder and over on his burn scar. Lily then lathered up the washcloth and began to wash Logan’s back. She was creating a nice thick lather on his back, but then she could feel as his muscles tensed whenever she passed over the “S” or the burn. “What’s the matter hun?” She asked.

“How can you stand to look at those … those things?”

“Oh, they don’t bother me in the slightest my sweet.”

“It’s just …”

“It’s just what hun?”

He looked down to the bubbles in the tub and said, “It’s just that they’re so … so damned ugly.”

She stopped the motions of her washing his back and looked at him. She then placed her free hand on his cheek and turned his face to her and asked, “Oh Logan … am I the only one?”

“The only one?”

“Yes,” she said smiling and caressing his face, “am I the only one who can see how truly beautiful you are?” - - -

- - - Logan stood staring at the bath tub for another moment, and then answered into the silence, “Yes, yes Lily. You … are the only one.”