No Ordinary Love
Sibelle Stone
No Ordinary Love
Copyright 2011
By Books to Go Now
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First eBook Edition –October 2011
Printed in the United States of America
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No Ordinary Love
Mina glanced up from her work when the bell above the shop door jingled. A tall man strode thorough the doorway, brushing snow from his great coat. With the storm upon them this late on Christmas Eve, she wasn’t expecting any more customers. Most people were gathered together in front of a blazing fire, enjoying their yuletide cheer.
He removed his hat and she blinked at the shiny blonde hair that curled to the edge of his collar. She caught her breath. She recognized him immediately, set the paintbrush down and smiled graciously.
“Good afternoon, Bern, I’m happy to see you’re well after all this time.”
He stamped his feet a few times before lifting his face to gaze at her. She was struck speechless at the color of his eyes; a soft, muted blue that reminded her of the sky after it was washed by a warm summer rain. She’d nearly forgotten how beautiful they were. Those lovely eyes still could stop her in her tracks.
“Hello Mina, I’m afraid I’ve waited too long to purchase my gifts for the holiday.” He grinned at her, displaying one deep dimple on the right side of his handsome face and she couldn’t help but return the smile.
“If a toy shop cannot serve even the tardiest customer on the night Father Christmas makes his rounds, then we don’t deserve to be in business.”
Bern spied the counter and marched directly to it. He removed his heavy wool coat then set his hat upon the counter next to it. A wash of memories swept through her mind and she bit her lip to hold back the terrible sense of loss she thought buried forever.
He’d grown up since their days at school together. A lean, muscular torso, broad chest, arms heavy with muscles and long legs filled out the uniform of the Kaisers personal guard. Mina stared in awe for a moment.
He gazed around the shop and blew out a low whistle. “I’ve traveled many places these past few years, but I’ve never seen such extraordinary treasures. Can you help me choose some gifts for my niece who is five and a nephew who at the grand age of nine years believes he’s too old for toys?”
She slid from behind the counter and nodded. “I‘d be delighted to help out. “
She drew him to a boy doll sitting at a desk with a quill pen held in one hand. “This is the writer and he’ll take dictation to scribe words on the paper.”
“I can’t imagine such a thing,” Bern said.
Mina reached behind the automaton and clicked a switch. “My
Dear Friend, please rest assured I received your last letter, and I apologize
for taking so long in responding.” She felt Bern stiffen a bit beside her. Too late, she realized it was a poor choice of words.
After a few clicks the boy started writing. With quick, even strokes he filled the vellum sitting on the miniature desk in front of him. When the automaton finally halted, Mina handed the paper to Bern.
His eyes opened wide in astonishment. “He’s written every single word exactly as you spoke it. It’s a wonderful thing, but far too dear for the pockets of a humble soldier.”
Mina smiled. “My father was once a military man. I believe we can negotiate a price you can afford.”
“I’d be most appreciative, but how can I give such a marvel to my nephew and not find something equally as wonderful for my niece?”
She nodded, then brushed past him to a corner near the window. “Here’s something I believe your little niece would like.”
Mina stopped in front of a music box with a prince and princess in fancy garb standing across from each other. She wound up the mechanism and flipped a switch. The handsome prince stepped forward, bowed to the princess then stood again. She curtseyed before stepping into his arms. Music filled the shop as the miniature couple waltzed around their tiny ballroom.
When the song finally ended he clapped his hands in appreciation. “Your father is truly a master craftsman.”
She blushed at his praise, because the music box was actually one of her creations. “Can I offer you a hot drink? I have some spiced cider on the stove in back,”
She asked.
“That’s very kind of you and I’m delighted to have the chance to explore more of the wonders your father has created.” He responded.
When he took the mug from her hand he inhaled the spices deeply and gave her an appreciative smile. He moved around the shop, pausing to see various toys demonstrated. Finally he turned to her, his eyes sparkling with delight. “I feel like I’ve stepped into the pages of a fairy tale. You aren’t by any chance a long lost princess in need of rescue, are you?”
She shook head, but in reality she sometimes felt like Rapunzel, imprisoned in a tower of toys and automatons.
“I’ve taken up too much of your time, Mina. I apologize.” He flushed. “I realize there’s much to be said between us, I’m sorry I didn’t . . . ”
Mina nodded but before she could say more the room was filled with the sound of cuckoos, chimes and music, as the myriad clocks scattered around the room struck the hour of six.
When it was quiet again she picked up the writer. “If you’ll get the dancers, I can wrap everything in paper for you.”
While Mina found boxes for the gifts he chatted with her. She marveled that despite her infrequent contact with people, she felt very comfortable with Bern. He made her laugh with stories of the games they’d played as children. When she picked up the music box he teased her about all the dances she must attend.
“I don’t go to the dances anymore,” she blurted, and his face fell into an expression of woe.
“How can that be when you were the best dancer in all of Bavaria?” He said.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Since my illness, I haven’t felt much like dancing.”
His smile faded. “I was sorry to hear about your mother, I didn’t . . . ”
“Your mother, the Baroness, was very kind, and when you left – we didn’t make any promises to each other.” She interrupted him. A shiver of sadness at the memories his words stirred rippled through her. She suppressed the sharp pain of loss and tried to focus on her task.
It was Christmas Eve and she knew he needed to hurry back to a family that awaited his return. Bern’s home would be filled with laughter and music this season, while Mina’s would be as silent and lonely as a tomb.
He reached forward to snatch the music box from her hands and headed to the rooms behind the shop.
“You can’t go back there,” she protested, but it was too late. He disappeared down the narrow hall
way.
“Come back,” she begged, “my father will be home soon and he’ll be furious if he finds you back there.”
The parlor was dark but she heard a match strike and spun to find Bern lighting the lamp. The music box sat on the table nearby and the charming tune poured from it as the miniature couple danced.
A warm glow filled the room and Mina fought the urge to giggle as he bowed to her, just as the music box prince did. She curtseyed before stepping into his arms.
Bern’s face went in and out of the shadows and she worked to memorize every detail of his appearance as they danced. The golden hair swept back from his brow, the enchanting blue of his eyes and the dimple at the corner of his perfect mouth.
The music came to an end and Mina stood close to him. Bern didn’t release her, but kept one arm firmly holding her against him as he tilted her chin, leaned forward and touched his lips to hers.
Mina felt as if she was floating, the pressure of his lips on hers nearly making her swoon with the wonder of the kiss. His breath was warm and sweet, he smelled of bay rum and tasted like Schnapps.
A moment later Bern lifted his lips from her mouth and gazed down into her eyes. A frown creased his brow. “Something is different, you’ve changed.” He whispered.
Mina quickly glanced away, but she knew it was too late. She hadn’t been careful enough and allowed him to get too close to her. She could sense his sudden unease as his arms stretched out to put more space between them.
“I don’t understand,” he murmured.
“What’s going on? Who are you?” Her father stormed into the room. “Mina, why is this man here?”
Mina shook off Bern’s arm and scurried across the room to intercept her father. This is Captain Sauerman, one of the Kaiser’s guards. He’s Baroness Sauerman’s youngest son. You must remember him, we attended school together.”
She tried to quickly think of some excuse for being in the parlor with Bern. “He’s interested in purchasing the music box and I told him the music is perfect for dancing. It was a demonstration.”
Her father snorted. “Well, young man, are you convinced the item will meet your needs? It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m ready to lock up.”
Bern bowed politely. “Of course, sir. All of your creations are truly marvelous. Mina has been kind enough to answer my questions and the dancing was my idea, not
hers.”
He was clearly blathering on in embarrassment. She should rescue him. Then she remembered that final look he’d given her. He recognized something was not quite right about her but she knew he’d never figure out exactly what was different.
She was a mechanical marvel created by her father when her human body failed her. But she lacked something, that tiny spark of life that animated every human – but was missing in her. People always discovered there was something different about her and that was the reason she stayed within the walls of the toy shop.
Her father wanted to protect her from the pointing fingers and gossip that swirled around her whenever she went out. Mina couldn’t stand the way other people turned away from her, sometimes making the sign of the evil eye.
Her memories of being a normal girl were still intact and she ached with the desire to be like everyone else.
“I’ll finish wrapping your items,” she told Bern, picking up the music box and leading him back to the shop.
“That would be fine; um…” He glanced up from studying the toes of his boots. “What happened back there, I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to presume . . . ”
When she didn’t answer, he put on his coat and hat then placed a pile of bills on the counter. “It’s nearly all the money I have with me, but I know it’s not enough. I’ll send more when I return to my post. ”
“That’s not necessary, Captain Sauerman. The children will be delighted with their gifts, and that delights me.” She worked hard to put a smile on her face, even though she wanted to cry as she realized in a few moments, Bern would be gone again.
“You have a kind heart,” he observed as he stacked the packages together to carry them out of the shop.
“You give me too much credit, Captain. You’re the one being kind to children at Christmas. I’m only a merchant making a sale.”
With that, she closed the door, leaned against it and wondered why she suddenly
felt so bereft when it wasn’t like her to feel anything at all.
Mina spent the long winter days working with her father. During the evening she read letters from Bern. He’d sent money to her after he returned to his post, insisting the pleasure the toys gave the children was worth a king’s ransom.
He apologized again for his behavior that night and begged for her forgiveness. She’d never intended to answer him. But, the letters kept coming and sometime in mid-January, while her father snored next to the fire, she got found ink, pen and paper and
poured her heart out to Bern.
She told him about her loneliness, that she wished to go out into the town but knew she was different. People gossiped about her or avoided her altogether.
He wrote back and sent her a handkerchief with his initials on it. She made him a pair of warm mittens. And when he sent her several beautiful brass buttons, she packed a jar of honey with biscuits in a package to send back to him.
Before long, he’d once again become her dearest friend, now truly her only friend, in the world. She knew it was wrong to keep the truth from him, but the delight of looking forward to his letters made the cold, harsh days of winter more bearable.
Early in February she received a large envelope heavily decorated with hearts and flowers. Inside was a hand cut, painted heart that looked as if it was made of lace.
My darling Mina, I know it’s early for a valentine, but we are riding out with the Kaiser to protect our borders from attack. I wanted to make sure you received this by February 14th, so please forgive me for rushing this to you. It is but a paper symbol of what I’ve given you -- my heart.
With all my love,
Bern.
She clasped the paper heart to her chest and imagined Bern was here with her again, his kiss sweeter this time because it was filled with his love.
But she knew her fantasy was just a wish upon a star fairy tale that could hold no happy ending for them. She needed to tell him the truth, because as much it would hurt to let him go, it would hurt him more if he continued to believe that someday they could be together.
Mina went to her room and sat on the bed, writing until the wee hours of the morning. She confessed the truth of what she’d become and was honest about their future together. There was none.
On another snowy evening nearly a week later, she sat watching the flames in the fireplace dance orange and blue as her father napped near the hearth of their workroom. The clocks sang their dirge on the hour, and still she sat, until a pounding at the door broke the spell.
It was nearly ten o’clock at night, and she couldn’t imagine who would be bothering them at that hour. When she unlocked the door she was shocked to find Baroness Sauerman. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and she held a handkerchief in one hand.
“Please, you must help me,” she begged, the warble in her voice evidence of recent weeping.
“Of course, I’ll do anything I can for you, Baroness. Please come in and sit down.” Mina responded. She led the woman to the parlor and poured her a glass of sherry before sitting down across from her. Mina could see that something was terribly wrong.
The Baroness wrung the handkerchief in her hands before raising her gaze to meet Mina’s. “My boy is gone. Killed in the skirmishes at the border. They’ve brought the body to me and I’ve brought it to you.” Her voice cracked, and she dropped her head as tears slid down her cheeks.
Mina felt a jolt – as if she’d been pierced by something sharp and painful.
“He wr
ote and told me that he loved you, so I came to you for help.” The Baroness added.
“Baroness, there are things about me that your son didn’t know. I’m sorry, I would not have deceived him, but my omission of the truth was as good as a lie.”
The Baroness drew a letter from her reticule and set it upon the table. “He had this in his pocket when they brought him home. It wasn’t opened. I’m the only person who has read it.”
Mina looked down at her own writing. So, his mother now knew all her darkest secrets. Why had she come here?
“I don’t understand. What do you want?” Mina said, her mind whirring with thoughts that stumbled over each other. Bern is gone and I want my privacy to mourn the man I love.
The Baroness stood up. “I want your father to do for my son what he did for you. He can remake him, bring him back to me. Please, I cannot bear the idea of never seeing my beloved Bern again, can you?” She fell to her knees as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Her father shuffled through the doorway from the workroom. “Baroness, it is a great honor to welcome you to my humble home. How may I be of service to you?”
Before she could answer, Mina stood up and folded her arms across her chest. “She wants you to make her son like me. He’s been killed in the border wars, and now the Baroness wants him back, like you wanted me back after I died of typhoid fever. Can you do that, Father?”
The old man looked horrified for a few moments. “You don’t know what you ask of me, Baroness. My Mina, she’s unique. I’ve never tried it since . . . .” He raised a hand to brush away a tear. “It doesn’t always work. With my wife, Mina’s mother, I couldn’t save her.”
The Baroness stood, her mouth set firmly in the pale skin of her face. “I don’t care, you must try. I have nothing left to lose.”
Her father shook his head. “I’m sorry, Baroness, but I can’t. I’m old and my hands shake. The work is intricate, it takes too many hours.”
Mina crossed the room and held her hands out in front of her father. “You have the knowledge, Father, but I can be your hands. They’re steady, they never shake. I can work for hours and hours without sleep or a break and I never get hungry or tired.”
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