THE HEALING HEART

by Zelda Clemens

  When Frank got up, he covered Elsa well with the duvet because the chilly air conditioner had already made the bedroom wintry. He quickly went to the kitchen and fixed a breakfast. Soon, the egg-sandwich and Frittata were ready, with some juice to aid digestion.

  As Frank was busy in the kitchen, Elsa tiptoed to the door and peeped through the keyhole. Frank felt as if someone was at the door, so he went to check out the door but Elsa was fast enough to get to the bed before he came close.

  Frank fixed the breakfast and presented on the dining table, and then went to Elsa to see her lying on the bed and still pretending to be sleepy.

  “Wake...wake…Meal is ready, I made it handy and I know you’re going to like it,”

  “Hmm, that sounds like a song, but easy like my thong, and if I lie, let the truth escape my tongue,” she rhymed and smiled, then suddenly became serious and unsmiling. “Please, sir, what am I doing in your matrimonial bed?”

  “Sorry, I can explain,” Frank said and craved for her indulgence. “Meanwhile, we did nothing last night, believe me.”

  “Hmmm, someone is confessing,” she said and got up but was so shy because of the sexy lingerie she was putting on. “How did I get to be wearing your wife’s lingerie?

  “Sorry, I stopped by a supermarket and bought it while I was driving down here from the nightclub,” he lied, “I knew you were going to need it when we get home; hence, the need to shop for it.”

  “Hmm that sounds chivalrous and caring but why didn’t you buy pajamas instead of this? Why a sexy one?” she queried and used the bed sheet to cover herself as she slipped her legs into the furry bedroom slippers that Frank kept ready for her.

  “You don’t have to drag the entire bed sheet on the floor,” Frank said, “I can give you something to wear to look more decent.”

  “Fine, I think you’re really prepared and out to impress me,” Elsa said and dropped back the bed sheet on the bed. She allowed Frank to see the sexy pink lingerie which made him swallow spit with his mouth fallen apart in awe.

  “Wow, you’re so beautiful from sole to crown,” He complimented her, “I’ve not seen such before.”

  “Don’t be carried away, because you’re just talking to a three-month pregnant woman,” she said which got Frank shocked.

  “Oh, My God,” Frank said and went closer to her. He saw that tears had started raining down her cheek, “Please, don’t feel bad. I guess your hubby must be searching for you right now. But he should have called to know your whereabouts.”

  “No need to worry,” she said and wiped her tears, “he won’t call and will never call.”

  “How?” Frank asked.

  “Why did you bring me to your home?” Elsa asked confusingly. “Where is your wife?” She asked and looked at Frank’s face as he became grimaced. She already sensed that something wasn’t right, “I think you’re going through some things already, which was why you came to the bar to drink away your sorrows. What a coincidence.”

  Frank took a deep breath and shrugged off his thoughts about his failed marriage, “I’m divorced,” he answered straightforwardly and fought back the tear in his eyes, “she left me because of my job. She took my only son to San Francisco. My son barely knows me because I wasn’t always there for them. She couldn’t just tolerate my long absence from home. Now, I am lonely in this whole apartment.”

  “But wait,” she said and knitted her brow, “this place looks familiar, like the white mansion I used to admire from my window,” she said and went to the window and drew the curtain, “Holy shit, you’re the Navy SEAL soldier?”

  Frank was surprised that she already knew him but wasn’t sure how he was so popular to have been widely known.

  “How did you know that I am a US Navy SEAL,” he asked with utmost curiosity.

  “Because I live in Coventry way too,” she answered, “I’m your neighbor but I’ll be two months in the neighborhood by tomorrow,”

  “Wow, can you show me your apartment?” Frank asked excitedly.

  Elsa drew the curtain and pointed straight to her house, with her window being adjacent and some meters away from Frank’s. “That’s it over there,”

  “Oh, my….This is close. Meaning that you can see me naked in my room if the curtain is open at night,”

  “Exactly…but I won’t have to do that because you’re married,”

  “Divorced,” he corrected, “So, where is your hubby,” He asked and took her to the dining table and presented the dish.

  “Wow, how did you know that I love these?” she asked bewilderedly. “I love your culinary art,” she complimented.

  “Thanks,” he replied vauntingly, “check it out and appreciate the cuisine.”

  Elsa felt so loved and cared for but that didn’t stop her from disliking men generally. She was still finding it hard to loosen up and be free with him, even though she was beginning to see him as different from other men. She sat down and started eating.

  Frank handed over a napkin to her: “There, you go,” he said and smiled, “You want to share your thoughts, or let me say; the situation that brought you to the bar?”

  “Well, I hate to talk about it?” she said moodily.

  “If you don’t want to discuss it, I won’t push it; just promise me that you’d be okay.”

  “But why are you so concerned?” she asked looking surprised, “You have even a bigger problem than mine I guess, but you’re more interested in making me happy.”

  “That’s because I believe that once you’re happy, I am inadvertently making myself happy too,” he answered lucidly.

  “Wow,” she exclaimed and clapped twice, applause for you, Mr. Altruism.”

  “Is that supposed to be a new name?” he asked and took a bite of his Egg sandwich.

  “Well, I like you, but we’ll just be like siblings and neighbors,” she said and looked at his face; seeking his approval.

  “It’s okay,” he responded; though Elsa knew that he wanted more than just being her neighbor.

  “I was raped by my uncle,” she started with absolute sobriety, “The most painful part was that I was raped in his limo when he was to accompany me to a beauty fashion show. He was always fond of me when I was a kid and I liked him too but never knew that I could be his attraction when I grew up to a prey lady. I was so sexy that day but never knew that he was already nursing some lascivious feelings. He succeeded because I was putting on something short which gave him easy access to my secret world.”

  “That’s really unfair and wicked,” Frank said and patted her back. “You can end the story right there because I can see that it adjures the dark memories of your past.”

  Frank got up and went close to her and cuddled her closely while she felt the warmth of his manly hairy chest.

  “It hurts, really,” she said and sobbed in his arms, “I couldn’t even face my parents, so I lied to them that I was traveling out to California to continue my modeling career. My Dad never knew that his younger brother put me in this condition. My parents gave me their blessings, even though they were surprised that I could leave my modeling company in Las Vegas without proper handover.”

  “I understand the feelings and I concur,” Frank said and kissed her cheek. “Let’s eat first before you lose your appetite to sadness.”

  Elsa quietly sat on the seat and continued eating but still thinking of the kind of magnanimous man she just met out of the blue.

  “I came down to Indiana to think of what to do with the baby but I am really scared of aborting it,” she said with humility.

  “I won’t support it,” Frank said which got Elsa surprised. “You’re already far from your parents, so, relax and give birth to the baby.”

  “I don’t think I will do that,” she contested stubbornly. “Why will I keep a child conceived out of incest?”

  “Because I am ready to father the child even if I am not intimate with you,” He answered with absolute solemnity. “I’ve come to realize that I miss my son so muc
h and I hope that the baby in your womb will be a boy. I know your son can not replace mine but I can find solace in his presence in my life.”

  Elsa was just flabbergasted because she didn’t expect such promise which she considered insane and incredible. She couldn’t imagine such a handsome man assuming the responsibility of another man. She was speechless because she was overwhelmed with the superfluity of Frank’s chivalry and care which got her numb and thinking.

  “How did you plan to be the father of my baby?” she maundered.

  “I’ll keep the baby as mine, while you travel back to your state and face your career,” he answered.

  Frank’s answer made Elsa ponder on the words because it sounded selfless; for him to just inherit someone’s responsibility and be ready for the troubles of parenting.

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked inquisitively with her hands akimbo, “what do you stand to gain from this benevolence?”

  Frank chuckled and shook his head, “I don’t know what I stand to gain, but I think I’ll gain having the privilege to father the child of the most beautiful supermodel.” Elsa’s attention was rapt while she dimpled a smile and listened, “I’ll gain to have your child, my child around me playing with me. I’ll gain to be identified with you and be happy to forget about my past that kept haunting me like shadows. Even if I have nothing to gain, I’ll gain unalloyed happiness.”

  Elsa’s eyes were already stormed with tears because she couldn’t just stifle those emotions that characterized her body language. She was taken aback as she listened to such solemn pledge that sounded like an oath to her.

  Frank wasn’t even sure of what he was doing but he was moved by his emotions and chivalry. He really meant what he was saying but couldn’t say why.

  “Do you want to have sex with me,” Elsa asked with seriousness, “Is that among the things you want to gain?”

  “I’ve not thought of it yet,” he answered and offered her a white napkin. “I like you a lot and I can’t say if it's lust or love.”

  “I don’t know too,” Elsa responded and started cleaning up her blemished face. “But if you need me to pay you monetarily or with sex just to make you feel happy, I think I can do that right now.”

  Frank knew that Elsa wasn’t being sober because his words had melted her hearts down, robbing it of all rationality. He didn’t have to take advantage of the girl because he felt more than just the need to have sex with her but a pure natural feeling of affection that made him seek her happiness.

  As Elsa waited for his answer, she started to pull down the strap of her bra but Frank stopped her.

  “Let’s take care of the baby first,” he said and made her get dressed. “I know you’re not thinking straight right now but moved by the thoughts of finally finding solace in your grief. Please, you shouldn’t…”

  “I mean it,” she interjected, “try me.”

  “I don’t need to. Let’s take it slow because we have some more important things to take care of.”

  Elsa was so elated and speechless. She suddenly began to fall in love with Frank, even more than she expected. She couldn’t fathom how a man who just met her in the bar would just be like an angel that came to rescue her from her chronic sadness.

  She suddenly began to weep profusely out of happiness. She tried to talk or give a word of appreciation but untold utter happiness loomed her mind and struck her dumb to words at the moment. She fought to find the words but it was far-fetched at the moment. She quickly embraced him and said: “Thank you.”

  She wanted to start a kiss with him but Frank was in control of the situation and didn’t allow that to happen. It wasn’t easy resisting such a sexy femme fatale, but he had to.

  Chapter 3

  **Having their lives back**

  Elsa went back to her apartment and couldn’t stop thinking of the angel she just met in the bar. It was a magic to her but she suddenly felt so relieved as if she wasn’t the same girl undergoing mental trauma because of her pregnancy.

  She stayed for some days without going physically to see Frank because she felt that she wouldn’t be able to keep her emotions in check when she’s around him which could make her give in to sex easily as she already tried once. She really felt bad for being too quick to allow her emotions take over her sense of reasoning.

  Amid her quest to be aloof, Elsa still missed Frank’s adorable company a lot which metamorphosed to an obsession with him. She started finding it hard to overcome that obsession. She stopped having a peaceful night rest but formed the habit of looking through her window to know what Frank does at any time. With that unwitting habit of checking on Frank through the window, Elsa memorized his routine offhand. Whenever it was time for him to eat or bath, she was always checking on him to see him undress. Frank’s thick abs and well-formed macho gave him a powerful seductive physique that no woman could resist.

  Frank already knew that Elsa was always by her window side for a furtive gaze at him which made him develop the habit of keeping his curtain drawn so that he’d give her the show to the maximum.

  The height of it was when Frank was done bathing; he came out from the bathroom naked and kept sauntering in the room pretending to be searching for something. This got Elsa totally unnerved and horny as she felt the invisible seductive string that crossed from Frank’s apartment to hers. She kept fighting off the feelings that accompany seeing such a huge cock that she couldn’t overcome. She tried to shut her eyes but she couldn’t because she was really enjoying the view that got her attention ardent and rapt.

  When she couldn’t fight it anymore, she took her phone and dialed Frank’s number but Frank didn’t take the calls but started putting on his robe for the night, which was a very seductive loose garment that still made the hugeness of his cock evident.

  Elsa didn’t relent; she came to her window side and started waving at Frank but Frank pretended to be busy even though he saw her wave. After the fifth buzz of his phone, he took the call and said: “Hello, dear. Are you still awake?”

  Hearing his voice blotted out what she wanted to say which made her speechless for a while but Frank still waited and listened to the background as her heart pulsated.

  “I just want to bid you goodnight,” she said and hung up.

  She placed her cell phone on her chest and felt Frank’s presence with her but she didn’t want to appear desperate even though she was already in love.

  Frank knew that Elsa didn’t just call for a good night wish, so he called her back.

  Elsa was numb to speeches and couldn’t just take the calls because she was bereft of the right words to use. After some hesitations, she took the call: “Hi, why calling back. Sorry, I was a bit busy.”

  Frank knew that she lied but pretended to fall for her cheap lies.

  “I called to tell you that I miss you a lot,” Frank said in order to take up the manly role of bringing her out from that cocoon of mousiness.

  “Oh really,” she blurted, “but you’ve never said it plainly like this before.”

  “And I just did,” he said and came to his window side to take a look at her, “I’m at the window and looking at you but your light is off.”

  “I’m sure you can’t see me because it’s dark here,” she said and switched on the light.

  Frank was wowed to discover that she was wearing only red thong and bra which got him hard immediately. He just realized what he’d been missing.

  “I can see you now and you’re just too sweet and inviting,” Frank expressed lewdly.

  “Inviting?” she repeated and hummed, “Then what are you waiting for?” she asked and smiled.

  “I’m waiting for your approval, which will make me visit you in your apartment for the first time.”

  “I know your plans but I won’t fall for that,” she said humorously.

  “Really, then I’m busted,” Frank said and smiled, “But you’re really cool.”

  “Thanks, dear,” she said and chuckled, “why did you put
on your cloth when I started buzzing your cell phone with my calls?”

  “Hmm, I didn’t?” Frank said and pretended of not knowing that she’d been taking a sly look at him, “But how did you know about this?”

  “Because I already saw you when you were naked and I know that you have a big and banana-like dick,” she jested.

  “Oh my God,” he howled, “I’m finished already.”

  “Can you be nude again let me take a look,” she said audaciously without mincing words. She just got her confidence back.

  “Not until you invite me,” he said and hung up.

  Frank already knew that Elsa would be uncomfortable with the way he hung up but was surprised that Elsa didn’t call back which got him restive.

  Elsa was drowned in the sea of love and fantasy that night but she kept opposing the feelings even to the extent of switching off her phone and locking it in the closet just to avoid dialing Frank’s phone number.

  The night seemed so long because she couldn’t sleep. She wanted to take a sleeping pill to force herself to sleep but when she remembered her pregnancy, she became meticulous because she wasn’t sure if the sedative would be good for the fetus or not. She couldn’t believe that she suddenly became so careful about her baby just to use it as a surprise gift to Frank who already took the responsibility.

  When Frank waited and didn’t hear from her, he went to bed but remained there for long gazing to the moonlight and imagining the werewolves howling at the full moon. In that oblivion of fantasy, he slept off while Elsa did too. They both slept thinking of each other.

  ***

  After two days of feeling the great torture of starving each other with desire and passion, Frank decided to break that silence. On that cloudy weather of Friday evening, he went straight to Elsa’s house uninvited and buzzed the doorbell and waited.