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“Give it a couple of hours, and you might start feeling hungry once more.” He peered at me with a naughty look.
This new Gabriel knew how to make me blush in an instant. But it somehow still felt weird to consider him my husband.
At the hotel, he escorted me to the penthouse. I wasn’t sure what Gabriel did for a living, but he was definitely rich. Inside, we were welcomed by two hotel staffers who handed us two key cards and left. The living room was decorated in a modern, minimalist way with sleek furniture, a marble fireplace, and a panoramic view. I entered the bedroom painted with white and grey walls and a massive black bed. The bedsheets were crisp white like the ceiling-to-floor curtains. One simple black and white canvas of the town’s view hung above the bed. Only after getting accustomed to the lavishness of the bedroom did I notice the dark wood walk-in closet filled to the brim with clothes.
“From what I gathered, you like a more casual attire. Still, I preferred to give you options. Then again you look stunning in anything, medieval or modern styles,” said Gabriel.
Hearing those words, I finally recognized my Gabriel. He loved to lavish me with kind words. “You must tell me what happened,” I said as I sat on the bed.
“All in due time. I can only tell you that I did everything in my power to keep my promise. But now, you must rest. I will come for you in the evening,” he said as he approached me and kissed my hand.
The man decided to keep me intrigued till the very end. But truth be told, I was indeed exhausted from not sleeping an entire night during the ritual and then time-traveling afterward. So, after Gabriel left, I snuggled under the white comforter and tried my best to keep my eyes closed and fall asleep. It seemed like a futile endeavor for a moment, but the next time I opened my eyes, it was already dark. I sprinted out of bed, nervous I might be late for dinner. Then the hotel phone rang. I picked it up, and a female voice told me Mr. Stoica said to take my time and whenever I was ready to come downstairs. He would be waiting in the hotel lobby. I thanked her but also became suspicious of cameras hidden in the penthouse.
I walked to the bathroom and halted for a second to admire the extravagance of the interior. The freestanding tub was the centerpiece, with black fixtures mirroring the floor. Next to it, the massive glass-enclosed shower had multiple showerheads all around. In the right corner stood a steam room built from light wood, which emanated a eucalyptus mist. Luxury floated across the entire room through the vapors of steam. It took me some time to accept these surroundings as real, given that my last bathing experiences consisted of wooden barrels and lukewarm water. I searched the sink cabinet for shampoo or a shower gel and found an entire department section of bathing products, from bath salts and essential oils to expensive body scrubs and lotions. I turned on the water in the bathtub, poured a lavender bubble bath gel and a bath bomb, and jumped straight into it. I was too eager to way any longer. I felt my muscles relax as I leaned slowly onto the tub. Quickly, the water and foam covered my body. Finally, I rediscovered how bliss felt.
After so much time, I finally got home safe and sound. And on top of that, I had Gabriel with me. We fought for this outcome, but I still got a weird feeling of disbelief from it all. Was it a dream, or was it a nightmare? “Come on, Petra. Stop worrying about everything. Even if you do not know the details, the love of your life found a way to be with you, and you should be grateful for it.” My trip taught me that everything was possible as long as I knew how. Gabriel must’ve found a way. He was always so resourceful. And now we could be together in the present. Truly unbelievable.
I soaked in the tub for around half an hour, then dried my hair and went into the closet to find something to wear. Besides the enormous amount of clothes, shoes, I found several exquisite sets of lingerie were in the drawers. Was Gabriel the one to pick them? I had to recognize his tastes were impeccable. But I didn’t care about clothes as much anymore. So I went with whatever caught my eye first, a short lavender dress, (finally, I could see my legs while walking,) tied my hair in a low bun, and was ready for dinner. Anything else except bread, milk, and cheese sounded delicious.
After I got out of the elevator and into the lobby, I noticed Gabriel instantly. He sat on a red leather couch, contemplating something in front. For the first time since I returned, I could observe his features from afar without feeling embarrassed. He removed the blazer but stayed in the same black shirt and slim-fitting pants as before. With his immaculate style and dark hair, the man exuded so much charisma that if I didn’t know better, I would assume he was the hero of a billionaire romance. But I knew better. He was Gabriel. The man who stood by me even in the worst of times. The man who sacrificed so much just so we could be together. The one whose heart valued more than all the treasures in the world.
As I approached him, he turned and saw me. The stunned look on his face gave me confidence that I had made a good choice with the dress. Still, after wearing loose-fitted dresses for so much time, it felt too tight on my body.
“This dress has done your beauty justice. Your body and face look as if carved by gods,” he said. “Come, let’s eat. You must be famished.”
“Not really. But I would love to eat something I dreamed about since my days in medieval Wallachia,” I said as he led me to our secluded booth in the restaurant across the lobby.
“And what is that?” he asked curiously.
“A burger and fries,” I said.
He laughed with zeal. “We can order as many as you like.”
The restaurant felt quite cozy, given it was part of a hotel. The main illumination came from the glow of candlelight. Not something I missed per se, but in such an ambiance, it felt romantic and calming. Jazz music played in the background adding to the feel-good mood.
A server approached us and asked what we would like to drink. Gabriel gazed at me, but I gave him an unsure look. “We’ll have champagne. The most expensive one you have,” he said in Romanian and closed the menu. “The lady will have a burger and fries, and I’ll have a steak.”
Gabriel, in a modern environment, had a special effect on me. He could whisper modern words into my ears, and I would simply swoon while floating on a cloud of fascination.
“A penny for your thoughts?” he asked.
“The way you speak, English or Romanian, is different from before.”
“Many years of living in various parts of the world could do that to you,” Gabriel said.
“Many? But how? I’ve never heard of humans living so long,” I said.
“Humans, no.”
“Are you saying you are not human?” My eyes widened.
“Indeed so,” said Gabriel calmly.
“Then what are you?” I asked.
“Here is your champagne, madam,” said the server and handed me a champagne flute.
Just my luck. Right when I was getting some answers, someone had to come in and ruin it.
