Bastian
Chapter 147 - Sweet and Bitter

✧Sweet and Bitter✧

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

An unusual night, indeed, Odette thought. She looked at the simple table set up in the room and meal set before her. The colourful cakes decorated around the bowl of soup for the patients was rather strange to look at, it was almost like she was in a vivid dream. 

As the servants departed, silence draped over them like a winter’s night’s cloak. Odette picked at her meal and felt like she was being punished with hospital food. All she had to do was put it in her mouth and swallow, there was no chance to properly taste the food.

   The soup bowl was half empty when Bastian stood up. Odette paused, leaving her spoon in the soup and watched Bastian walk over to a shelf, pull out a record and place it on the gramophone. Quickly the room filled with Odette’s favourite music.

   Bastian returned to the table. He donned a navy-blue sweater atop a tieless shirt. His wounds had barely started to heal, so his movements were slow and deliberate, yet  his posture stood tall and steps retained their valor. It was hard to believe this had been the same man who had tried to curl up on her embrace last night.

   Reclaiming his seat, Bastian resumed his meal as the mellow music filled the air. The music felt like it softened the mood a little, the same fantasy she had heard at the hotel, Rheinfeld’s Lounge.

   Odette didn’t really find music sentimental, but this song had remained with her for a long time. It reminded her of the spring afternoon when she had first heard it. She bought the record with the earnings of her first payment from getting married. She then bought the sheet music when she was allowed to play the piano.

   “Trill,” Bastian said, his voice blended with the ethereal and beautiful melody. “Don’t you think?”

   Odette lifted her head to look as Bastian, as his intentions became clear. She calmly nodded her head. The fire in the fireplace cast dark shadows on his face, which had become gaunt over the past few days. He looked like a grim spectre.

   As they looked at each other, the final movement of the orchestral music began. Odette averted her eyes, looking about the room to stop at the vase of iris’. The beautiful moment which had given birth to hope faded under the deception. A pain, unforgettable yet fleeting, flickered above her blue irises before it vanished.

   Its okay if you don’t behave with sincerity, the conviction still holds true. Odette thought. Why have we hurt each other so much?  It was a mistake she did not want to repeat.

   “Bastian?”

   As soon as Odette spoke, Margrethe started barking. Odette jumped at the sudden burst of noise and looked under the table. She did not realise Margrethe had snuck into the room and sat by Bastian.

   “No, Meg,” Odette admonished, but Margrethe didn’t move and just looked at Bastian.

   As Odette became agitated at Margrethe’s refusal to obey, Bastian slipped a bit of bread under the table and Meg lapped it up, her tail wagging in satisfaction. Noticing her joy, Bastian broke off another piece of bread and offered it to Margrethe.

   “Bastian, no,” Odette said. “She has already eaten, don’t give her more food or she will get fat.” Odette felt like she was trying to discipline two dogs.

   Margrethe sat at Bastian’s side, waiting for more food to come her way, but Bastian ignored her and pushed the bread plate to the centre of the table.

   Odette realised that her birthday celebrations were with two sick people and an injured dog. She couldn’t keep the laughter from her lips and let out a soft chuckle. Even though they all looked so pitiful, she enjoyed her birthday meal all the same.

   “There’s a villa in Lausanne, Odette, I think it would be beneficial for you to stay there until the baby is born,” Bastian said as calmly as if commenting on the weather. After days in thought, he realised ‘twas best for her.  First and foremost, it was time to focus on the final step to fulfill the given responsibility. to shield Odette and their child from this hell until they could touch dawn’s light on a newly sprouted life, his soiled life would sully her no more.

“If you wish to go, you can discuss the logistics with Lovis and he will arrange everything.”

A homely abode, south facing and over looking a shimmering seascape. It was the sort of place Odette would have loved to live all year round.  Amongst his collection of grand estates, the villa in Lausanne resonated with her soul the most. He would keep searching for a new place if Odette didn’t want to stay there until she find a place like it, no matter how many times. 

   “Bastian, I…”

   “Dessert is ready,” a servant said from the doorway.

   “Bring it in,” Bastian said without hesitation.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Odette had been pacing near the window when she heard the clock chime eleven times. She stopped her pacing and went to where Bastian lay. Nervously she touched his forehead and could still feel the presence of the fever. His body temperature felt normal. What was most comforting was that Bastian looked as if he was sleeping soundly, no signs of any of the nightmares from before.

   After checking, Odette sat in the chair next to the bed and watched Bastian sleep. The small birthday dinner last until late into the night and taking Bastian’s condition into consideration, she decided to let him stay in her bed tonight.

   Odette looked at his face damp with sweat. She decided to fetch a bowl of cold water and a face cloth to cool him down. Odette only realized Bastian’s exhaustion after he had fallen asleep, having taken Dr. Kramer’s prescribed medicine.

   I hope the child doesn’t inherit his stubborn impatience, Odette thought, as she wiped Bastian’s face

   The bowl of water was placed on the table that, until an hour ago, was filled with presents. Now it only contained the Iris’ and the chocolates, the only present Odette wanted left in her room.

After double-checking that Bastian was sound asleep, Odette silently approached the table by the fireplace. Her fingers tenderly brushed the flower petals before reaching for the velvety box.

It was a gift from Bastian.

In truth, she had noticed it the very first time she laid eyes on it.

   Odette realised she had been staring at the box of chocolates and although she felt like she wanted to resist her primal desires to scoff the whole box, the craving was clearly what the baby wanted. Gingerly, as if a thief, she opened the box and ate one of the chocolates.

   She liberated the chocolate coins from their casket. The symphony of gold foil unfurling resonated, piercing the obsidian veil of the night. Odette savoured the sweet, delectable, silky smooth chocolate and it was gone already. She sighed and put another chocolate in her mouth. Again, the silky chocolate melted in her mouth and slid down to her tummy and made her feel warm inside.

   Something fluttered in her tummy. It was an odd sensation different from any cramp or pain she had ever felt. 

Memories of Tira’s birth, a mysterious waltz in her womb, suddenly returned with vivid clarity.

   “Hello baby…” With a voice quivering as if in search of forgiveness, Odette tenderly stroked her belly, where their unborn child was growing.

   She felt a pang of guilt spasm through her mind as she thought about all the times before now, when she had tried to harm the baby, wanting to reject its presence inside her. The child responded with beautiful movements as if understanding the its mother’s  feelings. Once painful memories now morphed into overwhelming joy.

Odette scoffed the rest of the box of chocolates, unaware that Bastian was watching her with silent eyes, merging with the night.  

She caressed her belly and whispered something to herself, hastening to consume the sweets. Gold foil scattered across the table and several fell to the floor. When she was done stuffing her face, a deep sense of satisfaction filled her and she could do nothing but sit in the chair.

Bastian changed his mind about getting up. He had woken up the second the cold towel touched his forehead, but he didn’t want to open his eyes, so carried on pretending to be asleep. Perhaps the still peace held him back, a regret steeped in poignancy.

Her soliloquy, beginning with a mere greeting, grew longer. 

Baby.

Bastian recognised her whisper, a radiant smile adorned Odette’s face –With a delicate touch of gold foil and her hand caressing her swelling belly, she beamed like a blossoming spring flower. The word he extracted from the scene, instantly emptied his mind of all else.

She had been speaking to the child in her womb the entire time, though Bastian couldn’t hear what she was saying, he found it endearing all the same.

   Not long after midnight, Odette finally got up from the chair she had crashed in and got ready to sleep.  After returning from the bathroom, she shed her scarf and robe, sinking into bed next to him. 

   The room was silent for a long time, save for the crackling of the fire and the hypnotic ticking of the clock. Odette was laid with her back to him and he smiled, waiting patiently.  Yet, the unshakeable regret lingered, bittersweet as the scent of chocolate on her.

   Finally, Bastian rolled onto his side to be the big spoon against Odette, her back to his chest, their legs entwined as one. His massive arms coming over her and ever so gently, so as not to disturb Odette from her sleep, felt for signs of the baby.

   He did not feel anything except the warm, soft flesh of Odette belly. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a soft hand press against the back of his own questing hand. Odette let out a sigh as she held his hand.