195 Chapter 195

After telling her he was a World Croquet Federated champion, Pearl insisted Edward teach her how to play, even with only one good arm. Erik watched her, while he sat in the garden next to his mother. "Keep your form, Pearl!" Erik called out.

"I'm trying you boor, I only have one good arm!" Pearl shouted back.

"Did she just call you unrefined and ill mannered in a proper four letter word?" His mother asked, laughing.

"Yes, mum. I believe she did." Erik said, sarcastically.

She laughed again.

"Pearl, how are you beating me? You've only got your left arm and you're right handed!" Edward called out.

"Look at him. He is actually having a good time. When she hugged him in there, I felt my heart would burst." Frances said. "He needed her, too. We all needed her. She is a beacon in this place. In our lives." Frances said.

Erik looked at his mother, his eyes filled with tears. "I love her, I love her so much, mother." He said.

"I know, son." She said, putting her arm around his arm.

"What if she never remembers?" He asked, unable to stop the tears from falling.

"Erik, my darling. Look at her. She never forgot." She said. Erik looked up at Pearl, dancing around and then stopping to look at him and smiling. Just then, it all made sense to him. She loves him even though she doesn't remember. She doesn't need to remember, Erik realized. He knew then that their love didn't exist in their moments and memories together. It lived deeper inside, in their souls. She had been craving the closeness with him because of a need inside of her that she had no control over, like him. They felt the exact same way for one another.

"I want you to have the Queen Maria-José ring." His mother said. "When you propose."

"The ruby? The Italian queen's ruby she gave to our family decades ago?" He asked. "Mum, that's priceless. It's what? 10 carats?" Erik asked.

"It's eight and half carats not counting the diamonds. It's not priceless. It's insured for 9 million dollars." Frances said. "And now, it is yours." She said. She motioned over to her staff and the brought him a small safe. His mother put in the code and Erik opened it, gasping at the beauty of the enormous oval ruby with large diamonds completing a halo all around it." He closed the box and locked it.

"Thank you, mother, thank you so much." He said.

She smiled and kissed his cheek.

"It's all I ever wanted for you, this happiness." She said.

"Dammit girl, I think you're cheating now." Edward said, stomping to the next ball.

Erik and Frances both laughed.

Dinner was wonderful, Pearl talking about her love of books and her English literature major in college that turned into a marketing degree. She talked about the stories she loved growing up and how fortunate she felt to finally be in the country where it all happened.

"Erik, cigar?" His father asked. Pearl looked at him, and Erik remembered the time she invaded the French President's study and won him over. Erik's mother offered her to join her in the parlor for a nightcap.

"She's incredible, Erik. I'll never doubt you again." His father said.

Erik nodded. He was still a bit sore at him from what had transpired between them a couple of weeks before.

"I hope one day you can find a way to forgive me." He said. "I know I haven't always been the easiest man to know, to have for a father, but I want to try to be better." He said. "I would like very much for us to be family again."

Erik looked at the man that had closed his heart off to him for so many years and couldn't believe the words he was hearing him say.

"I'd like that, too." Erik said.

"Let's plan a holiday soon, all of us." Edward said.

"That sounds lovely, father." Erik said, finishing his drink. He got up to walk out.

"I love you, son." He said. Erik smiled and said he loved him as well.

"I had the best time today. Thank you." Pearl said to Erik when he got back to their room.

"My parents adore you. I can't believe you convinced my father to play croquet." Erik said. "I'm going to have to call Auggie and tell him all about it."

"I'm sure your brother won't believe you, is he back in Florence?" Pearl asked. They both stopped what they were doing.

"Pearl?" Erik asked, shaking.

"I have no idea where that came from. Apparently I know you have a brother and he lives in Florence?" Pearl said, a bit shook.

"Yes!" Erik fell to his knees in front of her. "Tell me, do you remember anything else? Do you remember Italy?" He frantically searched her eyes.

"No. I don't even know what Auggie looks like. I don't remember him. I just remembered that. I am so sorry, Erik." Pearl said.

"It's ok. It's a good sign though, right? It has to be." Erik said. He put his arms around her legs, hugging her. She smoothed his hair as he held onto her, trembling.

"I just miss you, so much. For a moment I thought I had you back." Erik said, still clinging to her. Pearl felt tears forming and her heart was breaking seeing this man before her like this. She pulled him up to his feet and curled into him, putting her arm around his waist. He wrapped his arms around her. "I want to hold you tonight. Just hold you. If that is alright with you." Erik said, squeezing her tighter.

"Yes." Pearl said.

He helped her out of her dress and into her nightgown. He laid on the bed and said, "Come to me."

She walked to him and laid down, her head on his chest. She wrapped her leg around his and moved her casted arm underneath her and out of the way. He pulled her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, tears falling from his eyes.