The Untold Fairytale, Enchanted Realms, Part 6

Chapter 6 - The Package

Jack’s POV

My words hung in the air and created a chasm between us. The earth could have swallowed me up and spit me out on an island off the coast of Greenland, and the sun would have warmed me faster than the astounded look Eloise gave me. I think she would have dueled with me if we had swords.

She opened her mouth and shut it before marching over to me. Standing several feet in front of me, she poked her finger at my chest and said through gritted teeth, “You have been keeping secrets from me all night, and I’m done with your little games!”

Pursing my lips, I crossed my arms and replied, “Really? Hmmm. Is that right?”

The fire was raging inside of her, and she was ready to explode. If we were not in a sweet little inn, I think she would have screamed at the top of her lungs. Stepping forward, I pulled her into my arms and whispered, “I’d planned on giving you the contents of that box in the morning, but I’m willing to barter with you.”

Her eyes snapped to the package and back to me before she asked, “Like what kind of a barter?”

My fiery mate hated surprises, and I knew she’d never sleep if I didn’t hand that parcel over before her head hit the pillow. “We’ll go back and get your journal in the morning, but you have to promise me you’ll behave if the book is sold overnight.”

“Are you nuts? Bonkers? If that book isn’t in the shop, you’re in a world of trouble for making me leave it there!”

Trying to diffuse the situation, I asked, “Well, if you agree with my conditions, you can open the box.”

While I waited for her to decide, I counted the various faces she made. When she answered, I didn’t hear her because I got lost in her silly antics.

“Fine. I said fine.”

Smiling at her, I clasped my hands and replied, “Oh, perfect. Come here. Sit down in the chair, and I’ll bring the package to you.”

Eloise sat and looked at me expectantly.

Walking as slowly as I could, I picked up the package and twirled it a few times. Whistling, I asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until the morning?”

”Stop stalling,” she said. I could hear her annoyance. I wasn’t making this easy on her.

Finally, I placed the package on her lap and asked, “Do you want to guess what’s in here?”

Shaking her head, she said, “No! It’s the most nondescriptive box in the world. Brown paper, brown tape, no card, no ribbon or bows. I’m thinking you went through a whole heck of a lot of trouble to keep me from guessing.”

Picking up the package, I shook it and said, “It doesn’t move much. It fills the box up.”

Snatching it back, she smiled and suggested, “Well, I think you had a box stuffed with paper and rocks to throw me off.”

Folding my arms, I said, “Maybe I did. Why don’t you open it.”

Placing the box in her lap, she lifted the edge of the brown tape and ripped it off. Tossing the packing to the floor, she looked at me in disbelief as her eyes registered what was inside the box. Lifting the leather journal, she asked, “How? How’d you manage this? You said we couldn’t afford it?”

I remained silent as she ran her fingers down the book's spine. When she placed the book on her lap and tried to undo the leather straps, she gasped and looked at me, asking, “Jack, is this? How did you?”

She looked shocked as she twisted the golden object between her fingers.