Carla’s Prince

“Yeah…but why now? Why today?” Brenda asked but before Carla could answer, they became aware of the music playing that had maybe been drowned by the fireworks earlier.

“Where is that coming from? The streets are clear,” Carla said as her eyes scanned the neighborhood. Brenda walked to the door and gasped silently when she saw the rose petals on the floor.

“I think it’s coming from the roof,” she said as Carla walked up to where she was.

“What the hell is going on?” Carla wondered out loud as they walked down the hallway to the roof access door. The music got louder when they opened the door and Carla’s heart skipped a beat. She felt strongly that Cristoff was behind all this and her feelings were confirmed when she got to the roof. There was a small table set for two and a twelve-piece band dressed in all black. She could not help but wonder how he had time to organize all this. Time to even get a harp up there without her knowing and then she saw him, Cristoff, looking as dapper as ever in the dark one button suit he had on. He was holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand and Carla’s heart skipped a beat. Brenda slowly pulled her hand from Carla’s.

“No, don’t leave,” Carla begged.

“This is for you, all for you. I wouldn’t be doing you any favor if I stayed,” Brenda said before she smiled at Carla and then walked out, leaving her standing there feeling more than a little underdressed.

Cristoff walked up to where she was and handed her the flowers.

“What are you doing?” she asked in a whisper as he looked at her.

“My sister told me about this movie, Pretty Woman, and she told me that if I did that and you still didn’t want me, then I could walk away knowing that I did everything.”

“In the movie, the man stood outside her window holding a radio,” Carla said and Cristoff shrugged.

“I wanted to do something more personal. Something more Cristoff Benedict.” He reached into his jacket pocket as the band finished playing the song they had so perfectly performed. “I have a big problem expressing myself, so, I wrote what I have to say and I hope you will hear me out.”

She bit her lip. It was not as if she had a choice. She stood there and looked at him as he unfolded the paper in his hands.

“Carla, I have never been a man who lets the world in but since I met you, I have been in this school of life learning things I never knew about myself. I learned what it means to have a woman’s genuine love and I have learned what it feels like to love someone back. It has been hard, trying even but I am simply making this up as I go along because you are the first woman I have ever loved and I am definitely bound to make mistakes as you have seen.” He looked up briefly and took a long, deep breath.

“I am willing to be the man you want me to be. I want to be the man you dreamed of all your life but to do that, I need your help and I in turn promise never to rebuke you without cause and teach you everything about the Danish culture. I want you in life, not just for a season but for life.” He looked at her again. “If you would have me.”

She looked at him as he folded the piece of paper and put it back in his pocket.

“Carla, I love you. I love everything about you,” he said in a whisper. “I love how you always bite your lip when you don’t know what to say and I love that you wear dirty clothes right out of the hamper.”

Carla smiled.

“I love that you have stood here and listened to me and I love that more than anything because I get to ask you to be mine, forever.”

Carla shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek.

“Do you know what you are asking me?” she asked and he nodded.

“Yeah, I do. More than anything, I know what I am asking you. When I told my sister that I wanted you to be my queen, she told me that you would be giving up more than I could ever understand and I know that it is a lot to think about but you are worth the wait.”

“I love you…but like I told you before, I am not from your world.” She shook her head. “What is your family going to say? What are your countrymen going to say?”

“All that matters is what you say,” Cristoff said as he stepped closer to her.

“What about Stephanie?” she asked and he shook his head.

“What about her?”

“I saw the pictures of you…she was holding you…”

“Stephanie and I had a physical relationship for a long time but it was only that, physical. She wanted more but I have never wanted her like that. Not the way I want you.”

“So, the picture…” she started and he shook his head.

“A picture the paparazzi were lucky to get but I promise you, I am yours. All of me.”

He signaled the band and they began walking out, revealing a carriage that had been standing behind them the whole time. A white carriage with a beautiful red velvet interior. Even from that distance, she could see the fine detail of the carriage.

“What is that?” she asked as she slowly walked towards the carriage. The last member of the band walked out of the place leaving just the two of them.

“The first gift I give to my future queen,” he said as she ran her hand on the door and opened it. “If you would have me.”

She looked at him briefly and climbed in. She put the flowers down on the opposite side of the carriage and let her hand slide over the velvet seats. He climbed in after her and sat down.

“I want to give us a chance. I want to at least try but I don’t know if I can take the ridicule from your countrymen.”

“You will have me there and you will have my sister Isabella, who is quite possibly your biggest supporter.” He kissed the back of her hand. “You will be just fine.”

She took a long, deep breath and sighed.

“I really do want to try and give this a go, Cristoff,” she whispered and he smiled.

He reached for her cheek and gently ran his thumb on it.

“That is all I wanted to hear,” he said as he looked into her eyes. “That is all I need.”

He gently pushed a few stray strands of her hair from her face and smiled at her.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered and she forced out a laugh.

“I am wearing an old t-shirt and sweatpants. I am a mess.”

He shook his head.