Thomas Corvin ♖ Jest (jesting) wrote in dunhavenic, @ 2020-03-07 13:03:00 |
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They'd started their morning at Midnight Mug, the coffee shop inside the Lauinger Library at Georgetown University- and the site of their first date, eight years ago to the day. Thomas and Calliope had kept that same anniversary when they'd married now five years ago. Returning to Midnight Mug was a tradition, of course- one they did most every time they were back in DC, now- but it felt especially meaningful today, even if Calliope couldn't (or chose not to) partake in caffeine for the sake of Georgiana. Georgiana. Saying the name aloud still set a delight through Thomas, and each new milestone Calliope stepped past in her pregnancy was thrilling- if not a little bit of terror, too. They hadn't lingered around Georgetown today- nor even DC. Instead, Thomas had set back onto the road further north still, and some thirty minutes later they arrived in the (as yet) unfamiliar suburb of Rockville, Maryland. They pulled into a rather unassuming parking lot, though a brightly painted mural on the outside of the brick building gave away his surprise. "I thought we might have more fun with books we could take home, instead of a library, today," Thomas offered with a smile, even as he opened the door to Calliope's side of the car and extended a hand down to her. Even if their first date and their wedding had both been inside libraries. -- Their anniversary was always a special day for her. Legally, they’d been married longer than five years now, but they had long-agreed to celebrate their anniversary on the day they’d held their ceremony with his family and their friends. It happened to fall on a Saturday this year, which made it easy for them to get out of town for the afternoon. Her cupcake shop was closed, and they were enjoying as much time together as they could, especially as it wouldn’t be just the two of them for very much longer. Come summer they would have their little girl to share attention with, and be their near-constant companion. Many changes were coming with Georgiana. The elder Corvins were moving to Dunhaven within the next few weeks, the closing on their house having been achieved just within the last few weeks, and the sale of their house in Missouri was now pending. Calliope was excited for all the new turns their life was taking, but she had constants like celebrating her anniversary with Thomas at Midnight Mug, even if she ended up with a decaf chai drink instead of her usual coffee. When Thomas said he wanted to get out of DC and take her somewhere new, she hadn’t argued or even asked where it was that they were going. If he wanted it to be a surprise, she was more than happy to let it remain that way, and Calliope trusted him. So, when they had pulled into the parking lot of a bookstore, her smile had just broadened. Their first date might have been in a library, but the one that had followed had been in a bookstore, so it seemed just as fitting. She reached out to take his hands and allowed him to help her out of the car until she could find her center of gravity again, the roundness of her stomach still something she was growing accustomed to as it got bigger by the week, “Oh, this is perfect, Thomas. Maybe I can find some good offerings for my lending library at the shop along with a few more personal choices.” -- Once Calliope seemed to have her feet more properly under her, Thomas shifted to her side- keeping one hand in hers, then locking the car as he led her to the bookstore. "I've never actually been here," he admitted, though that likely wouldn't surprise her. Though he'd lived in DC for quite some time, he'd been... well, rather busy through most of it. Extraneous trips to second-hand bookstores, even ones purported to be among the best on the east coast, hadn't been a priority. He held open the door to the shop for Calliope, and didn't immediately reach for her hand as she walked inside- they'd have their hands full in looking soon enough, no doubt. "I'm sure Georgiana needs a few more books, too," he offered, with a little smile. -- She didn’t even know that this place existed, and was impressed that he had found it for them to come to today. His suggestion that their daughter’s collection might also be expanded was met with a broad smile, “Absolutely. Mama has been keeping me well up to date with the ones she’s been collecting as well, so I have a whole list so that we don’t unintentionally get duplicates.” That was a bit more organization than she held for her own bookshelf, but it was something she shared with Elisabeth so that neither of them bought a dozen of the same books while shopping, and usually Calliope and Thomas did their shopping for such things together. “Maybe we can look at the children’s section last, as we’re likely to spend a lot of time there? A sweet finish to our browsing?” -- When he and Calliope had moved in together- that is, when she'd run from her family, once and for all- she hadn't brought along anything other than the essentials, which hadn't included any books. There just hadn't been time. Granted, for some time before that, Calliope had been leaving a few books at Thomas' place- ones that he borrowed which found their way to his shelves rather than back home to her parents'. They were both very well read, and valued such things highly in themselves- and each other. The smell of old books was pervasive, as soon as they stepped inside, and Thomas couldn't help but take a deep breath in of that familiar and cherished aroma. "If we stumble across a duplicate, well, it'll just go to your lending library. I'm sure Georgiana won't mind sharing with Dunhaven." There were small hand baskets near the door, but beside them were the more proper sized shopping carts. Thomas didn't even bother pretending that they might only need the small basket, and instead tugged out the full cart, ushering for Calliope to go on ahead. "Lead the way." -- She laughed lightly when he assured her duplicates would find a home, one way or another, “That’s very true. I think, like us, she’ll very much enjoy sharing literature with others.” She agreed with a smile. Though neither of them had studied literature in school, they both just really loved reading. The books they read were often a conversation starter at home or with friends, and their home was filled with books they had each procured over the years. Of course, Calliope’s own collection had started nearly from scratch all over again five years ago. She hadn’t left behind a particularly expansive collection at home and thankfully most of the books that had been important to her had been at Thomas’ place already when she fled Pemberton Manor. There were still a few that she’d mourned leaving behind once the realization had hit her some days later. It had not been enough to ever tempt her to go back, even for a moment. As Thomas grabbed a cart, Calliope led the way, pausing a little at a stack here or there, but she finally paused in the general fiction second, picking a little more carefully through the shelves for stories she liked or had on her list of wants to read. The store was expansive and she laughed, “I think we’re going to be in here a while.” -- They'd come all this way, so it only made sense to take their time as they perused the stacks and shelves. Advertisements had boasted that there were over one million books in store, and they... well, they could at least give a valiant effort at seeing perhaps half, yes? "I haven't planned anything else for the day," Thomas admitted, "so we're... not on a time limit here, at least. Though I suppose they might kick us out at some point, unless our cart is overflowing." At this, he added his first book to the cart- just in case. -- Calliope smiled and added a book of her own choosing to the cart - not something she’d had her eye on previously, but the blurb was enticing enough. There were certain sections they would likely skip - perhaps gardening and architecture - but they had vast interests in literature and could most likely stay here either until they were encouraged to leave or Calliope’s feet no longer wanted to tolerate her standing. “We’re getting a good start,” she said with a smile, “And we won’t just roost in one section, at least. We are planning to make several purchases.” For good measure, she picked up another book - this one with a title she recognized - and added it to the cart. Money, at least...was really of no consequence here, so they did not have to be particularly choosy with their options. -- Though they didn't share their financial status with the world at large, things like this were an exception to the otherwise carefully crafted household budget. Thomas and Calliope both worked and brought in their own incomes to the household, and they didn't often live beyond those means- they just... also didn't tell people that they'd done things such as bought their home and Calliope's business space outright, rather than going into unnecessary debt for a mortgage. Calliope's inheritance from the Pembertons had been hard won through years of emotional abuse, and what she and Thomas chose to do with that money now spoke volumes... even if they were the only ones who heard. "Though if you do need to... roost," Thomas borrowed the phrase, "for Georgiana's sake, anyway, just say the word, Calliope. You know as well as I do that I can- and have- gotten lost in the stacks before. It's in my nature." -- Calliope didn't like flaunting what wealth they did have. It was…exorbitant, and they'd invested wisely to make the best possible future for the kids they had, but still held enough liquidity to do as they pleased. There were moments it was hinted at - owning a vacation home and the spur of the moment trips they sometimes took - but Calliope didn't normally volunteer the information. "I'm fine for now, but I promise I'll let you know if I need a rest for a while," she briefly took his hand and gave it a small squeeze before looking back to the shelves, letting her eyes linger over the colorful spines. -- The shopping cart had grown several more piles of books as they wound their way through the shop, with not an ounce of remorse to be found in either Corvin. But when Thomas- out of habit- pulled down a copy of The Secret Garden from a higher shelf, he nearly swore aloud and dropped the thing to the floor. The dust jacket had some wear to it, but it was the illustration on the cover that set his heart beating more quickly- and as he flipped open the first few pages to verify the publication date, he got almost jittery with excitement. "Calliope, look!" It was an excited whisper, as if someone might come and take the book from his hands if he announced it too loudly. He handed her the book with the cover flipped open to those crucial details. Published 1949 - J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia & New York - Illustrations by Nora S. Unwin. -- It was one of her favorite tales, The Secret Garden. Calliope had not been as spoiled or unpleasant as Mary Lennox, but she had been a young girl born to parents who did not want her, desperate for a different sort of life. Though it was intended as a children's tale, she still loved it to this day. When Thomas showed her the copy he had found, she nearly dropped the book she held in her hands, immediately spotting that uncommon illustration. It was one she had wanted for some time now, enamored by the artful cover. Calliope could have found another more common copy anywhere, but this had been the one she scoured bookshops for whenever they went somewhere new, "Oh!" She looked over those telling details with Thomas, and they were just as they should be. Her heart flew a little, joyful tears rising to her eyes unbidden - brought on stronger by hormones - and she reached out to gently put her fingers to those pages, "Well this…this is definitely coming home with us where it can be properly appreciated." -- Thomas had already put the book in the cart, even as he then reached a hand up to brush away Calliope's tears. He knew that her emotions were running higher than normal, and it only bothered him in the sense that he couldn't particularly help her. But he smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead, his other hand- out of habit- drifting to rest just at the side of her belly. "It was waiting here for you. We just didn't know it." -- Calliope wasn't particularly bothered by the unexpectedly big emotions she was feeling recently as it could be explained by the hormonal changes her body was going through. Even still, she smiled in hopes that it would reassure Thomas, even as he stepped toward her for that moment of connection, "Yeah. It seems so. It's been here a while by the collection of dust." She let her fingers linger on the book in the cart just a moment, "We've found so many treasures already here today. It was a very good idea." -- "Between today and whatever mama may be bringing from St Louis, we may yet need to add more shelving at home. To say nothing of Georgiana's room, since we haven't even begun into the children's section here." It was next up, though, and Thomas could already imagine how heavily laden their cart would be by the time they were through. "It's a good problem to have, though. And a very Corvin one, at that." -- “You know I will not say no to more bookshelves,” she said with a smile, though she immediately also knew if they were going to put shelves in Georgiana’s room they would either have to be mounted above her reach, or securely anchored to the wall, “I’m not opposed to doing some book baskets in her room as well, when she gets just a little older. Boardbooks and the like that will be easily within her grasp.” She wouldn’t likely take a huge interest in reading them until she was a year or so old, if then, but Calliope had no doubts that they’d be reading their baby to sleep well before she knew they were doing it, “Our ever-growing library is something I dearly love.” -- Of course, any furniture that would be accessible to Georgiana when she started toddling would be expertly secured to prevent any mishaps. "Books at her level, whatever level that may grow to be, over the years." He didn't expect that they would be the sort of parents who would shower their daughter in endless amounts of toys, whatever was popular in that particular moment. Books, however, would always be available. Thomas smiled a bit, adding, "That's one of the reasons I knew you were it for me. You never judged my book collection." -- “Exactly,” Calliope agreed with a smile. She knew those cube bookshelves with the inserts may also prove handy for such a thing in time, along with having storage purposes. They had largely finished with the nursery, but there were still a few touches here or there that could be added. She gave a small hum of happiness at that thought, and smiled, “When you took me to that bookshop and bought me my choices, I was well and truly smitten. Well...I kind of was before then, but I had a head start.” She still had to laugh at herself a little over how she’d handled - or not handled - her crush on Thomas at the beginning, but she’d been over half in love with him before she’d ever even asked him for coffee. -- "I wasn't going to take you to a bookshop and not buy you books," Thomas protested, almost (playfully) affronted at the implication. "Even on a TA's salary, I could manage that much." Once again falling into browsing beside Calliope, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I'd have been smitten long before, too, if I'd known I had any kind of chance with a woman like you. You surprised me, Calliope." -- She smiled a little, though she had never just expected him to buy her things just because they were going on dates in years past. Now, their combined finances made that easy, as it didn’t really matter which of them paid, “Bookshop dates are some of my favorites.” She was certainly less shy about picking up more than one or two books now. Calliope gave a quiet laugh, a shrug following even as she bit the inside of her cheek, “I didn’t think you’d notice me. We were both surprised.” She had fabricated a reason for him to notice her, and even then...she’d scrambled to keep up that particular facade for the rest of the semester, unwilling to fail her class and yet...pretending to need copious amounts of assistance. -- "Mine, too. Though I don't know that we've had... really terrible dates? Awkward, sure, on my part. But so much has just been... effortless. We fell into sync in ways I never would have thought possible, before you." "You are infinitely noticeable, Calliope Corvin," Thomas insisted, the use of their now-shared last name not at all an accident in the phrasing. -- She made a small hum of agreement at his words, finding no flaw in them. "Absolutely. I don't recall any unfortunate dates. From the beginning, it was like I'd known you forever," she insisted, unless one was to count her twenty-first birthday party as a date, in which case that one had been horrific. She tended not to count it, though. She didn't like to think about it at all, and that was well and truly in their past now. There were times she almost forgot she'd ever had another name because Corvin suited her so perfectly whereas her pretentious maiden name had always felt like something she was shackled to unwillingly, "Yours is the only eye I wish to draw, Thomas. So long as that remains true, I am perfectly happy." -- Her twenty-first birthday had absolutely not been a date. Not for the two of them, anyway. It had been nothing more than ill-conceived trickery on behalf of Calliope's former family, names they no longer uttered because of those days and the ones that followed. "I can't help if other eyes are drawn to you," he admitted, with a slight smile, "but I assure you that mine always will be. To you and no one else." -- "I had a feeling you would say that," Calliope admitted with a grin, though it was her favorite possible response. It was true that they could not control the actions of others, but they'd only had eyes for one another for a full eight years now, and that was only counting from their first date. Calliope had been enchanted for many months longer still, "The same remains true for me as well." She turned her eyes up to those shelves and bumped him gently with her hip, "Let's see what other dusty treasures we might save from a life of being unread." |