“Did you... hear all of that?” he asked, cautiously.
Emma nodded, and her bottom lip began to tremble. Arthur went up the stairs, passing Jesse on the way to the second-floor landing.
“Oh, Emma, I’m sorry.I—”
Emma lunged forward. She threw her arms around Arthur with such force that he let out a small “oof” and staggered back a step. Had he been even three feet closer to the stairwell, he might have toppled backward.
“Thank you,” she whispered into the fabric of his robe.
Arthur choked out a little sob-chuckle and hugged her back.
He knew, then, that no matter how hard it had been to stand up to his parents, and no matter how painful it was to know that he had lost their respect and probably their love, he had made the right choice. For himself. For Jesse.
Most importantly, he had made the right choice for Emma.
And now, Arthur was finally free.
***
It had been three weeks since Arthur had missed out on that private event and two since he had severed ties with his parents. And he was the happiest he’d ever been in his life. Just as Arthur had been hoping, neither of his parents had retaliated since they’d parted ways. Possibly because they knew that even if they did somehow succeed in ripping Emma away from him, she would likely prove to be much more strong-willed than Arthur himself had ever been. His parents must have known they wouldn’t have been able to control her for long.
All in all, the last weeks had been positively blissful. Emma had been so much happier. Arthur and Jesse had spent several evenings together, sometimes in Bridgeport and sometimes at Arthur’shome on Prairie Avenue. Giuseppe had begun working at Putnam Press, which he very clearly loved. Claire had been extraordinarily brave and had not only confessed to her parents that she hoped to work for Arthur once she was no longer needed as Lizzie’s tutor, but that she was in love with Miss Charlotte Fields.
Unlike Arthur’s parents, Claire’s parents had been surprisingly supportive. Claire was still their child, still their little girl, no matter who she loved. Those had been the precise words that Claire’s parents had used. And, God, Arthur was so happy for her. He was so happy for Charlotte as well. And for himself, in a way, too. Because the steadfast love that Claire’s parents had shown was further proof that there were kind, accepting people in the world. Perhaps more of them than he had ever even dared to imagine. And he couldn’t help but feel hopeful for the future for people like himself.
Seated in the carriage next to Jesse, Arthur was buzzing with excitement, the thrill of the evening ahead shooting through his veins like a constant flow of electrical current, making his heart race and his leg bounce. It was fifteen minutes past ten o’clock in the evening, and Arthur and Jesse were on their way to visit the fair. While it was closed!
Arthur had arranged for some of the fair to remain lit up and ready for their enjoyment. Of course, even with the handsome sum of money that Arthur had paid for thisexclusiveprivate event, noteverythingcould be kept open so late. But Arthur had managed to convince a few people to keep two things running: the lights that illuminated the Court of Honor and walkways, and Ferris’s Great Wheel.
He was so incredibly excited.
After they arrived, Arthur and Jesse hopped out of the carriage and hurried to the entrance—the very same one from whereJesse had been rejected before, with the very same man behind the booth.
Arthur took a breath and said, “We’re here for—”
“Yes, I know,” the man replied, holding up his hand.
He motioned for them to come inside. Once they did, he moved to close and lock the large metal gate.
“I’ll be here to let you out later,” he said reassuringly, seemingly sensing Arthur’s worry.
“Thank you. Our stay shouldn’t be long. Not more than an hour,” Arthur promised, to which the man smiled and nodded.
Arthur took Jesse by the sleeve and began pulling him toward the Court of Honor.
“Justwaituntil you see how beautiful it is, Jesse,” he said. “It’s magical.”
Jesse nearly tripped over his own two feet.
“Can’t we walk more slowly? At, you know, normal speed?”
Arthur bellowed a laugh. “Of course not!”
Minutes later, they rounded the corner to enter the very edge of the famed Court of Honor. Immediately, Arthur found himself captivated by the spectacular white lights, which were every bit as magnificent as he remembered. Finally slowing his walk, Arthur released Jesse’s sleeve. He looked over at his beau with a smile, but Jesse seemed too shocked to smile back. Together, they made their way toward the Great Basin, the lightbulbs around them twinkling like low-lying stars. All the while, Jesse’s eyes sparkled with wonder, their shimmer even more lovely than the waters of the basin itself. Watching Jesse take in the fair’s beauty had Arthur’s heart pitter-pattering with fondness, each beat whispering those three powerful words, which then echoed throughout every inch of his body. Oh, how he loved Jesse O’Connor. He loved him wholly and completely and with more fervor than he had ever known was possible.
Once they reached the edge of the water, Jesse rested his palms on the metal railing and then turned to Arthur with the warmest, sweetest smile. Arthur smiled back. He wanted so badly to kiss him right then, but merely rested one of his hands on top of Jesse’s instead.
“You know, Jesse, for over a month now, we could have visited the fair in the evening,” Arthur said. “But I’m so happy that we waited. Because being here with you by ourselves right now... it feels so incredibly special.”
