"Mom?"
"Hello Elle, how are you sweetheart?"
"Okay. Do I have to go?"
"Yes, Elle."
"Why?"
"Elle please…"
"Daddy says I have to act this way and that. I don't want to go!" The girl complained and the usual strain that seemed to show of late was quite visible to her mother in her voice.
"Elle, you just be yourself." Gabriella said softly.
"But daddy…"
"Daddy is wrong. Just be you Elle." Gabriella reassured her daughter. "You are a lovely young woman, just be you honey."
Blayne got up and walked up to the window.
Gabriella saw her as she walked up to the window naked and stood silently looking out.
"Elle put daddy on the phone."
"Okay mom, see you later."
"I love you sweetheart."
"Love you too mom. Here's daddy."
"Hi." Joseph said as he got back on the phone.
"Joseph she is nervous. This is hard for her; she is insecure enough. Just let it be okay?" Gabriella said irately.
"I just asked her to behave." He said defensively.
"Just lighten up okay. I'll see you all tonight."
"All right."
Gabriella hung up the phone and just sat quietly for a moment with her back to Blayne.
"How is your family?" Blayne asked braking the silence.
"Elle and her father seem to clash over everything." Gabriella answered.
Both women still had not moved.
Blayne took a deep breath and dove in.
"Why did you come?" As Blayne asked she turned to face Gabriella.
Gabriella turned to her still sitting on the bed.
"Because I need this as much if not more than you," she said as her eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall any minute.
Blayne went to her immediately. She knelt in front of Gabriella and took her hands, holding them in hers with a desperation that frightened her. Gabriella kept staring at their hands.
"Stay with me," Blayne pleaded softly. "Please…on my knees….I beg you…please, please stay with me…" she finished saying as she held back a sob.
Gabriella's eyes immediately looked up and saw the tears running down Blayne's face. She could see the pain in those eyes that she so dearly loved.
"Stay with me…stay with me," Blayne asked yet again unable to veil the desperation in her voice as she waited for an answer.
Gabriella's hand went out to caress the beautiful face of the woman that knelt in front of her. How could she tell her? How could she make her understand?
"I can't…" Gabriella's words cut Blayne through the heart. She visibly flinched and an audible intake of breath from Blayne sounded like thunder to Gabriella's ears. In that moment she knew she had broken the heart that just a moment ago had beard itself to her and had begged her to stay and love her.
"Blayne…" Gabriella began to say when Blayne stood up and put as much distance between them as possible. "Blayne, I can't…"
"You don't need to say anything. Words are overrated. No is quite sufficient." Blayne said coldly with her back to her.
"I wish I could…"
"Like hell you do!" Blayne turned to her accusingly. "You got what you wanted. I fucked you and you got to fuck me." Blayne started picking up her clothes.
"It wasn't like that…" Gabriella began to say softly.
"Wasn't it!" Blayne turned to her again.
"You know it wasn't." Gabriella met her eyes as she said it.
"What was it then? Love? You called me to come and fuck you in a hotel room and you are meeting your children and ….your husband!" Blayne growled as she pulled at the sheets.
Gabriella stood up and covered herself with the sheet. Blayne walked up to her and pulled it off. "Ashamed of your nakedness? You weren't ashamed last night or this morning when we were FUCKING!"
"Stop it Blayne, please," Gabriella pleaded as the tears began to fill her eyes again.
"Stop? Shouldn't you have said that last night? " Blayne took a deep breath and released the woman that was now sobbing in front of her. "All right, all right…"
Blayne dressed quickly and as she was about to leave she stopped for a moment in front of the door not daring to turn and face Gabriella and yet not able to just walk away from her. She had no shame, no pride left in her, and knowing it hurt her. She shut her eyes and said the words her soul wanted voiced and cursed her self for it. "Call me soon?"
"Yes." Gabriella answered softly.
Blayne had never turned. Her eyes shut again with the pain of the answer and then walked out of the room. As Blayne walked out into the hallway she pulled out her sunglasses from her pocket and putted them on. Her eyes were now shielded from the world.
She got on the elevator.
A woman got on before the elevator reached the lobby and she admired the dark haired beautiful woman with the sunglasses leaning on the corner. She also noticed as she exited the elevator how she proudly and arrogantly raised her shin as if preparing herself to face the world. The effect that Blayne caused with her looks was always that of aloof beauty and an arrogance that came only with those that knew they were few and ruled the world. The woman blinked in surprise as the image she had in her mind of Blayne Anberville shattered when she saw the tears that escaped the veil of the sunglasses and roll down the beautiful cheek.
The effect Blayne left behind with the stranger was one of wonder and curiosity. That could not have been Blayne Anberville. That cannot be the cold woman that I have been told about. And yet it must be her. Tara shook her head and looked up again to see the figure disappear out of the hotel. I look forward to meeting you more than ever now Blayne, more than ever. Your tear has intrigued me. Perhaps this trip to Boston will be more than I hoped for. Tara smiled to herself and walked out of the hotel. She had shopping to do. After all, she had just found something that had awakened her and she must get just the right outfit to play the game.
Diana waited excitedly; she had gotten to the restaurant purposefully early. Her face lit up with a big smile as she got up and hugged her sister.
"I'm so glad we could do this," Diana said as she released Gabriella and they both sat down.
"It's good to see you too Diana. This place is wonderful," said Gabriella, as she looked around admiringly.
"Sandrine's is wonderful. I always stop for lunch here when I'm in Boston. Raymond is a wonderful chef. You must try his famous Flammekeuche." Diana said enthusiastically.
"Flamm…what?" Gabriella laughed.
"Flammekeuche, it's a sort of pizza-quiche with bacon, onion and lots of cream."
"Sounds wonderful. Do you know the chef?" Gabriella laughed. "You sound like a fan."
Diana joined in the laughter. "Yes, Raymond is a doll. He opened the restaurant a few years ago. Sandriene's is one of the little treasures of greater Boston."
"I love the décor." Gabriella said as she looked around. "The slate blues and hanging plates, its lovely Diana. Thanks for inviting me."
"I'm glad you came." Diana said as she put her hand over her sister's and smiled.
At that moment the waitress appeared and they ordered some white Cabernet-Sauvignon. The waitress went to get their wine order when Diana waived to someone behind Gabriella. She was waving them over to their table.
"This is my surprise." Diana said as she got up and Gabriella turned to come face to face with Blayne who was looking down on her with lifeless eyes.
Blayne walked into the restaurant and looked around the room. When she spotted her sister she froze for a moment. The other woman sitting on the same table had her back to her, but she would recognize Gabriella anywhere and a part of her hurt in knowing and acknowledging that. She took a deep breath and starting walking towards Diana with a smile on her face. She however felt her resolve waiver when Gabriella turned around and saw the unguarded look in those beautiful blue eyes.