Elena was next to her immediately and embraced her. "Oh mi nina. No llores mi nina." Elena asked her child not to cry as she cried herself.
She had always prayed that her daughter would find love. When Gabriella had brought Joseph home she could tell that her choice was to please her father. He had wanted her to have a secure future and Gabriella adored him. She had at the time thought that perhaps it would be best. And as the years passed by she saw the change come ever Gabriella so slowly. Gabriella was only herself when she was working or with the children.
Elena now realized that love was beating strongly within her daughters chest. She knew her child. She also knew the signs. And what she saw broke her heart.
"Who is he?" Elena asked softly.
Gabriella then suddenly pulled away. "Can't do this Mama, I can't."
"Does he love you?"
"Please…" Gabriella begged.
"Let me help you."
"You can't help me. No one can help me," Gabriella said in frustration. "No one would understand!"
"Leila, I don't care if you want to start a new life with this man. I will help you. And what does it matter if people don't understand?"
"It's not that simple…"Gabriella said sadly and sat down looking away.
"I know it's not. People divorce now. The children love you. I love you. Joseph in time will have to accept this. I will help you Leila." Her mother placed her hands over her daughter's.
"Would you Mama?" Gabriella said as she looked up with tear filled eyes. "I don't' think so."
Elena looked taken aback. "Why would you say that?"
Gabriella stared at her mother wanting to believe with all her heart that the words were true but she knew it could never be.
"Elena," Joseph said from the door with a smile. "What a nice surprise. Can you stay for dinner?"
Both women turned as Joseph walked into the studio. Gabriella turned back to her sculpture.
"Hello Joseph." Elena said politely.
He walked up to Gabriella and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "How is the piece coming along sweetheart?"
"Making good progress today."
"Good, good."
Elena looked at her daughter then at her son-in-law. She had sat by her whole life and just let others dictate what she should do. Gabriella had to have a choice. She would see that she did.
"Joseph, can you leave us for a few minutes. I need to speak with my daughter."
Joseph looked at her surprised and nodded as she quietly left them.
Elena watched as he walked out to the studio and closed the door behind him. She then turned to her daughter and took a deep breath. Gabriella's back was still to her.
"He is a good man. But he is not for you," Elena said flatly.
Gabriella closed her eyes tight and wished she could just not hear another word.
"Tell me why you are sitting there and not fighting for what you want. Do you want to end up like me?"
Gabriella turned and faced her.
"Yes you heard me." Elena was angry. "Your father was a good man too. But I didn't love him. I'm sorry you have to hear that but it's true." Elena's eyes were spilling over with tears too now. "I was in love with another man. I always had been."
Gabriella wept openly as she saw the pain in her mother materialize itself. She had always known that there was this great sadness but she had never understood why.
"I don't want this for you." Elena cried. "Because you are like me. It will be with you your whole life."
"Mama…please don't."
"I have to. I won't let this happen to you too."
"You don't understand."
"Then make me understand!" Elena cried out in desperation.
"I'm in love with a woman!" Gabriella cried out in frustration. When she saw the shock in her mother's face she looked away and turned around. She could not face it.
They were surrounded with silence in what seemed like a lifetime. Then finally Gabriella began to speak.
"It just happened. I look at her and I…" Gabriella said sadly. "No one would understand not even you."
"Who is she?" Elena asked soberly. "Do I know her?"
"You met her briefly."
"Blayne Anberville," Elena suddenly said.
Gabriella turned again and saw the expression of disbelief on her mother's face.
"Do you see now, Mama."
Elena stared back at her daughter. "Did she seduce you?"
"No…I wanted her as much as she wanted me," Gabriella said honestly. "I am the one that left her. She loved me and I simply walked away from her." Gabriella finished saying as tears ran down her face.
Elena looked at her child, walked up to her and took her once again in her arms.
"Mama, it hurts so much. It hurts so much." Gabriella wept as her mother's arms tightened around her.
"Chaz, where is your sister?" Abigail asked her son as she walked up to him in the garden.
"She's around here somewhere. Are you feeling better mother?"
Abigail had been inconsolable for the last few weeks but that particular morning she got and wanted to settle some things in her home.
"I am, thank you." Abigail said as her eyes misted over. "I miss him."
"I know mother. We all do." Chaz said looking away. He had loved Arthur in his own way. He had to admit that the old man had never tired of trying to make something out of him as he used to put it.
"Chaz, we will all need each other now. I don't want to loose any of you."
Chaz looked towards his mother. "Mother…"
"You three are all I have, Chaz. And you three are all you have."
Chaz stared at her not understanding.
"As much as you fight it, Blayne and Diana will always be a part of you. They carry your blood and in the end they are all you will be able to count on. Remember that my son. Always remember that." Abigail walked away leaving him to analyze the words.
"Where is she, Diana?"
Diana smiled at her mother.
"Where is your sister?"
"Is everything all right, Mother?"
"It will be once I take care of a few things," Abigail said angrily.
"Mother…"
"Where is she?"
"Blayne is by the pond."
Abigail then left her as she went looking for Blayne.
"Mother she's had a rough time lately…." Diana said with concern.
Abigail looked back and nodded in acknowledgment before she began walking again.
"We have all had a rough time lately." Abigail mumbled to herself. She was going to deal with Blayne and the circumstances in which she had found her in with Gabriella. It was time to get things and life back on track. They had to or they would all fall apart. She felt the aura of death all around her and she feared it.
It had been four weeks since Arthur had died. And the pain of loosing him was still raw inside her. He had always seen the best in her and it hurt to know that she would never be able to make him understand her nor could she erase the look of disapproval in his face from her mind. She had grown thin from missing meals and she felt listless and empty. Blayne was also ignoring the business. She simply just didn't care anymore. Gabriella was gone and she would forever want her Blayne knew that as surely as she knew that her life would never again hold any beauty. She carried her sadness deep within her. Only when she was alone like this did she allow it to surface and take what little relief that weeping gifted her with.
Blayne sat down and leaned her back against the tree as she faced the pond. Arthur and she had come here so often when she was a child. God how she missed him and how much of a disappointment had she been to him in the end.
She leaned her head back and could almost make herself feel Gabriella lightly kiss her lips as the wind blew softly by. A deep sob rose from within her filled with so much sorrow that she thought she would die at that very instant. Blayne sobbed openly without covering her face as her face looked up towards the sky.