Abigail froze before this and stared in horror. She had never thought to see her child in such pain. All the anger inside her disappeared as she faced the incredible sorrow of the scene before her.
She had received a concerned call from Harry Bancroft earlier on that morning. He was worried that business matters were not being looked at and that Blayne had been virtually unreachable for weeks. None of that mattered now as Abigail stared in shock. She watched as Blayne cried without consolation. She wept like something wounded and dying. The strong woman that Abigail knew as her daughter was simply not there. Before her was a young woman who cried as if her heart was ripped from her.
"Why didn't you kill me?" Blayne pleaded between the crying. "Why did you leave me to this, Gabriella?" The tears ran down her face unchecked. "I love you."
The last words broke Abigail's heart as she heard them. She walked away leaving her daughter holding the pieces of a broken heart.
As she walked back to the house she thought many things. And then she took a deep breath and resolved to change what she could. This was Arthur's legacy. And it suddenly occurred to her that she didn't want it to be hers.
Abigail didn't speak to Blayne that day nor did she ever broach the subject of Gabriella. The will had been read and as expected it held no surprises. Arthur as it turned out never changed it and all was left mostly to Abigail with the exception of a few things to trusted and faithful employees. It had however been clearly stipulated that Blayne would always have the majority voting shares into the company. So in effect Blayne had been left with the control over it all.
Diana shrugged it off and Chaz somehow also seemed to except it. He had packed up and was touring the Riviera again for the winter. Diana however had stayed close to home and close to Blayne. Abigail just watched and waited. In time she had to believe that Blayne would become her old self again.
And as the weeks became months the semblance of the old Blayne became evident and Abigail breathed with a sigh of relief. Her family had managed to survive it all. It was as if Gabriella and her mother had never existed.
With this Abigail began to breathe easier. She was preparing for the holidays as as usual she was expecting her children to arrive momentarily.
Diana got home first. "Hello Mother." She walked up and kissed her mother's cheek.
"Hello darling," said Abigail as she was putting another fixture on the tree.
"Chaz arrive from Monte Carlo yet?"
"Last night," Abigail said with a smile.
"And Blayne?" Diana asked softly.
"She's running late but will be here after dinner." Abigail said as she continued to decorate the tree.
"I haven't seen her for awhile. Have you spoken with her recently?" Inquired Diana as she sat down close to where her mother was.
"You know how Blayne is. She is very busy these days and doesn't really have time to call that often."
Diana frowned at the flippant way her mother was taking things. Did she know about Blayne and Gabriella? Diana wasn't sure. The last time she had actually seen Blayne was like seeing and speaking to a stranger.
"Well, I guess we shall see how she is when she gets here tonight."
Blayne never made it for the decorating that evening; she called that she was tied up at the office. She promised to come but could not give a time as to when. She asked them to all go to bed that she would eventually arrive and they would spend Christmas day together.
Blayne walked into a silent house. She passed by the great room and saw the decorated tree. She stood in front of it for a moment or so and realized that it had looked the same way year after year. Except that this would be the first year without her father. She smiled sadly at how Arthur loved giving out presents in the morning. And as always good memories were followed by the one's that haunted every time she closed her eyes. At least during the day she could fill her hours with work but the nights would inevitably bring the same dreams over and over again.
She then walked quietly towards the Library. It suddenly occurred to her that this was her favorite room in this house. So much living had been done here. Here she had had long talks with her father and here in the very same room she had loved and held Gabriella. And as she felt the power that merely remembering held over her she shut her eyes trying to shut out living. Because living was just too painful and just existing was easier.
She had intentionally not come earlier. She wasn't exactly sure how she would react with everyone. It had been months since she had come to visit. The house, the grounds, everything looked the same. Even the Christmas tree held the old and comfortable visage. But life was not as she wished it was. If granted one wish what would she wish for? What did she want for Christmas?
It was easy. She would wish to live one hour over and over again for the rest of her life. She walked slowly towards the window and stared out. How many times had she stood in the same spot throughout the years searching and not finding the answers of what she wanted for herself? Sadly, now she new. The one thing she wanted she would never have.
She looked down and saw the burgundy decanter and poured herself a large drink. Looking at it for a moment she then raised it to her lips. Before drinking she raised it up and softly celebrated her anguish. "Merry Christmas my darling." As the tears ran down her face she drank all the contents within the glass.
Blayne poured the amber liquid into the glass once more and filled it to the rim. She then took the glass with her as she headed up the stairs towards her bedroom.
She never noticed the dark figure that had remained silent in the room.
Elena hurried to open the door to stop the persistent knocking. In front of her stood an elegant woman.
"Can I help you?" Elena asked politely.
"Yes, I hope you can. My name is Abigail Aston-Carlyle."
Part Six (Conclusion)
Elena stood surprised; both women searched the other's face for some kind of sign. In the end both realized that there was nothing but a past between them.
"May I come in?" Abigail asked softly.
"Yes, please." Elena stepped to the side and let Abigail in.
Abigail walked into the small but cozy living room slowly. She saw the photographs of a lifetime on the walls and the coffee table.
Elena watched as Arthur's wife inspected the photographs that comprised her life.
Abigail stopped in front of a photograph of a young Gabriella on top of a pony. The sun had caught the little girl in such a way that her blue eyes seemed just like those of her father. Abigail picked up the photo and smiled sadly.
"Arthur loved horses…" Abigail could not keep the sadness from her voice.
"Yes…"
Abigail closed her eyes at those words as she turned to look at the woman that had always been there between her and the man that she had loved.
"Won't you sit down?" Elena said as she pointed to the nearby sofa.
"Yes, thank you." She then put down Gabriella's photograph, walked over to the sofa and sat down.
"Can I offer you something to drink?"
"No, no thank you," Abigail said as she looked down at the floor and Elena sat down in an armchair in front of her. "He never stopped loving you," Abigail said as her eyes came up to meet Elena's surprised ones. "Even in the end. His last words were for you." Tears ran down Abigail's face as she saw the pain register itself on Elena's face.