"I…" Elena looked away. She didn't want to know. What good would it do?
"He woke up clutching his chest with your name on his lips."
Elena turned towards the woman in front of her now and shared her pain.
"He died saying your name…"
"I'm sorry…" was all that Elena managed to say.
Abigail then got up and walked up to the bow window and stared out onto the street. "I'm here because this has to end."
"I don't understand," Elena said in confusion.
"I think you do. I don't want this for my daughter. And I don't think you want this for yours," Abigail said bluntly and turned to face Elena. As soon as she saw Elena's face she knew that she had been right.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Elena said, trying to hide her growing nervousness.
"Blayne is an exceptional woman. She is one of those people that are good and fine. And she is slowly dying of love. I have stood by all these months….I won't any longer."
"I don't understand!" Elena said in agitation.
"Don't you?" Abigail faced her as well. "I found them together. Is that blunt enough for you?"
"I don't want to hear this." Elena got up quickly. "Please leave my house."
"I know this is difficult. I have been trying to forget it and just ignore it but, the reality is that my daughter is in a great deal of pain and I know that yours must be too." Abigail appealed to the woman in front of her whose semblance looked stern and unyielding.
"Gabriella is just fine. I'm sorry," Elena said as she was walking towards the front door to let Abigail out.
"I don't want my daughter to be a homosexual." The words stopped Elena and made her turn around. Her eyes saddened as she saw her own pain mirrored in Abigail's eyes. "I don't want that kind of life for her."
Elena remained quite as her eyes looked away.
"Blayne has always been a tower of strength. She is strong and proud, she's all those clichés that used to apply in my day. My daughter is the best of us all. Even Arthur couldn't change that."
Elena stared at her in confusion now.
Abigail took a deep breath. "He loved the children in his own way. He wanted to shape them in his vision; Chaz simply rebelled coming up short all the time and decided to do nothing with his life. Diana is pretty much the same, she wonders aimlessly and doesn't even try. Blayne was the one that excelled in everything and had all his attention. He doted on her and she adored him. Blayne was everything he wanted except for one thing."
Elena waited patiently. It saddened her that Arthur was indeed a man that had not deserved to be loved by so many.
"Blayne would not marry. She couldn't seem to find someone and give him the grandchildren he wanted to leave his legacy to. They would argue endlessly but she would never give in. And of course a part of him was proud that she was so strong." Abigail finished sadly.
"He was generous with Elle and Christopher," Elena said simply as she sat down again.
"Arthur never changed his will," Abigail said bluntly.
Elena looked up at her in confusion.
"Not even at the end did he stop being the selfish egocentric man that he was. I loved him but that is the truth."
"But, the trust funds for Elle and Christopher…."
"I was there when they read the will. The trust funds if they came from anyone it is Blayne. He left her control of everything." Abigail sat down as well looking suddenly weary. "Blayne is drinking which is not like her. My daughter carries this incredible sadness that is really frightening me." Abigail looked up at Elena will tear filled eyes.
Elena looked away. She didn't want to hear this; and a part of her resented her daughter for this manifestation.
"If anything happens to her Gabriella will never know another day's peace."
"Is that a threat!" Elena said angrily as she turned towards Abigail.
"No…" Abigail continued sadly. "I saw them…I saw as they reached out to one another. I should have seen it for what it was right from the beginning. They have this understanding between them. I know that Arthur found out and demanded that Blayne stay away. That has also hurt her so much. She lost her father and lost the only person she will ever love the same day." Abigail looked up as tears rolled down her face.
"In time…it may pass you don't know that it won't…" Elena began to say.
"If anything happens to Blayne, Gabriella will never forgive herself. I saw them together…that is how I know."
Elena got up and wrapped her arms around herself; she wasn't sure what to do or what to think. Would her Leila truly feel that way? Could she see beyond her prejudices and accept this? She just wasn't sure she could.
"At Christmas my daughter was barely the woman I knew. At that time she was at least in the world of the living. It's the first Christmas Eve she was not there for. Her brother actually waited for her. He came up to my room that night… I have never seen Chaz worry about her. That night he was. Blayne has always been there anchor…" Abigail gasped for air as the tears began to overwhelm her again. "She has since then avoided us all."
Abigail sat down and took out a handkerchief from her purse and began wiping her tears. "Two months ago she just stopped going into the office and flew to her house in Cape Cod. That was two months ago. I was angry, we are all so angry….angry and confused. I have this premonition and I went to see her a few days ago. What I found has brought me here to you…" Abigail began to cry in earnest and her body began to shake.
Elena immediately went to her and sat down next to her.
"I found a stranger. Thin and gaunt, I don't think she even knew I was there. She just stares out into the ocean. I'm frightened."
Elena got up. "I'm sorry."
Abigail then got up too disappointed that she had not been able to touch Elena's heart. "Arthur's legacy has been one of pain and sorrow. We don't have to let it continue." Abigail pleaded.
Elena walked towards the door and this time Abigail followed. Before she was completely out of the house she handed Elena a card.
"We can still change things. I think you love your Gabriella very much. Is she happy? Look at her; really look at her and then call me. It's to late for you and me not for them. They can still have their happiness."
Elena took the card and stood at her door until the limousine disappeared around the corner.
Gabriella stared at the piece of marble in front of her and just could not concentrate. The peace that she received from her work had slowly but surely been less present each and every day. She closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against the cool stone, and as always visions of a beautiful face flooded her mind.
"Blayne…" she said softly. "Where are you? I feel you so close today. Are you thinking of me? Blayne…" her eyes remained closed as tears rolled down her face.
Elle had been standing by the door with her grandmother and heard her mother's words. They all thought she was just a kid; but a lot of things made sense to her now. She saw the tears run down her mother's face. She walked up to her and as Gabriella looked up her daughter she took her into her arms. Gabriella wrapped her arms around her child's body and wept.
"Don't cry mommy. Don't cry, it's going to be okay." Elle softly caressing her mother's hair trying to comfort her; Elena stood quietly by the doorframe. Gabriella had not noticed them until Elle went up to her.
"I know baby. Mommy is just a little sad today. I'm fine, don't you worry okay?" Gabriella said as she held onto her child. Her children made it bearable. Her need for Blayne seemed to be encompassing every aspect of her life to the point that she felt as if she could hardly breathe.