Now & Forever 3 - Blind love (29 page)

She missed Peter. His ready wit, his helping hand, his kiss,
his strong arms around her…everything about him was larger than life to her and
without him there, she felt a void, like she was lacking part of herself.

The size of the hotel bed increased without Peter there to
take up more than half the space. Before she fell asleep, her cell phone rang.

“Hi, it’s me. Just calling to make sure you arrived safely,”
Peter said.

“Oh, bear, I’m sorry, I should’ve called you when I checked
in. I’m staying at the Monroe Regency hotel on Park Avenue. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. Good luck tomorrow, honey, and goodnight,”
Peter said.

“Goodnight, bear. I love you.” Lara hung up the phone.

During the night she rolled over, her hands searching the bed
for him, but he wasn’t there. She longed for his kiss, his lovemaking but most
of all, sleeping in his arms. Until she was away from Peter, Lara didn’t
realize how deeply in love with him she was. She needed him like the air she
breathed. The image of her attacker still eluded her.
Who was he?
The thought nagged at the back of her mind. Whoever he
was, he was probably still in New York City.

* * * *

Across town, society photographer, Carter Wills, picked up
the phone with his left hand as he had a cup of coffee in his right.

“Hey, Carter. Remember that hot rich chick you used to date?”

“Which one?” A smug smile curled his lips.

“Very funny. You remember the one, the one with the great
hair…the one who got beat up? What was her name, Laura something?”

“Something like that.”

“She’s auditioning for the Metropolitan Ballet today. My
girlfriend, Cecily, dances there. She told me yesterday. Are you going to look
her up?”

“Don’t think so, Kevin. Thought she was blinded, how can she
dance?”

“Guess she’s recovered ’cause she’s dancing.”

“Hmmm. Do you know where she’s staying?”

“Afraid not. Thought you weren’t going to look her up?”

“You’re right. She’s a loser. Gotta run.”

Carter hung up the phone.
Did
she get her memory back too? If she did, I’d be in cuffs by now. There’s still
time.

He needed a plan, find out where she was living and figure
out a way to get rid of her before her memory returned and she remembered him…the
beating he gave her…before she could get him arrested and destroy his life.
If her sight has returned will it be long
before her memory returns too?
He began to sweat.
Probably not.
He put on his coat, went out and hailed a taxi.

* * * *

Lara had breakfast in her room, dressed and left for the
ballet hall. Her audition was at eleven and she needed time to warm up first.
Andres was there.

“You’ll be fine, baby. Take it easy.”

“I can’t. This is…I can’t.” Lara paced in the back of the
auditorium twisting the ring her parents gave her for her sixteenth birthday.

“Peter…” she mumbled his name.

If he were here, he’d
make me laugh, make me forget my nerves. I could perform so much better if he
was here.
Andres was babbling. Then her turn came, time for Lara to pull
herself together.

* * * *

After the audition, Andres and Lara had lunch.

“The pirouette…the first one…”

“It was fine, Lara. Please. I wouldn’t let you go wrong.”

“But it felt off somehow. Not how we did it at home.”

“It’s over, let it go.”

Lara returned to her room

Lara spent the rest of the day in her hotel room reading and
watching television. She had dinner in her room and kept the door locked and
chained. Her nerves were so frayed she could barely eat.
Peter could make it all better. But I can’t call, I don’t have any
news…no decision yet.
Her heart ached and only Peter could make it better.

Lara was afraid to go out of her room even the next day,
almost as if she felt the presence of her attacker hovering, like a spider,
waiting to strike. She ordered room service, took naps, and dreamed of making
love with Peter on the beach.

She had plenty of time to think about what she might do if
she was offered a spot in the corps de ballet.
Would he wait for me, till the season was over?
He’s so
attractive…he wouldn’t have any problem finding another woman…lots of other
women…to sleep with…to fall in love with.

Why should he wait? She got a cold feeling in her stomach.
Lara kept hoping she wouldn’t get selected…avoid the decision. Still, to be
selected by Madame Fouret was an honor. Dancing again, able to compete with
younger dancers and be welcomed back in the ballet, her only family since her
parents died.
To be invited by Madame
Fouret…so exciting…but at the price of losing Peter?

* * * *

. Lara didn’t see Carter Wills hanging around outside the
ballet hall when she hailed a taxi, but he saw her. After she left, he went
inside. He was sure he could charm the person in charge into giving him Lara’s
address.

Carter sat in the lobby of the Monroe Regency hotel for two
hours, but Lara didn’t appear. Finally the manager came over and asked him,
pointedly, if he could help him. Carter had to leave. He was frustrated, but he
had wheedled Lara’s home address out of the young woman at the Metropolitan
Ballet, now he needed a plan. Kensington State University was up there in
Willow Falls. There must be some connection. Carter went home and looked up the
school on the Internet. He saw that a talent show was scheduled for February.
The information page said, “The renowned ballet dancers, Lara Stewart and
Andres Volinsky,” from the Metropolitan Ballet would be performing. Perfect!
Carter made notes.

* * * *

By December twenty-third, Lara was getting sick of staying in
her room. She packed her bag then started to pace when room service arrived
with her lunch and the phone rang.

“Lara Stewart?”

“Yes.”

“This is Madame Fouret, Lara. It was so nice to see you again
and to see you have kept up your dancing. My dear, I’m delighted to offer you a
position in our corps de ballet for the next season. Rehearsal schedule is on
our website, metroballet.org. Please be here promptly at nine a.m. on January
second to begin work for our new season.”

Chapter
Nineteen

Christmas festivities were beginning and Sam faced Christmas
without his Patsy and Peter without his Lara. At four thirty, Sam went in to
his bedroom to rest before the evening’s celebration began.

Peter was pacing. He had not heard from Lara. He knew she’d
heard from Madame Fouret. She hadn’t called.
She’s probably out celebrating with Andres! Or maybe her attacker found
her?
Peter had no reason to celebrate.

Maybe if he had asked her to marry him, she wouldn’t have
left. He had been kicking himself about that for two days.
Dad was right. It wasn’t much of an offer to come to South Africa
without marriage
. If only he could do that part over…but now it was too
late.

He sat down at the piano and couldn’t resist playing their
song. At the pause in the middle, he again heard the train whistle as it pulled
out of the Willow Falls station, the same train that had taken his beloved Lara
away. He felt cold, a chill in his heart or a sudden chill in the room? He
played all the way through to the end of the piece with more heart than ever.

When he finished, he sat there, numb, until a voice said,
“That was beautiful.”

He spun around to see Lara standing there, red-cheeked from
the cold, looking more stunning than ever.

“Lara? Didn’t you get the…” Peter started to rise from the
piano stool.

“I did.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I turned it down.” A smile stole across her face.

“Why?”

“Because I’d rather be here with you than do anything else in
the world.” She moved toward him with tears in her eyes.

He crossed the room quickly and took her in his arms.

They stayed in the embrace, Lara’s face against Peter’s chest
and his face buried in her hair. Their breathing was the only sound. Peter put
his hand in his pocket to fetch his handkerchief and felt something hard and
square. He handed his handkerchief to Lara and took out the hard object.

“Lara, I love you, will you marry me?” he asked, opening the
tiny box and offering her his mother’s engagement ring. Lara burst into tears.

“Is that a ‘no’?” he asked with trepidation.

She shook her head, trying to compose herself.

“Yes,” she said when the tears slowed.

Peter slipped the ring on Lara’s finger. It fit perfectly.

“It’s beautiful.” She turned the ring around and observed its
brilliance.

“It was my mother’s.” He kissed her hand.

They embraced, then kissed.

“You have made me so happy.” A wide grin lit up his face.

“Me too, bear. I just couldn’t stop thinking about you…and
wondering what I was doing in New York while you were here.”

They were sharing a passionate kiss when Sam slipped out of
the hallway.

“I couldn’t help but overhear.” He wiped a tear from his face
with his handkerchief.

“You couldn’t help but overhear…how long have you been
lurking there, spying on us?” Peter tried to frown but was unsuccessful.

Sam laughed a guilty laugh.

“You caught me. Congratulations, you two have made me very
happy.”

“Don’t you start crying, Sam, or I’ll start all over again,”
Lara said.

“This is going to be the best Christmas ever.” Peter beamed
at his dad.

* * * *

Back in New York City, Carter Wills sat at his computer and
typed an email.

To Callie Caldwell, Publicity Manager, Kensington State University

From Carter Wills Photography

Dear Ms. Caldwell,

I’m a professional freelance photographer on assignment from Ballet
News Magazine. I would like to do a photo spread for the April issue on your
talent show in February, featuring Lara Stewart and Andres Volinsky, the
dancers from the Metropolitan Ballet. I hope you will find this satisfactory
and give me whatever instructions I need to meet with the dancers and other
people who are key to this event.

Regards,

Carter Wills, Wills Photographic Studio

Carter pressed the “send” button then sat back, lacing his
fingers behind his head. This was going to be a good Christmas because in
another couple of months, his worries about police, scandal and jail would be
over for good.

* * * *

Danny and Eliza Maine’s
house a few blocks from campus

Sam, Lara and Peter arrived later than the others to the
Maine house on Christmas Eve. Mistletoe hung everywhere, evergreen wreaths
decorated doors, fresh garlands wound around banisters and candles were burning
where children couldn’t reach. Burl Ives sang “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” in
the background and the dining room table groaned under the weight of holiday
food.

A ten-pound sliced ham, scalloped potatoes and green
vegetables were displayed at one end, while finger foods like baby quiche,
crudités, dips, cheeses and crackers were at the other end. A side table was
loaded with dessert goodies from Christmas cookies, to cake, to homemade
pudding. The women wore long skirts and the men sports jackets and ties. Even
two-year-old Casey Maine sported a red and green bowtie.

Callie bit her lip thinking about how Peter must be feeling
being alone at Christmas. When Sam came in first, smiling broadly, Mac, Callie,
Danny and Eliza were puzzled. Then Lara came in with Peter right behind her and
frowns turned to smiles. Peter was grinning broadly and Lara was shy. He held
up her left hand showing off her engagement ring.

“We’re engaged!” he announced, his eyes gleaming.

“It’s about time, shrimp.” Mac clapped Peter on the back.
There was lots of kissing under the mistletoe by the adults, with Jason making
faces.

“Mac, this is going to be our best Christmas yet.” Callie
said before she planted a kiss on his lips.

* * * *

Peter, Lara, and Sam got home after midnight. Sam bade them
goodnight and disappeared into his room with a book. When they were alone,
Peter closed the door of their room and Lara turned to him.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked him.

“What? Get married? Absolutely. I should’ve proposed to you
earlier.” Peter pulled at his necktie.

“Will you be faithful to me?” Lara glanced at him.

“Of course. Why do you ask?” Peter hung up his jacket and
necktie in the closet.

“Your family is always teasing you about your conquests
and…women flock to you, don’t they?”

“Maybe I flirt a little, but I’ve not been interested in
anyone else since…since I saw you dance.”

“Saw me dance?” Lara cocked her head.

“At your place. When I saw you dancing. I knew…it had to be
you or no one. I waited for you. I’ve never waited for a woman before. Does
that answer your question?” Peter finished unbuttoning his shirt and hung it in
the closet.

“Yes.” Lara walked to him and turned her back.

He unzipped her dress and eased it off her shoulders, moving
his hands to cover her shoulders, and he bent to kiss the back of her neck. His
fingers caressed the soft skin of her shoulders, his mouth moved up to her ear
to whisper, “I can’t believe…I’m so lucky…to have you…soon to be mine and only
mine…my wife.” He yanked his T-shirt over his head and tossed it on a chair.