With Love; Now & Forever (4 page)

True to Jennifer’s word, there was a car and driver at the airport waiting for Ana. The driver, holding a sign with her name on it, appeared to be in his mid to late fifties, mousy brown hair with a clean shaven face. She approached him with a smile but he only acknowledged her with a nod of his head. He loaded her suitcases in the trunk of a steel gray Mercedes, opened the back door and waited. Ana quickly slid in and tried to thank him but was greeted by the door slamming shut. Unsure if the driver understood english or just had the same cool attitude towards her that the lady of the house did, Ana decided to take care of some loose ends at work and not pursue any local questions.

She texted Sally, letting her know that she had arrived safely in London and was on her way to Austin’s manor. She then checked her emails to verify that the plans had been made for an upcoming Senator and his wife for their anniversary. Their trip to Bali was set and confirmed and Ana smiled, knowing that this trip was a surprise for the wife, who had always dreamed of vacationing there. The bungalow they would be staying at was just a few feet off of the beautiful, pristine water and there was a full staff on hand to grant their every wish and need. Fresh fruits and flowers would adorn their room and Ana took joy in the knowledge that she would be a small part of making this woman’s dreams come true.

Happy with the reservations, Ana sat back and started to enjoy the scenery rolling by. They had left the city and the farther they drove, the farther apart the houses appeared, the void being filled by rolling hills and brilliant green pastures. When Ana saw pictures of England, she was always amazed at how green and lush everything appeared but now, experiencing it personally, she didn’t feel the pictures did the country justice.

After thirty minutes of driving, they turned onto a small paved road and continued driving another five minutes before reaching huge wrought iron gates, surrounded by eight foot cobblestone walls on either side. After pausing for only a moment, the huge gates opened and the car proceeded up the drive. The foliage and trees were so thick that she couldn’t see where the walls led, seeming to be devoured by nature. A few moments later, the trees and brush thinned and she saw acres of lush green lawn and beautiful flowers. She could tell that everything was painstakingly cared for but in such a manner as to allow the natural beauty to be enjoyed.

She couldn’t resist the urge to roll down the car window and when she did, beautiful aromas filled her senses and the car. Not knowing her flowers as well as she wanted to, she thought she was smelling the sweet smell of honeysuckle. She turned her attention to the driver to ask him the origin of the wonderful fragrance but one look at his face told her that he was displeased at having the windows down, counteracting the car’s air conditioning. She decided not to try and engage him in conversation but refused to roll up the window that would cut off the beautiful smells.

She had been so entranced with the landscaping that they were pulling up into a large circular drive before she finally noticed the manor. Castle was the first impression that came to her mind; it was made of the huge stones that she had seen castles made of but the fact it was all on one level told her that it was not truly a castle. They pulled up under a large stone awning that allowed the guests to enter the home without getting wet, even in the worst of storms. A beautiful fountain was opposite the home.

The door of the car opened and when Ana turned to get out of the car, she found the driver already getting her bags out of the trunk, obviously eager to be rid of his passenger. It was when she was out of the car that she noticed the gigantic crystal chandelier hanging over the car and the exquisite marble that lined the ceiling of the awning. Struck by the beauty, she didn’t notice the driver was already at the door with her bags.

“Madame” was all he said as he opened the doors to the manor and deposited her bags inside the entryway. She quickly followed him inside and turned to thank him but he was already walking back to the car. So much for hospitality.

She twirled back inside and stood in awe. Large stone walls were covered with expensive tapestries made of priceless threads, silks and velvets mostly. Ana barely gave them a second look as her attention was focused on the paintings, strategically placed in the spaces between the tapestries. They were breathtaking and mesmerizing and Ana moved slowly through the entryway, taking in every color, every brushstroke and minute detail. She moved along the large hall and having every intention of stopping at the end of the hall when a painting inside a large room caught her eye. She went inside what appeared to be a large sitting room and stood in front of the painting. Even though she had never seen this painting before, she knew it was of the meadow back home where she and Austin had gone for dozens of picnics. The field was filled with sweet grass, wild daisies and poppies and was surrounded by towering pine trees and oaks. The painting brought back memories of their first kiss on one such picnic. She was reclining on the plaid blanket Austin had laid out for them. They had spent the late morning eating cheese, crackers and summer sausage then decided to relax and sun themselves on the soft blanket. Ana was feeling full and warm, bathing in the bright June sun and in Austin’s love. She was almost asleep when Austin leaned down and put a daisy in her hair, she looked up at him and was in wonder at how she had convinced this beautiful man, who treated her like a princess, to spend his time with her, to love her. With the sun behind him, casting an unearthly glow around his head, he leaned down and kissed her. It was so soft, tentative and innocent that she thought for a moment that this was what it must feel like to be kissed by an angel. Her love for him engulfed her and she put her arms around him, determined to never let him go. He responded by deepening their kiss, lying down beside her and pulling her closer, as if having the same need and desire to never let her go. They lay there, kissing and exploring each other, never taking it further out of respect for each other, their age and their innocence. They knew that here was not the place and that they had their lifetimes together, to not rush what was so precious and personal between them. If only she knew then what she knew now, that they would never have that chance again.

Ana wiped a tear away from her eye and turned to leave when another painting caught her eye. She gasped and found herself frozen in front of a large moss rock fireplace. There, above the mantel, was a beautiful painting of her. She immediately recognized the old bedspread,
haphazardly thrown over the little bed in that old, hot mobile home. She was half lying, half sitting on the bed, the soft candlelight illuminating her skin and her hair falling loosely around her breasts, modestly covering them. It was the last night they had ever been together.

She was paralyzed, mesmerized by this painting of her that she had never seen before, adrift in the memory of that tragic night when she lost it all.

“You haven’t changed at all, it could have been painted yesterday.”
Ana whirled around at the voice, and found herself staring at what must be Austin’s wife. No, she corrected herself, widow. She was almost tall as Ana, at least five foot seven with long brown hair that was plaited along her back, warm brown eyes that seemed a little cold at the moment but no doubt warmed with humor and kindness as evidence of the laugh lines that surrounded them. She was lean but not gaunt, the type of body that no matter how much she ate, would never be heavy. She had classical features, with an oval face and high cheekbones. She was definitely beautiful but one would not call her striking.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I just got carried away with admiring Austin’s work and found myself in here.” Ana hated how lame the excuse sounded but she felt caught off guard and knew it was her own fault.
Ignoring her apology, Jennifer continued. “He painted that in college, before I met him. After we began dating and I started helping him pick his work for the shows, I pushed him to put this piece in. He told me it was a personal,
private
piece and was never meant for public eyes. We dated for two years and he would never tell me about the woman in the painting. When he finally proposed, I told him I wouldn’t marry him until I knew the story of the mystery woman in the painting. I explained that married people shouldn’t have any secrets in their relationship and if he wanted me to be his future wife, I deserved to know. After that, there were many nights I wished I hadn’t pushed so hard to learn the truth. Maybe ignorance would have made me a happier wife, blindingly believing I was just married to a moody artist. It’s so true that you need to be careful what you ask and wish for because it will come true.”
Jennifer fell silent, looking at the painting and Ana swore she could feel her damning the painting that hung before them. Uncomfortable in the presence of Austin’s widow but unsure of what to say, Ana started to stumble into conversation.
“Jennifer, I am truly sorry…”
“I hope your flight was uneventful. You must be starved and exhausted after your trip. Supper is in half an hour, we do dress for dinner. If you don’t have anything suitable, I’m sure we can accommodate you…”.
Jennifer trailed off and the look she gave Ana as she appraised her up and down suggested that Ana was dressed in street urchin clothes instead of the Christian Dior suit she was wearing. She started to speak, to explain that she had appropriate clothes when Jennifer cut her off.
“Stavros has taken your luggage up to your room. If you are ready, he will show you where you will be staying and you can change your clothes, if you are done in here.”
The tone in Jennifer’s voice told Ana that she was done in this room whether or not she was ready. Jennifer swept out of the room and a large, dark, handsome man that Ana assumed was Stavros, stepped into the room, bowed and motioned to the hallway. Flustered at obviously being dismissed, Ana followed Stavros out of the room and down the hallway opposite to where she had come in. As in the entryway, the hallway had dozens of lovely bright tapestries, more of Austin’s paintings and beautiful small chandeliers that lit the way. The structure of the walls and ceilings were again similar to that of old stone castles, dark and gloomy but the person who did the decorating in the manor made the home expressive and comfortable. Instead of seeing the stones and sharp contours of the ceiling, her eyes were drawn instead to the bright colors of fabric in the tapestries or the perfect placement of the brushstroke in the paintings. The lighting was ideal for bringing out the details in both types of art, allowing for the warm brightness to embrace the pieces and not glare off of them.
After following Stavros for what seemed miles, going back into the darker recesses of the manor, she saw that there were fewer pieces of artwork and began to wonder if she was in the area where the staff was housed. It was obvious that she was being placed as far away from the main part of the house as possible and she once again thought that she had made a mistake coming here to the manor instead of the hotel, regardless of Austin and supposedly Jennifer’s wishes.
Stavros finally stopped outside a door, set her luggage down and opened the door with a lavish gesture. After stepping inside, Ana knew she wasn’t in the help’s wing but she was also aware she was in an area that wasn’t frequently used. Although there was a warm, crackling fire in the hearth and there were fresh linens on the bed, there was still the aura of a room that had not been used in a very long time. The room was spacious with heavy blue velvet curtains and albeit they were drawn, Ana imagined they looked out over the area of the grounds she had seen while driving up.
“Is there anything else you need Miss Cassadine?”
Having momentarily forgotten that Stavros was still in the room, she turned and gave him an apologetic smile. “No, thank you, Stavros. I’m fine.”
“Very well, Miss. Supper will be in twenty minutes, I’ll be in the foyer to show you to the dining room.” Without another word, he turned and stepped out of the room. He reminded her of a large cat, very slow, graceful and stealth like. She imagined he could uncoil and pounce in a flash of a moment.
After hanging up her clothes, she realized she had less than fifteen minutes to get ready. Ana quickly unpacked her toiletries and a formal but simple black and silver gown she thought would be appropriate. After throwing on her gown and freshening up her make up, she frowned at the reflection starting back at her. Her hair was an absolute mess! She hadn’t taken a shower since New York and her hair didn’t like the humidity that London was famous for.
Knowing there was no way to salvage any style she had left, Ana hastily swept her long, golden locks up into a simple bun at the base of her neck. A little schoolmarmish for her but it would have to do. Because she didn’t want to come off stiff and business like, she left a few tendrils of hair loose around her face, which softened the look quite a bit.
Taking one last glance in the mirror and feeling satisfied, she quickly left her room and hurried down the hallway to the foyer, where she found Stavros standing off to the side, waiting in the shadows for her appearance.
“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting, problems with the hair.” Ana joked trying to break the staunch expression on his face. Unfortunately it didn’t even flicker.
“Mrs. Troy is waiting, this way please.” He turned and started walking away and Ana scrambled to catch up with him, one of his strides taking up four of hers. He led the way into a large open dining room filled with rich mahogany wood tables and chairs surrounding a larger main table made of the same beautiful wood. The smaller tables seated about ten people each but the larger one appeared to seat at least thirty guests, possibly more. Only one end was set for a more intimate dinner.
Flashbacks of satirical comedies came to Ana, scenes of two people having dinner at either end of a large social table such as this, yelling at each other, trying to have a conversation but neither moving closer to make it easier. Ana smiled, relieved to see all of the settings at the far end of the table.
“Is there something that amuses you, Ana?” Jennifer’s clipped voice brought Ana’s attention back to the present and she turned toward her hostess. Jennifer was impeccably dressed in a Dolce and Gabbana suit that accented her petite frame and dark eyes. Ana sighed, knowing that Jennifer had purposefully dressed exquisitely to make her guest feel uncomfortable.
“No, I was just remembering a comedy I once saw, it was…”
Jennifer cut her off, “Please be seated. Supper should have started five minutes ago, I have staff that like to keep a tight schedule.”
Feeling properly chastised, Ana went around the table to find her seat while Stavros seated Jennifer. He then came over and pulled out a chair and indicated that this was her seat. After making sure they were comfortable, he started back towards the kitchen, pausing by Jennifer as she murmured something to him. He nodded and proceeded to turn and exit the room opposite of where they had entered.
After he left, an uncomfortable silence fell over the room, neither woman sure of where to start the
conversation. Ana took in the room, noting the rich emerald green colors picked for the room. It was an elegant and regal mix that was surprisingly soothing with its odd combinations of velvet and silk and an eclectic mixture of patterns she would have never thought would go together. Surprisingly, it did. She wished she could have picked the mind of the decorator, having long decided that her spacious fifty four hundred square foot condo needed updating.
She felt scrutinizing eyes watching her and she found it was hard to truly appreciate the beauty of the manor when she felt so unwelcome. Why would Jennifer push so hard for Ana to stay here when it was so obvious that Jennifer hated her?
Austin, of course,
that
was what brought her over seas and to this manor, a man they both loved. But why was Ana allowing Jennifer to walk all over her and treat her with disrespect? She had never allowed any kind of
mistreatment of herself after she left her mother‘s house. She was respected and often feared in her line of work. She
made
things happen because of her strong backbone and ability to turn a deaf ear to the phrase ‘it can’t be done.’ So why in the world would she allow Jennifer, someone she didn’t know, turn her into a spineless jellyfish? She could be comfortable in an exquisite hotel room right now, taking a luxurious bath before heading out for a peaceful dinner in London, enjoying the culture and the beauty of the historic city.
The more she thought of her situation, the angrier she became, so she turned to address her less than gracious host but Jennifer interrupted her flow.
“I hope you like red wine, our main course is Beef Wellington and I thought it would compliment the flavor of the meat. I can always open a bottle of white if you prefer.”
The soft tone in Jennifer’s voice threw Ana off balance and she was hesitant in her response. “Red is fine, thank you.”
Jennifer cleared her throat and spoke softly, “I’m sorry for my rudeness with you earlier, Ana. Seeing you in the library beneath your portrait was a little unnerving and it brought back some pretty bad memories. I have never seen any pictures of you, the only thing I’ve seen is that portrait. I always wanted to believe that no woman could be
that
beautiful, that it was only Austin’s imagination that made him paint you so breathtakingly. Seeing you standing under the portrait showed me it wasn’t an exaggerated imagination, you are truly that exquisite.”
Once again, thrown off guard by Jennifer’s bluntness, Ana felt awkward. “Thank you so much for your hospitality Jennifer, but it’s obvious that seeing me is painful. I truly have no problem staying at a hotel until the reading of Austin’s will. I don’t want to cause you any more pain than what you have already been through.”
Jennifer looked directly into Ana’s eyes but instead of anger or pain, Ana saw compassion. “Thank you but don’t be silly. It’s what Austin would want and to be honest, I’m hoping that I may get some answers to the many questions I’ve had all these years. Such as why would the love of Austin’s life walk out of his life without looking back?”
The pain of those words shot through Ana’s heart and ghostly memories of a life passed came flooding back through her mind. Trying to regain her composure, Ana tried laughing the subject off. “Oh Jennifer, I think you’ve put more into this than what there really was! Austin and I were on separate paths, our careers and lives went into different directions. Nothing as traumatic as what you make it sound.” Even as Ana spoke these words, she heard the hesitation and false lightness in her voice. She wouldn’t have believed those words herself and knew that Jennifer wasn’t fooled by them either.
She was only able to hold Jennifer’s steady gaze a few moments before she reached for her wine glass, hoping she wouldn’t spill it all over herself because her hands were shaking and unstable. Although she wasn’t looking at her anymore, Ana felt Jennifer’s stare and was grateful when Stavros came in with the first course.
Blessedly enough, Jennifer chose small talk throughout the meal and Ana relaxed enough to enjoy the delectable meal that was served to her. The risotto was cooked perfectly and she never had a beef Wellington that was so tender or had more flavor. The mint Italian ice left her wanting more and the salad had so many fresh greens, she would have sworn the cooks had gone out to the garden and prepared it moments before it was served. All too soon, the meal was complete, her palate and stomach so pleasantly satisfied that all of her apprehension had dissipated and she felt completely at ease.
At Jennifer’s insistence, a bottle of sweet Merlot was opened and they sat at the table, actually chatting amiably when Jennifer became a little more serious.
“There’s been a delay in our schedule. The soonest that our lawyer can come out is Monday evening. I apologize for delaying you further but it really can’t be avoided. I was hoping that after you’ve caught up on your sleep and have had a tour of the grounds, that you would join me this Friday evening for dinner with a friend of mine.”
Ana was a little confused by Jennifer’s request, she had enough dealings with attorneys to know that delays happened but she was a guest in Austin and Jennifer’s house. It was not Ana’s decision on what dinner guests she did or didn’t have, she wouldn’t be rude and stay in her room if that was Jennifer‘s desire. Seeing her hesitation, Jennifer tried to explain.
“My friend has a talent, a gift is what I call it. He has experience dealing with the afterlife and helps people with loss. He’s coming over to help me with the grief of losing Austin.”
Suddenly, Ana understood. After her father’s death, strangers came over to try and “help” her mother transition over to being a widow and a single parent. There had been enough therapists and shrinks over at her house as a child for her to realize that Jennifer was having a grief counselor over. She also realized that she didn’t want her life’s decision’s picked apart by some psycho babble expert and felt uncomfortable sitting in on Jennifer‘s private time.
“I am so sorry about the pain and grief that you are going through with Austin’s passing but I believe you may need to do this by yourself. I’m sure your therapist would agree that dealing with the death of a husband is personal and he will want to council you independently.”