The Imposter (25 page)

"Shish. 
Don't say anything.  It is definitely in the making.  I've just come from a
medical staff meeting and Ms.  Favre's leadership, or lack of it, was the topic
of discussion.  I'm sure it will happen.  Just be patient.  Besides, I don't
want you anywhere other than New Orleans!"

Alex
smiled to herself.  She was enjoying the feel of being in his arms again.  When
she broke off the embrace, Alex literally danced around the kitchen making a
gourmet salad of lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh chicken
breast.  She even pulled out her food processor and made Robert's favorite
salad dressing, a creamy vinaigrette, for old time's sake.

 Robert
knew what she was doing and was secretly pleased.  Once again, he could kick
his own ass for divorcing her. 

"Robert,
let's set the table in the dining room! It's been a long, lousy day.  It
deserves a good ending.  No shop talk at all.  The china is in the linen
press.  I have a bottle of barrel-fermented Virginia Chardonnay that should go
well with the salad.  It's great! Estate bottled at Windy River Winery, a new
winery close to my grandparents’ home in Hanover County.  Grand shipped me four
bottles last week.  She's impressed with the quality – what do you say?"

"Why
in heaven's name would I argue with such a beautiful lady? I'm on my way to set
the table." Robert was feeling happy and lighthearted as he moved into
Alex's formal dining room.  He switched on the brilliant crystal chandelier. 
It glowed magnificently against the pale blue moiré of the wallpaper.  He
adjusted the dimmer switch to a low light level until Alex's antique silver
service glistened in the light.  The silver candlesticks and fresh flowers were
beautifully set against the antique mahogany and cherry of the dining room
furniture.  Robert sighed in appreciation as he looked around the room.  The
Sheraton banquet table gleamed in the light of the chandelier.  Again, he was
awed by Alex's taste.  He wondered briefly if Mitch Landry had been a part of
the house’s renovation.  A flicker of jealousy flowed through him.  Then he
realized that Mitch could not have been.  He remembered they had started seeing
each other three months after Alex had moved in to the renovated townhouse. 
The flat was obviously Alex's creation alone.  For some reason, that pleased
him.

He
continued to think about the relationship between Mitch and Alex, as he moved
the heavy silver from the drawer of the sideboard.  He had known Mitch for
years and had been a little perturbed when he had learned that Mitch and Alex
were dating.  Of course, Mitch had been charming.  He was sincerely sorry at
the way things had ended.  But, to be honest, it did allow him an opportunity
to win Alex back.  And, oh, how Robert wanted her again.  He had been such a
fool -- young and foolish, a real macho idiot.  He could admit that to himself
now.  Monique had helped him see that. 

He
had wanted Alex to be a typical haus frau, a stay at home wife and mother. 
That was what his mother had been.  Of course, his mother had always done civic
and charity work.  She was a proverbial do-gooder.  Back then, that was what he
thought all men wanted, a wife that stayed at home and cared for the home and
children.   He never thought a man wanted a professional wife, one who shared
his world.   Looking back, he guessed it was a culture thing.  He had just
recently realized that marriage in the world he lived in was very different
than the world his parents shared. 

Thank
goodness for Monique Desmonde!  Now, due to her influence, he saw things
differently.  He wanted Alex, just as she was.  Actually, since he had gotten
older, Robert had learned that his mother had given up her professional career
for his father.  She had been a well known classical violinist.   Of course, it
hadn't been all bad.  She was the first lady of Louisiana when his dad was
governor, and now she was a ranking senator's wife.  Still, Robert realized,
his mother had made considerable sacrifices throughout the years, missed
opportunities she could never regain.

As
Robert opened the antique linen press, he felt a little maudlin.  The china was
the same.  Alex was still using their wedding china.  It was English Aynsley,
the pattern, Capistrano.  He hadn't liked the china when they were married.  He
had considered it too busy, garish in fact.   Now he thought the colors were
beautiful and the birds magnificent.   What a purist he had been in those days!
He had wanted China that was white, with a platinum ring around the edge.  He
had possessed no imagination at all back then, only a preconceived notion of
what a wife, a woman, should be. 

Alex
had fought him on the china decision, telling him continually that if the Queen
of England dined on Aynsley, so could they.  He had acquiesced, but had never
liked the china with its colorful birds and flowers.  Now he touched the plates
fondly, as if trying to atone for his former dislike.  He loved the china.  It
was beautiful.  It was so very Alex, beautifully designed, etched, and
colored.  He had just finished setting the table when Alex appeared in the
doorway with the salad in a large cut glass bowl and a silver basket full of
French bread.

 "Robert,
you did great! When did you learn to set the table?  Good job… I'm
impressed." Alex really was pleased.  Before and during their marriage,
Robert would never have helped her in the kitchen, much less have set the
table.  She looked around.  The silver, china, wine and water goblets were
perfectly placed on the table.  She continued, "If you light the candles,
I'll get the wine.  It's chilling in the silver  ice bucket in the
kitchen."

Alex
was thinking about how much Robert had changed, as she returned to the
kitchen.  He was a wonderful man.  Kind, good, even tempered.   A healer. 
Would she ever heal from the distrust and feelings of abandonment he had left
her with?  Maybe, just maybe, she could.  She felt her heart beat pick up. 
Maybe they could get back together.  She knew Robert was interested.  She even
believed Robert loved her and always had -- but he did have a lot of baggage. 
He had been an excellent surgeon prior to his injury earlier in the year, and
while he seemed to be coping well with his limitations, Alex knew he was prone
to depression.   Of course, what man would not be? He had been at the precipice
of national fame prior to his injury.  He had pioneered several surgical
techniques that were now written in the medical books.  After all, it was quite
possible that a brilliant surgical career had ended in a gun battle at the
Endymion extravaganza during Mardi Gras. 

Alex
also remembered that Robert was a wonderful lover.  She briefly allowed herself
to think back to their married years and, as her heart quickened, she felt her
legs weaken.  Even when they weren't getting along, they had always had a
consuming passion for each other.  They had been great lovers.  She felt a
little nervous about the dinner.  What was going to happen? What would she do
if one thing led to another?  Well, she made up her mind.  She would just savor
the day.  Wasn't that the avant guard thing to do?  Besides, it'd been so long.
 There had only been one other man in her life since Robert, a physician in
Texas.  She and Mitch had never been intimate sexually.  Why, it'd been over
two years.  No wonder!  Alex's heart began to flutter.

Robert
reappeared in the kitchen.  She heard the sounds of Vladimir Horowitz, her
favorite pianist and Robert's favorite as well.  He had remembered and played
the CD for her.  She was beginning to feel wonderful.  She felt the tension
drop from her body like a discarded garment.

Robert
smiled at her – a deep, caring, and sensual smile.  She looked into his eyes. 
She knew the look, the sensitive eyes that smoldered and bespoke of countless
pleasures to come.  He said in his deep voice, "May I escort the lovely
lady into dinner?"  He was so gallant, so cultured, so, … French.  So
sexy.  She loved this.

Alex
laughed a little nervously and accepted his arm.  "Of course.  I'd be
honored," she said, remembering her Virginia upbringing.

He
seated her to his right, and he sat at the head of the table.  He deftly poured
the wine and served her salad.

For
a moment, Alex had a flashback.  This evening was so typical of the evenings
she and Mitch had spent at her house.  Only Mitch had been seated at her
table.   No other man had ever graced her dining room.   She pushed the thought
from her mind, not wanting to think about Mitch tonight.  Mitch wasn't an
option any longer. 

She
had a fleeting thought of what her grandmother, Kathryn
Rosseau
Lee would do in a similar situation.  It was easy.  Grand would tell her to go
for it.  Grand was such a pragmatist, a wise lady and so fair with people,
their flaws, and relationships.  Besides, hadn't Grand encouraged her in March
to try and rekindle her love for Robert? Hadn't she urged her to consider a
reconciliation with Robert when they had been in Virginia in the spring?  Grand
had suggested this and Alex had brushed it off, way too raw from the death of
Mitch.

Actually,
Alex couldn't be hard on her grandmother, her mentor.  Grand had suggested to
her in her exacting, precise, and practical way, "Alex, my dear, real love
comes only once.  Robert was your first love, just as Adam was mine.  People
fall in and out of love with each other many times throughout a marriage.  My
generation, we put up with each other, but you younger folks run for divorce --
an easy out which prevents people from trying to work things out …."

Alex
had interrupted her grandmother, angry and defensive at the conversation.  She
had accused her grandmother of blaming her for ending her marriage.  Boy, she
had some raw nerves back then.

Kathryn
had denied this, saying only that she was sure Robert still loved and wanted
her.  Because the conversation had been painful for Alex and the loss of Mitch
so recent, Alex had abruptly ended the conversation.  Her grandmother had
assured her that she understood and asked only that Alex keep an open mind with
regard to Robert's intentions.  She asked that Alex be honest with herself.  
Grand also mentioned she knew Alex had secrets locked in her heart, as Grand did
herself.  Alex had found this remark particularly perplexing.  One day when she
wasn't so emotional she asked Grand about her secrets.

Robert
interrupted her thoughts.  "Alex, what are you thinking?”  His dark eyes
bored into hers.

"I
was just thinking about Grand.  Something she said to me when we were home. 
It's nothing really.  How's your salad, Robert?"

"It's
wonderful!  Just as you are, Alex.  I'm going to savor this evening -- it's
perfect!"

Robert
reached for Alex's hand and rubbed it gently, tracing the veins in her hands
softly.  Alex again remembered the passion of their marriage.  She decided to
let herself be romanced and lured.  It felt so good.

Robert
continued, "You know, Alex.  You're so fortunate to have had your
grandparents.  They are fine people.  The very best actually.  I admire them
both."

She
laughed.  "Even Granddad?  You always said you never had a handle on how
Adam felt about you.  Has that changed?"

Robert
contemplated her remarks.  "No, I guess not.  But, I still admire Adam Patrick
Lee.  He's one of the most noble and ethical men I have ever met." He
looked a little sheepish.  "I don't think Adam Lee thinks any man is good
enough for his Alex."

Alex
smiled at him.

"And
you know what," Robert continued, "He may be right …."

Alex
smiled at Robert.  Their eyes locked.  He continued to stroke her hand.  She
looked at him, conscious that she was going to have to make a decision very
soon -- a decision that could possibly affect the relationship for a long time,
maybe even forever.

Alex
said to Robert gently, "Robert, I don't have any dessert.  Sorry."

Alex
pretended to ponder this impropriety.  He finally said, "Well, I guess
I'll accept a dance instead.  Isn't that Richard Clayderman?"

Alex
nodded.  Clayderman, a popular pianist, was playing a romantic medley of
songs.  They moved into the living room to dance.  Alex was pleased that Robert
had cut off the lamps and had lit the electric wall sconces.  The room was
romantic, the sconces casting a warm, mellow glow over the pastel furniture.

Robert
and Alex began dancing, each caught up in their own thoughts about the rest of
the evening.  It was a wonderful feeling for Alex.  She felt like a teenager. 
It seemed so right.  After all, Robert had been her husband.  That made it feel
especially right.  Besides, it felt perfect in his arms.  It was so familiar.

Robert
was thinking the same thing.  He felt sure he was interpreting Alex correctly. 
He wanted her to want the same things as he did.  He wasn't looking for a one
night stand.  He was looking for the opportunity to reclaim his wife.  He said
to her softly, "Alex, I love you.  I've always loved you.  I want to be
with you, but only if you really want me .…"

She
moved her head from his shoulder and looked at him directly.  His eyes were
smoldering with passion and love.  She knew the delights they held.

She
said simply, "I want you, too, Robert.  I can't promise anything forever,
but I want you .…"

He
pulled her closer and kissed her.  A long, lingering, passionate kiss.  Alex
felt her heart beat faster and her legs and arms become weak with
anticipation.  She was aware of the degree of Robert's passion, as he held her
in his arms.  She took his hand and led him into her bedroom.