Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
She nods.
She gets it.
Nothing else needs to be said.
She
’
s too much for him. She gets it. She
should be grateful he
’
s her best friend and he does love her. He
’
s
the only man who really knows her and who loves her.
It should be enough. It is enough. She lowers her eyes, her throat hurting. He
holds her hand tightly, whispering gently,
“
I love you. You
’
re the woman I measure everyone against. I
just don
’
t think I can
…”
She places her index on his lips, and says in a steady voice,
”
Kev. I know. We
’
re good. Don
’
t worry about it. Let
’
s go home.
”
Their eyes stay on each other for a while
until he says, holding her, as he wraps her leather coat on her shoulders,
“
I love you. I always will. I just can
’
t.
”
She bows her head, and they walk out of
the Plaza Athénée.
The subject is never raised again.
((~~!~~))
June
1998. 2 Square du Trocadero, 75016. Paris.
France.
“
Remember, that night, the first time I
kissed you?
”
she asks meeting his gaze, while holding
the taxi
’
s door.
“
Yes
”
he replies, wondering where she is going
with this, as they stand in front of the building, saying their goodbyes.
“
And I said something like, I can
’
t believe that I did that, it just sort of
happened
…”
she adds,
bitting her bottom lip,
“
Well, it was a little bit more reflective
than that
…
I lied
…”
she admits, her tone hesitant.
“
As did I.
”
he says,
”
Remember my response? I said that was a
surprise. It wasn
’
t. I saw it coming
…”
he caresses her hand, smiling at her.
“
You didn
’
t pull away.
”
she says, her eyes widening.
“
No, I didn
’
t.
”
he concedes.
“
Do you regret that? Not pulling away?
”
she bites her lip again,
”
Did you say to yourself after
…
Next time, I
’
ll pull away?
”
“
No. I didn
’
t.
”
he smiles at her.
They look at each other, and she is the
one tilting her head, her hand is resting on his chest, against his heart. She
leans closer until their lips touch, their mouths open, and their tongues start
duelling.
The kiss is gentle, loving, and deep. A
testament to the love and affection they feel for each other.
When they come up for air, she simply
says,
“
I love you.
”
and she settles herself at the back of
the cab, telling the driver,
“
Charles de Gaulle airport.
”
“
Remember. You can always come home.
”
he whispers, as the cab takes off, taking
her to her new life in Geneva.
((~~!~~))
We
’
re on the sofa, looking at each other. I
’
m sitting in a classic lotus yoga position
while Kevin is scooting next to me, his hand resting on the back of the sofa,
touching my hair.
“
Is this because of Serena?
”
he asks, as I just announced I am leaving
him. In exactly two weeks, I will be moving out of the apartment we have shared
for the past 8 years, and will start a new life with my new job at the UN
headquarters in Geneva.
“
Yes,
”
I sigh, but when I see his blue eyes
become cloudy, I retract,
“
No. It isn
’
t because of your girlfriend.
”
“
I know you don
’
t like her Vi,
”
he starts, but I cut him, saying,
”
It
’
s not Serena, Kev. It
’
s you and I.
”
He stares at me, silently waiting.
“
I
’
m a mess
…”
I commence, and exhale.
“
I love you
…
. So much
…
You know that...
”
I try to soften what I need to tell him,
“
But as years go by, I like myself less
when I
’
m around you
…”
I see his eyes widen, but continue,
“
You have such high standards for me Kev,
like I
’
m on this impossibly high pedestal, and I
feel like a failure when I see disappointment in your eyes
…”
my voice cracks.
He remains silent, so I let the words out
and pursue my dominant thought.
“
I don
’
t like being alone Kev. I
’
m good at it, but I don
’
t like it
…”
I continue with a trembling voice,
watching him.
“
Notwithstanding my feelings for you, I see
a less lonely path with these men...I don
’
t know what I
’
m trying to say
…”
my voice trails, as I feel tears reach
the corners of my eyes.
“
You just said it, Vi. Always take the less
lonely road. Somebody somewhere, must have said that
”
. He says softly, playing with one of my
loose curl with his fingers, as our eyes never leave each other.
Finally, he comes closer, cups my face
with both hands, and kisses me deeply, until I am moaning; and, leaving me
breathless, he says against my lips,
“
I love you, I always will. Just know, once
you
’
re done with your travels on that less
lonely road, you can always come home.
”
He kisses my forehead, as I look at him
bewildered, and he leaves the room.
((~~!~~))
You can always come home.
Ethan and Julian
Plaza Athénée Hotel. 25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008.
Paris. France.
“
Where are you?
”
he repeats, to ensure his ears are not
deceiving him.
“
At the Plaza Athénée in Paris.
”
Julian replies, sipping on his scotch.
“
But that
’
s where her
…”
Ethan starts.
“…
Favorite Hotel, bar and restaurant is. I
know.
“
he ends.
There is a silent pause between the men as
it sinks in, they both are well attuned with the woman who stole their heart.
“
Am I correct to assume you didn
’
t see her in Boston, then? I haven
’
t heard from Lily so I thought all went
well
…”
Ethan
’
s voice trails.
“
Yes, she actually left Boston a few hours
before I got there, and Lily was kind enough to tell me where she was
…
so, I flew to Paris.
”
Julian explains.
“
She went home.
”
Ethan whispers.
“
Yes, she went home,
”
he confirms.
“
Do you know what that means? Have you seen
her yet?
”
Ethan asks, worried.
“
No, and no. Lily told me to give her a few
days before making any grand entrance, and I
’
m heeding her advice.
”
“
Smart, but don
’
t wait too long. Do you know where she
’
s at? Is she with her brother?
”
“
I don
’
t know. I have an address. Hold on a
sec...
”
he pulls the paper from his wallet, reads
the address to Ethan, and says,
“
I
’
ve been out to have a look at the
building, it
’
s only a few streets away from the hotel
…”
“
She
’
s not at her brother
’
s.
”
Ethan
’
s states,
“
She
’
s at Kevin
’
s,
”
he adds grimly.
“
Kevin? Kevin Miller? Her best friend?
”
Julian is puzzled by the information.
“
Yes, the one and the same! So, she told
you about Kevin, did she?
”
Ethan exclaims, taking in once more that
his best friend does have an intimate relationship with his wife, - correction
-, ex-wife.
“
Yes, she mentioned him when we were still
talking
…
why?
”
Julian presses on.
“
Did she tell you how close they are?
”
Ethan questions, unresponsive.
“
Not specifically, she just told me he is
her best friend, they went to school together
…”
he replies, not liking Ethan
’
s alarmist tone.
Ethan remains silent.
“
E., is there something I should know about
him? Do I need to get my people to send me a file?
”
He demands, an uncomfortable feeling
reaching the pit of his stomach.
Ethan chuckles,
“
No file will tell you what you need to
know about Kevin. Besides, he
’
s with Interpol. So if anyone starts snooping, he
’
ll know, and at this point you really don
’
t want to be on his bad side
…”
Ethan laughs at the irony of the
situation. Him, giving pointers to his rival to get the woman of their dream
back!
Jesus!
“
E. What the fuck is this? Do I need to
know something about this Mr Miller?
”
Julian asks impatiently, now a tight knot
tying in his gut.
“
Kevin loves her.
”
Ethan declares in a serious voice.
“
He loves her?
”
Julian repeats automatically,
”
Well, of course he does! They
’
re best friends!
”
he laughs, feeling relieved.
“
Jay, he loves her more than a best friend
should. He loves her like you and I do
…
maybe even more,
”
Ethan clears his throat and adds,
“
For years, I used to be jealous of him,
their relationship, their closeness, their intimacy
…
until I realized I didn
’
t need to fear anything from him because
she truly loved me and gave herself to me, but
…”
“
But what?
”
Julian cuts in, not liking one bit where
this is going.
“
But, that was then, and now she left Lily
to be with him, it isn
’
t a good sign for you
…
.
”
Ethan concludes.
Julian laughs and says dismissively,
“
Thanks for the warning but I don
’
t think I have anything to fear. If she
hasn
’
t returned to you after I literally pushed
her into your arms, I think I
’
m pretty safe
…”
It
’
s Ethan turn to laugh, as he exclaims,
“
Cocky as ever I see
…
Yet you are the one calling me in the
middle of the night for advice! Do as you please, don
’
t say I didn
’
t warn you
…
In the meantime, I think, I
’
ll be booking a flight incessantly, I
haven
’
t been to Paris in a quite a while
…”
“
You
’
re coming?
”
Julian asks, surprised by the
announcement.
“
Yes.
”
Ethan firmly responds.
Julian is silent for a moment, and then
says,
“
E. Do I need to ask?
”
“
No, you don
’
t. I won
’
t do anything she doesn
’
t want me to do. We are friends. I haven
’
t changed my position. It will give us a
chance to acclimatize to our new situation. I think the three of us know by
now, this new dynamic is going to have certain challenges...
”
“
One could say that,
”
Julian admits, thinking he
’
ll never be able to keep E out of their
lives, he
’
s not sure he even wants to. Ultimately,
not only are they friends, but Ethan knows the woman he wants inside and out,
which so far, has proven invaluable to him.
Ethan interrupts his chain of thoughts by
saying,
“
Jay, I know you love her, as do I. I want
her happy. I
’
m not going to do anything drastic. I mean
it.
”
“
So, when are you coming?
”
Julian asks,
”
I might need some help convincing her
…”
he adds, sighing,
“
she doesn
’
t know I
’
m here
…
we still haven
’
t spoken since that last conversation
…”
“
Jay, she knows you
’
re in Paris. Trust me, the minute Lily
decided to give you that address, you can bet she let her know you were on your
way. I dare say she is expecting you
…”
“
Well, I
’
ve been here three days
…”
Julian confesses.
“
Have you thought about what you are going
to say? More importantly, do?
”
Ethan asks curtly.
“
Actually, I
’
ve been quite busy organizing things since
I arrived
…”
He says
brightly.
“
Organizing what?
”
asks Ethan, intrigued by the sudden
cheerfulness of his friend.
“
Things. Let
’
s just say, I have a plan. I will see her
prepared this time, and I
’
ll be bearing gifts
…”
Ethan is silent. His greatest fear is
about to come true: Julian can only mean one thing by
‘
gifts
’
, he
’
s going to propose.
He swallows the lump in his throat and
says,
“
Congratulations will be in order I guess
…
so, let me be the 1
st
one
…
.
”
Laughter interrupts him,
“
E. I
’
m not going to propose! Not yet, anyway!
She
’
ll say no! I
’
m desperate, not stupid!
”
as he collects himself, he pursues,
”
Speaking of which, have you gotten that
divorce of yours filed and certified in Sydney?
”
“
Yes, it
’
s been done,
”
Ethan says, relieved,
“
We both signed and it
’
s been registered, so officially she
’
s free to remarry
…”
he chuckles lightly,
“
Whether it
’
s the same man or another
…”
“
Either way, we
’
ll have to cope with each other.
”
Julian smirks.
“
Yes, either way, unless she leaves us both
for some sap who will sweep her off her feet
…”
Ethan retorts, nonchalantly.
“
As if you or I would ever let that happen
…”
Julian says derisively.
Both men laugh heartily.
“
Julian?
”
Ethan asks, hesitantly.
“
Yes?
”
“
We
’
re are ok, right? I mean
…”
“
Yes E, I know what you mean, and we are
and will be ok. I
’
ll never deny your history. It would only give
me grey hair before my time! Besides,
“
he adds with a chuckle,
“
I
’
m gonna be too busy worrying about my baby
to even think of you trying to steal her away
…”
Ethan can
’
t help but think of their own baby, their
Luca, the three of them, and he feels a twinge in his heart. He says softly,
“
Well, I
’
ll let you go now, you should see her
today. It
’
s been over five days since the party; it
is enough for her to have calmed down, and be more receptive to whatever gift
you have for her. I
’
ll see you all in a couple of weeks Jay. I
too, have plans to make.
”
“
Alright E. Thanks, again. See you in a
few.
”
He disconnects the call, already
preparing himself for the next one.