Strange Bedfellows
Chapter 1
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Paris, France
Fall, 2010
It was a beautiful fall evening in Paris. Clear sky, people bustling about; the streets busy but not crowded. It had just rained, and the condensation hung in the air, wet, like a satisfied lover. The beautiful brunette walked down the street seemingly oblivious, leaves squishing under the soles of her expensive black knee high boots. Her confident gait and the wool coat thrown haphazardly over her arm spoke of money and an upbringing of privilege that few could fathom.
Her clothes clung just slightly, allowing every passer-by a tantalizing view of the outline of her svelte body, from where her silk top outlined the ragged edge of her shoulder blade to the disobedient cling of her risqué black skirt. She felt the freedom of the city sweep through her, but her thoughts were too chaotic to allow for the solace to seep in. Several people had tried to make eye contact, both male and female, to no avail; still others just admired the raven haired beauty from afar.
But for those who chanced a closer look, the view was not quite the same. There was a weariness to her posture; an almost haunted quality to her face. As if too much weight from a life of unquenched desires had taken residence in her soul for her obviously tender years to carry.
Bianca Montgomery was a woman lost.
She was on her way to pick up take out from her favorite bistro at the end of another gruelling 16 hour day. Take out for one, she thought mirthlessly.
Miranda was in Pine Valley visiting Erica and Jack, leaving the brunette alone. Most people would appreciate the break from the day to day hassles of motherhood, however for Bianca it meant not only being alone, but lonely.
No Zoë. No friends outside of Cambias staffers to speak of. No Maggie. She angrily shoved the thought of her ex out of her mind. She was left with just her job, her memories and her stifling regret to keep her warm at night. Sure, she could take a lover and she had at various times over the last year, since Zoë left. Nameless women with vaguely familiar features, but the encounters always left her feeling even more empty. It was beneath her and she knew it.
Catching the scent of jasmine on the wind brought images of Maggie swirling into her mind's eye once again. It was a scent she had always connected to the young doctor, intimately. She had been having dreams of her ex lately with increasing frequency; dreams of reunion and reconciliation. She knew she could track Maggie down, with her connections it wouldn't be hard. But every time she had picked up the phone to do so her damn pride got in the way. She wondered, as she paid for her dinner and turned to leave, if she would ever be able to take that step, put her pride aside and try to reconnect with the woman she had once considered to be her best friend.
As luck would have it, fate intervened.
Bianca was coming out of the bistro take out bag in her hand, not watching where she was going, and she careened into a woman who was on her way in.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I as going--Maggie?" she said, finally looking up after having picked up her bag.
"Bianca, hi!" the smiling brunette said, straightening her hair. "Wow! This is funny, literally bumping into you like this. It reminds me--"
"Of the first time we met." Bianca finished for her.
"Exactly." Maggie said, stepping forward to hug her startled friend. "How are you?"
Bianca just stared, her ability to form words suddenly nonexistent. Maggie looked radiant, just like in her dreams.
After a few moments of silence, Maggie cleared her throat expectantly.
"Good…I'm…good." Bianca mumbled when at least she could speak.
"Well, you look great." Maggie said watching Bianca tuck hair behind her ear. It was an endearing gesture and one Maggie had always loved.
Bianca nervously shifted from one foot to the other, not knowing what to do with herself. Suddenly face to face with the woman she had been dreaming about and she couldn't think of a thing to say that wouldn't sound trite. She finally settled on the truth.
"I've been thinking about you a lot lately."
"You have?" Maggie asked, a hint of disbelief coloring her otherwise pleasant tone.
"Don't sound so shocked, Maggie." Bianca admonished with a wink. "Is it that hard to believe?"
"I'm sorry it's just--it's been a long time and --" She shrugged, not wanting to dredge up things and ruin a potentially breakthrough moment.
"And I'm the one who stopped communicating, I know." Bianca nodded.
Maggie looked around. "Where's Miranda? With Zoë?"
"There is no Zoë." Bianca proclaimed.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Maggie replied feigning sympathy.
"Don't be. I'm not." Bianca said, ignoring Maggie's confused look. "Listen, are you alone? I was just picking up dinner, but I could come back inside, join you. We could talk."
Seeing the hopeful look on Bianca's face Maggie heart sank. She looked around, checking the sidewalk, slightly apprehensive.
"Actually, I'm meeting a date. She's late, which isn't like her." Maggie said checking her watch. She did not want Bianca to be standing here when her woman arrived. It would be awkward to say the least.
"I see. I--" Bianca started.
Suddenly a woman wrapped her arms around Maggie from behind, burying her face in the brunette's fragrant hair.
"I'm sorry I'm late, sweetheart. My flight was delayed and I couldn't get a signal on my damn cell to call you." she mumbled into Maggie's neck.
Maggie turned slightly in the other woman's arms, trying to show they were not alone. "That's ok, baby. I ran into--"
"Bianca." The woman greeted and as Bianca looked up to meet the eyes of Maggie's statuesque companion, for the second time in a matter of minutes, she was struck mute.
"Lena?" she squeaked.
"It's good to see you again." Lena said, warmly embracing the younger brunette. If she was shocked she didn't show it.
"This is a surprise." Bianca stammered in the understatement of the year. Watching Lena take Maggie's hand in her own, Bianca's heart squeezed painfully in her chest. She was too late. "I'll umm…leave you two alone to enjoy your dinner." Dejected, she turned to walk away.
Maggie shot a pleading look to Lena, who just sighed. Her timing had been off since the day began.
"Bianca, wait." Lena called her back.
Bianca turned , clearly uncomfortable and starting to close herself off.
"I didn't mean to intrude." Lena explained gently. Turning to Maggie she said. "I'll get us a table. You two talk. I can wait. Take your time."
"Thank you." Maggie lovingly said, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on Lena's lips, hand on the polish woman's cheek. "So much."
Lena blushed. It was something Bianca had never seen her do. She tried to look anywhere but at the two of them and failed. She felt like such an outsider.
Maggie watched Lena disappear into the bistro and then turned back to her ex. The air now thick with unanswered questions.
"You and Lena?" Bianca asked finally.
"Yea, I know." Maggie said, chuckling and looking at her hands. "Strange bedfellows."
"I always thought you two hated each other."
"It's a fine line, Bianca. And we have a lot in common." Maggie stopped there, not sure Bianca needed or wanted to know any more.
"Indeed. How did--" Bianca trailed off, not entirely sure she wanted the answer to that question.
"It's a long story." Maggie replied, eyes roaming Bianca's face. God, I missed her. She has just gotten more beautiful, if that's possible.
"One I hope you'll tell me sometime." Bianca said and she meant it. She wanted to reconnect with Maggie, it didn't matter how.
"I'd like that. Really. How about dinner next Friday? Is that good for you?" Maggie inquired expectantly.
Bianca was taken aback at the unexpected invitation. "Yes…I…" She took a deep breath to calm her wildly beating heart. "Yes. Can I have your number? So I can call you?"
"The number is the same." Maggie stated, the implication clear.
"Point taken." Bianca said, smiling bashfully. "But I will call you."
Maggie ran her hand down Bianca's arm causing the younger woman to tremble minutely. She took Bianca's hand and gave it a meaningful squeeze.
"I look forward to it. Until Friday then? I've got to--" Maggie pointed over her shoulder toward the entrance of the bistro. Bianca could see Lena sitting by the window, looking at a menu.
"Of course." Bianca nodded. "Until Friday."
With a spring previously absent from her step, Bianca turned to go. What a difference a day makes, she thought with a smile on her face. Friday couldn't come soon enough.