CHAPTER 2
Tanja eagerly paced awaiting Rebecca's arrival to the castle with the wedding dress for a first fitting. A knock came to the door and Tanja ordered Rebecca in. "I thought you'd never get here!" she exclaimed as if in a bad mood. "I got delayed Benjamin told me he's leaving and we won't have an Art Director," Rebecca mentioned unzipping the dress bag and removing the gown. Tanja's face lit up as she eyed the unique design with sparkling sequences on it she ran her thumb across the fine laced collar.
Tanja arched her eye brow and with a deep sigh spoke, "Lovely, I think you've out done yourself," Tanja slipped into the dress and stood before the full length mirror turning slightly from side to side. Rebecca removed her pincushion from the dress bag. "Turn around," she motioned tugging at the waistline she reached forward pinning the right side where there was a slight gap. "That should do it, I'm glad you approve," Rebecca quietly remarked.
Tanja raised her arms as Rebecca further examined the shoulder area. "So who's your Maid of Honor this time, Ansgar?" She questioned in a joking manner. Tanja crossed her arms and frowned before answering, "Marlene," she voiced in firm deliberation. Tanja's answer shot a volt of uneasiness through Rebecca, "Marlene," her voiced cracked as she gave Tanja a rigid look. "Yes Marlene, why the shocked look Rebecca? I really wanted to tell you earlier but Katherine," Rebecca's face became sullen she quickly cut her off.
"Katherine has nothing to do with this," her mouth quivered in anger as she addressed Tanja. Tanja clinched her jaw tightly, "Do I detect you still have feelings for Marlene?" She questioned with a chuckle under her breath. Rebecca felt tormented by Tanja's stabbing comments, she wasn't quick to answer Marlene had never been a part of Rebecca's conversations with Katherine. "For heaven sakes Rebecca," Tanja blasted out, "Have you not told Katherine about Marlene?" Tanja's face now close to Rebecca's, Rebecca turned away in an attempt to avoid her questioning. "Rebecca answer me," Tanja demanded in a crass tone.
Rebecca lowered her head and then slightly raised it facing Tanja in bewilderment. "No, no she doesn't know and I don't want her to," Rebecca spoke stumbling over her words, Tanja smirked and gasped she now had leverage against Rebecca. "There is no reason to tell her, Marlene and I have been over for a long time, Katherine doesn't need to be reminded of a past that I've moved on from," Rebecca pleaded following Tanja to the bathroom to retrieve the dress. Tanja quickly undressed and neatly folded the dress over her forearm. "I can't promise you anything Rebecca and there are no real promises that someone at LCL won't say something either, you should be prepared for the fall out, not telling Katherine the truth only confirms that Marlene is still the love of your life," The words Tanja spoke ripped through Rebecca like the jagged edge of a knife.
I I'll handle it as I see fit," Rebecca retorted, Tanja laughed handing her the dress, "So tell me Rebecca is this why Katherine is living in the loft and not here at the castle?" She bluntly asked. "It's really none of your business but I will answer, I'm not ready for a live in getting over Marlene wasn't easy and having someone else," Tanja sternly interjected, "Everyone knows your sleeping with her and as you've just claimed you're over Marlene," Rebecca could only stare she felt trapped by Tanja's truthful harshness. "Really Rebecca you'll never love anyone the way you love Marlene," Rebecca's face became flushed with anger she quickly bagged the dress and stammered to the door she looked back to Tanja with a cutting glance, a Lahnstein glance of disaccord she said nothing more slamming the door on her way out.
Rebecca retreated to her room the words Tanja spoke stung her insides deeply she lay on the bed too angry to cry. She rolled over onto her back placing her hands behind her head and starring at the ceiling for what seemed like hours. Rebecca finally allowed her emotions take over she began to sob her thoughts were of Marlene. Rebecca searching her mind knew that for once Tanja was telling the truth Marlene would always be the love of her life no matter how hard she tried to forget her. She grimaced at the thought of Katherine and how she had carefully built a relationship with her not wanting to destroy it. Standing behind Katherine and their relationship was what she needed to focus on.
Katherine cared deeply for Rebecca there was never a doubt about her feelings from the moment they met. She loved fashion as Rebecca did and they worked endless hours together designing. Rebecca tried to reason it all out when her cell phone rang bringing her back to her senses. "Hello," she answered as she arose from the bed wiping her face with the back of her hand, "Do you miss me?" Katherine asked in a romantic gesture. "Yes," Rebecca replied solemnly, "You'll be home tomorrow?" Rebecca's question heightened Katherine's desire to return home and spend some much needed time with her. "My flight arrives at five do you want to meet at the loft?" She asked. "I'll be there," Rebecca answered with a half grin she hung up tossing her phone back to the bed.
Rebecca could feel the tightness grasping her chest the desire to breath escaping her she rubbed her aching temples and further contemplated her situation. "Marlene," the words escaped her lips, "Why?" she asked herself in a whisper. Rebecca knew that Katherine deserved the truth about her past something she had managed to avoid. Rebecca knelt alongside the bed pulling out the LCL box that contained the memories of her first true love she opened it and viewed it's contents. The multi colored scarf Marlene often wore suddenly warmed her heart she smiled holding it to her face the sweet scent of Marlene's perfume still lingered filling the void of loneliness she felt.
Rebecca laid the scarf gently on the bed and picked up a picture of the two of them in happier times. She pulled a pillow closer to the box laying her head down on it. Rebecca once again became emotional she wept the tears falling like rain drops on the picture she held. "I will always in my heart cherish what we had," She spoke aloud she sat the picture back into the box along with the scarf and secured the top pushing it to the corner of the bed. Rebecca understood that she must tell Katherine about Marlene before some else did.