CHAPTER II
The storms of life
"Rebecca," Elisabeth called to her, she quickly turned her head away from the window, "Yes," She meekly answered. "It's a beautiful day would you like to sit out on the terrace?" She asked, "I would," Her reply seemed happy, "Do you want to try and walk or should I get the wheelchair?" She asked slipping on her sweater, "Walk, as long as we take it slow," She grimaced clutching her left leg. Elisabeth locked her arm within Rebecca's and took the tiny steps needed to navigate the terrace she sat her down, "I could have Justus bring coffee or tea?" She quizzed laying a throw across Rebecca's legs. "Tea sounds good, with lemon," She cracked a grin taking in the fresh air of early summer. "Bring a tray with tea and lemons Justus, please," Elisabeth relayed he nodded, "Dr. Kessler called this morning and we may have some good news," She started talking, Rebecca craned her head around, "Really and what might that be?" She asked with curiosity, "A new orthopedic surgeon is coming to Düsseldorf from the States, seems he has some new technique that might help your situation," She responded, "An American doctor?" Her questioned guarded, "I know." Elisabeth rubbed her forearm. "Hopefully he will be able to help, don't give up hope and keep your chin up," Elisabeth chuckled pointing an index finger to her. Rebecca sighed deeply, "I don't know if I can take another surgery, three is enough and if I can't get full mobility then what will I do? I hurt Elisabeth," She began to weep. "Now, now it's worth a try, don't you think?" She advised her, "We will see, at least I can hear him out," She eased Elisabeth's worried mind with her positive words.
"Will Lizette be visiting soon?" Elisabeth questioned sipping her tea, "She has an assignment in Amsterdam and then off to Brussels for a photo shoot," Rebecca replied, "Why?" She further questioned, "Tristan will be coming and you know the less dissension we have the better his visit will be," She reminded her, "Ugh," Rebecca grunted under her breath, "He should get past his negative feelings about Lizette," She crossed her arms in a huff cutting an eye to Elisabeth, "I'm sorry Tristan feels the way he does the rest of the family has tried to remain positive," Rebecca quickly interjected, "I love her, what else can I say, yes she's pushy and spoiled," Rebecca's voice heightened. "Calm down Rebecca," Elisabeth ordered, "We've all tolerated her negativity at least since the accident she's settled herself some," She cautiously spoke, "It's not her fault," Rebecca became defensive, "No one said it was her fault," She resounded, "I don't want to argue with my brother but he has to stop this, she's my girlfriend and has supported me through it all," She implored. Elisabeth became mum thinking back to the terrible motorcycle accident that nearly took her life. "When will I see the new Doctor?" She inquired changing the subject. "Dr. Kessler told me he would set up an appointment for you as soon as he has conformation," Elisabeth remarked, "I'm tired now if you don't mind I'd like to go back to the orangery," Elisabeth escorted her in. "I've some paperwork to finish for the quarterly statements," She looked up to Elisabeth as she helped her to the table. "Rest awhile, we will go over them at dinner," She commanded leaving her to think.
Rebecca mulled over the quarterly statements for LCL, now in charge she no longer designed but managed a group of designers that fit the concepts of an exclusive fashion house. She sat back in her chair and tossed the ink pen down to the stack of papers she had been working on she rubbed the side of her leg and began to, flex, it just as the physical therapist had taught her to do when she had the previous surgery the year before. "Dammit," She bit her tongue as she could feel the tightness of the muscle engulf her leg in a series of sharp pains. Rebecca stood up moving her leg to and fro in an attempt to relax the tightness she stumbled into the bedroom and lay across the bed she rolled over straightening herself out and fetched her cell phone from her pocket she text Lizette, "I'm missing you," Her fingers touched the screen thinking of her she stared at it but the screen was blank she tossed it to the side grimacing until she could maneuver herself into a relaxed position. Rebecca closed her eyes surviving the noticeable pain she had experienced earlier, ding, ding went her text she picked her cell phone back up and found there to be a message from Lizette, "I love and miss you my sweet," It said she sent a picture of herself dressed in a bikini she was about to model, "Wow," Rebecca groaned parting her lips and whistling. "I'll see you in a few days, I love you," Another text came in, "And I you, see you soon," She answered. Rebecca closed her eyes and began to drift in to a, much needed sleep, "Rebecca," A voice echoed in the back of her mind, a misty cloud covered her, "Was there something you wanted to tell me?" The voice of a woman called from her dream.
Rebecca started to wriggle she grimaced, "Lizette," She uttered as her body twitched her mind's eyes circling her lover, "Yes, I," Then sudden darkness she screamed awakening the sweat poured from her brow she raised up gasping for air. Rebecca felt the crescent shaped scar that flanked the corner of her right eye, "God," She quickly laid back down placing her hands behind her head and stared at the ceiling a knock came to the door. "Countess dinner is about to be served, shall I take the paperwork to the table?" Justus called from the doorway, "Yes Justus that will be fine," She sat up on the bed swinging her feet to the floor, "Give me a bit and I'll be there," She voiced, "Do you need help? I could help you to the dinning room," He further added, she sighed deeply, "No thank you Justus this is something I need to do on my own," She groaned in an answer, "Very well, I will take this paperwork and inform Elisabeth you will be down shortly," He collected the paperwork and closed the door. Rebecca pulled herself up and began the daunting task of walking to the dinning room she took her seat next to Elisabeth, "Did you rest?" She asked, "I did, somewhat," She thought back to the dream and the haziness of its meaning, "Are you not hungry?" Elisabeth noticed Rebecca picking at the food on her plate, "Not really," She hung her head, "Rebecca is there something troubling you?" She asked with caution, "I keep having this dream and I don't know what it means," She frowned rubbing her temples. Elisabeth could tell that Rebecca was still experiencing some problems with her memory. "Lizette is calling to me in my dream but I don't know why, I go blank and then darkness," She trembled as she spoke.
"Maybe your trying too hard to remember," Elisabeth offered, Rebecca sighed, "I don't know what any of it means and I'm frustrated, angry," She confessed as she wept. "Rebecca," Elisabeth began, "You took a hard blow to the head and you were unconscious for days, I know how hard it must be and your frustrations show because you lash out more so than you ever have," She was honest her hand brushing the sleeve of Rebecca's shirt, "But still Elisabeth I just can't help but think something major was about to happen in my life," She pleaded rationally, "Coffee Justus," Elisabeth motioned, "I know one day you'll remember but don't be disappointed it will come to you when you least expect it," Her smile encouraged Rebecca, "Tristan, is he coming soon?" Rebecca asked changing the subject, "Yes he has some banking business to attend to and was hoping to be here as soon as your appointment with the new Doctor is set up, I told him the exciting news," Rebecca sighed laying her fork down, "I miss him and Ann and of course the girls," She reminisced, "Zurich was the best move for them," Elisabeth chuckled, "It doesn't hurt that Ann is from there it made the move a lot more easier for him," She surmised finishing dinner. "Lizette, have you spoken with her?" Elisabeth broached the subject again. "Yes earlier, she modeled today and will most likely leave for Brussels tomorrow," She answered happily. "I assume she'll be returning before the week's end?" Rebecca cleared her throat and sipped her water, "Yes, I miss her." Elisabeth nodded, "I guess we should go over the paperwork?" Rebecca was in agreement.
Rebecca soaked in a hot tub a wine glass adorned the side of it as she relaxed with her eyes closed, "Madam," A calming voice kindly spoke, "Would you like for me to freshen your wine glass," Rebecca suddenly opened her eyes, "Lizette, welcome home," She giggled they kissed, "Shall I join you?" She questioned with an arch in her brow as she knelt next to the tub, "Hmmm," She teased the side of her arm with her index finger, Lizette Marlow was tall and shapely with eyes the color of sapphire that gave way to shoulder length light brown hair, her smile appealing, her lips slightly curved to meet a small turned up nose, "Have I told you how much I love you," She asked Rebecca tracing her lips with her tongue, "Why don't you show me," She begged reaching up and unbuttoning the top of her shirt, Lizette quickly unclothed herself and slid into the warm sudsy water that beckoned her. Rebecca's eyes traced the lines of her bikini straps, "Seems Brussels was warm and sunny," Lizette looked down to her chest, "Uh yes we modeled these unique bikinis on the riverwalk, it was an all day affair," She directly voiced swigging the last of the wine in Rebecca's glass, "I see," She took the glass from her sitting it back down on the side of the tub and moved forward grasping her and kissing her, "Make love to me," Lizette ordered slipping her tongue between Rebecca's lips they existed the tub falling into bed for an afternoon of romance.
Elisabeth sat in the study reviewing the quarterly reports for LCL when she was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice, "Good afternoon," Tristan called from the doorway as he leaned against it, "Tristan," She stood up meeting him halfway they embraced. "Ann and the girls?" He smiled, "Her parents for the next few days," He spoke pouring a scotch. "We were looking forward to seeing them," She mentioned he sat down, "How's my little sister," He asked taking a sip and grimacing, "Well, good days and bad days but I'm hoping we have good news, as I told you on the phone," Tristan sat his half emptied glass on the desk, "I'm not letting my guard down" He smiled, "Dr. Kessler has contacted me and told me the new Doctor is coming from America soon on a fellowship and obviously he's a gifted orthopedic surgeon with some type of new techniques," She seemed elated to him. "Ok so does this mean Rebecca will be his lab rat?" He seemed pessimistic to her as he swigged another sip of his scotch, "Tristan at the least we should try, hear him out, Dr. Kessler seems keen on this young man," Elisabeth furrowed her brow, "True and you are right it wouldn't hurt, when is the appointment?" He looked to his wristwatch, "He will be arriving soon, Dr. Kessler has assured me he will contact me immediately," She voiced. "I have a dinner engagement, Lizette?" Tristan firmly asked, "She's here, for how long I don't know but for Rebecca's sake try to be civil," She became stern his look was sullen, "I need to freshen up a bit, I will see you in the morning," He answered without mentioning another word about Lizette. Elisabeth began to tap her fingers on the desk top she text Rebecca as a warning.
Tristan existed the door of his bedroom and straightened up his necktie, he tugged at the edge of the lapel of his suit jacket in preparation for his dinner meeting, "My, my," The voice of a woman called from down the hall she carried a bottle of wine in her hand, "Tristan," Lizette spoke in a cunning tone, "Lizette," He rebuffed his throat tightened with anxiety, "Hmmm, a bottle of wine, tell me Lizette is that what it takes?" He gruffly voiced cutting an eye to her, "And what might that mean?" She played on his words, "Is that what it takes to screw my sister?" He pointed to the bottle of wine in her hand she quickly looked down to it, "Fuck you Tristan!" She exclaimed, he laughed, "Don't you wish," He moved closer and became face to face with her his breath steamy she stared, "Such a sex kitten," He grasped a lock of hair in his hand, "So tell me," He further questioned, "While you were away, how many marks did you notch on the bed post?" Her face became red, gritting her teeth in shear anger she pulled away from him, "I love your sister," She began to walk away from him, "Whatever do you mean?" She continued in a timid voice her eye shifted an angry look, "You know exactly what I mean, Rebecca will realize one day that your nothing but a needy, money grubbing slut," He winced loudly slamming his fist against the wall, "I think you're a little envious, sad," She coldly remarked. "Well, I don't want to be late for my meeting," He once again tugged at his necktie, "Tell Rebecca I asked after her," He worded turning and leaving her. Lizette's eyes followed him down the hall she grasped the wine bottle tighter and thought about what he exactly knew about her, his strange desires to pick her apart overwhelmed her.
"Where have you been?" Rebecca asked raising up on her elbows and gazed at her waiting for an answer, "Uh," She stuttered, "I met Tristan coming down the hallway," She set the wine bottle down on the nightstand, "Hmmm, he's here, Elisabeth text me" She laid back in the bed pulling Lizette down to her, "He was dressed in a suit and going somewhere," She remarked kissing her and then stood back up, Rebecca opened the wine bottle and poured them a glass, "Come here," She ordered Lizette tapping her hand on the top of the bed she knelt beside her again, their lips meeting in a erotic kiss, Rebecca with unease suddenly flinched, "Rebecca are you ok?" Lizette had a look of concern she grasped and rubbed her leg, "Just some tightness," She remarked, "Poor baby," She offered helping her massage the side of her leg. "I have some news," She began to talk, "News?" Lizette asked, "Yes there's this new Doctor coming from the States, an orthopedic guy who might be able to help me," She spoke positively, Lizette sighed cautiously, "Don't get your hopes up the last three haven't been too successful and I worry about you," She honestly remarked, Rebecca frowned, "I know but at the least I can hear him out, see if what he has to offer is right for me," She wanted to be positive but felt the angst and fears of going through another surgery, "Remember the physical therapy was very hard for you," She reminded her. Lizette touched her fingertips to the side of her face, Rebecca grasped her hand kissing it, "I have to try and I need your support that's all I'm asking," Lizette stared deeply into her eyes, "I will, I love you Rebecca," She confessed. They fell back into the confines of the bed making love.