CHAPTER X: CABFARE HOME

Nash soon found himself at Tiffany's, having remembered he could pick up the engraved Cracker Jack ring that morning. Despite the wreck his finances were in, and that he was effectively homeless, it was with a great deal of happiness that he strolled into the world-famous jeweler. To his disappointment Paul had the day off, but the ring was ready and Nash took it with a grin. On his way out he saw a familiar blonde looking over some ornate diamond rings. Hiding their ring in his jacket pocket he prepared to surprise the love of his life.

He kissed her ivory neck lightly causing her to startle slightly. She looked at him with the hint of a smile for an instant, but then frowned and turned back to the rings. "What are you doing here?" she asked him coldly.

Nash raised an eyebrow at the tone, but quickly shrugged it off. "Well, I'll get to that in a minute. But I'm glad you're here I have some news."

"Oh?" Tess remained distracted with the rings and would not look at him.

"Yes, oh! I broke it off with Claudia." She looked up surprised for a minute, but then turned back to the rings.

"That must have been quite a scene."

"Yeah." grinned Nash ruefully. "She wasn't too happy. If you hear of any apartments for rent let me know. Unless of course you're offering to share yours..." He went to kiss her again, but she pulled away.

"That wasn't too smart Nash. Nice apartments are difficult to come by in New York. Maybe you should try to make up with her."

He scoffed at that. "You're kiddin, right?"

"I'd let you sublet mine, but I don't think you could afford it." She gave him an unhappy stare. "You really should patch things up with Claudia. I'd hate to think of you on the street when I'm gone."

"Gone?" Nash cried, moving closer. "What do you mean gone? I thought you were just going to Llanview for a visit!"

Tess shook her head. "My mother's sick. I'm moving back permanently."

"Well, then I'll go with you."

"That's not a good idea." She shook her head, still trying to keep her attention on the rings. "I'm don't think Antonio would approve."

Nash lifted her face up. "What does Antonio have to do with it? You said it was over between you." He kept her from turning away from him once again. "Tess, what's the matter with you?!"

"I'm not Tess!" she cried, breaking free. "I'm Jessica Buchanan, soon to be Vega. Again."

Nash looked at her in disbelief. "You're going back with Antonio? Why?!"

"Because Jessica loves Antonio. Everybody in Llanview knows that. They've overcome so many hurdles, have so many memories, not to mention a beautiful little girl." She looked away from him. "I just want my life back Nash."

"What about your life here?"

She shrugged, turning back and looking at him with a cold expression. "What about it? Just a little sowing of the old wild oats. Just some time to finally put Tess to rest for good. There's nothing here worth staying for."

"What about me?" Nash asked with feeling. "What am I to you?"

She looked away again as her voice grew soft. "Just another fling. My last fling."

Nash snapped at that. "Bullshit!" he yelled, grabbing her arms and turning her to face him yet again. "You're scared! Something's got you scared! Is it your mother, the DID? Whatever it is, I can help you through it!"

Tess glared at him as she sneered. "Come on Nash, you've known me what, a little over a week? You think you have the answer for me that Antonio and my family don't? Don't overestimate yourself stud! Sorry if I led you on, but I wanted you and said what I had to to get you. Let's not drag this out, neither of us are saints, we know the little lies lovers tell. I don't love you and I don't belong to you!"

"Yes you do!" Nash's voice grew passionate. "I love you Tess. You belong to me and I belong to you! Please, don't run away from this! I know it's scary, I'm scared too, but this is too good a thing to throw away!"

Her face softened for a moment at his words, but quickly hardened again as she pulled away. "You know, sometimes I envy the ugly girls... their rats never have trouble letting go. Just a little piece of cheese, and they're on their merry way!"

"I'm not just another rat!"

Tess smiled viciously at him. "Oh no?" She moved towards him, an ugly smirk on her lovely face. "You must have researched me, right Nash? You must know my grandfather's Asa Buchanan, one of the wealthiest men in the world. That's really what this is about, right?"

"I didn't know." replied Nash, not liking where this was headed. "And what's more, I don't care."

"Right." She pulled out her checkbook, just like Claudia had, causing Nash to nearly gasp. "You should get something for your trouble though, especially after you went and fired your other 'decorator'." She wrote out a check. Nash could see the amount was $100,000. "Here. More than enough to get that vineyard started. You can go back to Napa, forget about all this and never bother Antonio or me ever again!"

Nash just stared at the check, a pained look on his face.

"Go on!" she urged with a rotten sneer. "Come on, you can do it! You should be used to taking money from women by now."

Nash shook his head as he dug around in his pocket. He pulled out a fifty dollar bill, all he had left in the world. "No, you don't owe me that. But I owe you this."

Tess looked at the money in confusion as he handed it to her. "What the hell is this?"

Nash stared at her with coldness in his beautiful blue eyes. "Cabfare home." Turning, he walked out of Tiffany's without a second glance.

She stared at his back as she watched him go, the mask she had worn finally breaking down and tears forming in her eyes. "Nash..." she whispered, as the check and the fifty dollars dropped unnoticed to the floor...