Chapter 28
Bianca shoved the pen behind her ear and sighed. Her eyes squinted at all the numbers on the report sitting in front of her. Reaching for the coffee mug, she took another sip from what was her second cup of the evening. This of course, an evening she spent laboring over the financial reports of Cambias Industries, focusing especially on the Enchantment/Fusion entity.
She picked up the cordless phone and dialed, patiently waiting for the call to pick up on the other end. Finally, a similarly frustrated voice answered causing Bianca to chuckle slightly.
"Greenlee, I see you're burning the midnight oil also?"
"I should say the same for you," Greenlee chuckled right back. "What's up? Maggie is okay right?"
"She's fine. I was actually calling about… well, about business," Bianca reluctantly said the words. She hated conducting corporate matters over the phone but saw no other choice. "I really hate having to do this on the phone."
"It's okay. I'm here, so what's going on?" Greenlee reached for her clipboard and pen. She had a feeling that taking notes would be a necessity for this conversation.
Bianca walked over to the sink and dumped out the rest of her coffee. "The last meeting I had with the board didn't go over so well. They still have their concerns with Enchantment and Fusion."
"I'm following. Keep going."
"They want me to go to Pine Valley and see what's going on."
"Bianca you can't."
"I know I can't," Bianca's voice rose slightly. She brought her hand to her forehead. "Sorry, it's just been a long and frustrating week for me."
Greenlee sensed the agitation in Bianca's voice. Clearly, it wasn't just Cambias business that was bothering her, it was something more. "Hey Bianca, are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine. Just stressed out I guess," Bianca replied. "The board is sending someone to do another audit in a few weeks. I figured that I'd give you a heads up."
"Thank you. I'll make sure things go fine, you can count on that," Greenlee paused, trying to figure out how to segue her concern about life itself into the conversation. She almost opened up the topic but decided that Kendall could handle things better because she'd be able to provide physical consolation in addition to the vocal. "Why don't you go and get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day."
Bianca smiled, "I think I will. Sorry about before. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"No worries. Good night," Greenlee smiled.
"Good night."
Bianca quietly walked down the second floor hallway careful not to wake any of its sleeping residents. She soon saw no need to upon realizing that Kendall and Ethan were still out on a date while Jamie was busying himself with a small project of his own. Walking toward the room that had light shining out into the hallway, she stood at the doorway and laughed.
"You look like you're making some progress," Bianca took a look around at the room, which was the soon to be nursery for Maggie's son. "I guess you taking the top floor and leaving this extra room open here was done for a reason."
"I didn't really have a choice in the matter," a shirtless Jamie looked up, adjusting the bandana on his head. "Kendall made the choice for me, remember?"
"Oh yeah, she did," Bianca laughed again. Her eyes took in more of the room, gazing at what was done so far. "Wow Jamie, I have to say that you're done a great job. You've got the crib assembled as well as the changing table and dressers. Who knew you could be so handy."
Jamie stood up from the floor fixing his cargo shorts and tool belt and then reached for his shirt. Slipping it over his head, "Only the best for Little James But you really shouldn't thank me. Thank IKEA for their affordable yet very hard-to-read the directions furniture."
Bianca went to turn over the directions so that the English side faced him. "It's because you were reading the Swedish version," she smirked. "And Little James? Think again Martin."
"It was worth a shot."
"But you're doing a fine job with putting this room together. I don't know what we'd do without you."
Jamie smiled, "At this rate, everything should be done by the end of the month. There are still a few more touches that I want to add. Do you have anything special you want to put in here?"
Bianca's eyes sparkled as an idea popped into her head. "Actually, yes I do." She leaned toward Jamie and whispered into his ear. Her suggestion caused his smile to grow wider.
"Consider it done," he winked. "It might require a trip to Home Depot but I'll see what I can do."
Bianca left Jamie to finish up work on the nursery and walked to her bedroom, one that she shared with Maggie. Entering the room, she saw the television still on, the blue hue of the screen illuminating a part of the room. She turned her gaze over toward the bed and couldn't help but smile at the sight before her. Maggie had fallen asleep with Miranda at her side. One of Miranda's books lay open on the bed while the sleeping child had her tiny arm draped over Maggie, cuddling close to her.
Truly, her daughter adored Maggie and the feeling was indeed mutual. It warmed her heart as she thought about what life had in store for their little family when Maggie's son would be born. Family. Yes, to Bianca, Maggie was a part of her family. The one she always dreamed of having.
She thought about picking up Miranda and bringing her over to her crib but didn't have the heart to disturb the sight before her so she simply pulled the covers up to their chests and kissed both of them on the forehead. "Good night my sweethearts," she whispered as she reached over and turned off the lamp followed by the television.
A half hour later, Bianca sat on the front steps, all showered and changed. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and sat wearing a pair of Adidas track pants and a black tank top. Bianca closed her eyes for a few seconds as she inhaled the summer air. Hoping that the shower she took would relax her, it didn't succeed as much as she hoped it would. If anything, it relaxed her muscles but didn't ease any of the thoughts that were on her mind.
She reflected on the events of the past two years. Her rape and pregnancy and how Maggie stood by her side through the whole ordeal. She thought back to when Miranda was born and the pain of when she believed her baby girl was gone only to have Miranda become her Christmas miracle.
Miranda was definitely her little miracle as she tried not to contemplate what her life would be like had the baby girl not been returned to her. Shuddering at the almost possibility, Bianca shifted her thoughts to Maggie, the sight of her and Miranda sleeping, still fresh in her mind. The more she saw that image in her head, the more she realized that Maggie had become a permanent fixture in her life. In truth, she couldn't imagine her life now without Maggie at her side.
Yet, there was a time when Bianca was faced with the distinct possibility of losing Maggie, to Jonathan. Casting a blank stare, she was lulled back into her memories.
"How with Jonathan are you?" Bianca looked at Maggie with question.
"I don't know. Why? Bianca, if you have something to say, say it now."
"Things have gotten pretty close with you and Jonathan pretty fast, and - I don't know, it's like we barely know him."
"You don't know him. I do. What's really going on, Bianca? Is there something that you want to tell me? I mean, why don't you want me to be with him?"
"I just can't help but keep wondering why things have gotten so intense with you guys. I mean, it seems like you're rushing into something with somebody that you barely know. Why? I know that sometimes it's - it's hard being alone."
"I'm not alone. I have Jamie. I have other friends. I thought you were one of them."
"I am, Maggie. I just think that there's something about Jonathan."
"Yeah, he's hot. And he's a Lavery," Maggie said with conviction. It was almost like she was trying to convince herself of this notion.
"He's on a mission. He wants to nail somebody for Ryan's shooting."
"His brother was just shot. He almost died. He has every right to want to blame someone."
"Even if they're innocent? That is something that Ryan would never do."
"Well, I don't blame him because I've been there before. I know what it feels like, with my sister."
"Maggie, this is different. It's like he wanted to nail Kendall as soon as he found out. He was absolutely sure that she had done it."
"She pointed a gun at him! She pulled the trigger! Call me crazy, but I don't think that's unreasonable."
"Well, it turns out he was wrong. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"Well, the most dangerous thing he's ever done is fix me a drink at BJ's after hours. Thank you, but I'm fine. You have nothing to worry about. Actually, things couldn't be better." Maggie turned around and walked away.
"Bianca?" Kendall waved her hand in front of her sister's face. "Hey Binks."
The sound of Kendall's voice drew Bianca back to the here and now. She looked up. "Oh Kendall, I'm sorry. I guess my head was somewhere else."
Ethan leaned down and kissed Kendall on the forehead. "I'm going to head on inside. Why don't the two of you talk? She looks like she needs you more than I do."
"Okay," Kendall watched Ethan walk up into the house. She turned her attention to Bianca and sat down next to her on the steps. "Nice night isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," the young brunette agreed.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"Whatever it is that has you staring off into space."
"I wasn't…" Bianca paused. "My head was just somewhere else."
Kendall moved close to Bianca and gave her a slight nudge. "You can talk to me, you know. I'm still your sister, remember?"
"I know you are, but right now I don't know if what I'm thinking is ready to be something said out loud."
"Why?"
"Because if I said it out loud, it's real," Bianca turned and met Kendall's gaze.
"I didn't know you moonlighted as a handyman," Ethan chuckled from the doorway as he watched Jamie situate all the baby furniture.
"It's nothing really," Jamie replied. "Now the new desk I got for myself. That's a different story. It took me a week to put that together."
"So this whole handyman thing doesn't come naturally does it?"
"Not really," Jamie took a step back, marveling everything he put effort into. "I'm sure you'll be doing this stuff someday, maybe soon depending on what your plans are with Kendall."
"My plans with Kendall?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.
Jamie removed his tool belt, "You know, the whole family deal. Kids, white picket fence, big front yard. Little Ethan Jr. running around. You two have talked about that, right?"
"Can't say that Kendall and I talked about that kind of stuff, we've mainly been catching up on lost time." Ethan grinned at the thought of settling down with Kendall.
"Well, the two of you belong together. I'm happy that my Dad and Aidan went to great lengths to get you out of jail. Kendall was lonely without you."
"I'd say the feeling was mutual." Ethan nodded. "But the important part is that she and I are together again."
"And that's what I call love," Jamie laughed. "Kendall and you go together much like how Bianca and Maggie belong together."
"Ah, Bianca and Maggie," Ethan raised an eyebrow once again. "What is going on with the two of them anyway?"
"They've been through a lot, both together and separately," Jamie explained. "Right now, their hearts just need to end up on the same page. But they're getting there though. The last few months are proof of that."
"Say what out loud?" Kendall asked Bianca. "What becomes real if you say it out loud?"
"Feelings, need, want, hope," the younger Kane rattled out. "What am I saying? I don't even know what I'm saying anymore." She buried her face in her hands. "Why does this always happen at the wrong times?"
Kendall seemed a little lost at first with her sister's rambling but soon realized what she was talking about. Gently placing her arm around Bianca, she pulled her close. "You're thinking about Maggie, aren't you?"
A few moments of silence passed before Bianca spoke again. She heaved a deep sigh, bringing her hand to her forehead. "I took a stroll down memory lane earlier," she turned her gaze to Kendall.
"Which part of memory lane did you stroll down on?"
"Last year."
"Oh."
Bianca noticed the look of guilt on Kendall's face. "I wasn't necessarily thinking about that. I'll never be able to forgive and forget how my daughter was kept from me, but my mind wasn't focused on those memories."
"Then what?"
"I was… yeah I was thinking about Maggie. My mind floated back to this one day we had a disagreement at the Police Station, shortly after Ryan was shot," she bowed her head. "I came this close," pinching her fingers. "To losing Maggie… to Jonathan."
"But you didn't," Kendall assured Bianca. "Maggie's back in your life and she's upstairs sleeping in the room that the two of you share. Both of you managed to find your way back to each other. That's what matters the most, right?"
"Yeah," Bianca nodded, a small smile appearing on her face but only managed to go halfway.
"See, I'm right then. Maggie and you, on the road to happiness." Kendall smiled. "Much like how Ethan and I are."
"But that's the thing Kendall. It's like we are on the road, but then there's this fork. We hold hands, yes." She tossed a look at her sister and then back at the night sky, "We're getting closer and I'm happy about that."
Kendall tilted her head slightly, wondering what exactly her sister was trying to say. "But what Binks?"
"We keep growing closer, traveling down that road until the fork. One side of it says couple and the other says really good friends." Bianca caught her sister's eyebrow rising. "I know you'd think sharing a bed is a step towards something, towards the beginnings of a deepening relationship, but really it's just that…we're at this unexplained standstill. More like stalled in the road." Kendall moved her hand to comfort her sister, show some support, but Bianca shrugged it off.
"Binks…" she tried to reach out to her again.
"I just-" the words seemed so painful, "I'm just sick of waiting."
"The two of you will get there. It just takes time."
"Seems like time hasn't been working in our favor lately," Bianca's gaze fell. She was no longer looking up at the night sky. "Every time it seems like we're finally on the same wavelength, we're not."
Kendall listened attentively. "How so?"
"I ask Maggie to define what we are; she says she's into guys. She realizes that she's fallen in love with me and I'm committed to Lena. I begin to realize that my feelings for Maggie never disappeared; she's trapped in a relationship with Jonathan. Now that we're both free…"
"You're hoping that the two of you have had enough time to heal and want take things to a new level. You want a relationship with her," Kendall spoke before her sister could. "You love her, don't you?"
"It's so much more than that. I don't just love her, I'm in love with her."
Kendall smiled. She took great pleasure in seeing the lovesick puppy dog look on her sister's face. "You're cute when you're hopelessly in love." Bianca shot her a look. "Sorry… sorry. Okay, you're in love with Maggie, what's the dilemma? It's not like she doesn't love you back."
"That's the thing. I know the feeling is mutual but lately, it's… it just that," Bianca stopped to find the exact words describing her present thoughts. "Lately, it's this whole stalled mode that bothers me. Sometimes, I feel like Maggie reaches this point of closeness with me but takes a tiny step back. I know that I'm someone she trusts and confides in. And of course, I'm more than happy to be that for her. Heck, I'd go to the ends of the earth for Maggie to give her anything she needs, but sometimes…"
"Sometimes what?" Kendall remained attentive.
"Sometimes I feel like she's holding back on purpose. Like she's still afraid of something." Bianca spoke her words softly yet painfully. "Afraid of what, I have no idea."
David sat on the floor of his cabin sanding the piece of wood in his hand. He measured the wood, making sure it was the correct length before placing it down next to the other pieces that were cut and sanded down earlier. Checking on the diagrams again, he reached for the first two pieces needed for what he was building, the same little project he built for someone else not too long ago.
The minutes flew by as David delicately put each piece of wood together. He double-checked and made sure that there wasn't one nail or screw protruding from the wood. His eyes scanned the panels along the top and sides, looking for spots that went un-sanded. He checked that there were no chances of getting splinters as he let his fingers run across the finished product.
Marveling at what he just built, he smiled. It came out better than he predicted it to be. Leaning back in his easy chair, he took a sip of his soda and relaxed. Thinking about Maggie, he hoped that she would appreciate his handy work and the heartfelt gesture behind it all.
"Let's talk this out," Kendall ignored the exhaustion that was slowly washing over her. She was not about to abandon her sister at a time like this. "What makes you think she's afraid?"
"I don't know. Maybe it's just my own interpretation of things."
"Maybe I can help you figure this out. The two of you have been through a lot, it's only natural to be afraid. You had your share of fears and setbacks and I'm guessing Maggie is still trying to work through hers," Kendall spoke, wise as any older sister could. "Your situations may not be the same, but they are both traumatic to say the least. And sometimes, it takes longer to bounce back, to regain closeness and trust. Think back to your own experience. How long did it take for you to get all that back?"
"A while," Bianca sensed the point her sister was trying to make. "It wasn't easy."
"I'll bet that it's the same for Maggie. If you think about what she went through, being manipulated by Jonathan. She was made to think that you forgot about important dates, he guilt tripped her into believing him," Kendall brushed some hair out of her sister's eyes. "Jonathan messed with her mind. It takes time to trust, let alone be able to love someone again after something like that."
"Is it selfish of me to say that I'm sick of waiting?"
"Have the two of you ever talked about this?"
Bianca sighed. "I know the healing takes time. It's all firsthand experience for me. As for being able to trust and love someone again…Maggie trusts me. We wouldn't be here in New York if she didn't," she saw Kendall raise an eyebrow just as before. "I promised Maggie that I'd wait however long it takes. Yeah, I guess we talked about 'us' but it never got to the point of when the time was right to um… move forward. I don't want to be just a shoulder she can cry on. I want to be –"
"You want it to be more. You want to be the one she is hopelessly in love with." Kendall pushed Bianca's chin up so she could look her in the eyes. "You crave for her happiness and most of all, yours."
"Yeah," she nodded. "I'd do anything for Maggie."
"You never stopped loving her," Kendall could see the look of love in her sister's eyes.
"No, I never did and I love her now more than ever," Bianca smiled, replying softly. She felt Kendall's arms wrapping around her. "I just don't know what to do with this fork in the road." Leaning into her sister's warm embrace, she sighed deeply.
They sat like that for a few minutes, Kendall casting her gaze at the night sky while Bianca tool comfort in her sister's embrace. As the minutes passed, Bianca came to realize that her talk with Kendall was the first time in a long while she acknowledged her own feelings for Maggie.
"I know I'm not the best at giving advice on relationships but I'd like to share with you some words that a wise person once told me," Kendall saw Bianca yawning, noting that it was indeed getting late.
"And what would that be, dear sister?"
"To follow your heart," she smiled. "I'm sure it'll lead you down the right path."
"Thank you Kendall," Bianca reached to hug her. "I really needed this talk tonight."
"It's what big sisters are for. Now, if I may offer some advice of my own. Nothing wise, just my own words."
"Okay," Bianca laughed.
Kendall stood up, extending her hand out so that Bianca could do the same. As they climbed the steps, she offered more of her words. "Talk to Maggie. Tell her how you feel. You never know, maybe she's feeling the same way too but just doesn't know how to say it."
Tilting her head slightly, she smiled. "Why Kendall, I do believe New York is having an effect on you."
"Oh be quiet," Giving her a heartfelt smile, she placed her hand on Bianca's shoulder, "The two of you share a special kind of love. If there are two people in this world that deserve to be together, it's Maggie and you. Now why don't you think about what I just said and get some sleep."
Bianca entered her dark bedroom quietly and stood by the bed. The moonlight seeping through the window was the only source of light in the room. Bianca stood there, noticing how the moonlight was shining on Maggie and Miranda's sleeping faces. Her heart swelled full of love, hearing Kendall's words in the back of her mind.
"Talk to Maggie. Tell her how you feel. You never know, maybe she's feeling the same way too but just doesn't know how to say it."
Letting her sister's words embed themselves in her mind, Bianca knew what she needed to do. She walked over to the other side of the bed and slowly moved Miranda over so that there was room for her to sleep. After settling herself in bed, she kissed Maggie and Miranda one more time. Closing her eyes, she fell into slumber wearing a smile, thoughts of Maggie accompanying her into dreamland.
