TWENTYNINE
Hind sight, is always 20/20
"Rebecca let me meet with you privately, I know you need to go home and be with your family," Elisabeth worded. Rebecca followed her into the study, "Please sit down," She did, "Thank you Elisabeth, I think the lot of us was worried," She started to say, "And I'm glad each of us will be responsible equally," Elisabeth poured herself a tonic and water sitting down at the desk she ran her hand across the top of the desk and reminisced about her years in this very place. "I listened to you and to Marlene, I felt it was in your best interest to be closer to home, your son's need their mother's together, I know you've enjoyed the travel but it can get lonely at times and become a burden, your son's are at an age now to where you need to nurture them, teach them, I look at each of them and see their different qualities," She took a drink to quench her dry throat. "I don't know what to say other then I'm grateful," She had a tear well in her eye, "You can work from home, manage the fashion houses as you like, I hope that you understand my reasoning for leaving LCL Düsseldorf under the control of Tanja," Rebecca interjected, "I do, it was our very first fashion house and Tanja has ran it for years," She remarked with understanding. "Good, then we agree, however Tanja, I'm sure, won't be so complacent," She aired her concern. "I think you might be wrong, with Hannes nearly grown and Emma turning into a young lady and living away, I feel her approach about things have changed, she wants to do more, see the world," Rebecca stood up for her something she didn't do very often. Elisabeth chuckled, "Get some rest, we will talk again in a few days." Rebecca embraced her biding her a good evening.
Rebecca crept in the front door slipping into her office and remained quiet. "Shall we have refreshments?" Marlene asked as the boys filed outside to kick a soccer ball around, "Thank you," David took a glass of lemonade from her, Kurt sat next to him, "She's a lovely hostess," He looked around the room, "And she has a beautiful home, is that a castle I saw driving in?" He nudged Kurt, "Yes," Ruth handed him a drink, "She must be rich," He mentioned further. Kurt sipped is lemonade, Marlene walked back inside, "Ruth is serving the boys," She added sitting across from Kurt and David, "You lived here long?" David asked, Kurt felt uncomfortable, "Yes, nine years," She smiled setting her drink down on the coffee table, "Is that really a castle next door?" He further inquired. "It is, Königsbrunn," She replied. "Wow, I've never visited a castle," He acted like a kid Marlene chuckled, Stephanie Roth and Janis Hefner two of the other mother's walked in from outside, "Nice big yard, the boys are having fun shall we finish the meeting?" Stephanie chirped in her often forward manner, they did, "Thank you for having us, I hope next week and after the first game to have it at my place," Janis voiced happily, David walked behind her, "Yes thank you see you for the game," He walked Janis and Stephanie out, "Erik went up stairs with Matthew, I hope you don't mind, I mean I don't want to keep you from anything," He told her, "Marlene, I've finished, I'll take the boys up for baths and bed," She remarked leaving them in the great room.
"Please sit down, would you like a drink?" Marlene poured a brandy, "Tonic and water, "That dress your wearing is beautiful, was that your wedding day?" He asked swigging his tonic and water and peering up at her portrait. "Yes," Kurt frowned and asked, "Are you divorced?" Marlene quickly answered, "No I'm not, you?" She looked at him, "My wife died a few years ago," Marlene swallowed hard, "What happened? If you don't mind me asking," She clutched her hands together. "My wife went in for a simple procedure and things went wrong, her blood pressure dropped rapidly and she slipped into a coma not living very long afterwards, Erik was devastated, I lived in a fog for nearly two years, we left Munich, it was just too much to bare," He truthfully answered. "I'm sorry," She reached forward touching his hand with hers Kurt smiled clutching her hand back. Rebecca cracked the door to her office open watching Marlene and Kurt from across the hall. Marlene pulled her hand away Rebecca saw the motion and expression on her face. "Hello," She walked into the room startling them both Kurt perked up but felt as though he had been caught of guard. "Rebecca Von Lahnstein," She extended her hand to him, "Kurt Voss," He smiled, "I didn't know you were home," She looked at her strangely, "Uh yes awhile ago, I had some things to do in the office and I didn't want to disturb you," She poured a scotch, "Can I refresh your drink?" She asked Kurt he handed her the glass, "Thank you," He grinned. "Are you Matthew's coach?" She asked shifting an eye to Marlene. "I am, Matthew is a fine young man and an excellent soccer player, "Are you two sisters?" He asked uncertain of their relationship.
"No, we aren't," Marlene replied, "We are married, Rebecca is my wife," Kurt couldn't speak, Rebecca handed him his drink he took it, "Uh, thank you, I, uh, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were gay," He had a look of shock. "We don't believe in labels, we met, fell in love and have been married for nine years and we have four handsome boys," Rebecca added sitting down across from them. "I should have told you, however it was irrelevant," Marlene, told him, "I feel bad for acting shocked, I have nothing against gays or same sex marriages," He began to talk, "I'm sorry," He lowered his head. Marlene furrowed her brow, "There's no need to be sorry, Rebecca works a lot and hasn't had the opportunity to attend Matthew's practices," He swallowed hard staring at her, "I hope this won't have a bearing on ours or Erik's and Matthew's friendship," She looked at him for an answer. "Absolutely not, I would never do anything to hurt their friendship, they're teammates and schoolmates," He implored swigging his drink. Erik and Matthew came rambling down the stairs, "Dad," They rushed into the great room, "Mom," Matthew grasped Rebecca," She kissed the top of his head, "Can Matt spend the night? Please dad," Kurt looked at both Marlene and Rebecca, "I don't have a problem with it, if Matthew's mother's don't" Erik looked at his father with some confusion, "Erik, this is Rebecca, Matthew's other mom," He stuck his hand out shaking hers, "Please to meet you," He smiled. "If you're going to Erik's you'd better go and pack a bag and don't forget clean underwear and your toothbrush," Rebecca ordered with a kind motion. "Thanks mom," They ran out of the great room, "Those boys," Rebecca stated shaking her head.
"Emily, are you alright?" Tristan asked he could tell she wasn't feeling well, "I've been a little off all day," She complained, "Why didn't you call me?" He put his lips to her forehead, "You're hot, have you taken your temperature?" He asked she shook her head no curling up in a ball on the bed, "I think we need to visit the emergency room, you don't look good, where is Zoey?" He looked around the room, "Clara," She could barely get the words out, "I'm going to call Rebecca and ask her to pick her up," He fished his cell phone from his pocket. "Tristan," Rebecca announced, "Yeah, I hate to bother you so late but Emily is feeling bad and running a fever, I want to take her to the emergency room," He spoke excitedly. "No problem, I'll come and get Zoey," She told him, "I'm putting together a bag for her right now," He responded, "I'm on my way," She spoke, "Thank you Rebecca, I'll leave the bag with Clara," He spoke hurriedly, they hung up. Tristan helped Emily up, "Can you walk? I'm going to bring the car around," He relayed, "Yes," He walked her down to the foyer, Elisabeth met them coming out of the study, "Tristan, Emily," She could see she wasn't well, "I'm taking her to the emergency room, she appears to be weak and running a fever, Rebecca is on her way to get Zoey from Clara," He opened the front door, "Go, I'll stay with Emily," He rushed out pulling the car around.
"Did Tristan say what was wrong?" Marlene walked her to the front door, "Just that Emily was not well and that he was going to take her to the emergency room, have her checked out," She relayed what he had told her. "I'll go and ready the guest room for her," She closed the door behind Rebecca. "Mommy what's wrong," Wolfgang walked out of his bedroom, "Nothing," He followed her down the hall, "Zoey is going to spend the night, aunt Emily isn't feeling well," Wolfgang shrieked, "Zoey," He put his hands together, "You'll be able to play tomorrow its getting late, I want you to go brush your teeth and get ready for bed, I'll be in to tuck you in, in just a bit," She brushed her index finger against his nose. "Ok mommy but I want to see her, please, Matthew got to go to Erik's," He stamped his feet in excitement, "You can't use your older brother as an excuse," She sat him up on the bed. "I'm not mommy," He begged, "Wolfgang, just because Matthew got to go somewhere doesn't mean you won't get to play with her, you get to play with her a lot and you've been to the castle on many occasions, Matthew is at the age where her needs companionship kind of like you have with Zoey," She explained reasonably. Wolfgang lowered his head, "Ok mommy could you kiss her goodnight for me?" He questioned in an adult like tone, Marlene snickered looking at him, "I will, now go and ready for bed," She pointed and finished prepping the bed for her.
Tristan held Emily's hand while they awaited a doctor to enter the small stark white room they sat in, "Someone will be in momentarily," He told her she tightened her grip on his hand, "Good evening," A tall, lanky man with graying hair walked in, "I'm Doctor Raines," He looked over Emily's chart pushing his glasses up off of the bridge of his nose. "Your temperature is 101 and that's high, your blood pressure is good as well as your pulse, how many months along are you?" He questioned feeling the glands in her neck, "About four months," He took a tongue depressor looking down her throat he mildly grunted, "That's clear, tell me have you had problems with eating?" He asked crossing his arms, "I haven't been exactly hungry the last few days and I've had a slight pain in my lower abdomen," She rehearsed, Tristan looked at her with concern, "Emily why didn't you say something," He seemed upset. "I would like to run a urinalysis and some blood work, I'll send the nurse back in to get a sample," He touched her sleeve, "I'll check in on you when we get some results," He added leaving the room, "Why didn't you tell me?" Tristan tried to be calm as he spoke. "I didn't want to worry you, you work so hard and you certainly don't want to come home and here me complain," She became guarded, "Nonsense, if your feeling bad you should let me know right away," He mildly argued. The nurse re entered the room, "If you could wait out in the waiting room," She told him he kissed Emily's cheek, "I'll be right outside," He remarked.
Marlene tucked in Brandon and then Nicholas, "Goodnight boys," She flipped off the light, Rebecca stepped from the shower as Marlene sat to the vanity and began to put on her facial cream, "Everyone tucked in?" Rebecca asked, "Yes, I didn't think Wolfgang was going to go to sleep unless he saw Zoey," She chuckled and began to brush out her hair, Rebecca buttoned the last button on her pajama top, "Can I ask you something?" She looked towards Marlene as she climbed into bed, "Sure, what is it," She peered at Rebecca through her reflection in the mirror. "You hadn't told Kurt that you were married to me a woman?" Marlene rubbed hand lotion onto her hands, "It never came up," She looked back up at her mirrored refection. "Marlene, I find that hard to believe he certainly had no clue and with Ollie there I'm assuming he thought you were in some type of relationship with him," Marlene crawled into bed next to her, "I never discussed my personal life with him, what for?" She questioned in a huff, "Come on Marlene, he's a man, is he married?" Marlene sighed, "He told me tonight she died a few years ago and he left Munich because of the stress of losing her," She answered. Rebecca breathed out, "I saw him touching your hand," She confessed, Marlene wrinkled her forehead, "I comforted him over the loss of his wife, I touched him on the hand and he clutched mine," She answered. "He like everyone else who loses a loved one becomes lonely he was totally shocked and had no idea you were with a woman, I think he was about to make a move on you," Marlene laid her head back hard on the pillow, "Rebecca why do you assume everyone I come into contact with me is interested in me? You're being silly and that's uncalled for," She grimaced angrily. "Marlene we've had this discussion, you're beautiful and desirable," She argued the point.
There was a moment of silence, "You are too kind and caring Marlene and I can see people, for whatever reason, taking advantage of it," She voiced sternly. "I'm not interested in him, do I think he's handsome, yes but it doesn't mean that I want something with him," Rebecca looked at her strangely, "I'm not talking about his good looks, I'm talking about you being naïve to this man's advances," Marlene groaned, "Really, you give me no credit," Her tone heated. "I give you plenty of credit, I love you and you are my wife but there are times that I have concerns, I can't help it if I worry about your well being," Marlene turned on her side, "I could swear I detect some jealousy from you," Rebecca faced her, "Nonsense, I'm not," She assured her. "Yeah sure, somehow I don't believe you," She began to tickle Rebecca, "Stop it," She wriggled away from her. Marlene hoisted herself on top of Rebecca biting the side of her neck, "I'm not in the mood," She begged, Marlene pinned her down, "You know you want it," She grasped Rebecca's lower lip between her teeth, "Please stop," Her hands found their way between them she attempted to push Marlene off, "I'm not giving up," She kissed her gently her tongue probing every corner of Rebecca's mouth. "Marlene!" Rebecca exclaimed trying to rise up, "I know you want me, relax, let me make love to you," She ordered sexually she began to unbutton her top exposing the hard nipples of her breasts Marlene massaged them. "Marlene," Rebecca moaned into her ear, Marlene nestled herself tighter to her.
Rebecca's fingertips tugged at Marlene's nightgown pulling it over her head exposing her nude body she rubbed her backside grasping her buttocks and pulling her more against her. Marlene raised up gazing into Rebecca's eyes, "I love you," She whispered and then cut a line with her tongue, following the curve of her inner thigh and penetrating her moistened void. Rebecca wriggled her hips pushing her mound firmly to Marlene's mouth until she came with wild and uninhibited passion. They lie there spent from their actions, "I shouldn't have let you," Rebecca mumbled, "You wanted it and you know it, you can't resist me," She teased playfully kissing the side of Rebecca's face. "It still doesn't resolve the problem I think you have," Rebecca's attitude changed after their love making, "I don't think I have a problem and you're being unreasonable," She gasped. "I hate to say that I told you so and when I do don't be angry," Marlene sighed deeply, "Is this a game for you? You're too serious there is nothing between Kurt and me or Carla for that fact," She was animated as she spoke, "You may not think so, such a matriarch you are Marlene," Rebecca picked change her mood, "Not to change the subject but what did Elisabeth decide?" Rebecca eyed her with intensity.
