OTA Chapter 35

"Not at all, looks like we could talk about some things before they get back anyway."

"Alright by me, do you want something to drink I think we have some ice tea or some lemonade."

"That actually sound's good"

Ty smiled at her and asked "Which one?"

"Both about ¾ tea and ¼ lemonade."

"Well that is new when did you start drinking mixed drinks?"

"A lot has changed in the past few months for both of us huh."

They sat in the swing and Amy began to tell Ty about her day. It felt like old times when they had sat in that old couch in front of the trailer and shared what was going on in their lives. It was different now but in many ways it was still the same. Ty had been her best friend long before they had become engaged and lovers. They shared a bond that went beyond the hurt of the separation and as she sat there sharing realized that it would always be a part of her life. And who knew if it were not for Sonya maybe someday they might have been able to work through it all and have come full circle though at this time she could not see that happening.

She told Ty about the new contract and the dress and how she had been told not to come to the party that night as she was just hired help. "I don't know what to think of all this Ty I mean just days ago I could have moved into his house and lived there and who knows what may have come from it. I found that I still do really do have feelings for him but I also don't want to do anything rash as I made that mistake one time before.

I know he is under some sort of pressure from his country about something and he has some of his countrymen coming to visit. I don't know if it is tonight or when but he has been acting all kinds of strange and I don't know what to do."

"I can only advise you to take it easy here Amy. I don't like the guy and you know that and I have my reasons and not all of them are because of us. I saw more of him after your first run in with him back at heartland last summer. I heard how he talked about you and women in general and then heard from one of his staff how he would love to get you away from me."

"But Ty why did you not tell me that then" Amy asked?

"Would you have believed me? It did not happen until after he offered you that job and we had had our little disagreement on the porch about the money. That was when I knew I had to find a way to provide better for you and took the chance on that stupid horse."

"But that stupid horse turned out well and you won $50,000.00!"

"Thanks to you but while I won some money, I lost what was most precious to me. As you just said I needed to have stepped up then but I think we both know that if I had you would have left me right then because we were not in a good place.

Amy studied Ty's face and thought about how she had hurt him, it was true they were not a very good place back then and he might be right she had it set in her mind that she was going and if he had stepped up then it probably would have ended their relationship but it would probably have been better than letting him come all the way to France to be told it was over.

Amy wanted to say she was sorry but she knew without the proper attitude and reason it would have meant nothing as she had already said it to him. They had both changed so much and now she was seeing a man that she did not really know but wished she had known before she left for Europe. She felt shame for what she had done and for some reason as she reached out to touch Ty she could not look him in the face because of it.

"Ty I need to continue that conversation we having when Caleb and Sonya showed up last night. I want to know how much of what you said was because of the fact you may feel you lost me because of Ahmed and how much is because that is what you have observed with as little bias as possible"

"Amy he very well may have feelings for you. Who couldn't you are charming, beautiful and very good at what you do. But a man who has the kind of track record he has does not usually change that much. I in my anger did a lot of research on him before I came to Europe and it was the main reason I came. Georgie had been following you and told me of all the places you were going and the parties you were attending. I was shown pictures of you with Ahmed all over the world in work clothes and even more in designer dresses and things you would have never worn back at home. You had stopped communication with me and I felt that I needed to tell you what I had found out and it had to be face to face."

"I had a pile of papers to show you and more than that in web site traffic. Just never got the chance and now it really does not matter. When I left France I threw it all away and as angry with you as I was hoped it was all wrong. While at the same time hoping it all was not."

"Ty I never realized you had gone to such lengths to tell me this but as you said I probably even if you had shown it to me then would have gotten angry at you for trying to ruin what I had going in Europe at the time. I was very self-centered and now I realize that but at the moment I was happy in my world."

"So what has changed? You are still working for the Prince you have your choice of how you want to do things and you are now world famous. The world is at your feet Amy and after your little bout with your memory you seem to have taken up right where you left off. Not that your family or your friends are too happy about it. But it is your life and we want you to be happy."

"I don't know Ty that is what I wanted to talk about. Since I told Ahmed that I did not want to move in with him things have changed. I cannot put my finger on it but I feel like all of a sudden I am back to where I was when I first met him."

"What do you want me to tell you?" asked Ty. "Do you want me to say you are making a mountain out of a mole hill or that you just feel bad because you really did want to move in? Amy I am not going to play this game with you. You know what you want and it is time that you stepped up and let your feelings be known. You have been thrown, now it is time climb back in the saddle and ride away or find yourself someone else to throw your saddle on."

Amy smiled at Ty, how he could be so calm about this and yet at the same time show closeness to her and distance at the same time. No, this was not the same Ty Borden she had known and right now she wanted to reach out and kiss him as she had so many times before but held back and was happy she did as Caleb and Sonya road up to the barn at that very moment.

"Looks like the lost children have returned, said Ty"

Just in time too thought Amy as she realize what she was about to do. This was not what she wanted she had already caused problems between Ty and Sonya and had she been kissing him when they showed up well she knew that she might never be welcomed back on this place again.

The got up from the swing and headed to the barn. Amy looked at Ty and said "I think I should be going"

"No you are not, there are some things that need to be said and you are part of it. I want and need you to be here and Caleb as well."

Ty walked up to where Sonya had just stepped down from Harley and was greeted by a cool "did not expect to see you back so soon after this morning not that I could blame you." Then warming up a little she continued. "I did not give you much of a warning about that volcano that went off on the porch last night and then what I said to you this morning you had plenty of reason to stay away."

"No you did not and I have done a good bit of thinking about all of that. But you are right about staying away, if I had not taken your phone I probably would still be on the reservation. But when I saw the phone I was worried about you so I came back. We need to talk all of us, you, Amy, Caleb and I. I have enough food in the truck for all of us so we are going to fix dinner and have our talk."

First Amy started to protest, followed by Sonya and Caleb. Well he did not want to protest he only wanted to know what was for supper saying he was starved. Ty cut both of the girls off and told them there was not going to be an excuse and before any of them left this place they would come to an understanding. There was a no way that any of them were going to stop this from happening. They could see that there was not a hint of a smile on Ty's face and he was in charge of his emotions and certainly of this situation and there would be not changing his mind.

"Caleb you go start the grill there is charcoal in the truck and lighter right there on the shelf pointing to a can on the wall of the barn. Amy you and Sonya need to get the veggies and meat out of the truck and go start fixing them. Put the meat on a platter I will be in and get them in a few minutes and Caleb and I will cook it up.

While you are there maybe you two should start out the evening's conversations by working out your differences because I can see by the look on your faces that you are not too keen about working together.

"I will take care of the horses now get, we have a lot to do and only a night to get it done"

Everyone scattered as they had been directed not sure what Ty had in mind but it was apparent that he had thought about it a lot and he was in charge.

Amy looked at Sonya and could see by the look on her face she was not too happy about her being here little lone having to spend time alone with her inside the house getting food ready for supper. "Sonya I don't know what I did that has you so upset but tell me and I will try and make amends "

"I don't think you wanted to cause problems but I seem to have this feeling that you are trying to win Ty back. Or that is how it appeared to me last night when you kissed him as we were coming up the drive. Then I come home thinking he is long gone and find the two of you together again. What is going on Amy!?"

"The last thing I want to do is cause problems between you two Sonya. First of all I did not kiss Ty last night, the last time I kissed him, Amy stopped to think about this one, and realized how hard it must have been Ty when he came to see her, was when he first came to Europe" she finished looking down at the ground.

"Amy I am a mess I let you into my life and then I pushed Ty back into yours and now I am having problems with both of those actions. Looking at you I can see you are telling the truth. The reason Caleb and I were gone was I needed to get out and think and Caleb suggested a ride."

"That is what I figured that is how Caleb is."

"Anyway I wanted more so we went to the mountains and I spent a good bit of time sitting out on a ledge overlooking the East. I finally think I understand what happened with Ty and I last night and this morning. I have been working hard at helping Ty to move on with his life. After he came home he was a wreck and I realized so was I so I buried my feelings and my needs by getting caught up in Ty's problems.

It worked so long as I felt like I was in control. I was the one pushing the buttons so to speak. Then slowly I have seen a change in Ty towards you, more accepting and though that is what I had wanted I was not ready to accept it!" They picked up the food from Ty's truck and walked into the house and Sonya said "I need for you to understand something about me and maybe you can help me out here."

As they started to prepare the meal together Sonya opened up to Amy in a way that she had not even done with Ty. "This goes back a long way to high school in Finland, I had dated the same guy since my freshman year and I thought we were close and I was looking forward to go to college with him. We had a party for graduation and I found him in the sauna with my "best friend".

My parents said not to worry about it they had just had too much to drink and they said nothing happened. I saw what I saw and when they took the words of my best friend and my boyfriend and they took their side of the story over mine I left for Canada.

I dated a few guys over the next couple of years and then I met John. He was everything I thought I wanted in a man. He was kind, funny and a friend and a lover like no one I had ever known. I heard from some friends that he was going to surprise me and ask me to marry him that night. I could not wait I ditched class and went home only to find "My best friend and John together" I was a wreck and kicked them both out of the apartment and buried myself in my studies a few days later I saw Ty and the rest is history.

Then I became your friend something that everyone warned me against and I pushed to have you and Ty make amends because I could see he needed it. Then as I said I began to feel uneasy about him being around you and then what I thought I saw last night sent me over the edge."

Amy looked at Sonya in a different light she had always seen her as a strong person that nothing affected and here she was looking at a woman who was completely defeated and was grasping at straws to just stay afloat. "I can't say I know what that is like because I don't! I have never faced anything like that in my life and now listening to you I want to go as far away from you and Ty as I can."

"That will not do any of us any good, as I said I did some thinking today and came to the realization that I needed to go back and fix my life and be good with where I am, before I can move forward with Ty or anyone for that matter.

"So you are breaking up with Ty?"

"Not unless he wants to, I love him but I cannot expect him to put up with how I am at the moment. And Amy, there is also you, I don't want to lose a best friend again. But unless I get my act together I will do just that and maybe even force you both away."

"Well I have a few things to ask of you concerning my love life as well" said Amy trying to lighten things up just a little. And it looks like Ty has called this pow wow at just the right time maybe he is right that we all need to talk this out and maybe in the end we can help each other. We were sitting on the porch just before you guys came home talking about how we have failed to talk in our relationships and how things might have been better had we actually told each other how and what we felt. It tonight could be and interesting night.

"The grills hot you girls have the meat ready," said Caleb.

To be continued,