Chapter 35
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'Tea for Three'
'I'm Not Laughing at You'
'Release the Girls'
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Lunch With Mom
Morning –
Anakin is on his way to the office. He gets a call on his comm. unit. He knows who it is.
"Yes, Isabel."
"I know you're upset but I don't want you to be angry with me anymore. I panicked last night."
"Oh, was that what that was?"
"Are you available to meet me for lunch?"
"Isabel, I'm a busy man…" Anakin glances at the display on the dashboard. He gets confirmation that the credits he won in a recent betting pool have been deposited into his account. "What time?"
"Noon. At the Bimmisari Tea House"
"Why do you women always pick these snobby chick joints?"
"My mother is a member of the Bimmisari Tea Society."
"Oh, well tell her she's doing a bang up job for the tea industry."
"I'd rather not. Be there and wear a smile. Pretend to like it."
"I'm still mad at you but I still want you around..."
"Gee, thanks. Goodbye, Anakin."
Anakin arrives at the office. Luke is delivering his reports. Gladys serves Anakin a cup of Bimmisari tea. He called ahead so she would have it ready. He wanted to be practice drinking the swill before the lunch meeting. He didn't was to suffer the embarrassment of gagging or coughing it up while sitting at the table with Isabel's mother.
"Thank you, Gladys, you're a gem."
"You're very welcome, Lord Vader."
Anakin sits at his desk to go over his agenda for the morning. He is sipping the tea. It wasn't half bad once he added a shot of Caamas Whisky and some ice chips. Suddenly he sees little fluffy red hands moving around the desk. He is watching from the rim of his teacup. He finally sees what it is after the cup of hot teas spills in his lap. He lets out a string of curses that would make a Sith cringe. Elmo is wandering under the desk. Anakin take a stapler and attaches Elmo to the top of the desk. He force-calls Luke who hurries into his father's office. Anakin points.
"Why is this here?"
"No child sitter?" Luke smirks.
"Don't be a wiseass. Take it home now."
"Dad! You didn't have to use the stapler!"
"Out!"
"What happened to your pants?" He looks at Elmo "Oh."
'Lunch Bel' –
It was ten minutes before noon. Anakin would have to literally run to the docking bay to grab his speeder and drive to the Tea House. He arrives just in time. Standing with Isabel was a lovely middle-aged woman. She seems to recognize Anakin. Possibly she was peering over her husbands' shoulder on that fateful day when Anakin showed up at their door. Anakin remembers to put on his best face.
Isabel's father was invited but he still has issues with Anakin and refuses to join the group. Mrs. Nor
is pleasant towards Anakin. After all the formalities the three are escorted to a table and dine on tea sandwiches and, of course tea. This is not a meal for a grown man; unless of course he was on a restricted diet; his stomach was stapled. Ouisanne Nor is a soft-spoken woman and very elegant.
He knows where Isabel gets her sophisticated demeanor, 'Mrs. Etiquette and little Miss Etiquette.'
"So, Mr. Skywalker, I understand you have two teenagers at home."
"Yes, Ma'm, they're twins. A boy and a girl. I'm very proud of them. They're good children."
"Wait, I remember, Isabel, didn't you bring home two children one afternoon after school several years ago?
"Some time ago, yes. They're the same children."
Anakin looks at her. He couldn't remember this. Perhaps he blocked it out of his memory. He would have to ask Luke and Leia.
"We were waiting for a storm to pass." She looks at Anakin who intended to ask her to explain herself later. "Anakin, you were away on business or something. I called and told you."
"I see. You seem to have forgotten that piece of information, darling." Anakin takes her hand in his. Isabel looks back at him.
"No, I didn't." Isabel recalls the tongue-lashing she got when she told him they got caught in the rain that day but this was not the time to contradict him. Mrs. Nor smiles across the table at Anakin.
"Well, Mr. Skywalker, they were the best-behaved children I have ever seen under my daughter's care. You couldn't separate them from her, especially the little boy. I'm sorry about your loss. I'm sure it was hard on you and the children."
"Your daughter helped us a lot, Mrs. Nor. Thank you."
Isabel excuses herself from the table for a few minutes. Anakin and Mrs. Nor are left alone to talk.
"You like my daughter, don't you?"
"Very much. I owe her a lot."
"I heard what my husband said to you that day. He's a stubborn man and isn't easily swayed. He's also protective of our only daughter."
"I had only the best intentions at the time. I hope you believe that, Mrs. Nor."
"It may be awhile to get him to come around. Don't give up."
"I came to your home out of respect and to thank you and your husband. I didn't come to make trouble."
"I know." Ouisanne takes Anakin's hand in hers. Have faith, dear.
After lunch Anakin leaves the two women who have a shopping appointment. He receives a kiss on the cheek from Isabel's mother.
Anakin returns to the office. He checks to see if Luke hade taken that little saccharine ball of terror back to the house. He had. The day wasn't too awful. Anakin managed to ditch the Emperor yet another day. He had a visitor though.
'Ani, The mother wasn't too shabby.'
"I thought I sensed you there today. You don't listen do you?"
'Hey, I'm a Force ghost. I never listen to things that don't matter. So, you're going to take another go at Isabel?'
"A Go? Qui-Gon, she's not a pod racer"
'Bet you could ride her like one. I'd give anything to touch those headlights.'
"Cut it out, Qui-Gon" He grins at Qui-Gon's crude euphemisms for Isabel's chest. How childish. The COM link comes on. "Hello, yes, it was very nice, and Yes, I'm glad I was able to join you and your mother. Why don't you come over tonight? We can pick up where we left off…I've got plenty of wine. Okay. See you then."
Qui-Gon waits until the call is finished.
'Ani, what's taking so long? Those panties haven't dropped yet?'
"I guarantee you; the curtain's going to fall tonight."
Evening –
Anakin takes a shower, chills a bottle of champagne and selects some 'mood' music on the plasma audio deck. He is happy tonight. He is humming to himself as takes one last look in the mirror. He winks.
Isabel arrives around 8 o'clock. Anakin kisses her then shuts the door.
"Hello. Interesting outfit."
He removes her wrap. Isabel is wearing a two piece mid-length length black spandex skirt and top with front-opening hooks. It looks as if she is wearing the backside of a bra, only several of them. He had never seen her dress this way but he didn't mind at all. He has the hook thing down to a science. He has been practicing.
Anakin hands her a glass of champagne and kisses her again. He leads Isabel into the bedroom. They stand at the foot of the bed. Anakin rubs his hands together.
"Shall I do the honors?" He rubs his palms together. Isabel is amused.
"Definitely. You preparing to open a safe?"
"I guess you could say that."
Anakin takes the champagne flute from her and sets it on the table. He is grinning ear to ear. Isabel smiles sweetly at him.
"Gee, you're very happy tonight."
"I'm a happy man.. You have no idea." He fumbles with the clasps so she decides to undo it to for him. He is a bit nervous after all.
"Just release… the hooks, Anakin."
She drops the skirt. Isabel opens her top exposing her breasts. Anakin starts laughing hysterically. She stares at him.
"Ani, Are you alright?"
All he can manage is a nod. He closes then opens her top again and bursts into laughter.
"Oh, Man!"
Isabel is becoming annoyed and even a bit humiliated. Now she is just angry. Suddenly she pulls her skirt back on and closes her top. Anakin's mouth drops. He is speechless as she 'closes up shop.'
"You know what, Anakin, I don't need this humiliation. If you don't want me then just say it. I'm sick of this nonsense, Have a good laugh!"
She storms out in a huff. She is almost in tears.
Isabel has grabbed her bag and shoes. She is Gone.
Anakin screams in horror once he realizes what has just happened.
"Noooooooo!" He falls backward on the bed. In a meek voice he cries out: "Come back" He is crying out like 'Rose' in 'Titanic' in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic, blowing the whistle for the rescue boats to come back around. This is pretty much how Anakin sounded when Isabel walks out on him, like a freezing little bitch!
Leia returns home after 1 o'clock in the morning. She finds her father in the sofa drinking from the champagne bottle. She knows something went terribly wrong tonight. He looks so pathetic she almost laughs. She knows he has done something so stupid it's funny. She takes his bottle, pats him on the knee and walks him to his room. He gets into bed.
"Dad, you're an embarrassment to the family."
She covers him with the sheet and leaves him in his misery.
To be continued…… 'He Started It '
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Attention Readers: It might take 24 hours or more for the next chapter. In the meantime, I hope you're enjoying this heart wrenching story of rebirth and forgiveness.
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