THIRTYFIVE
I could think of a hundred reasons
Marlene finally broke her silence, "I should lie to Rebecca?" She asked, Elisabeth sat down to the desk, "I'm not saying you shouldn't tell her, what I'm saying is maybe you should allow things to cool down," She was being supportive as she spoke. "And the longer I wait the more infuriated Rebecca will become with me, I feel small," She stuttered a bit walking to the window and gazing out, "Rebecca warned me about her, she could see all the signs, Carla has been through a lot, I tried to be a supportive friend, I never realized it was to make a play for me," Elisabeth could feel the tension brewing in the room. "I will agree, Carla was devastated by her loss, I think she was looking for a passage," Marlene quickly turned around, "And what do you mean by that?" She asked uncertain about what Elisabeth was saying. "What I mean is she lost the love of her life she avoided friendships and companionship to grieve, moving home was a whole new adventure she met you, a bright spot in her life, someone she could confide in she felt a closeness she hadn't felt in the last few years she channeled her thoughts on you, her interests grew she took a chance uncertain about how you really felt," Marlene grimaced at Elisabeth's comments. "Then why didn't she approach me first? Instead she kissed me, I was shocked to say the least, Rebecca won't take it very well," She crossed her arms in a deep sigh her eyes on Elisabeth's expression. "Marlene, I ask that you reconsider what I said, give it a little time, Carla feels terrible that's why she approached me," Marlene didn't speak at first, "I will think about it, Tristan is waiting, I need to get Zoey," She left the study her mind reeling.
Helena sat out on the terrace finishing a novel she had been attempting to read, "Good evening," Mark called from behind her he strolled up and took a seat across from her. "Mark," She put the bookmarker between the pages closing the book and laying it to the side. "Please don't be angry with me," He pled, "Mark, I'm not angry but I'm not interested in you in that way, I have a companion, one I'm very fond of," She smiled with kindness. "You allowed me to kiss you," He mentioned under his breath, "I wasn't expecting that kiss, you asked me to be your friend, to show you around, how do you think I felt when you became overbearing and out of control," She had a look of discern on her face. "I never meant to hurt you or to anger you, I find you beautiful and kind, please don't turn away from me," He implored further. "I want to be your friend but I can't have the fear or worry of you being uncontrollable hanging over me," She was stern as she spoke, "What do you see in him?" He softened his tone as he spoke further, "I mean what good qualities did he show you in such a short period of time? He's gone, I haven't seen him come back, I'm here, I will treat you with respect that I promise, is it my age?" He had lines of worry on his face as he probed for an answer. "Age is not the problem or your looks, my interests are in Roger we've known each other for a long time and we share things private to us," She winced in answering him. Mark rubbed the whisker stubble on his face in thought as he groaned, "I won't give up Helena," He stood up and walked away from her without another word.
Marlene with Zoey in hand entered the front door, "Zoey," Wolfgang greeted her and took her hand they ran to the den, "Gone longer then I thought you'd be," Rebecca noted with a nod, "I talked to Elisabeth for a few minutes," She replied with a strange look on her face, "Did something happen?" Marlene looked to Rebecca, "No, no just thanking her on her decision that's all," She cleared her throat, "Travis, Matthew and the twins are up stairs, your father is in the den," Marlene looked at her watch, "I should freshen up before our guests arrive," She walked to the base of the stairs, "Ok, I'm going to be in my office finishing some, paperwork," She mentioned they parted ways. Marlene sat to the vanity and stared in the mirror her conversation with Elisabeth loomed over her, "How do I tell Rebecca?" She questioned herself out loud she shook her head tightly, Carla's face appeared in her mind, Marlene shivered a bit reliving the kiss that was bestowed on her the look on Carla's face when she pulled away from her, "How could I have been so stupid?" She pulled the cap off the eyeliner pencil taunting herself under her breath as she drew lines around her eyes. "Marlene," Rebecca called up the stairs breaking her uneasy thoughts, "Our company is here," She shouted, Marlene closed her makeup case and headed downstairs, "Kurt welcome," She shook his hand, "How about a drink before dinner?" Rebecca mused looking at him, Thomas joined them for conversation.
"I'm worried about Mark," Monique stated as she and Ansgar dressed for dinner, "What now?" Ansgar asked straightening his necktie, "Helena seems to have his eye," She winced. Ansgar turned to her, "I've spoken to him about her," He moved closer to her, "What did you say to him?" She was eager to know, "He didn't take my advise very well, I told him she wouldn't be around that she travelled a lot and she has a man in her life," He worded taking Monique into his arms. "I don't want him to be hurt or feel he's being treated unkindly," She warned. "Ansgar took in a deep breath, "You can't baby him all of his life, he's a grown man and he has a complex especially where you and I are concerned," He took his index finger lifting her chin up, "Still he's my son and he's been through a lot and its been a difficult road for him to travel," Ansgar pulled away from her, "I understand he's been without his father but the fact is that's been years ago, he's an adult now and has had time to heal," He commanded calmly. Monique sat on the edge of the bed, "I don't know how much longer he will stay here," She commented, "I would like for him to remain but you're right he is an adult with his on life to live, however," She squinted her eyes and twitched her lips, "Maybe you could get him a job with Lahnstein enterprises, maybe the bank or with the forestry service," Ansgar was stunned by what she had asked his pulse ticked quickly. "I somehow don't think Mark would be happy here, after all his whole life has been spent in Canada," Ansgar mildly argued. "Please give it some thought," She asked him sweetly, "You should finish dressing we don't want to be late for dinner and the theater," He gave her a grin leaving the room.
"Well I'm glad to see you for dinner," Elisabeth told Carla as she sat down looking around, "Yes, I can't sulk or stay hidden forever," She began to serve her plate, "Are we the only ones for dinner?" She questioned Elisabeth, "We are, everyone else is either out of town or had other plans," She answered, "Marlene came to see me earlier," She started to say, Elisabeth interrupted her, "Yes, I saw Marlene as well and we talked," She replied, "You did, hmmm she hasn't told Rebecca yet, however she was curious as to why I did what I did," She remarked telling Elisabeth about their conversation. "It isn't something to be proud of Carla," Elisabeth voiced, "Just because she hasn't told Rebecca yet doesn't mean she won't," Carla sat her dinner roll back down on her plate. "I realize I've made a mistake Elisabeth, I just hope she thinks about telling Rebecca anything," Elisabeth swallowed hard staring at her, "I did speak on your behalf, while I didn't ask that she not tell Rebecca, I ask that she allow things to cool down, its obvious you've destroyed any friendship with Marlene and Rebecca is no fool she will notice that you two aren't speaking," She answered firmly giving pause to Carla. "I will find someway to deal with that, I believe her father Thomas has arrived and we do need to meet with him," She mentioned thinking about the forestry position that remained open.
"Shall I serve coffee?" Ruth asked as everyone finished dinner, "That will be fine," Marlene voiced and added, "Boys no rough play outside, you've just had dinner," They watched them as they dispersed from the dining room. "So how did you become a soccer coach?" Thomas spoke out asking Kurt, "I played most of my life and at a young age fell in love with the sport, I was good enough to go to the top but a knee injury and law school got in the way," He relayed in a chuckle. "How about you, did you play?" Thomas grunted with a grin, "No, my love for the sport happened in front of the television with a beer in my hand," They all laughed loudly, Ruth served them coffee. "Matthew is such a talent, I see in Matthew what I saw in myself as a kid," He told them staring into the blackness of his coffee. "My son Tommy likes to play, he's in boarding school in Belfast, they take a great interest in youth players, hopefully he will get an education along the way," Marlene could see the sadness on her father's face, "I miss my little brother a lot, I wish he were here with us, it's hard to believe his fifteen," Rebecca grasped her hand squeezing it, Kurt noted the closeness Marlene shared with Rebecca. "He likes his school and his friends are there, we have good visits but he's entrenched in what he's doing," Thomas replied, "Couldn't drag him away for the summer holidays?" Rebecca broached, "Actually a group of them are in Athens this month learning about the Greeks," He shook his head. "Nothing ventured nothing gained," Marlene spouted breaking the sadness.
"Hey," Helena answered the call from Roger, "Sorry, we haven't talked much lately, this antiquities thing has had me tied up," He spoke, Helena could hear the tiredness in his voice, "Not a problem, I can only imagine, hopefully I won't have those issues if I decide on the Greek dig," She shrugged her shoulders lying across the bed, "Still I miss you and I wish my stay in Düsseldorf would've been a little longer," Helena grasped the pillow on her bed pulling it up under her, "I have those memories," She mused, "I do too," He was quick to answer. "I guess it wouldn't be possible for you to get away again, say another visit to the castle?" She fished playfully, "Hmmm, I wish I could, Larry Parker of the Lima museum has me in charge of moving the pieces from Peru to here, I'll be in South America a least a week or more," He answered. "Ok, well I guess when you are through there you could suddenly surprise me here," She giggled with wishful thinking. "I hope you're not counting on that, I mean this is a big break for me," He mildly complained, Helena sighed, "I know, I wouldn't take the glory of it all away from you," She admonished, "Talk later," They hung up she tossed her cell phone back to the bed when a knock came to her door she opened it, "Mark!" She exclaimed surprised to see him. Mark cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, I hope I'm not bothering you but it's a nice evening out, I was hoping you would take a walk with me and I promise to be on my best behavior," He smiled with kindness, "Let me get my sweater, I'll meet you in the foyer in a few minutes," She answered pleasantly surprising him.
Rebecca helped Ruth clear the dishes from the table, "I'm going to shower, I have an idea the boys will keep me up and at it for some time," Marlene chuckled, "Thomas," Kurt shook his hand. Kurt walked out to the terrace with Marlene, there was silence the crickets chirped loudly as a light breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees, "Your father really seems to be a great guy," He mentioned they both rested against the railing looking out to the yard. "He has always been, he raised three girls," She smiled and then giggled. "My father was always business like, very rarely did he take an interest in what I or any of my siblings did, that is until I decided to go to law school, my mother was always supportive of us she held the line between my father and my brothers," He admitted with sadness in his tone. "I had a wonderful childhood, my father and mother was always there for their girls, Tommy came along late in their lives and my mother died in a car accident when he was a baby," She thought deeply about Victoria, "I'm sorry," He lowered his head. Marlene kept quiet, "How did you know you were gay?" Kurt ask shifting an eye to her, "I was engaged to Rebecca's brother Tristan, Rebecca returned from New York, we became close and she fell in love with me, I wasn't interested at first and she didn't hold back she pursued me and during that pursuit, I fought hard not to fall for her, it was inevitable, it was my destiny to be with her, it caused a lot of heart ache but my family was supportive and here we are," She pulled her hair back from her face staring at him. "Does Rebecca know how lucky she is?" He voiced, Rebecca walked out of the door joining them, "She does," Rebecca answered hearing the last part of their conversation.
Dana put Victoria down for the night she gathered her clothes up for washing, "Hello," Hagen called from the opened door startling her she ran to him he picked her up in his arms holding her tightly. "Kiss me," He ordered she obliged, "I've missed you so much," She winced, "And I you," He walked over to the crib touching Victoria's check with his finger, "I just put her down, I think we are finally getting over the uneasiness," She remarked they sat on the bed together. "How are things in Hannover?" Dana eagerly asked, "Good, Maxie must have grown two inches," He told her, Dana could tell he greatly missed him. "I was hoping Jessica would allow him to come for a visit but Ricardo's away at convention and she's a little worried that his health may not be good here," Hagen shrugged his shoulders appearing upbeat, "You know I tried to talk to her again about the possibility of them moving back here and Jessica said she would like to," Dana looked at him intensely. "Hagen to be honest I don't see Ricardo leaving his position he's chief of surgery something he never had here," Hagen stood up and began to undress as he listened to her, "Nonsense he's a good enough doctor to be chief anywhere he goes," He argued calmly. "You aren't being reasonable, if you push them they may become angry making it difficult for you to see Maxie," Hagen looked at her strangely unaware that Dana had real concerns.
Rebecca entered the bedroom from the shower sitting on the edge of the bed slipping on her pajamas. "Thank you for asking Kurt to join us tonight, I think dad really likes him," Marlene rolled over to face Rebecca as she laid down next to her, "Kurt is a nice guy, what's not to like, I've watched him and I can tell he's lonely and spends his time thinking about how to get your attention," She teased, "Rebecca," Marlene playfully tickled her, "It's true he has his eye on you, he's perplexed and in his mind he might not be bothered that your with a woman but he also thinks how someone of your looks and stature might actually be gay," Marlene rolled on top of her, "You nor I have never cared for labels, he's a man who's lonely, I agree but I love you and only you," She traced Rebecca's lips with her finger, "Then show me," She winked, Marlene touched her lips to Rebecca's sliding her tongue into her mouth and locking their lips in perpetual motion. Marlene rose up on her knees and began to shed her nightgown exposing her tout breasts and tight abdomen, "You are so beautiful, I am the luckiest person on earth, not because I have you but because you love me so faithfully and deeply," She smiled with a serious stare, "Hmmm," Marlene groaned, "Then let me show you," She took Rebecca by the hand pulling her up she unbuttoned her top exposing her flesh they made love falling asleep in one another's arms.