CHAPTER 49
The heart of a rose
Marlene sifted through the numerous charts that were left on her desk a knock came to her door, "May I come in," The voice of Tracey called from the crack in the door. "Uh, yes please," Marlene motioned her in there was a moment of silence as they looked at each other, "I guess it wouldn't do me any good to ask how you are?" Marlene abruptly questioned she could see the pain in Tracey's eyes. "It pains me to stand here, to see you after you broke my heart," She answered with a tear in her eye, "I never meant to hurt you Tracey," She stood up from her desk and approached her, "Hurt me isn't exactly what I wanted to hear, what I wanted to hear was that you have finally come to your senses, stopped feeling sorry for Rebecca and want to start over again with what we had begun," She clutched Marlene by the arms, "Tracey be reasonable, I love Rebecca," Marlene stammered, "How could you just forget what we had, I gave myself to you knowing that you had been with her, you told me you loved me Marlene," She spoke trying to catch her breath. "And I'm sorry Tracey!" She exclaimed loudly, "I won't give up so easily Marlene just when you think," Tracey paused pursing her lips. "I love Rebecca how many times do I have to say it," She voiced strongly, "Well love isn't everything Marlene what we had was magical and," Marlene narrowed her eyes as she listened, "And I don't think your in your right mind, yes I know Rebecca was very ill and you felt an important part of your, past was about to be lost," Tracey rambled in continuance. "So you think because Rebecca was near death I owed her something?" Marlene asked tightly crossing her arms in a stare. "Something like that, yes," She replied.
"Rebecca and I have planned a life together and I've asked her to marry me," Marlene bravely spoke up, Tracey felt the air leave her lungs her heart fell to her feet, "Marry? Don't you think that's sudden?" She questioned turning away from Marlene. "We love each other and we want to start our family," Tracey quickly turned back on her heels in a strange gaze, "Family?" She blurted it out Marlene eyed her not speaking,
"Rebecca is pregnant," She answered without thought, "Pregnant? Really? And now you want to be a parent to this child? It's not yours and most likely it's that guy she was screwing around with back in the summer, am I right?" Marlene groaned keeping a tight lip, "Yes its his, Rebecca wasn't sure she wanted to keep this child because of the possibility it might not be normal," Tracey took in a deep breath, "Her illness the medications she was on," She remarked knowing full well the child could be deformed. "So that's your excuse for marrying her?" She further inquired. "There's no point in continuing this conversation, I've made our feelings known and I'm happy," She replied honestly, "What's going to happen when the father wants to be a part of the baby's life?" Marlene lowered her head, "It won't happen," She remarked looking back up at Tracey. "Marlene you can't keep the father from his child be serious," She scolded, "No matter how much Rebecca lies it just isn't realistic," Marlene stopped her, "Eric was killed in a hit and run accident last month in Italy," She uncrossed her arms and turned away from Tracey.
Tracey covered her mouth with her hand gasping, "I'm so sorry," She responded, "Yeah, Rebecca took it hard they were close and it wasn't easy," She sighed deeply, "I know it must be hard for her," She reflected walking towards the door, "But I won't give up on what we had," She left Marlene's office quietly without turning back to her, Marlene sat back to her desk her face in her hands in grief her text chimed a message from Rebecca, "Lunch?" Marlene rubbed her finger on the cell phone momentarily forgetting her conversation with Tracey, "I'll come home," She quickly text her back. Marlene slipped off her lab coat when Grace entered, "Lunch?" She waltzed up to her, Marlene cleared her throat, "I'm going to go home to be with Rebecca," She rolled her eyes, "Hey what's wrong," She grasped her by the sleeve, "Tracey was just here and she told me she's not giving up on what we had," She responded stressfully. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know," She walked back towards the door, "What do I do? I mean I have to work with her," She voiced with a motion of her hand. "Marlene I can't give you, advise for that and I can't ask her to leave her job because you two shared a relationship," She answered firmly, "I never meant it that way Grace, I know she's happy here, its just difficult," She sighed in complaint. "Look the sooner you marry Rebecca and start your lives the better Tracey will understand what your really feeling," Marlene lowered her head, "Your right its time to make a plan," She left out of the hospital and to the cottage.
"Hey," Rebecca met her at the door a roll of material locked in her arms, "Hi," She bent down and kissed her, "Are you alright? You look a little aggravated," Marlene laid her purse and keys on the table, "Let's plan our wedding now," She embraced her, "Ok but did something happen?" Marlene groaned, "Tracey paid me a visit earlier she doesn't want to give up on what we had and," Marlene took in a deep breath, Rebecca sat down the material roll, "And your not sure about what you feel," Rebecca finished stating, "I love you Rebecca but Tracey and I had something very special and there's this ache in my heart," She stood up from the couch a tear trickled down her face, "Hey," Rebecca arose clutching a lock of her hair, "I didn't expect you to get over her that quickly," She smiled relaxing her, "Lunch?" Rebecca questioned they ate, "I should get back to work," She slung her purse over her shoulder and headed out the door. Marlene wondered into the emergency room finding Tracey, "Talk," She asked her, Tracey pointed the way to an empty room, "I guess what I said earlier struck a chord?" She moved closer to Marlene's face, "It did and your right what we had was special and I agree its something that will take sometime getting over, I never expected I would meet someone like you and it tears my heart to pieces that things ended the way they did," Tracey traced Marlene's face with her fingertips. "You could change your mind," Her lips lightly grazed Marlene's, "I can't, I'm in love with Rebecca, I always have been and that won't ever change," Tracey moaned lowering her head, "I think you love me too and that's why you're really here," She bravely mentioned. Marlene bit her lip, "I do care about you and I felt awful after I hurt you, really but Rebecca is my future," She tried to be positive.
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you Marlene and I think your realizing that something good did come out of what we had and now with Rebecca pregnant and not giving up the baby you might feel uncomfortable about the situation," She arched her brow as she spoke firmly. "Not at all, I wanted and agreed to this child Tracey, I want to marry her," Tracey nodded her head, "Yes you said that earlier but are you really sure?" She questioned clearing her throat, "I've never been more sure in my life, I've waited for this moment for more than ten years, we belong together and now we are free, clear to do so," Tracey picked up the chart she had been holding from the empty bed, "Suit yourself," She walked away not speaking any further, Marlene tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket and took in a deep breath her thoughts rambling back to the emotional conversation with Tracey earlier. Marlene found her way to Grace's office, "Come in," She motioned to her as she hung up the phone, "Got a moment?" She sat down in front of her desk, "Yes but you don't look so good," She reflected staring into the blueness of Marlene's eyes, "I think Tracey is right," She blurted out, Grace looked at her strangely, "Right about what? I thought earlier there was an issue and you didn't feel comfortable working with her," She spoke in a passive tone, "She thinks I won't be happy with Rebecca, the baby, that we didn't have real chance to make a life together and I didn't give it the chance it needed," She lowered her head, "Marlene, I can see where you may have a lingering doubt about things with Tracey after all she came into your life when things were uncertain with Rebecca," Marlene stood up and walked to the window, "But I do have feelings for her," She turned around facing Grace, "A lot of what she said was true, I am worried about having a child, I mean I wouldn't do anything to hurt Rebecca," She replied honestly.
Grace got up and walked over to Marlene, "Rebecca is the love of your life and I'm sure if you talk to her about your fears and concerns she'll be all ears and listen," She embraced Marlene trying to ease the tension she was feeling, "Do you have any other patients this afternoon?" She asked, "No just paperwork," She replied in frustration, "Go home and talk to Rebecca, tell her what your feeling, put this to rest Marlene," She ordered calmly. Marlene walked out collecting her things and heading home she entered the cottage finding Rebecca upstairs working on a design, "Hey," She walked up behind her, "You're home early did you not have any patients?" She inquired closing up a box of pins she had in her hand, "Can we talk?" She expressed mildly, "Yes," Rebecca tidied up her things and met her downstairs, "Marlene you look as though you've seen a ghost," She took her in her arms, "Do you love me Rebecca?" She pulled back from her, "Why would you ask that? You know I do no matter what," She lead her by the hand to the sofa they sat down, "Is this about Tracey?" She pulled her chin up with her index finger, "I believe what she said earlier about us being unfinished was true," Rebecca swallowed hard staring into her eyes, "I said it at lunch, I can't expect for you to just be over her but you're here with me, you've asked me to marry you and we are going to start our family," Rebecca hesitated a second, "Unless your uncertain about this baby," Marlene began to weep, "I don't know, its been an emotional day for me, seeing her, listening to her pleas," She answered, Rebecca's head hung in sorrow she got up from the sofa and walked into the bedroom sitting on the edge of the bed her hands clasped together.
Marlene rushed into the bedroom and to her side she sat next to her, "I love you so very much and I don't want you to be afraid or worried that I don't want you or this baby, I just have insecurities sometimes and yes having a baby will be a challenge, one you and I didn't expect but I want you and I do want this baby," She reassured her, Rebecca's lips softly met Marlene's in an erotic kiss, "Hmmm," She pulled back from her slightly, "Make love to me Rebecca," Marlene begged with a grin, "Are you sure?" She whispered sweetly, "I've never been more surer." Rebecca's index finger traced the outline of Marlene's throat she could feel the ticking of her pulse through her skin she slowly unbuttoned her shirt slipping it off her thumb and index finger unsnapping the button on her slacks. "Rebecca," Marlene begged, Rebecca slid her hand down into Marlene's pants, "Your so wet," She laid her back sliding her slacks off she stripped herself laying on top of her pushing her mound against hers, "I love you Marlene," She kissed her ear sending her into a panting rage she tongued the side of Rebecca's neck with force and desire her moans vibrated in Rebecca's ear, "Does she kiss you the way I do?" Rebecca voiced sexually in a whisper, "Does she make love and command you the way that I do?" She could barely get the words out Marlene's teeth grasped Rebecca's bottom lip in twisted passion. "No one has ever touched me or held me the way you do, I, I," Marlene stuttered releasing her grip on Rebecca's lips and staring into the darkness of her brown eyes they mesmerized her as they always had teasing her and tormenting her with such passion and desire. "God I love you," Rebecca voiced uncontrollably they kissed wildly. Marlene rolled Rebecca over tracing and kissing her body in heated pleasure, Marlene's lips kissed her void piercing it with the tip of her tongue Rebecca arched flexing her hips and moaning lowly until she exploded in multiple orgasms.
They lay in silence, Rebecca's hand caressing the side of Marlene's outer thigh, "What are you thinking?" She proposed to a closed eye Marlene, "How we've finally made it to this place and that we are going to marry, my life has been destined to be with you that I was born to love only you, that you make my heart beat, my world turn and that all the reasons I have doubts are because I can't believe this is what's really happening," She versed, "Shh," Rebecca touched her index finger to Marlene's lips, "It's real Marlene, we are finally together and we deserve this and nothing or no one can keep us apart, we are going to be a real family living our lives the way we always should have," She didn't allow Marlene to speak she pressed her lips to hers her tongue explore the sweetness of Marlene in a tender yet rogue kiss. Rebecca got up on her knees gazing at the beauty of Marlene's nude body she laid on top of her caressing her soft skin with the tips of her fingers her mouth on her breasts her hands locking themselves to her hips, "Do you want me?" She whispered into Marlene's ear, "More than ever," She responded with a shorten breath, Rebecca obliged, her mouth and tongue made quick work of her void bringing Marlene to numerous climaxes. Marlene rolled over gasping for air, "God Rebecca, I love you," She winced groaning. Rebecca caressed the skin on Marlene's backside not saying anything they lay naked wrapped in the sheets of the bed, "How soon can we get a marriage license?" Rebecca finally uttered, Marlene chuckled, "Tomorrow, let's try first thing," She became serious in her talking.
"Good morning, sorry I'm late," Marlene, whistled in a happy tune entering the nurses station and peering at Grace, "Hope it's a good excuse," She cut an eye to her, Marlene paused, "Rebecca and I got our marriage license this morning and she has started to make me a dress," Grace clutched her in an embrace, "I'm so happy for you, really seems we need to plan a Saturday and soon before the weather changes," They laughed and talked as Tracey entered, "Morning did I miss something?" She walked over to them, "Uh, no why do you ask?" Marlene questioned trying to keep her news under wraps. "Because you appear happy and in any case maybe you've realized that what we talked about has, well, changed your mind," She moved more closer to her, Grace cleared her throat, "If you'll excuse me, I have work to do," She hurriedly left the nurses station not looking back at Marlene. "Yeah, uh, Tracey what we talked about I did give some thought to and your right," Marlene gave a half smile in continuance, "I do have feelings for you but I love Rebecca and I'm going to marry her and be with her we are going to have a baby and I'm happy," Tracey moaned lowly, "I really don't think you'll be happy Marlene and really you haven't heard me at all have you?" She questioned lightly, "Tracey, what we shared is another chapter in my life, one I will always remember but it won't change the fact that Rebecca is who I've been destined to be with, I know that you don't want to hear it at all, I never meant to hurt you in this way but if you must know we got our marriage license today," Tracey felt weak and sick she hung her head in grief. "Well I can't stop you," She began to weep, "And I can only hope that you'll come to your senses and see that we belong together Marlene," She gave her a quick stare before existing the room.
"I don't know if I can continue to work with Tracey, not in this way, so close," Marlene grumbled entering Grace's office, "You'll have to," She replied laying her ink pen down and closing the chart she was working on, Marlene crossed her arms in anger, "Its not fair," She vented, "Not fair?" Grace frowned as she answered, "You started this and now you have to deal with it, what did you expect? Did you expect Tracey would hide under a rock? Did you think Rebecca came all this way just to be snubbed?" Marlene bowed her head her face in her hands, "Set the date for your wedding, David and I are ready to host it, be done with it and grow up, there shouldn't be a doubt about what it is you truly want Marlene," Grace approached her and embraced her, "I love Rebecca Grace," She assured her.
