Chapter Fifty-Four

Laying in bed together for the first time in about a year and a quarter felt strange. Tracy could hardly sleep due to all her thoughts going round and round in her head. They didn't have sex that night but they were sharing a bed. Tracy was well aware that she was the first woman to sleep next to David since Maya. David was sleeping like a log while she was just laid there, wide awake. Not really feeling comfortable, Tracy quietly got up from the bed. Taking her two pillows from the bed. Tiptoeing towards the Ottoman in front of the bed and taking out a blanket from inside it. Slowly opening the door before making her way downstairs, laying on the couch and wrapping the blanket around her. For she would rather be there right now then in David's bed. Didn't take long for the emptiness of the room to encompass her as she felt fresh tears coming down her cheeks. She couldn't really explain it, even to herself but something was missing. She still loves David so much but she didn't feel like he loved her back (at least not like before). If it wasn't Maya, it would have been somebody else. She tried so hard to push those repressed emotions aside, even when Leyla was spelling it out. Things have changed in the last year and a quarter and it changed for the worse. She had to face facts, she and David could never be together again. Too much has happened. Which was very difficult for her to think about for she really does love him but sometimes love isn't enough. Then she had to deal with the loss of her father Frank (and her aunt Tracy a bit before that). Everything has just been crushed and she didn't know what to do about it.

...

The following day had come, Henrietta was called in once again by her new client Kim. She was just grateful for the distraction. Once again, Home Farm was the chosen place to conduct their business. Al being the only man there this time round, Graham has well and truly been cut from any business deals. As soon as Kim gave her the needed documents in regarding to the shareholders and their new business venture (which in this case is an outdoor pursuit centre); she got to work. Writing down the costs and whatnot, trying to figure out how to erase Jai and his family from the business (for it's what Kim wants).

"You seem tired" Kim spoke up at last to her.

"What? Oh no...I'm just concentrating" Henrietta insisted.

She was hardly going to admit she's been up all night watching home videos. Al just giving a slight wink to Kim as if to say 'she's definitely tired'. Though work ethics was never their strong pursuit, as long as the work got done. So they let her carry on, Kim remarking to her that they will be back once she's done. So both of them left her to own devices and she just carried on writing what needs be. Though the two did have another motive for leaving the room as Kim led him into her kitchen.

"I'm thinking of taking her out with us tonight...See what's she like in a non-professional setting. Besides, I need some new blood to mess about with" Kim explained to him a quiet tone.

"Really?"

"Yes...I will just tell her she can bring a friend"

"What friends? She hasn't got any friends"

"Cain Dingle"

"Ah! Now it all makes sense, you want another pop at Cain Dingle now's he and Moira have broken up? That is really something, Kim"

"Can't blame a girl for trying. Anyway, let's hope she can get this deal done quickly"

...

"Tracy?" David called in confusion as he came down the stairs.

He didn't understand why she wasn't next to him when he woke up. Tracy heard him calling her name as she forced herself up from the couch. She was planning on letting him down gently, knowing he was not in a good state as it was. Though it was going to hurt her very much to do so. Giving him a small smile, she got up to greet him however he noticed something was off right away.

"Why did you sleep come down here?" David questioned her.

"Erm...I was tossing and turning so much; I didn't want to wake you"

Though that weak excuse was very weak. Not even an idiot would believe it or accept it. David just giving a sigh as he made his way into the kitchen, trying to figure out what was up. Leyla's words must have got to her. He turned back around to face her as he asked her briefly...

"Is this because of what Leyla said last night?"

"Maybe but she's right isn't she? I love you so much David and I can't go through it again" Tracy began.

"Go through what?"

"This relationship"

"Oh...Do you find me that repulsive now?"

"No I don't! Please don't put words into my mouth, I don't want to lose our friendship over this, David. I don't think I'm what you need right now, you just need to take sometime for yourself and if you do figure out I'm what you want...You know where I am"

"That's just an excuse isn't it? You are what I want Tracy...Did I not make myself clear or something?"

"You might think it now but you're grieving; whether you like or not, you are grieving for the woman you thought Maya was"

"No I'm not! I hate her and whenever I think about her; I feel disgust and hatred"

"Yes I know you do...You do feel disgust because of what she was and what she did but Leyla was right. If she didn't turn out to be that, you wouldn't have left her. You were going to propose for God's sake"

"Until I found out the truth!"

"Exactly! Until you found out the truth...I'm sorry David but I don't want to be with somebody who is just using me to make themselves feel better"

This comment just made David shake his head. Though he knew she was telling the truth, he watched her take her handbag and put on her coat. Quickly making her way outside because she didn't want him to see her cry. David was left inside alone as he just finally broke down on the floor. He's been holding it in for so long. (for Jacob was more important and he been through much worse). Though when Maya died, David went to the mortuary to identify her body and he was secretly scarred by it. For her face was messed up and her legs were broken to pieces, they looked like mannequin legs almost. He actually was given some of her things to take back, he still had her ring in his bedroom; laying there in his wardrobe collecting dust. David hated her but he missed the woman he thought she was, that kind caring teacher who wouldn't hurt a fly. She had manipulated him too but obviously on a much smaller scale. And he couldn't shake the feeling that the baby she died with could still have been his, he was hurting in secret.

...

"So yes, bring a friend and meet me in the pub later" Kim spoke to Henrietta.

Feeling like a meal out would be quite nice, she agreed. Besides her new client was quite wealthy and would no doubt pick a very fancy restaurant. Though unbeknown to Kim, she was going to bring Pearl and not Cain. She didn't think she doing anything wrong by asking her (though she was the wrong person).

"I will do, it's very kind of you to offer" Henrietta replied.

"Yes well I'm full of kindness"

This comment make Al smirk in the background slightly.

...

TBC