Jessica woke up just before noon on a Saturday morning in Mid February, alone in her plush king sized bed. Todd was away in Miami and wasn't coming home until Tuesday night. She raised her arms over her head, and blew some loose strands that were threatening to fall in her still sleepy aqua eye. She yawned as she grabbed the remote control from her bed side table and flicked on the television, right on time to catch What's Happening LA, her favorite weekend show.

She stretched out her limbs, smiling lazily as the intro music came on through the speakers, and host Martina Campbell started dishing the dirt on the hottest Hollywood gossip. As the station went to a commercial break, Jessica turned on her side and looked over at Todd's pillow, only to see a short strand of blonde hair laying innocently in the middle of it. To a casual observer, the strand was nothing out of the ordinary. Jessica picked up the single hair, and twirled it between her fingers, noting the difference between it and the ones growing from her own scalp. This one was thicker, coarser, and a lot straighter than any of hers. It was also a darker shade.

Definitely not mine, Jessica grinned to herself, thinking of it's owner, whose head had been laying on the pillow just hours before. She bit her lip as a small laugh escaped. It had first happened on the night of her party. After impressing everyone on the dance floor, she and Brian had boogied their way into one of the guest bed rooms on the second floor of her transparent house. It was there they continued the dance of life, the dance as old as time, the dance that only made sense with a partner who was well skilled with all the right moves. And Brian didn't need any instructions.

Jessica had been drinking, but didn't need any alcohol for her usually scant layer of inhibition to outright flatline that night.

She had all too eagerly engaged in the carnal mambo and horizontal chacha that she had been contemplating with Brian since January first. The music from downstairs did more than enough to block out the moans of pleasure coming from her very luscious lips that she had taken great care to paste with marvelous magenta lip gloss.

Jessica twirled a silky lock around her fingers while checking for split ends. She turned the volume up as the fashion segment came on. Everything was falling into place. Just last night, Brian had told her about an upcoming photo shoot. His good friend was a big time photographer, and was looking for new models. Jessica hadn't met his friend, but she knew she had exactly what he was looking for. Soon she'd be on the catwalk, in magazines, on billboards…..Her face would be all across the country, even on the biggest screens in Times Square.

Elizabeth will have to notice me then! An image of Elizabeth flashed before her eyes. It was on the day when she had handed Jessica her twice worn emerald green sweater that she had coveted at first sight. She had used an old trick, by asking Elizabeth to borrow her brand new leather sandals. Jessica was pretty sure that Elizabeth would deny her request, and with her best expression of being the injured party, asked for something else, this time being the sweater. She didn't really want the sandals, the heel was only one inch high, and Jessica thought they looked like something a senior citizen would wear. But she knew Elizabeth wouldn't want to say no to her twice in a row.

Alright you can wear it, Elizabeth gave in. But I want it cleaned and hanging back in my closet when you're done.

Sure Lizzie, Jessica promised, giving her twin a quick hug.

I mean it Jess,! Elizabeth warned as Jessica opened their shared bathroom door towards her own room. I don't want to have to go in your room months from now and see it at the bottom of the heap in your closet, or in a ball under your bed!

Jessica was far gone from her sister's room, but didn't even have to hear the words to know what she had said. She had heard them from the day they started dressing differently, and she discovered that sometimes, her twin did have some worthy items in her wardrobe. She had rushed back into the bathroom to get ready for her date.

With what boy?

Jessica couldn't even remember.

As Elizabeth predicted, the sweater did end up in the confines of Jessica's disastrous mess of a room, and she spotted it on the floor, under a pile of magazines.

Keep it, Elizabeth had sighed in exasperation. I don't like how tight it is around my chest. And the fabric is too thin. It's too suggestive.

But that's the whole point Lizzie, Jessica had laughed, as Elizabeth shook her head...


The credits of the show rolled before her eyes and Jessica realized she had missed most of it. She was so focused on her memories, of happier times, when things were so much more simple, when she had Elizabeth's love. Love that she had lost forever.

If that's the way she wants it…Jessica thought unhappily. I don't need her anyway.

I still have Mom and Dad. And Mom's back…Finally!…

Alice Wakefield had been back in California for two weeks now, happy to be home from her extended trip to the east coast. Guilty feelings on abandoning her daughter over the holidays had brought her to Valley Crest Drive one afternoon, to see and spend time with Jessica and Jake.

So did you talk to her Mom,? Jessica asked hesitantly. Her mother looked well rested and vibrant, she had lost most of her tan, although, in Jessica's opinion, the sparkle in her blue eyes more than made up for it.

About me, about us,? Jessica continued.

Alice looked away, her eyes shifty. Well…..I tried Jess. But…..Your sister is very busy. I was in Greenwich most of the time, while Elizabeth….she and Nicholas spend most of the time in their apartment in Queens. When they're not working. Elizabeth's job takes her all around the city. She covers a lot of events, charity galas, auctions, fundraisers, openings, art exhibits…..and the best part…she gets to go to a lot of houses, either for sale, or ones that are being restored.

She goes to plenty of new luxury developments, but it's the Victorian era homes that got my blood racing when I was there. I tagged along with her on some days and got to explore several gilded age mansions. Not only in New York, I got to go to Long Island, New Jersey and further into Connecticut. Liz's job takes her everywhere. I don't even know how she finds the time. But you know your sister. She always manages to crack open the books and get her course work done.

Alice was in her element, talking about her work and the fantastic time she had with Elizabeth, and Jessica couldn't get much of a word in. Her mother's visage was lit with excitement as she told Jessica about her trips to Central Park.

I even painted a bit. Sitting in a park sketching and painting, I haven't done anything like that in so long...The architecture is beautiful over there, despite the fact that most houses are stuck together.

And speaking of houses... I'm so happy Elizabeth and Nicholas put me in charge of renovating their home. I don't think I've ever had so much fun working on a project. We had to completely change the wiring and the entire electrical system, all without disrupting the plaster and woodwork… and the antiquated light fixtures.

The electricity hadn't been upgraded since the late sixties, and was a big fire hazard. Luckily, I hired a firm who were on hand to mold the original designs, and touch them up wherever necessary. They took out all the old interior plumbing, and replaced everything within the walls. And it's a good thing too. Some of the pipes were a flood waiting to happen. The original fixtures were all restored, and look brand new. You should see your sister's bath tub. It's an old clawfoot, and it's so shiny and polished now. It's so big you can fit the whole family in there.

Jessica wrinkled her nose. Mom! Ugggghhh!

I don't mean it like that, Alice laughed. We were able to match everything that needed replacing. They knew exactly what they were doing. That's a really big deal over there, especially when selling houses. A lot of people want things to look exactly as they did when they first built them. We made the heating system a lot more efficient, all while using the original cast iron radiators. And they're not the plain ones. They're all decorated with the most ornate detailing and scroll work in the metal. They all had to be removed, cleaned and painted over. Maybe in one hundred years they'll need another paint job.

We installed air conditioning throughout the entire house…and not the ugly units, we put in the unobtrusive vents that hide behind the iron grilles in the walls and the ceiling. It would look horrible, putting those huge modern air handlers in an old house. You know Jess, it's so cold over there now, you would never imagine that it gets hot and miserable in the summer.

Oh, and the insulation… the entire house needed redoing. We replaced it with the latest product, it's fireproof, mold proof, bug proof, rodent proof….it's sound proof too, although, it's so quiet in Greenwich, compared to the city. I can't express enough how grateful your sister was. Nicholas too. He's so busy himself. On several nights when I was there, he and Elizabeth were invited to several places, mostly business dinners with clients, and sometimes, more casual affairs with associates from work. They're both so supportive of each other.

Of course they are, Jessica almost rolled her eyes. If I was married to Nicholas, I bet he would understand my lifestyle choices! After all, his mother used to be a model, she used to be in the business. He understands the life. His sister modeled too! He would understand why I have to rub shoulders with important people! But then again if he was my husband, I would start my own design firm and make myself the lead model!

It is hectic, going back and forth on the train from Greenwich to Grand Central, Alice continued. New York is a lot of hustle and bustle, she said as she pulled out some photographs and showed Jessica the house. Although it wasn't quite her style, Jessica had to admit the structure had a commanding presence. She much preferred the sleek newness of her own modern home, but could appreciate the beauty and charm of the pitched roof and the wrap around porch.

She wasn't exactly pleased that the topic of the restoration dominated the conversation either. However, the alternative would be to talk about Jake, which would eventually lead to talking about Todd, and Jessica was in no mood for that. So she kept her mouth shut, hanging on to her mother's every word.

I have a big project coming up, Alice changed the subject. I'll be very busy.

What is it? The mall again,? Jessica asked curiously.

You know the old monastery out on Pacific Park drive? Off route seventy three? It's about fifteen minutes from here.

You mean the big stone mansion, with the tower? The one that looks like a castle?

Yes, that's it. You've heard of Ansonia Academy haven't you Jess? Well they bought the property and will be moving there.

You mean the private school?

Yes, they have more students boarding this year. So I'll be designing the dorms. Also, everything has to be built with earthquake resistant standards. The main building is structurally sound, so are all the outbuildings. Engineers and contractors have been at the site for a month, going through it with a fine tooth comb. It's all a matter of upgrades and new construction. We hope to have everything done in time for the fall semester this year.

How are they going to manage that? Moving all these kids?

Well, it's not like they're uprooting everyone in the middle of the year. Everyone will start fresh at the new location come September. I went to check out the place yesterday. Aside from the overgrown lawn, it looks pretty well kept. The vandals never got to it. The original buildings are in good condition. They're going to add some more classrooms, everything will be built to match the present main structures, they're using the same grey stone that was used in the 1850's. They're building a state of the art pool, gym, and preparing the landscape for outdoor sports….

Jessica didn't know much about the school, except they had a snotty pretentious reputation, much like Lovett Academy, a place where Todd had attended briefly, when he had moved back from Vermont.

The thoughts of Todd entered her head, bringing her to the present and souring her mood . She still remembered their argument from the night of her party. Which made her feel a lot less guilty of the fact that she was cheating on him.

He pushed me to it. He doesn't support me, doesn't believe in my dream!

But Brian does….. Jessica smiled, remembering the way his pupils dilated at the sight of her.

And that's not the only thing that dilates, she giggled as she got up to wash her face in the bathroom sink. She grabbed her toothpaste and placed some on her toothbrush.

Pilar was downstairs, she could hear Jake laughing as he played with his baby piano. Her servants had been well informed that their mistress didn't like to be woken up early on weekends. Jessica looked in the mirror, fretting that she was almost as pale as her fresh from snowy New England mother. Maybe she'd call Cara and make plans to go to the beach. They could leave the children with her parents and head over there to soak up the sun, just like old times…..