FSOG: Girl in The Garden
Costard vs Philostrate
tattle taler vs Master of the Revels
Love's Labour's Lost or Found
note: Couldn't decide which title works best; flipped a coin for the one I used.
Sawyer-pov
Walking into the hotel room. An know she's gone. The note on my smashed phone tells me things I can't imagine right now. Staring at the confusing note.
'You played me, you betrayed me, you took my love and threw it away. Money! Don't follow me, come near me ever!' what is she talking about? Money; was she upset I took the job? I'm poor? What happened?
"Knock! Knock!" The door?
Answering the door. What the frigging hell? Taking a step back, defensive position. A giant in senior police uniform dumps my foot locker on the floor. He hands me a plane ticket to Kennedy. Not a word. Hatred in his eyes. Why? What did I do?
"The lady says go away; pack your shit. The plane leave in three hours."
"I need to see her, explain?" I beg; Somehow make this right? I just need to talk to her. Find out what went wrong.
"She's left the country. Go home to America; if you stay? I'll be forced to be mean." He flashes a high-ranking police badge. Shit!
I pack and head to Kennedy, getting a connection to Savannah Georgia. A buddy at Ft. Stewart will let me crash in his RV for a week or two. What did I do wrong? What this all suddenly about money? I drown my sorrows and empty my wallet on the planes in little liquor bottles. I lost the one thing that mattered in my life. An I honestly, don't know how I lost her.
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Luke -pov October 3
I've spent the last few months exiled in Bueno Aires; nurse-maiding a doctor for a research gig. Just provide security and clean up any confidential information, papers; Doc has a habit of absent mindedly leaving about his rental house. Between me and the housekeeper; we keep him safe.
Spending all my free hours working out and trying to figure out what I did wrong? Reviewing every moment with her. Something happened at the Glacier; I think that when thing soured; or was in the Glacier gift shop when I couldn't buy her that neckless.
Why she left me and what the frigging hell did the note said, mean. I reread it and I reread the note again and again: I don't understand what issue she talking about. What I did wrong and what the hell is the reference about money. That you suddenly realized, I could never provide for you as you wanted, needed. Was I just a vacation boyfriend? Slumming with the poor loser soldier boy?
This time in Argentina has left me more confused about the month that we spent together. How could two people so in love; sink that fast and deep into love and now so swiftly into desolation. Does she feel the pain, I feel right now?
In Comes the Doc, with Maria and Jorge. The doctors form the core researchers looking into obscure childhood cancer. Then look happy and confused; this is not going to go down well. Looking about the living room and wonder what is going on and how it's going to frigging ruin my calm.
"Luke? We're going to Mexico City. We've been invited to a medical conference; the keynote speaker was in a car accident. I've been asked to replace him. Maria and Jorge, are giving lectures on our work here." The Doc smiles at me like this is a good thing.
"Security; have you clear this with the company." I ask.
"Yes. They are providing all the local security and travel to Mexico City. They've even booked us at the hotel next door to the conference. Most of the big names are staying there. So, relax Luke? We fly out Friday. I give a speech on Saturday: We fly back Monday morning. A liaison from the company will meet us at the Mexico City airport. He'll handle all the issues about lectures, my speech. All you have to deal with is keeping me safe."
"Ok, I'll get on the line to the company. Confirm all the arrangements and security." At least that's not the states. There's no chance I'll run into her?
Dusk fall over the city. Looking out the Alvear Tower 14th floor window across Laguna de los Coipos into the Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur. Amelia would love the view, the wildlife. Everything about Bueno Aires makes me miss her. Everything everywhere makes me miss her. Wishing it was fair to the city; to experience it. Feeling hurt and alone walking the streets; Missing her, missing those feeling we had on Mount-Blanc. Missing the wandering of cities, towns, the worlds with beautiful Amelia. Will I ever feel that again?
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Mexico City Friday afternoon
We enter to a packed Four Seasons Hotel Mexico City. The lobby is crowded with doctors,' company reps, liaisons. Our company liaison met us at the Airport; he has the passports and he'll check us in, getting our room keys. The Conference is across the s Av. Paseo de la Reforma; a short 700-foot walk to Hotel Marquis Reforma. the hotels are between the Estela de Luz and Fuente de La Diana Cazadora
The docs are already mingling among their peers. They meander out onto the garden; an open bar has attracted most of the doctors out here. One Doctor In particular is holding court in a tree shaded corner of the patio. Young doctors in training buzz about her like bees. She must be someone special, someone important. My doctors move through the crowd to her. She greets them like long lost friends maybe they are. She treats the doc like he's the important person. She has a kind face; but the eyes tell a different tale. If pushed, she'll be the most dangerous person here.
A very loud nasally lady; announces dinners served. The crowd moves away at a pace that only free food causes. My group stays behind a minute to talk with the kind lady Doctor. She has a gentle way about are, remind me of Amelia. She looks at me and accepts me as I am.
"Grace; I would like you to meet Luke sawyer: The company thought I needed a bodyguard down here. He's solid guy, I can't do without him down here."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Luke." She says with a kind voice.
"Luke, this is Doctor Grace Grey; one of the top children's doctors in the country, if not the world." Maria tells me.
Shaking her hand and indicate that it's time for us to go into the dining hall. She as a very Caring touch; just like Amelia. I could easily see Amelia at that age, just like Doctor Grey.
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Mexico City: Saturday night late. The hotels top floor penthouse suite. Luke-POV
The conference is over except for brunch tomorrow; most everyone's leaving for the airport after that. A group of doctors staying over to Monday are going to tour a local cancer ward in the afternoon. Right now, after midnight: The all-stars of this conference are sucking down snacks and drinks. Doctor Grey's penthouse suite cocktail party is a hit. Just enough people to make it interesting and not be on top of each other.
Making myself a shadow on the wall. This is what security is really like. Being invisible, watching the rich and famous or just the important people; drinking and eating, having a good time. While I stand here was a glass of water and make sure nothing bad happens.
As the party winds down near two am. People wander off to their rooms. I find myself sitting next to Doctor Grey. She asks about my life, family, army life and why I'm sad. Something about her makes me open up; makes me feel safe. Only Amelia ever made me feel this safe and appreciated.
"I met a girl in France. We traveled about the Alps. But then she left me. just a cryptic notes and empty hotel room. I don't know why she left me: She came from money, and I have none, maybe that's what happened. I loved her. I still love her; I think I always will. I just wish I could talk to her; Explain whatever I did wrong? Change whatever it was?" Great I just opened up my inner secrets to a stranger.
She doesn't say much, pats my hand. It's a lot before she speaks; she looks into my eyes. Like Amelia, she sees through my façade, seeing me. "you'll meet her again Luke. Have faith, if her love is as deep as yours's. Fate will bring you to back together." Doctor Grey says.
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October 31 Austin Texas. 7pm
The job with the Doc in Buenos Aries is over; I'm camping in the last hotel room the company's going to pay for. I'm out in three days. Wishing I could go back to the ranch in Montana but I can't. My mother's harping about Amelia. Thinks I, we should go back to France and find the girl. Talk to the girl, convince her to restart our relationship. The French cop who showed up in Lyon with my foot locker. He made it clear, come back to France; harass Amelia; He would personally lose me in French prison system. The State Department I would hope in eight months to a couple of years would get me out of the country. I'd never be able to work in Europe again; hell! Probably couldn't even visit went their done with me.
"Ring, Buzz, Ring, Buzz" my cell phone rings; I look of the screen. Taylor's calling me: when he called me at Chamonix, he had a possible job for me. I need the work,
"Mr. Taylor. What can I do for you" I ask, trying not to sound desperate?
"I would like you to come to Seattle, I have an opening position. I may have something better closer to the holidays. It's a job."
"what's the job."
"Right now, a desk job, background checks. but it's the best job I can offer right now. We're re-vetting the entire headquarters and all senior staff. It pays better than walking the floor. And it's an entry position." The famous Taylor short words, to the point. He's the kinda guy that you'll follow-through anything. Not like my boss in the UAE. And I owe Taylor for getting my back pay. Re-vetting the entire headquarters and all senior staff; something big must have happened. That speaks of a major incursion; Taylor and his boss Welch are not ones to make that mistake by carelessness.
"OK, spring for a bus ticket?"
"No Luke; your back in the big leagues and a plane ticket will waiting for you at the airport check-in counter. Park's will pick you up at the Airport. He's a spare room you can crash until you get settled. You start November 1.
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Hospital Vancouver Washington. nearly Dawn.
Shocked to see Doctor Grace walk in late last night. She recognizes me, I like that. But didn't say a word. The families huddled in waiting rooms. Waiting for the doctors to let them see the kids. Now their dispersed about the kids' rooms. Mrs. Kavanagh arrived near four am. Christian surprise me, the girl looks like his ex's pictures: the damage she did to those idiots. She is no pushover submissive. I could like Elliott if he wasn't such a clown and asshole. Everything's a joke, a prank. Made Kates father step outside to scream. Offered the nurse a grand to give Elliott Grey a libido killing pill or shot. Or just superglue his mouth shut. I though His Father Carrick was a prick. It must run in the male side of the family. I don't care as long as it doesn't interfere in my job or the peace.
Twilight is moments from turning this ink black sky into a mustard gray. Standing outside the hospital's back entrance. Waiting for a Princess Grey to arrive. The spoiled brat of the Grey Clan. Parks tells me she's better now than before; something happened over the summer. I can relate, the summer changed me; some are saying not for the better. Seeing the two black SUV pull up into the drop-off. Stepping to the back door of the first SUV. Open the door not really paying attention to the person inside, scanning the outside surrounding us. "NOOOOO!" Hearing cry of pain; I look into the SUV. The pain on her face mirrors, the pain on mine.
I don't know how I moved. When I moved. I can't even tell when she opened her arms. All I can really say right now, is that her lips are HEAVEN. The barren desolate dessert is gone. The lush forest and mountains hold us here and right now.
Stepping back, pulling her out of the SUV. Holding her to me. Looking about confused, where's the spoiled brat? Looked down into Amelia's eyes, fear shines in them. She tenses in my arms; why? What is going on. Around her my nerves and mind slow down to a crawl, as emotions rule me.
"Sinclair? Where's the primary?" I bark at the driver.
"LUKE? What are you doing here?" Amelia asked me.
"I work for Taylor: I'm his number two." I say looking about us for the spoiled brat. Looking down into her eyes, Anger flares replacing fear. Why?
"Amelia?" Is barely out before she knees my balls; hitting the ground. Drives her knee into my jaw before it can block it. From my back, I see the twilight has broken. Sinclair and Reynolds barely hold her before she does real damage. Just missing a kick to my head, feeling the wind swoosh by my ear. What is with this girl. Standing up; adjusting myself to ease the damage. I glare at her; this has gone on enough. "Amelia, what the F ##K!"
"You're not getting the bounty on me. Where has Taylor been hiding you. Sorry you didn't get to bring the brat back to the family." She spits it me. What is she talking about?
"Amelia what are you talking about? What bounty? I've been in South America last few months on a job for medical research company. I just started working for Taylor November 1. SO, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT AND WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME."? I try to sound calm but the emotions are killing me. I need to know why she left me? I need to know why kissing her erase everything. I want her: Nothing has changed from that day on the road in France. If anything, the need is more acute, more overriding. I still want her any way I can have her.
"I heard you on the phone, Luke. At the deck overlooking the glacier, accepting the retainer from Taylor to bring me back to Paris; to bring me back to the family." Amelia looks close to tears. I try to piece together what she said: What the note said: Try to remember the phone call.
'Mr. Taylor, what can I do for you? I asked him. I wonder why he's calling me: I'm not exactly his favorite person. He was my first boss in the army when I became a CPO. I was young impetuous, typical loose cannon with a badge and gun.
"I talk to Wilson; He didn't this have anything good to say about you. But Welch talked to Phillips, and it wasn't your fault. I need somebody I can trust. I have a runaway brat about somewhere in Europe. Phillips hunting Southern France; Coombe is in Majorca, Spain; looking for her. Are you free?
I'm sorry Taylor; I'm on vacation, I met a girl it's serious. I wish, I could help.
Lucas if I need you, it would be an overnight at most. Someone to backup Phillips and Coombe. Interested?
Yes, if it doesn't interfere with my girl. How do you want to play it?
Phillips says you're hurting for cash and Wilson's not going to pay you?
Yes, he's an Asshole; I can get by.
I'll get Welch to lean on Wilson for your back pay. Till then I'll give you one-grand retainer. When I need you; I'll call you, giving you the details on the brat: All you really need to do is get her on a plane to Paris and then back to her family here. Problem?
"Taylor, I appreciate the confidence; A grand retainer is more than enough to bring the spoiled brat back to Paris. She won't know anything till she's on a plane home. Yes, thanks for your support." '
Replaying the phone call: What is she talking about? Wait! She was the only person in the SUV. SHE'S THE RUNAWAY BRAT, THE SPOILED PRINCESS PARTYING IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. What a fool am. She accuses me of playing her: She played me. Why didn't you talk to me first Amelia?
"Amelia; you're a moron. All you had to do was ask me. All you had to do is talk to me. But no! You had to go off half-cocked. You had to get some stupidity in your head that I betrayed you. Taylor didn't hire me until November 1. You've wasted months; we could have been together!"
"I'm a moron. You think I'm that stupid! That I don't know what a retainer is? Or the forty-grand in waiting to go in your bank account on delivering me to Paris. You think I can't put two and two together: An know you sold me out! When did you know I was the target? On the road in the ditch? The lake, the Tour, Chamonix, when did you know?" she looks pained and hurt, steeling herself for my confession I was the cad. "Well Luke, when did you know?
"I did not know until a minute ago Amelia. As for the retainer, that was Taylor being nice because I was broke. And the 40 grand was my back pay, that my boss in the UAE Wilson refused to pay me: until Welch leaned on him. Where do we go from here Amelia?"
"You really didn't know Luke? Look in my eyes and tell me that's the truth." I leaned into her, cupping her face in my hands "that is the truth, Amelia. I loved you then; I love you now, I'll love you to the day I die" The strong stone façade crumble into the exposed Amelia I love. The real woman I hike Mount Blanc with.
We kiss, like we were never apart. Everything is better now. We still have talking to do, but right now everything's good. Taking her hand in mine, leading her into the hospital.
We arrive in the waiting room, only the Doc is up. How she's up on so little sleep, maybe it's a doctor's thing. She looks at the two of us holding hands: Something flashes in her eyes. Mamma Bear is up and alert. why? Oh? yea? Amelia Grey's her daughter. Does she know the real girl or just the wild tales Parks was telling me?
"When I talk to each of you individually: It never occur to me, that the other person was. The problem?" Grace asks us
Amelia leans into me, strokes my cheek. "I overreacted."
"I was too macho, two prideful to burden Amelia with my problems. If I'd been more open, we would not have had that misunderstanding" Cuddling Amelia to me kissing her forehead. "We need to not make that mistake again. Way to painful."
"Well Mia, the food here is worse than Spokane. Take Mia to the house, Gail and Taylor are there, she'll feed you. Talk some more. I don't want to see you two back here until lunch. By then Cary will be up. The doctors believe Christian and Anna will be awake for good. They woke around three, but are back asleep. Elliott and Kate, have ban visitors until lunch. Although Eamon is still camp next to the bed, cooling their libidos. His wife is in with the Jose's. So go relaxed, talk, and eat, because you too will need a united front to face the males of the family. Go! What are you two waiting for?"
"Mom, It Amelia now. Mia left the building a while ago. ok?"
"Amelia your perfect as you truly are, An I know Amelia Grey or Mia Grey is going to be ok now. Take your cowboy to the house." Grace kisses her daughter's hair.
Turning, we walked back out of the hospital into the SUV; Gail is shocked and happy that we are a couple.
Lying in bed, her head on my shoulder. Soft little snores tease my hair. We wasted months in misunderstanding. But here in this bed, looking up at Mount Rainier. I feel like the dawn after the Tour Du Mont-Blanc; in the hotel like this, cuddled together, looking up at the snowcapped hill. Despite the wasted months, in each other's arms, in love.