(Chapter Nineteen)

"Hey, Hunter." Charlie dropped his quarters into one vending machine as Rick chose a soft drink from another. "Any recent word from Dee Dee?"

"Yeah. It didn't go well, though."

"What happened?"

Rick filled Charlie in on the details and his stomach churned as he recalled each of them. "She looked at me like I was less than nothing. She was disgusted and couldn't get away from me fast enough."

Charlie had never seen Rick so defeated. "I'm really sorry. There has to be some way of getting through to her. I called her a couple of days ago and she said she's doing well, but of course, I know she's still hurting. Who wouldn't be?"

"Right. That's why I wish I could help her."

"At some point, she's got to see the light. She'll come to realize what you two mean to each other."

Rick heaved a sigh. "We can only hope, but she seems to be getting pretty close to Mark. He's the one she's depending on, now."

"You think it's anything else...anything serious?"

Rick had to be honest with himself and Charlie. "I do have a fear that something's going on between them. If it is, she's moving too fast. I don't want her to be hurt anymore."

"He seems like a good guy, but do you think he'd take advantage of her vulnerability?"

Rick thought for a minute, wanting to keep his feelings intact. "I don't think he would, at least not intentionally. He's trying to get over his ex-fiancee and I'm sure he needs someone, too. What little I do know about him, I still don't think he'd do anything to hurt her on purpose. Still, no matter how it comes about, I just don't want her to suffer in any way. I've got to do something."

"Damn it!" Dee Dee cursed as she slammed the kitchen door.

"What's wrong?" Startled, Mark rushed out of the pantry.

Dee Dee jumped. "Oh. I didn't know you were in here. You scared me."

"You scared me." Mark replied.

The two looked at each other in silence for a moment and started to laugh.

"I'm sorry." Dee Dee apologized. "I didn't mean to slam the door, either."

"It's okay." Mark assured her that it wasn't a big deal as he told her to have a seat. "Want to fill me in?"

"I had a hard time with my mom. She still doesn't get why I don't want to talk to Rick." Dee Dee would choose the details carefully, not revealing that she'd been a bit devilish in having Anna believe that there may be something between them. "I had planned to go visit the sites...you know...take some flowers for them, but she upset me so much that I couldn't go. Now I feel terrible for not taking flowers to my baby."

Mark realized that she only mentioned feeling terrible about not taking any flowers for the baby. No mention of feeling such a way about Alex. He wondered if she still holds him partly responsible or if it was nothing more than how she chose to phrase it.

"I'm sorry your day was so rough." He gently rubbed her back in the area between her shoulder blades. He couldn't imagine having a mother be one of the people who upset you the most, not to mention being of little support when you need her. "You know something?"

"What?"

"You need to relax."

"Yeah." Dee Dee expelled a ragged sigh. "Easier said than done."

"Give me a few minutes." Mark grabbed the phone and stepped out the room as Dee Dee watched with curiosity. When he was done, he returned to the kitchen, looking rather pleased with himself. "All set."

"Care to toss me a hint?"

"I suppose." Mark smiled. "For the rest of the day, we'll do nothing but relax. We'll swim, have our own spa treatment right here, poolside, have massages; and you'll have a manicure and pedicure...get your little fingernails and toenails polished. I'll skip the polish." He saw a smile come across Dee Dee's lips. "Plus, we'll have dinner prepared and served to us later in the evening in the main gazebo with a bit of soothing music for the soul."

"Really?" Dee Dee asked excitedly. "You'll do all that for me?"

"Yes, really. Why wouldn't I do all that for you? You deserve it."

Dee Dee stood and wrapped her arms around his waist, then stepped back and elevated herself on her toes and kissed his cheek as he bent down to meet her.

"Thank you so much. I can really use a treat like this." She smiled broadly and went off to prepare for the events.

On her way up, she took a moment to look at some of Mark's family photos on the wall. She had previously admired the images of Mark, his parents, brother and two sisters. She thought they were a very attractive family; his parents' racial makeup being of African-American, Cherokee Native-American and Irish-American. With one sister being married to an Italian man, and the other to a Samoan, she recalled laughing at Mark's joke of his family looking like a Benetton ad from the eighties, and how since she was Cherokee Native-American and Irish-American, she was already part of the group. She could only imagine what it would be like to be part of such a loving family; a family so close that they kept in touch daily, no one judging or criticizing and just being supportive and caring as they should. A few times, she thought of herself in a portrait as a part of the Atkins family at Mark's side. Little did she know, Mark had similar thoughts, and his family, though never meeting her and only seeing a photo by email, had heard so much about her that made them feel that she may be the one for Mark. Dee Dee had spoken briefly with Mark's mother when he asked her to answer the phone for him. The conversation was very pleasant for the both of them. Mrs. Atkins had offered her sympathy and support to Dee Dee and thanked her for being there for Mark as he also needed a friend to help him through his failed engagement. As her eyes wandered to the image of Mark's youngest nephew, she thought of her own baby and husband, knowing there would never be another family photo for the three of them. She began to feel guilty for even considering an idea of another family. ("How can I even imagine being married to Mark, already? I just lost my family. My God, am I losing my mind? There has to be something wrong with me. Why else would I have these thoughts?") Such confusion was starting to weigh her down. She quickly moved away from the photos and up to her room.

Mark stood motionless for a few moments, surprised and very pleased by the kiss he'd just gotten. The muscles in his face tightened as a smile grew on his face. ("It was just a thank-you kiss. Don't get excited. She's just very affectionate. There can't be anything serious.") He felt the tension in his face began to lessen as he knew it was best not to read too much into it. He turned and headed upstairs to change for the pool, trying to rid his mind of images of Dee Dee in her swimwear.

Dee Dee put her swimsuits on the bed. She looked at the one-pieces. She looked at the bikinis. She frowned in frustration. ("Why is it so hard to decide, now? Why can't I just grab one, put it on and go?") She had to admit to herself that she wasn't really deciding which suit she'd like, but which one Mark may like to see her in. She was feeling more and more comfortable with him and felt that they each knew that things were changing between them. Unsure of whether her feelings were a good thing or a bad thing, She let out a groan and fell backward onto the bed. With the window open, she clearly heard a splash from the pool. She pulled herself up and walked to the window. ("Look at him. He's so sweet. Extremely intelligent. Such a gentleman and so caring. So funny...handsome. His body is amazing.") She sighed with contentment, snapped out of her trance and quickly grabbed a suit to put on.

Mark dove back into the water just before Dee Dee stepped outside. She waited until he reached the surface and greeted him with a smile. "Hey." She titled her head to the side, allowing her hair to cascade softly over one shoulder.

Mark was quiet for a few seconds, taking in the beautiful sight before him. Dee Dee wore a white halter bikini, with gold metal accents along the slightly plunging neckline and at the sides of the hips on the bottoms. After finding his voice, he greeted her with a smile. "Hey, yourself. You look great."

"Thank you." Dee Dee smiled, feeling her little devil horns growing a bit as she knew she'd chosen well with this suit. "Will you put this sunscreen on my back?"

To himself, Mark yelled "Hell, yes!" To Dee Dee, he nodded and replied more like a gentleman and met her at the chaise lounge.

"I don't want too much sun, though I can use a bit of a tan." She said.

Mark held up his arm in front of her. "I'm a bit pale, myself."

Dee Dee laughed and playfully hit him on the arm. "Shut up." She was momentarily distracted by the toned bicep before continuing. "Um...you do still have to be careful out here, though."

"True, and I do use sunblock."

"Good." Dee Dee smiled. "Would you untie the bottom bow of my top? I want to cover as much with the lotion as possible."

"Sure." Mark did as he was asked, waited until Dee Dee held the front of her halter securely against herself, and began applying the sunscreen over her back and shoulders, feeling her relax with his touch.

He had daydreams of what it would be like to put lotion on her when he'd see her lounging by the pool. He didn't have to wonder anymore, and found the experience to be better than he expected. "All done."

"Thanks." Dee Dee turned toward him. "Your turn." As she returned the favor by putting sunblock on him, she quickly found herself enjoying the feel of his toned, muscular back and sides. She reminded herself that she shouldn't let the physical attraction stir things up, but she knew it wasn't just that. Mark had so much more going for him and he'd been an absolute Godsend to her when she needed someone. Still, the physical attraction was hard to ignore.

After some time the pool, their masseuses had arrived. As they set up, the duo went into the dressing rooms of cabana to slip out of their suits and wrap towels around themselves for their massages.

Mark's personal chef and her assistants had arrived to start dinner in the outdoor kitchen. Lying on the tables in the shade of the large canopy by the pool, they both felt the tension melt from their bodies as the sounds of soft music and the aroma of great food offered even more relaxation. Now wearing comfortable lightweight robes, Dee Dee enjoyed her mani and pedi while Mark kept her company with jokes and laughter as he took advantage of a foot massage.

For dinner, Dee Dee chose a pale pink halter dress with a hemline just above the knee. Mark opted for a pair of black slacks and a soft gray linen shirt. Each were very-much impressed and expressed their compliments. With soft music wafting through the air from the outdoor stereo system, Mark couldn't resist asking her to dance.

"Would you like to dance?"

Dee Dee took his extended hand. "Yes."

Holding one another closely, their bodies synchronized in movement to the music, never breaking the closeness during the three songs playing back-to-back. It had been a little more than a month that they'd began sharing his home, but their connection made it feel as if it had been longer. The day they met, they became close. They actually had chemistry and though they hadn't admitted it aloud to one another, it had built up quicker between the two of them than it had with those they'd just recently lost.

When the third song ended, they sat in the softly lit gazebo. After a delicious meal, fine wine, great music and lots of laughter, Mark suggested they walk around the grounds. It wasn't until they started inside the house that they realized they were holding hands, and though they didn't say anything, each wondered just when their hands had become linked. They said their good-nights, but were slow to part ways. Mark took a chance and gently kissed his companion on the cheek. "You have a good night."

She lowered her head and then raised it with a smile. "You too. Thanks again for such a wonderful day." She let her hand slowly slip from his and headed upstairs.

The time had come for the trip to London.

Instead of leaving his car at the airport, Mark had a driver ready to take them to their destinations in his silver Rolls Royce. Their first stop would be the cemetery so Dee Dee could place flowers on her husband and child's graves.

He stood several feet back to give her some privacy, but close enough to keep an eye on her if she needed him. She looked at the dates on the headstones. It was surreal to see reminders of them dying on their birthdays. Though AJ wasn't taken off the machines until a couple of days later, he was already gone. He had actually died on his second birthday. Her heart began to crumble, trying to understand why the tragedy took place and on that particular date. A birthday is a time of celebrating life, but death will be forever connected to what was to be a joyous occasion for the Turnan family. Saying her goodbyes until next time, she wiped her tears and walked toward Mark who put his arm around her and escorted her to the car. They sat in the backseat and as she gazed out the window, she dabbed a few more tears. Mark reached over and took her left hand into his, placing a gentle kiss on the back of it and then letting both their hands rest upon the seat, his still cradling hers.

Dee Dee appreciated the gesture, but it wasn't enough. Her tears began to fall more rapidly.

Mark pushed the button for the privacy window to separate them from the driver, then moved to the middle of the seat and pulled Dee Dee close. She put her head on his shoulder and continued to cry. "I miss my baby. I can't believe he's gone. He and Alex are both gone. They're out there in that place. They shouldn't be there, Mark. They shouldn't be there."

(Continued...)