Chapter 2

"You must be Charlie's brother Don?" a trickle ran down Don's spine when he heard the smoky voice from behind.

As he turned it was his turn for his jaw to drop. The most enchanting nature of God stood in front of him, he thought.

"Cat got your tongue?" she teased him and stretched her hand, "hi, I am Ivy a colleague of Charlie."

"You already know me", Don said taking her hand and holding it a little too long.

He had the feeling he would drown in her ocean blue eyes. The shoulder-length, black hair was cut with a sharp fringe and gave her an impudent look; her skin had a slight complexion. She wore an easy cut black dress which suited her very well.

"May I invite you to join me for some punch?" he said as he regained his voice.

She gave him a bright smile, "of course."

He offered her his arm and she was pleased to accept it. The evening may still develop in another direction; any trace of his "midlife crisis" was blown away.

Charlie and Amita still flirted with each other on the dance floor. He could think of nothing better than asking her if she would disappear with him but since they were part of the organizing committee this was wishful thinking. The DJ dimmed the lights and turned on the glittering ball which sent its scintillating beams in all directions. "Little Wonders" of Rob Thomas came from the loudspeakers.

Amita nestled still closer to Charlie. Don and Ivy also danced closely, intertwined.

Amita discovered this and tapped Charlie's shoulder.

"Look at that, your brother in the talons of Poison Ivy," she smirked.

Without looking but with a matching broad grin he said, "What a coincidence!"

Amita cast a highly indignant look at him, "don't tell me it was ..."

He nodded, "guilty in all respects. I helped a little; you know I felt sorry for him when he stood there all alone. He looked lost."

"And what did you tell her?"

Charlie nudged Amita's nose with the forefinger, "well, that dear Don is a highly dangerous man. Wasn't Ivy's last boyfriend a stuntman?"

Amita almost burst out laughing, "You are a real brother."

Charlie wiggled his eyebrows, "I have some things to offer which you still know nothing about. But you could find out if you would move in with me."

He had hardly spoken the words when he instantly regretted it. He would have happily bitten his tongue off to take them back. He felt how Amita stiffened up considerably in his arms.

"Sorry, I am so sorry", he said with his most innocent Bambi look. But the damage had already been done.

"Must we really chew through it again?" she said irritated.

"No, of course not, I ... forget it Amita, okay?"

She did not give him any answer and soon afterwards escaped his embrace.

"Excuse me I need some fresh air."

When Amita turned her back on him, Charlie closed the eyes briefly and gave a quiet curse. No miracle she was over-reacting. They had had this discussion only two days before and she had made clear to him that she was not really ready for it yet. She loved him. That much was certain but she also wanted her liberties. Not for meeting other guys or anything like that. However, she could not give him the exact reason either.

Perhaps he still tried because of this to convince her how much this would mean to him and this in turn only made the situation worse. When the light came on again, he felt really silly being alone on the dance floor. Therefore he followed Amita. He had to force himself not to run. Out in the hallway some couples were practicing "full-body-contact". Amita was nowhere to be seen. A quiet gentle breeze and the noise of a closing door betrayed to him however where she had gone to.

He put his courage in both hands. Actually she stood on the big terrace, held on to the parapet tightly and looked up to the sky. They were alone; the music could be barely heard.

He cleared his throat, "if you would like to you can teach me a lesson in astrophysics. I promise not to prattle and question your thesis."

"You cannot always act as if nothing has happened Charlie," she answered without turning round.

"I know but I have apologized for it anyway and I will again."

He stepped closer to her grasping her upper arm noticing that she was trembling. He took off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. She finally looked at him.

"Thank you. Listen Charlie, I have a supply job as a guest lecturer overseas."

She added quickly when she saw his horrified look, "it is only for one or two months, nothing special."

He thoughtfully gnawed at his lower lip; he then nodded, "no matter what you decide to do I will stand behind you."

She took his hand, "thank you Charlie, I knew I could rely on you. This is a unique opportunity, and..."

"You really should do it," he confirmed her even if it would take a lot of overcoming for him.

"Where are you going to?"

"France, Lyon. I must make up my mind by the day after tomorrow."

He sighed, "I am missing you already."

Then he drew her into his arms and gave her a tender kiss.

"I'm missing you too," she whispered with a suffocated voice.

"But after my return, we can..."

He put his forefinger on her lips, "shhh, it's okay. I can wait."

As they looked up to the sky, a shooting star darted past.

"Let's make a wish," Charlie suggested. They closed their eyes briefly.

Charlie nodded at her invitingly.

"And?"

"What?"

"What were you wishing for?"

"I won't let you in on it Mr. Eppes."

He acted insulted, "I don't care anyway."

"Yes, whatever."

Just then Charlie's cell phone rang.

"Yes."

"Am I disturbing you?" it was Don.

"Could be," Charlie replied grinning.

"Come on, you're not in a dark small room, doing what I wouldn't do, are you?" Don insisted.

"Evil to him who thinks evil. In addition, you were the one that disappeared at the prom with the belle of the ball in the broom cupboard."

Amita's eyes widened and she shook the head doubtingly.

"Okay, where am I right now? What do you think?" Don smirked.

Before Charlie could reply, Don and Ivy joined them.

"Look at his face," Don roared with laughter, putting his cell phone away, "He truly believed me!"

Charlie felt caught and went on the offensive, "No, I did not. I know your kinky sense of humor."

Don consulted Amita, "What do you think, did he believe me or not?"

"Honestly?" she shrugged and glanced at her friend regretfully, "I think he did."

"This is obviously some conspiracy. Too bad Larry can't be here," Charlie grinned from ear to ear.

Don scratched his forehead, "ah well, he and Megan have already left. He wasn't feeling too well."

They cast knowing looks at each other.

"And how do you like my brother?" Charlie burst out suddenly turning to Ivy.

"Up till now he has been a perfect gentleman", she said cuddling up to Don closely and breathing a kiss on his cheek.

"Don?"

"Yes Charlie?"

"You can grin really stupidly."

"I know," then Don turned his head giving Ivy a promising kiss. As a foursome they went back into the ballroom a little later.

At approximately the same time, a man was making his way along a forest road in Encino, a district in the San Fernando Valley. He stopped his car, went to the back and opened his trunk, he lifted something out which was wrapped up in a tarp and carried it a little further into the woods. He carefully placed the load on the ground.

"No fear little Angel, they will find you here soon", he whispered, lifting a corner of the tarp.

Captivated he stared into the face of a young girl of perhaps sixteen years.

"Forgive me, I must leave you alone now but there is still much to do."

Cautiously he stroked her bloodless cheeks bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

"You should have been my masterpiece but then I have seen you with him … I know that you are no longer innocent."

Quickly, he covered her face and got up to leave, unrestrained rage spread within him. How would he ever find peace? tbc