Chapter XII
Five months later
Wildwind, Pine Valley, PA
Wildwind was awash in a sea of flowers. Lilies, tulips, roses, gardenias, freesias, orchids, and countless red and white roses created a sea of color, as far as the eye could see, around the grounds of the gothic estate.
"It looks magnificent," Dimitri told his younger brother.
Edmund wore a classic black tuxedo and looked as happy as Dimitri had ever seen him. "Today is going to be a magnificent day, even the weather gods are playing along."
Edmund had decided to have the wedding ceremony outside, on the grounds of Wildwind rather than inside the cold, stone chapel.
"How are your nerves?" Dimitri asked him.
Edmund held out his hands steadily, "No nerves Dimi. None at all." He smiled, "This seems like the most natural thing in the world. I love Brooke, she's my best friend in the world, and now we're going to spend the rest of our lives together."
"Well, then what's keeping us? Let's get this show on the road and turn you into a married man." Dimitri put his arms around Edmund's shoulder and they headed towards the white tent where the ceremony was being held.
It was a short, yet moving ceremony. Brooke wore a simple beige dress and was obviously radiant with love for her groom. They wrote their own vows, and as they were spoken aloud, Dimitri noticed a few teary eyed faces in the crowd. 'I guess if a Pulitzer prize winner can't write words to move you, who can?' he thought, smiling to himself.
By contrast, the reception that followed was loud and exuberant. Edmund even made Dimitri lead a round of Hungarian folk dances, much to his embarrassment. "You're my best man. You owe me one today," Edmund had told him, laughing.
As much as he enjoyed the festivities, as the day went on Dimitri distanced himself from the crowded tents, and walked alone to a more secluded and forested area of the grounds.
He sat down on a fallen tree trunk and lit a cigar. He heard the din of noise from the reception in the distance and he fingered his wedding band.
"I wish you were here to see this wedding," he spoke aloud. "It's so beautiful. Mind you ours was beautiful too. Not because it was grand and lavish, lord knows it wasn't that, but because I felt like the luckiest man in the world. To cheat death and find you, all in the span of a few months. To discover that you loved me as much as I loved you…"
Dimitri heard a rustling amid the tree branches.
"Darling, what are you doing here all alone?" It was Erica, walking awkwardly over the tree roots in her impossibly high heels. She wore a turquoise two-piece outfit with slivers of silver along the collar. As always, she looked stunning.
"I couldn't keep up with Bela's Hungarian dances anymore, I thought I'd sneak away for a little break," he told her, grinning. Dimitri took off his jacket and placed it on the tree trunk for Erica.
"I see," Erica answered, her eyes telling him she didn't believe his answer entirely. "Tell me, what do you think of Bianca and her…date?"
Dimitri smiled. Today was the first time Bianca had attended a public function with her girlfriend, and as much as Erica denied it, Dimitri knew that Erica would never be entirely comfortable with her daughter's sexuality.
"I think Samantha's a lovely girl. As long as Bianca is happy with her that's all that matters to me."
"She doesn't like to be called that you know. She goes by 'Sam.'"
"Lots of women do, sweetheart." He held her close to him, knowing his strength always gave her comfort, when something bothered her.
"I hear her mother is a truck driver…do you think one's upbringing could have anything to do with…?"
Dimitri laughed, "If that were the case Bianca would be the straightest young woman in Pine Valley."
"Dimitri!" She ribbed him for mocking her. "Come, let's go back to the tent."
Erica had a way of taking him away from his melancholy and bringing him back into the present, and he loved her for it.
For a moment, he thought of Edmund and Brooke, and himself and Erica.
'Maybe one day…' he thought.
They walked back to the grounds just in time to see Edmund and Brooke head for the waiting limousine. Brooke held a bouquet of flowers in her hand, "This one is for the ladies only!" A crowd of women gathered around her as she prepared to toss the bouquet.
She turned around and threw it directly into Erica's outstretched arms.
Erica smiled a radiant smile and turned to Dimitri.
Brynn Wydd, Wales
Alex was kneeling on the floor of the living room trying, in vain, to button up Max's shirt. "Oh, would you stop fidgeting, you're driving me crazy." It seemed for every button she did up, he opened another one.
"Take your hands off your shirt, now!" He looked at her with his big, brown eyes, as if contemplating whether she was truly angry or not.
She knew precisely what he was doing and gave him her most serious look. "I mean it. Put your little fingers somewhere else, anywhere but near your shirt, because if you don't let me button this up soon, I may strangle you with it."
"Ok," was all he said before removing his hands from his shirt and starting to play with her own blouse. As she did up his buttons, he began undoing hers.
Alex tried hard to stay angry with him but the sheer cleverness of his actions made her grin, "Oh, you devil. You are just like your father. You are going to be such a ladies man."
Heidi walked into the living room, just as Alex finished dressing her son. Alex kissed Max's forehead. "There you go, my little Count, go bother Heidi, on the way into town."
Alex asked Heidi once more, "Are you sure, you don't mind taking him with you?"
Heidi was going in to the village to have lunch with Phillip, a local butcher, who seemed to be well on his way to falling in love with her Swiss nanny. Heidi had introduced Phillip to Alex, a few weeks after she had returned from New York, asking her if it was all right that he join them for dinner one evening.
Philip had been so nervous during the dinner he had dropped a whole ladle of soup in his lap. But in his nervousness and eagerness to impress her for Heidi's sake, he'd endeared himself to her more than if he had been a brilliant conversationalist, well versed in the intricacies of stem cell research. He genuinely adored Heidi and saw her for the size of her heart, not her body.
"Hmm…if you keep this up, you'll need a nanny soon."
Heidi blushed.
Alex was grateful that Heidi had decided to stay on with her, after she came back from New York and explained what had happened the night she nearly killed herself. It had been a long, tearful conversation, during an equally long walk around the countryside. One which had left them with a new, unbreakable bond.
"Of course I don't mind taking him along." Alex had wanted to give Heidi the day off but then she received an early morning phone call from Charlotte instructing her to go to Swansea with Justin to pick up a newly recruited agent.
"Why do I need to go along?" Alex had asked her mother, once she was in her office, not bothering to hide her annoyance.
"Usually Dr.Lewellyn is the one who performs a complete physical examination of any new agent, however he's too ill with pneumonia at the moment. So, instead, of postponing the pickup it occurred to me I might as well make use of my other physician on hand."
"I'm a medical researcher not a general practitioner," Alex replied hoping to dissuade her mother. "I can't remember the last time I gave someone a physical. Or saw a naked man for that matter…I'll likely get it all wrong."
"Very funny." Charlotte's lips had thinned, but Alex could have sworn she saw a hint of amusement in her mother's eyes. "You spent countless days studying pediatric medicine, so you could look after Max, I imagine you'll be able to handle a general check up. Lewellyn has given Justin a folder of instructions for you. I expect you to follow it to a tee."
Charlotte left in a hurry, nearly in mid-sentence, not giving Alex a chance to argue. And so, she had to ask Heidi yet another favor.
Now, back at the cottage, Alex heard the honking of a car horn.
It was Justin's way of letting her know he was here to pick her up. She gave Max another kiss, and he returned it with a wet one of his own. "Pretend you're a sweet little boy for a change, when you go for lunch with Heidi and Philip." She winked at him, and he tried to do the same, his co-ordination not allowing him. Instead, he ended up with both eyes half closed, making Alex laugh.
When she went outside, she saw Justin Black sitting inside a brand new silver Porsche 911 Turbo.
Alex was duly impressed. "Well, well…did my mother buy you a new toy?"
"Just get in the car," he ordered, irritated by her presence already.
Alex stood next to the vehicle, admiring it, "You know this is a car meant for racing, not for traipsing around the Welsh countryside, don't you?"
"What I do with it is none of your business. Don't make this day more difficult than it has to be, just get in."
Alex walked around to the driver's side, "I'll get in, as long as I get to sit behind the wheel."
Justin laughed, "You're crazier than I thought, if you think I'm letting you drive this car."
"If you don't let me drive, I won't go."
Justin got out of the car and stood next to Alex, glaring at her.
Heidi watched their exchange from the kitchen window, with an expression of concern that told Alex she didn't approve. Alex knew exactly what Heidi was trying to tell her. That Justin was a loose cannon and that the pleasure of irritating him wasn't worth the consequences of what he might do to retaliate.
"What are you going to do?" Alex asked him, unafraid, "Coerce me into the car? Break my fingers again? I won't be able to do an exam with broken fingers. I don't think Charlotte would appreciate that. Just imagine that, falling out of her favor…what would you do then?"
He mumbled some sort of obscenity that Alex didn't quite catch and threw the car keys at her.
She picked them up from the ground, "I knew you'd see it my way."
She stepped behind the wheel, as Heidi watched on, shaking her head.
Justin got into the passenger seat, scowling.
"I suggest you fasten your seat belt, Mr. Black," Alex told him.
"I suggest you stop telling me what to do, before you regret it."
She smiled at him, "Fine. Have it your way. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Before he could shoot back a reply, Alex stepped hard on the gas pedal and felt her seat vibrate as the car flew out of the gravel driveway.
Heidi gasped as she saw the cloud of dust they left behind. Then she closed her eyes, unable to watch what was about to take place.
Justin watched the landscape fly past them as they approached a speed of 85 miles an hour. Alex moved from first to fifth gear in what seemed like a matter of seconds.
He held on to the dashboard in front of him, hyper-extending his arms in the process.
"What the hell…are you doing!?" he yelled. It was difficult for him to speak, against the force of the speed. "Slow down, you're going to kill us both!"
As soon as he said the words, Alex stepped on the brakes, bringing the car to a ferocious halt. A cloud of dust swirled around the car and Justin had to use every ounce of his strength to keep from going through the windshield. Searing pain shot up his arms in the effort.
Alex smiled in amusement as she watched Justin cough and gasp from the dust that came in through his open window.
"Are you ready to fasten your seatbelt now?"
Alex saw that he was about to open the door and get out, but he was too slow. Before he could open it, she had already accelerated again.
There was a look of pure terror in his eyes as the Porsche approached the 100 mile an hour mark on the narrow country road. It shook and trembled, while the engine roared.
This time a frantic Justin managed to clasp the buckle of his seat belt. Alex slowed down ever so slightly, her hands skillfully maneuvering the gear box, again going from 5th to 2nd gear in a matter of seconds, and then turning and locking the steering wheel, before he had a chance to comprehend what she was about to do.
The car spun around, once and then twice and then a third time, in a perfect circle. Justin could not see outside the window anymore and his stomach heaved. The entire landscape spun around him in a blur of colors.
He gasped, trying to catch his breath, once the car stopped spinning. And as soon as it did, Alex pressed the down the gas again, going even faster this time.
"Maybe you should close the window," she suggested.
"Stop!" he pleaded, "This is insane!"
Alex calmly glanced over to Justin, waiting until the car went so fast, that she could see the fear in his eyes again. "Let's try this once more," she told him over the roar of the engine.
As she did the first time, she again locked the steering wheel and this time the Porsche spun uncontrollably fast, enough so that for a moment its two right side wheels left the ground and hovered in the air.
Justin clenched his hands against the dashboard, not entirely convinced they'd get out of this car alive.
Then he screamed.
All while the car kept spinning, until it finally settled itself, in a perfectly even position on the road.
Alex watched in amusement as Justin leapt out of the car. His trembling knees couldn't support him and he fell down onto them, kneeling on the grass by the side of the road. Then he starting throwing up, heaving uncontrollably until he completely emptied his stomach.
Alex leaned against the Porsche, stifling a yawn as she waited for Justin Black to regain his composure.
When he finally stood back up, he gave her the iciest glare she had ever seen.
In return, she offered him an equally sadistic smile, "Now, aren't you glad you wore that seatbelt?"
Justin was livid, and for a instant Alex wondered whether he might try and kill her on the spot.
"You're going to regret this day," was what he said instead, "I'll make sure of it, if it's the last thing I do."
Alex shrugged her shoulders, "We'll see." Then she threw the car keys at him, "I'm done. You can drive now."