CHAPTER FIVE
Months later, Kendall was over at Bianca's one afternoon. They were having a little wine and some lunch, while the kids were playing. There was a knock on the door and Bianca answered it. It was a delivery man. Bianca returned with a small brown box and Kendall, ever the curious one, had to inquire.
"What do ya got there, little sis? Christmas is still like 8 months away…you shouldn't have!" She playfully grabbed at the box. Bianca pulled back from reach and said "Uhh, nope…definitely not a Christmas gift and also, not for you." She giggled at her sister's exaggerated frown. "It is actually just a sort of 'thank you' gift for Marissa. You wanna see?"
Kendall nodded in agreement and Bianca opened the box carefully. She removed a smaller box, filled with paper and opened it to reveal an ornate music box. "Oh, that is so pretty! Where did you get it?" Kendall asked.
"Well, I had to search for it online through some antique stores." Bianca said. "During the time with her, and the whole Ricky thing…" Bianca paused and squeezed Kendall's hand. She could sense the tension in Kendall, knowing how her sister felt responsible for putting her in harm's way. They shared a look of silent reassurance that everything was okay now. Bianca continued. "Well, during that time, she told me about her dad and how he sang her this song. She sang it to me, in an attempt to calm me. I understood the importance of the song and I thought it could be sweet to find a music box that played the tune."
Bianca sat it gingerly back in the box and said "Isn't it just lovely? I invited her and AJ over too, I am giving it to her later. I hope she likes it."
"WOW, Binx!" Kendall exclaimed. "How could she not? That is the most thoughtful and sweetest damn thing I have ever seen." Then Kendall got a look on her face and glared thoughtfully at Bianca. "Umm, now should we have a talk about when you started falling in love with your best friend?"
Bianca choked on her drink of wine and covered her mouth as she gazed wide-eyed at her sister. "What in the world are you talking about Kendall?" Her voice was still a little scratchy. "Im not in love with Marissa!" Why on Earth would you say that?"
"Well, because that is not something you give a 'friend'. You send a friend a card, or bring them a coffee. Buy them a drink when you are out, or send them a pot of Begonias on their birthday. NOT search all over the WORLD to find an ornate, and no doubt expensive, hand crafted music box that plays one specific…ridiculously meaningful song!"
"It is just a gift to show how much I appreciate her friendship and all she has done for me over the past year." Bianca insisted.
Kendall nodded and slipped in, "Oh yes, of course, and to show her how much you love her and all." Her plan worked, because Bianca, who was clearly on edge, began nodding in agreement and then obviously processed what Kendall had said and exclaimed "Wait…Wha…NO! That is not what it means. I mean yeah, I love her. I love a lot of people it's just not like…I mean really…there is love and then there is LO-O-OVE and it isn't…" Bianca didn't finish as she noticed Kendall grinning and nodding her head in mock agreement. "Oh hell, I am not fooling you, am I?" Kendall's nods of agreement turned to shakes of disagreement. And she laughed.
"Oh Binx…you have got it bad! When did this happen? Have you told her? How does she feel?"
"No, I haven't said anything and I do not plan on doing anything." Bianca took a serious tone. "She is my best friend Kendall! I can't make a mistake like that again. And she has all this stuff with JR and no…no we are just friends and that is all. And this is silly because she is straight. Yep, straight and my best friend…so that's it."
Kendall smiled and hugged her sister. "Okay, Okay!" She offers. "But you can't help who you love!"
The doorbell rang and Bianca looked at Kendall with a sort of 'deer in headlights' look, took a deep breath and answered the door.