CHAPTER SIX

Marissa was greeted at the door by Bianca. "Hey! So glad you could come!" She said and bent down slightly toward AJ to give him a hug. "The girls and Spike and Ian are out back. Why don't you go on and join them?" AJ smiled and ran off to play. Bianca and Marissa watched him as he disappeared, and then turned their attention toward each other. They sort of stared for a half second and then Kendall broke the silence.

"Hey, Marissa! How are you? So good to see you" Kendall said while giving her a quick hug, not really allowing her to reply and then turned to Bianca. "Hey, I am sorry… I gotta run out for a bit. Greenlee is having a problem with the new line and wanted to run some things by me. I will be back for the boys in a little while. You girls have fun. Sorry to rush out Marissa…see ya later!" And in a flash, she was out the door, completely pretending to ignore the glaring looks of fear and abandonment that Bianca was shooting her way.

"Sorry about that." Bianca apologized with an awkward chuckle. "You know Kendall…" She stated with a shrug. "Come on in." She took Marissa's bag and set it to the side and said "Can I get you anything? Wine, coffee, tea?"

"Oh, I am fine." Marissa replied. She took a seat nearest Bianca and gestured for her to sit. "So what is going on? How are you doing? It has been a few days…anything new and exciting happen?" Bianca sat and awkwardly shifted, suddenly super aware of how obviously smitten she must have seemed for Kendall to have picked up clues. She was careful not to get too close to Marissa's space. "I am doing just great! Work is good! We got some new donors that we are super excited about. There is not much else going on. I've just been hanging out with Kendall and the kids most of the day!" Bianca tried to talk her nerves down inside her head. "How about you? How are things going for you at work?"

Bianca exhaled with relief as Marissa responded with riveting stories about all the local drama of some of Pine Valley's finest families. She felt herself calm at the sound of Marissa's voice. She watched her movements. Noticing little nervous habits, like how she rubbed a certain spot on her arm, or maybe how she blew her bangs out of her face, only to have them fall again. She could feel her body relaxing and just enjoyed the moment and reveled in the beauty of the woman before her. Before she realized it, Marissa was snapping at her…"Earth to Bianca."

"Huh?" Bianca startled.

"Am I talking too much?" Marissa asked. "Or maybe there is something on your mind? You seem a million miles away."

"Oh no, sorry…you are fine!' Bianca apologized. "I did have something on my mind. Well, I had just gotten you something and I wanted to give it to you…a gift. A thank you gift, for all that you have done for me."

Marissa blushed mildly, "Oh Bianca…you didn't have to get me anything. Oh wow…I don't know what to say." Marissa took the box and carefully removed the inner box. She glanced up with a sort of bewildered expression as she carefully unfolded each piece of packing paper. When she lifted out the music box she looked to Bianca. "This is just beautiful! Oh my goodness!" She touched Bianca's hand with an appreciative tap and completely missed the surge that ran through Bianca's face as she did so.

"No really, this is just exquisite, I love it!" Marissa continued as she opened the lid and then the music began to play. The room turned to absolute silence with nothing but the sound of the music filling the space. Marissa's jaw dropped. She looked as if she was trying to say something, but no words were forming.

Bianca broke the silence. "I found it for you. It is your song. The one you told me about. I thought this way you could hear it whenever you needed it. Do you like it?"

Marissa had tears forming in her eyes and her thoughts were flying wildly through her head. Why can't I speak? she thought. I can't even seem to process what I am feeling. I don't think, I have ever, in my life, received anything this thoughtful…this meaningful. I don't even know where to begin to tell her how amazing this is. God if this were JR, I might leap into his arms and kiss him…but it is not. Truth is…JR couldn't even come up with something this special if he tried. No…no, something this special had to come from a deeply caring, emotional compassionate being. Someone with a smile as big as the sun and eyes so bright you almost couldn't look at them directly. Someone who would do anything to help another, someone who put helping and contributing to make the world better at the top of their priority list….someone like Bianca.

Marissa continued to stare, marveling at Bianca and the new feelings of respect and admiration that were filling her up. She was overwhelmed with emotions and then the tears began to fall. She dried her eyes, as she set the box down and rose up to wrap her arms around Bianca. Bianca sort of froze in shock and fear and then came to the realization that Marissa was in her arms. She held her…but not too tightly and took in the smell of her hair and the feel of her body pressed up against her own. She closed her eyes and took it all in. Oh My God, I am…I am totally falling in love. She thought and then with a start she pushed Marissa away from her, gently, and said, "Are you okay? Are you crying? What is wrong?"

Marissa collected herself and looked Bianca in the eyes and said, "No…I mean, yes, I am crying…but no, I am okay. This is just such a beautiful gift and I am so touched and it just brings back so many memories and I just love it. Thank you so much!"

Just then, there was a slam as the door busted open and five very hyper sweaty children came storming through the door. Almost in unison, they declared " I am hungry!"