CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE (IT ALL COMES TOGETHER...)
Weena had not answered the phone but Brass remembered the address she had given him yesterday...had it only been..that? So much had happened in twenty-four short hours.
It hadn't taken him long to drive across town. He knew the back streets and short cuts, ways to avoid the tourist traffic at any given time of day or night. Vegas was always active. It was one of the things Jim liked about the city.
He stood, now, outside the front door of Weena's residence, having rang the door bell. He glanced about, a thought hitting him. The woman must be pretty well-off..or, her parents were, from what he could see.
The house was in the upper class neighborhood of Covington Cove Editions. An established district of long standing, frequented by doctors, lawyers, politicians and the elite of Vegas society.
Brass preferred the 'up in your face' type of dishonesty the lower class exhibited. At least, one knew somewhat where they stood with hookers, thieves and murderers. There were never any real surprises with those types of people.
The house was a three-tiered monstrosity of modern design. Sleek, austere and a little too cold to Jim's way of thinking.
It did not seem to suit Weena's personality at all.
The grounds, with their gated entrance, was immaculately kept from what the man could see on the tree lined drive up.
A circular section of ten steps lead to the covered entrance under which he stood. The huge double doors boasted massive 'knockers' that reminded Brass of the ones in 'Young Frankenstein.'
The thought almost made him smile but, he was in no mood to smile just yet.
Light from a chandelier filtered out of a transom atop the doors.
Brass half expected a butler or servant to answer his ring, but was relieved to see it was Weena, herself, who opened the door.
"...Hey." He had waited a few seconds, trying to gauge her mood, but she had merely looked at him, her eyes blinking their surprise. "..How you doing?"
Brass cringed inwardly for such a lame opening and indeed, the question appeared to waylay Weena for a moment. "..Please." She stepped back, sweeping her hand gracefully. "It is cold outside tonight."
Brass didn't think it was cold. It felt pretty decent to the man but he was grateful for an entrance line. "Well, Autumn is upon us. Even Vegas cools down a bit at this time."
It felt odd, making small talk. He gave the foyer a compulsory glance, which only cemented his first impression of the house and it's occupants.
Expensive taste and style screamed at him from every direction. From meticulous flower arrangement scattered here and there down the connecting halls which Brass surmised from the pleasant scent filling the air..were not fake ones.
The dark, luxurious mahogany of a formal dining room set seemed small in comparison to the size of the room which housed it, off to his left.
"Nice digs." Was he purposely being spiteful? Was he a reverse snob? He had to admit, he felt a little inadequate in such surroundings for the first time ever. Entering such haunts as a cop was one thing... "Makes my place look..eh..."
"Your home is comfortable and welcoming." Weena too, examined the opulence of her home. "My father has excellent taste but..at times.." She sought the phrase she wished. "Over the top?"
Brass smiled, feeling better. Then...he did not. "..Is he..here?" He had tried to sound nonchalant.
"He rarely stays in any one place very long." Weena stated and the man's palms stopping sweating. "I believe he and Mother are in London, at present. I am alone here in this..rambling monstrosity."
"..That's too bad." The man carried on his charade. "I would have liked to meet them..your parents."
Weena smiled and he knew..that she knew..he was lying.
"I..eh...phoned." He was glad to move on.
A small frown puckered the pretty brow. "Did you?" She crossed to the long marble table with it's Art Deco statue, searching in her purse as she responded. "I was in the upper part of the house. I did not hear the cell."
Brass studied the object on the table with a critical eye. He could never make heads or tails of such 'art'..he couldn't tell you why, but this one? He kinda liked.
"It represents a unity of Peace and Harmony." Weena had noted his interest. "Father says..it speaks to him."
Jim shrugged, unknotting his fists inside his slack's pockets. "Yeah, me too." He quipped. "It's saying..you don't know crap about 'art', Cop Guy."
Weena chuckled. The man was never so glad to hear a sound in his entire life. The sound broke the tension inside him. "Well..whatever. I do apologize for not hearing the phone. I was meditating." She lay her cell aside on the table. "The child is restless tonight. It helps somewhat to..calm him."
"Him?" Brass jumped on the pronoun, hoping she had heard something concerning the sex of the kid.
"Well, all wish for a warrior, of course." Weena demurred "All males want a legacy. I know my Father was disappointed when I appeared but he has sired two sons, so.."
"You have brothers?" Jim was astonished by the news.
"Had." She corrected sadly. "They were killed in the wars."
"What war, honey?" Brass had long meant to ask more questions on her life. "I know you have eluded to..that part of your life before." He left the subject up for further discussion. "I'm sorry. I didn't know...about your brothers."
"It was sometime ago." She side stepped the issue as she always did. "..would you care for a drink? Are you on duty?"
"No." He shook his head to both questions, although a stiff belt sounded alright along about now, truth told. Anything to fortify the nerves. "No, I'm good..listen." He dreaded broaching the subject on one hand and on the other..he wanted it done and settled, hopefully. "..About..this afternoon."
Weena shifted her eyes and the man sensed the awkwardness returning two-fold.
"I don't know what the hell was going on with me." He did, but that was another story. Jim Brass knew how to prioritize. "I was a jerk. I wanted to come and apologize to you. I would have come sooner.." He lowered his eyes for a beat. "But, it took some time to get my head out of my ass."
"You have..deep feelings for her. It must be very difficult. The position in which you now find yourself."
"No." The man disagreed. "It was difficult. Not anymore though." He held her eyes willfully.
"And..yes, I had feelings for Haley. And those feelings were.." That did not need to be said. "It bothered me. The way I handled the situation. The way it ended."
"I am sorry to hear that." She seemed sincere. "The truth of the matter is, I have been out of the picture for many months now. One could not expect you to..put your life on hold." She put her hands on her back, pushing to alleviate the pressure the added weight caused to her spine. She grimaced slightly, shifting from one foot to the other. "..Would it be alright to..speak where I may..sit?"
She indicated the way. "I do not enjoy this..side of the pregnancy. It seems I am always tired of late." It was lamented as she showed him the way down the long corridor. "I am not accustomed to such..restrictions."
"I hear it gets worse before it gets better." He tried to make light of the subject, pulling at his ear lope as he sat into a very cushy recliner. She had already sat on the edge of it's replica. Easing back carefully into the giving structure. "Not that I was around that much during Nan..eh..my ex's last months with Ellie."
"At least it is very near over."
"Two months isn't exactly 'over'." He reminded. "I imagine it's going to seem like two years to you."
Weena fell silent for a long beat. "At any rate. I just wanted you to know. I do realize the predicament which I have forced upon you."
"You didn't force anything." Brass objected to the terminology. "If anything..it was the other way around, little girl...or..did you forget our time together.. 'before'?"
"I remember I was quite the willing ..victim." She shrugged slightly. "And while I did not recall most of our time together..it came back readily enough after I had healed completely."
"..What?" Brass was lost on that one.
Weena debated telling the man the truth. "When you..pushed me, I hit my head they tell me. Some of the details of our..encounter were..unclear for a few months after we parted."
"Holy shit, baby..I didn't know I had pushed you that hard!" Brass was up and over, kneeling beside her chair, his hand supporting his weight, grasping the arm. "I had no fucking idea! God, I'm so sorry! You..seemed ok after..I mean..."
That time was still somewhat fuzzy to the man as well.
"The condition is brought on by time, they say. Something about..a clot that has since dissolved. It is of no consequence surely." Weena grew restless. She hated lying to this man. But, she saw no other way to go at this stage. Others were involved, after all. "I remember it all now."
"I'm sorry, baby." Was all he could repeat, his hand going into her hair, cupping the small face in open affection. "I would never hurt you on purpose..you know that, right?"
"Of course I know that." She waved the issue aside almost irritably. "You saved my life..or so they tell me." She cut amused eyes to the man. "You are a hero, then?"
"I'm a stupid asshole, apparently." He sighed heavily, his hand falling away from her cheek.
"The guy was shooting and..." The headache came on suddenly, without warning..as it often did when the man was attempting to recall that day.
Jim covered his eyes with his palm for the light of the room hurt terribly now.
Weena leaned, her hands gentle on his face as she looked deep into his eyes. "Do not attempt to remember, Jim Brass." The brown eyes looked into his blue orbs intently. "All is well. I am here." Her soft voice washed over him and the headache began to recede as quickly as it had came. "It is over. We should..move forward."
Jim closed his eyes. Her fingers kneaded his temples soothingly. He gave himself up to her handling. "..that feels...nice."
"Do not attempt to remember."
He nodded absently, sitting very still under her administrations. He felt the kinks and strains of the day leave his body. Her fingers working miracles, easing the tension and stress he was feeling.
All too soon, the woman..leaned from him. He felt cold with her withdrawal. He..opened his eyes.
"You were saying?"
He blinked, then ran his hand around his neck a few times. The headache had completely abated. "Damn..you could be a professional masseuse!" He went down on his knees, stretching his back this way and that. "I don't know what you did, but..." He grinned over at the woman.
"I feel..great!"
"I am..pleased." She inclined her head regally.
He noted the fact, his curiosity piqued. "Are you like..royalty or something?" He glanced around the fancy stuff in the room. "Your..speech is very...articulate and..I don't know." He stared at her contemplatively. "There are times when..you just seem different that other woman." He smiled at her. "And this place reeks of old money. Is this the proverbial 'frog and the princess' story played out in real life?"
"I assure you." She laughed at such absurdity. "I am no princess. My father is simply..very good at making money. It has nothing to do with me." Her eyes swept him intimately. "Nor do I see you in such a demeaning role. More...the kindly Lord of the Manor, perhaps." She teased. "Or..Knight Errant."
"Oh, so you are into role-playing, humm." He teased right back, so glad to be back on such a level with the woman. "We'll have to visit Lady Heather on 'Couple's Night'..learn from the best how to do it right."
"Lady Heather?" Weena's curiosity was aroused. "Is..she one of your..females as well?"
"I wish." He chuckled then at her expression. "No, honey...she is NO man's woman. She..eh.." How to put it. "Her talents lie in..other areas of..expertise."
"A Dominatrix." A 'light bulb' came on in the woman's head. "How...fascinating! I have never met one."
"That's probably a good thing." He conceded. "You put two and two together a little fast on that one, didn't ya. What would you know about..such things?"
"I am not a child." She was annoyed at the thought. "How do you?"
"Met her in an official capacity..that's my story and I'm sticking to it." He managed, straight-faced.
She cut him an old-fashioned 'look'. "You are promiscuous."
He laughed throatily. "I am not. You're the one hanging on Major Tom's very word, as I see it."
"Major Tom." Weena shook her long tresses, her expression a woeful one. "Indeed."
"Yeah, 'indeed' and that's gonna stop as soon as..." He ..stopped. That was putting the cart before the horse in a big way. The present situation was brought to mind suddenly. Brass..arose, returning to his own chair.
The silence was uncomfortable again.
"..I. .understand your attraction for this..female." She sighed heavily. Weena played with the tassels on a decorative pillow as she spoke. "I..am no longer..very attractive." She touched her stomach self consciously. "My form no longer pleasing to look upon. It is little wonder you prefer her to me." The creamy brown orbs lifted up and under, the large eyes seeking him out hastily.
Brass held his grin. "Yeah, you're a wreak, ok. Don't know what I see in you."
The woman's mouth fell open and she gasped her shock for such.. 'honesty' on the man's part.
"You nut bar." He chuckled. "What the hell is this all about? You can't believe any of that shit. You're a knock out! And you know it."
"I do not." She ..pouted. "I am obese and..my hair is unruly and ..and..." She felt the evidence of her words, close to tears for some reason. "And I have dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep!"
"Well..Goth is 'in'." He refused to baby her too awfully much just yet. "Obese, huh. What have you gained.? Ten pounds? That sucks! You're right! Don't know how you stand it. Carrying all that shit around all day."
"Well, my back hurts!" She flared. "I have gained 7.3 kilograms! It is nothing of which to jest!"
Brass let her off the hook. "Damned hormones are shitty, aren't they." He commiserated, his expression softening as did his eyes. "Baby..you look phenomenal! You have never looked more beautiful..especially..to me."
She..calmed. "..You find me..beautiful?"
"I've always found you beautiful." He told the absolute truth.
"But.." her pout returned two fold. "You found these other females beautiful as well."
"But." He pointed out and in no uncertain terms. "You..are MY..female. And that makes it..special. That I find you..beautiful."
"I..am?" Her face was suddenly radiant. Then..it fell. "You..you find me..annoying."
"Everyone finds you annoying." He grinned at her. "It's part of your charm."
She frowned harder. "That is not logical."
"Hey, you're a chick." Brass shrugged helplessly. "You can't help it."
"But..it is not my fault."
"That's what I said." He managed an innocent face. "So..when can I fuck you again? Too soon to cross that bridge?"
She flushed slightly. "..I ..am in my time! Do not be disrespectful!" Weena was suddenly very ill-at-ease, shifting restlessly about in the chair. She cleared her throat self-consciously, removing some stray tendrils from about her face.
"Excuse me?" She had lost Jim on that one. "Your..time?"
Her blush deepened and she suddenly could not meet his eyes. "That is what I said! Do not be crude!"
Jim laughed moderately. "Was I? I've said worse to you."
"No..." She managed rather tightly, he thought And she glanced around as if others might hear, leaning a little closer. "It is not allowed at this time, as you well know."
"What is not allowed?" He shook his head, totally lost.
She sighed, exasperated. "What you..said! That is not allowed until...after." She cut him a scolding look.
"Are you saying..no sex for two months??" He was floored. "Why??"
"Two months?" It was her turn to be lost.
"What are we talking about here?"
"No..relations until after..the child." She answered impatiently. "It is not..proper. It is not even..decent!" She blushed again.
"That's what I said...we have to wait until after the kid is born? Which is two months and why? Are you..is something wrong, Weena?" His blood chilled. "With the baby?"
"The child is already in transit. I told you...I was meditating upon your arrival."
"Got that part." He..stood. "What the hell is... 'in transit'...what does that mean?"
"Well.." She frowned up at him. "He is being difficult, but...perhaps it is best. Mother will not be back until Friday. But, he is definitely..ready to begin his journey into this world."
"NOW??" Brass was stunned. "It's too early! Are you in labor, Weena??" The man's system went on 'RED ALERT'.
"Labor..an apt word." She mused. "I am. But, I believe the child is not yet in full transitory stage. I should have time. That is why my back is hurting, I think."
"Holy shit!" Brass ran his hand over his mouth. "I have to get you to a hospital. The car! The car has sirens, Weena. Can you walk? Do you want me to carry you?"
"Excuse me?" She moved back from him when he knelt beside her chair. "Hospital? No! I do not need...to go to such a place. Why would I?"
"Because you .." Brass...held up his hands. "Ok, let's start over. Are you having the kid?"
"In a sense." She consented. "He is in early transit only. If I meditate, I will facilitate the event but..I do not think I should at this stage."
Jim..stood up, looking down at the woman. "You're only seven months. It can't be good that..the baby might be..in transit..right?"
"It is perfectly normal." She disagreed. "It is past time. That is why I was anxious to ..come to you. That you might see the birth of your child if that was what you wished."
"Seven months is not..normal, Weena." Jim was getting pissed...and scared.
"It is normal for ..me."
"Oh, yeah? How many kids have you had?" He tried to keep the sarcasm from his tone, but..
"I have given birth to no children. This will be the first but..it is normal for..my family to" she wanted to say...for her race. But, that..she could not do. "Seven months is usually when our children begin the transitional stage."
"You're going to the fucking hospital. Get dressed." He made a command decision. "I don't know what's going on but.."
"I will comply if it will put your mind at ease but, I assure you...there is no need for such measures." She arose with difficulty. "Not at this time."
"Yeah, well..let's put my mind at ease." He held his hand out, indicating, she should precede him to where ever they needed to go to get ready for such an event.
"Very well, Jim Brass." She sighed lightly. "As you wish."
.