I do not own Monk or Natalie.
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MR MONK MEETS THE REDEEMER
CH 23

11 Am.

The sun was shining bright, and through the wood curtain gaps, beams of light were touching Natalie eyelids, forcing her to wake up.

She had gotten some hours of a well-deserved deep sleep, without dreams. She stood up quickly and opened the curtains, noticing the calm blue sea and its waves rolling on the beach. Natalie saw the time and decided to take the free time she still had before the meeting with Bianca, to put her feet in the sand. She changed clothes, put on the loose tank top and shorts that she got from the laundry, put on a pair of flip-flops and quickly went down to the kitchen.

Two maids were preparing lunch there. Natalie greeted both of them as she took a glass of orange juice and went to the balcony. She left the glass on a small table at the top of the stairway that led to the beach, and went down, to enter the garden that ended at the beach. She went on quickly, to avoid meeting Monk or Carlos on the way; she wanted to enjoy this half hour of recreation all by herself.

Her leg was painful, but not enough to deprive her of a few minutes of enjoying the sea water on her feet. She followed the trail of shells in the blossoming garden, very beautiful at that time of the year, until she reached the beach. To her left was a portion of tropical forest, from where she could hear the noisy birds playing around. Natalie stopped at the end of the trail, and turned to look at the house.

It was a three-storey mansion, with a discreet lookout at the top. The house was surrounded by a spacious balcony on the second floor, with glass doors giving access to the rooms. Privacy was ensured by the tinted window glass and wood curtains. All rooms shared an astonishing sight: some shared the sea view, others the forest, and the back ones, the neighbor houses with their magnificent gardens. Natalie noted that there was a pool in the backyard, but decided that she would explore that luxury later, if there were really enough time. The mansion was naturally bounded by forest on the left and by rocks that were extended until the sea on the right. Certainly that little piece of paradise had not been purchased with dirty money, Natalie thought, instinctively giving a vote of confidence to Bianca.

She turned, put a grey cap she got at the laundry on her head and walked to the opposite of the stones. The beach was nearly deserted. Certainly the rich neighbors had found something more enjoyable to do that sunny Sunday, because Natalie saw only some kids kite-surfing while their friends sat at the private kiosks by the sea, taking drinks served by private waiters. Natalie walked a bit more and saw a woman sitting on a single stone, placed in the middle of the way, right after the small forest. The woman was alone, looking at the sea. She fixed that rock as her limit: once she reached the rock, she would go back to Monk.

But when she arrived beside the woman, she realized it was Bianca. Natalie was close enough to turn her back to her and ignore her presence. "Hello, Natalie. How's everything?"

"Oh, hi, Bianca," she said a little too loudly. "I'm fine, thanks. And you, are you feeling better?" asked Natalie, coming closer to the rock where Bianca was seated.

"I'm having a terrible headache. I am not sure whether it is a huge hangover or the weight of a heavy conscience."

Natalie remained quiet.

"I imagine you're upset with me ... well ... I am sorry, Natalie. I didn't mean to cross any line...but Gilbert made me so upset ... and Mr. Monk looks just like him... or better put, looks like what I wanted Gilbert to be."

Natalie was silent.

"I am too embarrassed to speak to Mr. Monk today ... I am ashamed to talk even to you, Natalie." Bianca raised her eyes to Natalie's, "If I were you, I would also be silent when I suddenly met the woman who was hitting on her companion the night before ... "

"No, it wasn't like that, Bianca. You were not... aware...of what you're doing."

"I'm sorry, Natalie. Can you stay here a bit longer?" asked Bianca, looking at her watch.

"I was going to return to the house, Bianca. Mr. Monk is there alone; I have not mentioned to him that I was going out for a walk." Natalie spoke while looking back toward the house.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"I. ..." Natalie turned to Bianca. After a few seconds, she said with a fearful tone, "Yes, you can."
"Why do you call him "Mr. Monk?" I'm not implying anything, Natalie, but he is not only your boss, right?"

"How can't you say you're not implying anything and pop a question like that?" Natalie said, crossing her arms in an attitude of self-defense.

"Do not misunderstand me, Natalie. From what I can see, he is your friend first, your boss second, right?"

"Oh, yes. He's ..." Natalie hesitated a little before finishing the sentence "my best friend."

Bianca smiled.

"But still my boss. You know, he's the one who pays my salary."

Bianca continued smiling.

"And that's it, Bianca. Friend and boss. Nothing more."

"No room for ..." asked Bianca

"What is this young girl suggesting?" Natalie thought. "She has a gorgeous bridegroom, and is still hitting on Mr. Monk? How dare she?"

"No! Not at all! No room for anything else." Natalie said in a harsh way." He's still in love with his late wife, and there's no room for romance in his life, not even a foreign one, Bianca," shot Natalie. "Now, if you excuse me, I am going back and..."

"No, wait. Wait." Bianca said, holding Natalie by her hand. "I'm sorry again. I was not referring to myself, Natalie. I was meaning you."

Both were silent for a few seconds.

"This is not what I wanted to talk to you about, Natalie. I wanted to break the ice, but I blew it. Sorry."

"Okay. I know, both of us are tired, stressed, I understand. I'm sorry too, Bianca." "Look, Natalie. I really need to talk with someone. Can you be my company for a few more minutes? There's no need for you to say anything, just listen a little. Please?" asked Bianca.

Natalie looked at Bianca, pondering her request.

TKS, M1!