Chapter Four: Vanilla Orchids Dipped In Gold

"You don't look like you've aged a single day Mrs. C." Her voice had become raspier over the years, but Julie recognized it immediately. She plastered a fake smile on, turning her eyes caught sight of an all grown up Alexandria Charlotte Kelly.

She could still see the little five year old tomboy, with scraped knees and scratched elbows, and a toothy grin in those ocean eyes, but before her stood a woman. She was slightly taller than herself now blonde waves brushed along her shoulders, her olive skin smooth and devoid of the freckles that splattered the bridge of her nose in her adolescence.

"My god, look at you! You look gorgeous!" Enveloping the younger woman in a hug, Julie continued to gush. "You must be beating the guys off with a baseball bat."

"More like a bulldozer, you look amazing too do you even age? I wasn't lying you don't look any different." Grinning she was happy to finally see a familiar face, for the past hour she had been hounded by the wasps of Newport, and she was slowly running out of bull shit to spew at them.

"Oh Rob used to joke about the Kelly charm but I didn't believe him." She kept the charade going, playfully slapping her shoulder. "Have you seen Marissa? Her and Ryan are somewhere around here I saw them walk in."

"No I haven't run into her yet." She decided to keep the small encounter to herself for now. Oceanic eyes moved over her shoulder, and she nodded. "Mr. Nichols."

Caleb Nichols was graying, his age beginning to show on his face with laugh lines and wrinkles. He was still a towering man, standing a foot above his wife, his shoulders broad and still fit for his age. As Julie looked between them it was she could see the resemblance.

"Please call me Caleb." His eyes darted around, his hand playing with whatever was in his jacket pocket. Julie had never seen big bad Caleb Nichols, dare she even think it, nervous. "Have you seen any of Kirsten's garden? It's beautiful, I just showed Jaeme, would you like to see?" He had given her an out, and both women knew it. Julie watched as the blonde weighed her options, before shrugging to herself.

"I'd like that. Lead the way Caleb." She could see the relief wash over his features and the nervousness fade from his grey eyes a smile spread across his lips. He allowed her to walk around Julie before saying a short goodbye to Julie he turned and they fell in step, walking around the pool.

As they disappeared down the path to the gardens, Julie caught sight of Marissa exiting the pool house, walking quickly into the house. She better have not been pounding back a bottle of vodka in there. She flittered around the guests that were in the backyard, checking to make sure no one was watching she slipped into the pool house.

Her eyes swept the room, she began to lift pillows, checking drawers and cabinets. Coming up with nothing her eyes fell on the bed and her daughter's purse. Sitting she opened it, finding nothing as she looked in the secret pocket. Well she isn't going to be a drunken mess, that's a plus. Her eyes fell on a folded piece of paper, to crisp to have been in there long. She pulled it out and began to read.

Yes I knew you would be here, Kirsten told me that her adoptive son was dating Julie's daughter, I insisted she make it a welcoming party at the last minute so I would be able to see you.

I know it's been a long time, and we barely know each other anymore, but we do need to talk meet me at the lifeguard tower tonight after the party. If you don't come I'll leave you be. I'll be there at around midnight.

Alex.

Her eyes scanned the letter a couple times, before she placed it back in the purse, standing she walked on auto pilot. Exiting the pool house unseen, she mixed back in with the wasps, the gears in her brain beginning to move as a plan began to manifest. The smile that graced her lips as she chatted with the party guests was no longer fake.

The garden was more like a maze down to the beach. Kirsten maintained it mostly, but Alex was positive she had professionals come in and help. It was a beautiful night, a gentle breeze keeping them cool, and causing the air to be saturated in the aroma of the flowers they were surrounded by.

"Kirsten was obsessed with flowers when she was growing up, she asked for a rose orchid for her tenth birthday." It was obvious Caleb didn't know how to start this conversation, Alex could see it on his face. They reached a gazebo complete with padded seats, and foot rests. "She spends her weekends here, when she's not swamped with work."

"She should be very proud, it's beautiful. I've never seen anything like this." Alex sat, her hands in her laps, fidgeting. She was nervous too. This man had abandoned her father, this man had abandoned Alessandra Kelly, her grandmother. She didn't know whether to be completely furious, or totally enraged. It was a fine line, she had always told herself. She had made a silent promise to herself to stay calm, as he continued.

"Did you like flowers as a child?" He was desperate, she could see it in his eyes. He was a broken old man, and he was her grandfather. She wanted to hate him, scream at him for leaving her grandmother broken hearted, and alone with a new born at twenty. She wanted to yell and scream, tell him that before she died, her last wish had been only to see him one final time. After everything he had done, she still loved him, until her last breath.

"No I was more of a catch spiders and bugs kind of kid." But she couldn't, not when he looked so lost. As the words hung in the air, a smile crept across his face, his eyes lighting up, and he didn't look so broken anymore. "My mom wanted me to wear dresses, and take ballet, but I wanted to wear shorts and play football with the boys."

"I heard you were a decent wave rider." She laughed and a confused look crossed his face.

"It's called surfing, and I was okay, I'm better now. I didn't get much chance to do it when I was in England. After high school 'd take trips every so often, I was in Australia and Hawaii last year, crazy waves." Maybe this won't be that bad.

"I've never been to Australia, I'm sure I would get sun stroke, my skin isn't built for the sun." He pulled out a pack of mini cigars. "Would you like one, there hand rolled from Cuba."

"As long as you don't tell anyone, I've cut back on my smoking a lot." She found the smoke no longer gave her the illusion that her lungs were still there, ever since she decided to return to Newport. Almost like they were preparing themselves for the air they had been starving for.

"My lips are sealed." They lit up, smoke billowing into the air. They both let the wind speak for a moment, the scent of the orchids and rustling leaves and snapping branches were its silent words. As their eyes caught, Alex realized where her younger sibling inherited her thunderstorm eyes from. Caleb stared at her, the smile on his face sad. "You look so much like her. Only her hair was the color of melted dark chocolate it was wavy like yours. The shape of your nose, you have her eyes too, I remember the first time I saw them, I had never seen anything so beautiful."

"Okay hold the fuck up for a second. What are you trying to pull here, you left her, and when she came to you with your son, you denied it, but you didn't stop there. Oh no not Caleb Nichols fucking multi billionaire had an illegitimate son and he swept it under the rug." She knew it had been to good to be true, the words stung like a slap across the face, she could see the sadness return to his features. But she was on a roll, and she wasn't going to stop yet. "And to put the icing on top of your seventeen layer cake when he moved back with me, you wanted nothing to do with me and you're going to sit here, and try and spew this bull shit at me? What the fuck do you think all the drugs I did made me fucking retarded? Because guess what they didn't. So please why you don't stop the bull shit and tell me the truth, you've got my dad convinced, but you don't have me. Why did you leave her? Why did you deny it?" Caleb knew that it wasn't a question it was a demand. He took a long drag from his cigar, his eyes looking towards the stars above them.

"I can assure you, it was not my intention to leave her, it wasn't my decision, the world I grew up in had a lot of rules, and my life had been written before I was born, I was groomed from birth, and I had all the advantages in the world. My father was a big name in Newport. Nichols construction built most of the historic buildings here. He was always working, always trying to be one step ahead, in 1954 when I was five, my father created The Newport Group an architecture firm. He bought the prime plots of land, and began to build an empire. It was ingenious for the time. He had cut out the selling point of buying architects to design buildings, and would build it himself, with the Nichols CC, and the profit from it would be 100% his." The wind spoke hushed words as he took a drag from his cigar Alex mimicking his movement.

"The life I lived was controlled. Everything was about appearances. I dated who my parents wanted, I was friends with people because of who their parents were. Everything about my life was someone else decision. I thought nothing of it, because it was all I knew. I graduated high school and college and in 1970, I began to work with my father. He told me something big was going to happen and he needed my help to get it done. It took six months but the call from Kingsley Architecture Limited, the largest firm in England asked for an intercontinental partnership."

"What does this have to do with anything?" She was beginning to lose her patience, he took another drag from his cigar eyes closed as he released the smoke, thunderstorm eyes stared at the glowing ember, the wind spoke more silent words as she waited for him to continue.

"I can tell you I didn't love her, but I would be lying. I could tell you I tried to fight to stay, but that would be a lie as well. It was 1971 when I meet Alessandra. We were in London on business, but he allowed me to skip the meetings. So I was free to do as I pleased. I literally ran into her as I was getting off the underground, and as soon as I saw her I knew I was done for. It was like I was seeing for the first time, as if my heart hadn't beat a moment before I saw her eyes." Alex didn't interrupt as he took a drag from his cigar following suit. The smoke billowed between them, maelstrom and cloudy eyes clashing as he continued. "I was a goner, I helped her and immediately asked her to lunch. It was a done deal from there. There was something about her. I couldn't not be with her. I had never felt anything like it before, I knew when she was in the room because she changed the atmosphere. The air tasted better when she was around, I'm sure I fell in love with her instantly, but I kept it to myself. I was in London for three weeks, and they were the happiest times of my life. We both knew I would be leaving in a week, when I told her of my feelings. She felt the same way and that was when we…" he trailed off his hands gesturing and Alex nodded understanding.

"It was at the next day when my father told me that I would be marrying Katherine Kingsbury, to create a merger between the companies. It was the first and only time I hit my father. I told him about Alessandra hoping he would understand. He wouldn't have any of it. I was his son, and there was no stopping the marriage. I fought hard to stop it, but I couldn't, it was out of my hands, I was my father's only son, and he wouldn't take no for an answer. He wrote a letter to Alessandra, telling her that it was over we left the next morning, and I was forbidden from seeing or trying to contact Alessandra ever again. In 1979, my father passed away, I tried to return to London to find her, and I came up empty handed."

"When Robert came along so many years later, to protect the legacy my father had produced I denied him, and you. My life had been written out for me long before I even got a chance to live. I loved your grandmother. I never loved anyone the way I loved her. So to answer your question, I didn't leave her. She was taken from me, snatched out of my arms by a harsh dose of wasp living, the world where love is a business contract. When Kirsten told me she passed, it was the final blow. I lost her, I can't get her back." His voice was ragged, his breathing heavy. His hand clenched as he tried vainly to hold his tears at bay.

"I don't deserve forgiveness, and I'm not asking for it. You Robert and Jaime all have the right to totally write me off. I haven't been there, I've failed you, even before even trying. But I want you to know, that I only want your happiness. It's all I've ever wanted, and I will do everything in my power to do whatever it takes, to earn your trust."

Silence washed over them, the wind speaking silently again filling the silence that hung in the air. Caleb wiped his eyes, tossing his cigar in an ashtray he stood. Fixing his jacket Alex watched as the mask slipped back on.

"It must suck." Cloudy eyes caught maelstroms. "Having to play a character, it must be draining." She believed him, he was a broken man, with nothing to lose and everything to gain. The words hung in the air, before he nodded towards her, turned and started for the path they had come from.

"She never stopped loving you. There was never anyone else." The words made him stop and turn. He said nothing, but his eyes looked hopeful. "I remember her telling me that you were the most beautiful man she had ever seen. And that when you two would kiss, it was to a silent song." The mask slipped and cracked, and tears rushed out from his eyes.

"Thank you Alex. I should get back to the party, help Kirsten wrap things up."

"Okay, maybe we can go for lunch one day? No business talk." She could feel the joy coming off him in waves, his smile ear splitting and his eyes light.

"I'd like that." And with that he left her in the garden. Alex took a final draw of her cigar, before tossing it in the ashtray as well and standing. She had to drop Jaime off at home, before she went to the beach, and it was already a quarter to eleven. She followed after Caleb, plucking a vanilla orchid as she walked she inhaled the scent, smiling. Maybe things in Newport wouldn't be as bad as she thought they would be.

Marissa was laughing at Seth when her name was called from across the room. Turning her eyes landed on her mother, who waved her over, a smile for the wasps on her face.

"I'll be right back, Satan calls." Ryan laughed lightly as she gave him a light kiss before moving across the room to her mother. "What's up?"

"Don't what's up me, where have you been all night? I've been looking for you, you need to meet Caleb's granddaughters, and for the love of god please be nice to them." She whisper yelled as she grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the kitchen.

"Why didn't you tell me Alex was Caleb's granddaughter, I know you've known forever probably." she freed herself from her mothers clutches, planting her feet. Marissa was having none of it, she knew her mother, and this was something that she would do.

"How'd you know it was Alex?"

"I had a headache earlier, I slipped out to try and get some rest on the pool house and I ran into her." She crossed her arms over her chest. "That doesn't answer my question."

"Marissa honey, I didn't know if I should tell you, I mean you took that whole thing really hard and I didn't want to bring up bad memories." Julie had prepared for this, she had a feeling when she was talking to Alex earlier that they had bumped into one another the house was only so big.

"So letting it be a surprise is better?" Came the quick retort.

"I thought it would be better than having you stew over it for a week. God Marissa when will you realize I'm on your side?" Julie wondered why she didn't try acting in her earlier years, she had some talent. "I was trying to look out for you, you were a zombie for a year after you guys had your falling out. I don't want to see you like that again." She finished.

Marissa sighed, her mom might have been a bitch, but she in this case she did have her best interest at heart. Untangling her arms she sighed.

"Well let's get this over with, I'm tired and Ryan said he would drive me home soon." She walked ahead of her mother, missing the dark smile her painted lips wore. She waited before following, Marissa entered the kitchen. Julie hung back, watching from a safe distance.

"Marissa Cooper." That wasn't Alex's voice. Turning her eyes landed on the other Kelly sister, she had a brief conversation with the girl, she was entertaining, all dry wit and smiles. "Shouldn't you be at the carnival?"

The door from the backyard opened, and Marissa's lungs inhaled deeply, the air was different now she noticed it immediately. It filled her lungs, and when she exhaled they craved for more, starving for it. She heard the grandfather clock begin its tune for the hour changing, the sound faint in her ears.

"I don't have to stay for the whole thing I was there for a bit, wait what are you doing here?"

"She's my sister." Her voice was like a wave, it flowed over her, caressing her skin with its words lapping gently. "Seems infidelity runs in the family." There was laughter and Alex punched her sister's shoulder. "Go say bye to Kirsten and Sandy, we're leaving." Jaime nodded waving a goodbye to the brunette she left the kitchen, yelling she would see Marissa at school. Julie pressed her body into the wall to avoid being seen as the teen rushed by. "Hi." Maelstrom's locked on the viridian star studded eyes.

"Hi." Julie watched, it was like de ja vu, the airport all over again. The subtle movements, eyes flickering between lips. "She looks just like you, I should have known."

"She doesn't like the spotlight, says it's not for her, so when she moved in with me and dad, she kept her Mom's last name so it's not a dead giveaway." Alex explained. She reached up and brushed a lock of soft hair out of the green eyes. Julie watched as her daughters leaned into the movement, deciding she had seen enough, stepped into the kitchen, clapping and smiling.

"Alex come on, Caleb wants a family photo, you to Marissa get going." She left as quickly as she came to convince her husband he wanted to take a family picture.

"Uh we better go, I'm supposed to be getting a ride home in like ten minutes." The spell they cast upon each other broken by her mother she turned to leave.

"Risks, wait." Her skin was on fire, and it was a good fire. It burned along her body, heating her so deliciously, she wondered if she was high.

"I forgot about that nickname." She blurted out, remembering when she was seven she jumped off a waterfall into the lagoon, Alex said she didn't take enough risks for a seven year old. She showed her, and the nickname Mariska came along, before it shortened into Risks.

"Sorry I didn't mean to." The contact was lost, and the heat was lost with it, sucked out of her body instantly. "I just wanted to know if you read the note?" Marissa read the words that came from the blondes full lips, and knew she was asking if she was going to be there.

"I did, come on let's get this picture out of the way. I have to be somewhere soon." Maelstrom eyes sucked her in briefly before she turned and walked away, she didn't have to look back to know Alex was smiling.

The party was coming to a close, they had taken pictures and everyone was saying goodbye. Marissa was about to get into Ryan jeep after she said her goodbyes, when she felt a hand on her shoulder. A vanilla orchid was presented to her. She took it from the blonde's hands.

"I snatched it from Kirsten's garden, I couldn't help myself, and I hope you still love vanilla." It was another code, she deciphered it quickly, as their breathing synced, heartbeats matching, they weren't touching but Marissa could feel her, she was real, and she was in front of her. This wasn't a dream, it was real. She hadn't been completely sure until now.

"I don't think I ever stopped." she inhaled the fragrance of the flower. The scent of the orchid had nothing on the scent of Alex, but for now this would do. The look on Alex's face was infectious as the smiled widely at each other. "Have a good night, drive safely."

"Yeah, I'll see you around Risks." Turning she walked away, but this time the spell they cast remained. The silent music only they heard was still playing, and as Marissa shut her door, the faint chimes of the grandfather clock stopped a gust of wind carried them away to a place where they would continue to chime their melodic tones for an eternity, in the world they created all those years ago, in an instant of bliss where they created their forever.