"Your home is very nice," Gemma, told Dave as two of them wandered around one of the upper levels Dave showing her some of the features that were unique to the home. "I've never been anywhere like it."
"So the house you grew up in?" Dave asked.
"Wasn't anything like this," Gemma said gesturing at the quiet elegance that surrounded them. "It was nice and everything, but to tell you the truth I never felt at home there, not surrounded by my parents expectations. I was never relaxed, could never be casual. There was never a feeling of warmth, of the comfort, of home."
"Some parents have expectations you just can't meet," Dave sympathized. "I've seen a lot of that in my time. If I were to ever have a child I would let them grow in their own way."
"So no illegitimate children running around?" Gemma asked, even though it was a very personal question, but somehow knew that Dave wouldn't mind and that she wouldn't offend him. Unlike her parents Dave was very easygoing at least so far, as she had only known him for a few weeks. The thing that puzzled Gemma was the fact that Dave seemed to enjoy her company, so much so that he had been seeking her out instead of tending to probably the million other tasks that he had to do.
Gemma would almost believe that he was courting her, except that he knew she was dying and wasn't interested in any relationships because of that. It was only a matter of time before she passed away as the cancer ate away at her. Many forms of cancer could be eradicated nowadays, but only if they were caught soon enough and while hers had been caught she just could not afford the treatment.
"No, I've never been that irresponsible," Dave explained.
"Irresponsible?" Gemma asked, thinking it was a rather unusual word for what they were discussing.
"Any child I had with a woman that I wasn't married to would be illegitimate and while I wouldn't mind that, the mother of said child could demand money for taking care of my son or daughter and then take the money and move far away refusing to let me see them. That child, particularly if it's a boy would technically, be the heir over any legitimate children, simply because they would be the oldest. The mother could raise the child to try to take over for any legitimate children I happened to have. I would have to disinherit that child as mine, something I wouldn't want to do because they would still be my child, my blood," Dave explained. "As we have already discussed people are greedy and there's no guarantees that whatever woman had my child would treat him or her well. How would I know if they refused to let me spend time with them?"
"I see," Gemma said finally understanding. "You could take the woman to court."
"Yes, I could," Dave agreed. "I would have to find her first though, if she went somewhere far away and while that's possible with a private detective it could become very complicated, especially if she moved with my child to a foreign country. I've never wanted to risk that."
Dave of course, didn't tell Gemma the other reason he had never gotten some woman pregnant and that was because he was immortal and the child would be as well, even if the mother wasn't.
"I understand better now why you wouldn't want to risk getting some woman pregnant without some assurances," Gemma said. "They may love the child and let you see them, but I do understand that the risk is to great seeing that you are very wealthy."
"Exactly," Dave said smiling. "I've never been the careless type. If I'm ever going to have children it is going to be through a legitimate relationship where I love the woman in question so much and she loves me in return that we get married and we have a children within the marriage."
Gemma nodded sighing nearly silently. She said nothing, but knew that she was falling in love with David Rossi. He was so charming and kind. He had bought her several nice outfits through his housekeeper who had insisted on it when they had gone to get her a new sketchpad, colored pencils and paint supplies. She had protested about Miss Mina buying her clothes saying she had plenty at her apartment, but once Miss Mina had examined them she had said that they should be thrown away. They were cheap and ill made and of course they were, but they also fit just fine.
"Clothes like this will wear out faster because it made out of cheap materials," Miss Mina had said. "Once you wash them a few times the colors will start to fade or possibly run or you'll likely get a hole." Miss Mina had been insistent they were buying her several nice outfits.
"For now we'll go with store bought, but at some point we'll have to find you a tailor," Mina added.
Gemma had said that she couldn't afford a tailor and Mina had just given her a look telling her without words that she thought Gemma was being stupid or at least naïve.
Gemma was still trying to figure out what everybody who worked for Dave knew that she did not. It never even occurred to her that Dave might be interested in her romantically, considering what she had told him. Who would want to date a woman with terminal cancer after all?
Finally, they entered a kind of galley that any museum would be proud to own. There were paintings all encased in unbreakable glass with alarms. Gemma recognized some of the paintings from some of the greatest artists, most of whom were long dead. Gemma knew that all the paintings were worth a fortune.
"Wow! This is a pretty impressive gallery. I recognize paintings from long dead artists Charles Monet, Pablo Picasso, Victor Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and also some more modern examples. Let's see, Annie Cleats, Veronica Wells and Danny Rubery, Jonathan Silverburg."
"I'm impressed," Dave said. "Not many people who would have given me the names of all these artists without hardly thinking about it."
"I've always been interested in artists of the past," Gemma said. "I went to museums a lot when I was a teenager. It was actually a parent approved activity. They thought it would help me talk intelligently to a future husband. They didn't approve of my artistic bent though. Said that I didn't want to discourage any gentleman by showing them that I wasn't the lady they thought I was."
"So they thought that any man wouldn't want you as a wife, just because you wanted to be an artist," Dave drawled sounding disgusted.
"When I said gentleman I meant that in the most old-fashioned sense. They wanted me to marry someone of the same social status as plenty of those families have unmarried sons around my age or a few years older," Gemma grimaced. "I'm actually surprised they never tried to arrange a marriage for me."
"They probably knew that you would refuse, so were hoping that you would fall in love with one of those young men. By the way, way back in the past, one of the skills ladies were taught was how to paint. They never became professionals though, as their fathers would never allow it."
"That's the part my parents probably disapproved of. Not the painting so much, but wanting to make a living from it," Gemma said contemplatively. "I had to follow my dreams though."
"Of course you did," Dave said in understanding. "You would've been unhappy at the very least if you didn't try to make a living as an artist. From what I've seen you could become famous so long as you got right sort of attention from the people in the art world. I know how hard it is to get noticed though, as there are so many competing artists in the same medium."
"Well, you seem to know a lot about art, even if you aren't an artist yourself," Gemma said.
"There are plenty of people like me that know a lot about art and have the money to indulge in whatever they want. My family has been collecting art for generations," Dave explained. "We can certainly afford to. We collect whatever we like and don't care what other people think."
Gemma nodded because it was the truth. There were people that insured art for instance and they had to know the real thing from some fake. Some fakes were very, very good, as there was some talented art forgers out there.
The Rossis had somehow managed to keep their fortune, through some tough economic times over the last few centuries, which was pretty amazing because so many once wealthy families had became destitute.
"I'm looking forward to seeing you finish the painting you're working on," Dave said finally. Dave had found her working one day out on the beach. The weather had been very fine, certainly nice enough to paint outside. There had been a nice breeze off the water that felt good on the skin and made a warm day more pleasant. She had been painting the beach with the ocean at the bottom. The sky had been the perfect shade of blue paint and there had been a few sailboats in the distance. The painting was coming along rather nicely and would soon be finished. "You have such a talent Gemma. I would hate to see that talent snuffed out before it's time."
"Thank you for the compliment," Gemma said. "It's sad I agree, but unfortunately, fate has other ideas for me."
"But you don't have to die Gemma if only you wouldn't be so stubborn," Dave told her seriously his expression unreadable. "If only you'd let me pay for the cancer treatment."
"I couldn't ask that of you," Gemma replied gently.
"You're not asking I'm offering," Dave told her firmly. "Don't be too proud to accept help from someone whose come to care about you. I would like to see your talent blossom, with a little help from the right patron. You have such a immense talent and I would hate to see that talent die before it can even really bloom."
"Is that the only reason you're offering?" Gemma asked carefully.
"Well no," Dave said honestly, turning away so Gemma couldn't see his hopeful expression, as he didn't want to influence her. "I've come to care about you a lot over the last several weeks. You're the first woman that I've been interested in a very long time. Not only would I like to help you're career I thought that we could date and perhaps see if our attraction is more then surface."
Gemma started to protest about how she didn't feel any attraction, but Dave turned back and gave her a look before she could get the words out and so they died in her throat.
"Don't deny that you've attracted to me," Dave huffed his annoyance at her plain to see. "You think I don't recognize the signs? You might not want to get involved because of your cancer, but that doesn't stop the attraction that I know you feel. I want to see where our mutual attraction leads."
"And if the doctor tells me the cancer is to far along to be beaten?" Gemma asked finally in a quiet voice.
"Then I'll still pay for the treatment and pray the doctor is wrong," Dave said. "I have a specific doctor that I've known for a long time in mind. He's very, very good."
"That probably means expensive," Gemma said.
"Not really," Dave said fudging to truth as he didn't Gemma refusing because of cost. The truth was that Dr. Donald Mallard was indeed very expensive, but he also owed Dave numerous favors, which he would be cashing in if necessary. However, Ducky as he preferred to be known, was a compassionate man so cashing in that favor might not be required. "He's not any more expensive than your regular doctor."
"Why this friend of yours instead of my regular doctor?" Gemma asked.
"Well, for one thing he owes me several favors, so he'll see you right away," Dave explained. "You won't have to go through all that rigmarole or be put on a waiting list where they can't see you for several weeks or even months because all their patients slots are full. This cancer isn't something you can just wait patiently to see a doctor for. If what you told me is accurate you can't afford to waste anymore time at starting treatment. It's already been a couple of months since your doctor told you of it. You're not someone that they'll clear a slot in their busy schedules for, as you don't have any money or influence. Even though you come from a good family you've been unfairly cut off. Also, I'm sure your regular doctor is very good, but I'm sure they are a general practitioner, not a specialist and that's who you need. Also, I trust him, because I've known him for years."
"Just one other question if you don't mind," Gemma said.
"Of course, ask away," Dave invited.
"If we find that our attraction is nothing but surface what do you want in return for you paying for my treatment?"
"Nothing really," Dave said. "But if you insist on paying me back in someway, you can leave all your paintings to me. I really like the ones I've seen."
"That's it?" Gemma asked in surprise.
"That's it," Dave promised with a smile. "If your cancer can't be cured, because it's too far along that's all I want. A lot of times artists don't become famous until they're dead and while I would prefer you to live, I know that might not be possible, so at least I'll have them to remember our brief friendship."
Gemma considered Dave's words for a few minutes.
"I didn't want to admit to you that I'd fallen in love with you or at least have a massive crush, because for one thing I was dying and for another we've only known each other for a few weeks since we met, so I figured that my feelings would not be returned. You've been so kind and generous, which you didn't have to be to a stranger. You could've sent me on my way after the storm was over for instance. You also bought me some beautiful new clothes through Miss Mina of course, even when I told you I didn't need anything. I couldn't convince Miss Mina not to buy me clothes," Gemma added in remembered exasperation.
"She was following my orders," Dave said.
"I know," Gemma said, mock glaring at Dave. "I seem to remember telling you that I didn't need any new clothes."
"From what Mina has said you really did," Dave countered. "I'm assuming you left most of your clothes at your childhood home, ones that one nicer than the ones you have bought since."
"How do you know that?" Gemma asked.
"I just put it together from what you have told me about your upbringing," Dave answered honestly. "I was guessing you only brought a few things with you and the rest was bought after you arrived. The slacks and blouses for instance are of good quality, but the rest of your clothes are not."
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to figure out," Gemma admitted. "I bought those blouses and pants myself mostly in England at different times. That's what I used my allowance for sometimes. My parents preferred me in dresses or skirts and refused to buy me anything that they considered unseemly. It's like they were born hundreds of years ago, instead of into this modern century. I won't say that I'll never wear a dress again, but I still prefer pants and blouses."
"Considering your parents kind of forced you to only wear dresses or skirts I can't say I blame you. Looking like a lady is one thing, but being forced to wear specific things like skirts and dresses is another. There are plenty of clothes for females that will still make you look like woman and that were made specifically for them."
"I definitely agree with that and I often argued with my parents about that very fact," Gemma said in remembrance of the stupidity of her parents views. "I'm sure you can guess it didn't do a bit of good."
"Unfortunately, a lot of people are very stubborn in the wrong way," Dave agreed. "Also, parents don't often listen to their kids."
"Too true," Gemma agreed wholeheartedly. "They wanted me to act in a specific way, because they believed that if I wasn't ladylike no man would ever want me. They ignored the rest of the world and how women made money of their own started businesses or had jobs, how they still got married and had families."
"So do you agree to let me pay for your cancer treatments?" Dave asked after sometime of silence."
"I suppose," Gemma said, after looking at Dave's pleading expression. This was something Dave really wanted her to agree to if his pleading expression was anything to go by. That he liked her as a woman pleased her. She had been attracted to David Rossi from the minute she had met him, but thanks to the cancer wasn't going to do anything about it. Apparently, Dave liked her enough to practically beg her to do the treatment and let him pay for it. The fact that he didn't ask much surprised her, but then she had known for awhile that he was a generous, compassionate man. He was so different from her own parents that it was nearly surreal. Yes, he was already very wealthy, but he wasn't greedy like so many men of power and wealth, which might be because he was apparently very good at making money, but not by stepping on the backs of other people.
"Good! I'll call Ducky and make an appointment right away," Dave said relieved.
"Ducky?" Gemma asked, as it was a rather weird name.
"Dr. Donald Mallard," Dave explained with a smile. "It's his nickname and no, I have no idea where he acquired it. He actually seems to prefer being called that then Donald or Don."
"I suppose it doesn't matter," Gemma said. "It seems a rather odd nickname, but who am I to judge?"
"Everybody is different," Dave agreed. "I suspect a dear friend gave it to him and that friend is probably deceased. That's just a guess on my part though. I'll go make that call now before you change your mind."
"I won't change it," Gemma promised. "I would never have agreed if I hadn't gotten to know you over the last few weeks. I know that such an offer usually comes with certain expectations or obligations, but you're different from most men I've known."
"That's very wise," Dave told Gemma.
"Even my parents would have expected things from me, even if that treatment saved my life. Of course, if I still had my trust fund I could have afforded those treatments and I would not have had to depend on my parents. It is what it is and I've learned to accept that my parents never really loved me at least not in the way they should. I was an investment nothing more and when that investment failed they turned their backs."
"Parents are supposed to do things for their children without expecting to be repaid in someway," Dave agreed gravely.
"I don't think my parents really understand love or compassion," Gemma said with a rather sad expression.
The two of them parted ways after Gemma promised Dave to join him for dinner in a couple of hours.
~~~Dave and Gemma~~~