Episode 22: Love Like Blood
March 27th – April 2nd
A moment of pure bliss, that's all it was. After that moment, it's back to normal, back to life. It seems that love is like blood, it passes through you, it feeds you, but if it's taken away from you, you die. Your thoughts, please comment below.
RavenHussar
T3 Collective
Chapter 766: Wilmington International Airport
Monday, March 27th, Morning
She walked from the arrival gate to baggage claim and took in the airport sights. Finally, she reached baggage claims and found the carousel for her flight. She waited until the thing started to move and after a minute or two she found her bag. She collected it and headed towards the meet-up place the email instructed her to be at, which was, in a way, suspect.
When Christy arrived, she found an average-looking man holding a printed sign that read C. Carmichael. Christy Carmichael walked over and looked at the guy.
"Are you Ms. Carmichael?" he asked.
She nodded, "Yes, sir, I am; I assume you're the driver I was told would pick me up and escort me to the bed and breakfast?" Christy asked.
"That I am, my name is David, Ma'am," he said, "Let me take your bag and follow me."
She had a large travel backpack, her iPad, and the text-only phone that her immediate family had. Her Apple Watch was synced to that text-only phone also, and both devices were on her data plan, so she was set, "Thank you, David, I appreciate your kindness." She allowed him to take her bag and followed him out to the vehicle.
He walked out of the terminal, and the blast of March humidity hit them both. David didn't seem bothered by it, but Christy seemed slightly off-put by it. He led her to a waiting GMC Suburban. Pausing by the back door, he opened it.
"Here you go, Ma'am, the air conditioning is running," David said.
"Praise god, the southern heat and humidity definitely knocked me over," she blinks, still stunned by it.
"It's been unusually cold for this time of year," David said, closing the door. A moment later, the back hatch opened up, and Christy could hear her bags being loaded. A moment later, the hatch closed, followed by the driver's door opening and David getting in.
She slid in, buckling her seat belt, and slid her iPhone out of her pocket to text her family that she'd arrived in Wilmington safely and let them know that she'd be FaceTiming on the iPad as soon as she was settled.
The large SUV was put into gear and pulled out into traffic. David looked in the rearview mirror as they moved through the airport roads.
"We have ways to get to Beaulieu. Is there a music or podcast you would like to listen to? Also, in the council by you are some water bottles," David said.
She nodded, "Is there a way to connect my Spotify via Bluetooth?"
"Sure, just let me turn on the Bluetooth," David said and reached over to the multifunction display, "You should be all set to pair."
And it didn't take very long for the pairing to sync up; it was a lot quicker, and suddenly, Keane's smash hit, Phases, began to echo through the car.
A plan is a work of art
A house built to fall apart
You're digging for the answers
Crawl across the world to find
There are just more questions
Waiting on the other side
But you're still here
You're bleeding but you're still here
Phases, the motion of our lives
Ages, the rote of changes
Erases the ink before it dries on pages
It's all just phases
We salvage the parts we can
And work on a better plan
Always on the outside
Fingers clinging on so tight
Kicking at the window
Dreaming of a better life
Take what you can
Just got to take what you can
Phases, the motion of our lives
Ages, the rote of changes
Erases the ink before it dries on pages
It's all just phases
And sometimes you feel how good it is
And low tide gives way to high tide
And hard times, we watch them come and go like crazes, it's all just phases
"So, Ms. Carmichael, do you have any questions about the Bed and Breakfast at Beaulieu, Beaulieu Manor, or Tree Hill in general?" David asked.
"How much time do you have to share the details?" Christy laughed softly.
"Ask one at a time, and I will try and answer them in the time we have," David said, deadpanned.
She just grinned; she already liked him, and they had just met. "Tell me about the history behind Beaulieu Manor."
Ad Above Your Head by Fly By Midnight followed, and Christy exhaled sharply.
Why don't you feel like a stranger?
Such an unfamiliar face that I gave you
Why deny my human nature
And act like I don't care? Yeah
Lights are racin' off your shoulders
But now I'm thinkin' things over and over
Maybe I'm not meant to know you
In all the clothes you'll wear
You're so vague
Someone I'll forget
Until then
I think we could've been
We could've been
Two trains passin' on the night line
Your hair fallin' like a landslide
My thoughts are hangin' by a thread
All I remember is the ad above your head
All I remember is the ad above your head now
All I remember, all that I remember now
All I remember is the ad above your head now
At that very moment, she had just realized what playlist the songs were being pulled from.
Now I'm surfin' through the pages
Rearrangin' all the feelings and faces
Did you want a conversation?
It all seemed so unfair, yeah
Is there someone you go home to?
I can't recall if there's a phone at your phone booth
Parallel, are you alone too?
'Cause I could meet you there
You're so vague
Someone I'll forget
Until then
I think we could've been
We could've been
Two trains passin' on the night line
Your hair fallin' like a landslide
My thoughts are hangin' by a thread
All I remember is the ad above your head
All I remember is the ad above your head now
All I remember, all that I remember now
All I remember is the ad above your head now
All I remember, all that I remember now
All I remember is the ad above your head now
"Beaulieu Manor started as project New Hall about eighteen years ago, as the summer home and southern headquarters for fashion Icon Brooke Davis. About sixteen years ago, before it was complete, Ms. Davis moved her and her family to Tree Hill and, about six months later, moved into Beaulieu Manor; by the end of that year, the business had moved in, and five years after that the Bed and Breakfast at Beaulieu was established in the North Range, as well as the wedding chapel and event hall," David said.
"Yes, I- I've been here for a wedding, actually, but I haven't been back since," she admitted, her voice beyond sad as she remembered the gravity of the reason why.
"You have heard of the exclusive group known as the Beaulieu Brides, then?" David asked.
"The first wedding? That's the wedding I was referring to," she whispered.
"Ah yes, Mrs. Chastity Burke, she is the first of that exclusive club; in fact, the first two Beaulieu Brides were sisters," David said.
"Believe it or not, we're well versed in how things go in each other's lives. I've known Chastity and Isabella since we were young. I can't even remember how long ago we first met because we've known each other for so long. We grew up together in New York, and then they moved here," she tells him.
"I see, so the wedding venue is extremely exclusive; the country musician turned pop star Alex Dupre wanted her third wedding at Beaulieu, and Ms. Davis turned her down," David said.
"I can't imagine Brooke's thoughts when Ms. Dupre asked; I met her once myself," she laughed.
"I wouldn't know that, Ma'am," David said.
"She's got one of the most brilliant minds," Christy said in awe, "To come up with the concept for Beaulieu Manor? She has to be beyond brilliant."
"The word is she visited Hampton Court Palace, and that's where it started," David said.
That makes it all make sense then," Christy beamed.
"Yes, and it has been busy ever since," David said.
"That was exactly Brooke's plan, I'm sure," Christy smiled.
"I guess I just drive the cars, ma'am," David said.
"That's not at all there is to you as a person, though. But let me guess, on the clock, you're all business and super serious?" Christy asked.
"I don't pay attention to what Ms. Davis does, and I have yet to meet her, in fact," David said.
"Fair enough," Christy pulled up YouTube Music, putting in her Airpods, her Bluetooth disconnected from the car's audio setup.
The sights of Wilmington fade away as they approach the outer edge of Tree Hill. The streets lost the guardrails, and the trees almost came to the road in some places. David steers the SUV down a tree-lined paved road. It seems to go on for miles but is winding its way to the complex. Finally, about an eighth of a mile from Beaulieu Manor, the SUV breaks out of the trees, and the North Range becomes visible, surrounded by the North Range's Gardens.
Her jaw dropped; the Milan area estate her uncles owned paled compared to the Manor, and Christy wasn't impressed by a lot. But that was just it. Beaulieu Manor was like no other place she'd ever seen in her life, and she'd been able to travel to some spectacular places thanks to Caroline's line of work, but this? This took the cake, as the saying goes.
"This, Ma'am, is Beaulieu Manor," David said.
Christy smiled, "It's wonderful to be here."
The SUV pulled in front of the B&B entrance. David got out, pulled out Christy's bags, and placed them on a cart. He opened the door and let her out, leading her into the lobby.
The lobby carried a revival Palace Tudor style, and a young woman stood behind a check-in desk.
She shook her head with a soft smile in awe. The B&B wasn't on the same scale as the rest of the Manor, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
"Welcome to the Bed and Breakfast at Beaulieu Manor," the woman behind the counter said; her name tag said Tina.
She slid the card she'd used to book along with her New York State ID. A newly passed law also allowed NY State residents to carry a separate driving license or put the identifying marks and codes on their state IDs. Christy had both but chose to carry her ID with her instead, as she'd not be doing much driving.
"Welcome, Ms. Carmichael. You'll be in the Jacobite Suite, and I'll have your bags sent up to you. You'll find attached all the amenities we offer, the meal times, the local sights, and our suggested methods of getting around Tree Hill, the small city between the river and the ocean," Tina said and handed Christy several pieces of paper, her cards, and her room card key.
"I appreciate that; thanks so much," she smiled, sliding her ID and her credit card back into her small phone wallet, taking the pieces of paper with her, and heading toward her room.
A Bellman with a name tag that said Pete grabbed one of Christy's bags and led her up a stone/concrete spiral staircase. They came to what most people would call the second floor, but it was marked in the European manner as the first floor. He led her to a richly curved door with a wooden sign curved in script, "Jacobite Suite." Taking the key card from Christy, the bellman opened the door and showed her in.
The suite looked like something out of a period-piece movie—richly paneled walls with artwork above some of the paneling. The furniture was all Tudor Style, with a desk and several chairs, a chest of drawers, and a pair of armoires as well. The big was a California King Size canopy bed with many pillows.
"I will bring the rest of your bags up, and you can find the wifi password on the desk. In one of the armoires is the television and bar," Pete said.
"Those two are it, actually," she laughed, "I do wonder about dry cleaning, as I have a few semi-formal outfits and blazers?" she inquired.
"The details are on the desk, Ma'am," Pete said.
"Thank you, Pete," she smiled, placing the paperwork on the desk.
Pete leaves and closes the door behind him.
She put the suitcase on the luggage rack and unpacked. Once that was done, she emptied her backpack, placed her wireless charge pad down, plugged it in, and checked the charge. Seeing it was at one hundred percent, she unplugged it and tucked the cable into the small desk organizer, complete with her wall plugs and pens. She then set out her Moleskine notebooks and her iPad and stood up to secure her backpack in the armoire, securing the door to that.
When finally settled, she leaned her phone against the open panel of the desk organizer, turning on her fully charged iPad. When it's on, and she gets it on Low Power Mode, she sends Carlo the first FaceTime request.
There was a knock on the door.
"Hold on a second, Papa," Christy smiled, stepping over to the door and looking through the peephole.
"Bellman with your last bag," Pete said.
"Oh shoot! My toiletry bag," she laughed, "Thanks, Pete, I completely forgot I'd taken it out to take my medication." She reached for the twenty in her pocket and slid it into his hand after securing her bag.
"Thank you, Ma'am, and enjoy your stay at the Bed & Breakfast at Beaulieu," Pete said and left.
"So formal around here," Christy shook her head with a laugh. She places the bag on the nightstand, back in her father's sight, "Hi Papa, sorry about that; I left a bag in the Suburban apparently; how are things going there without me?"
"Swimmingly," Carlo said.
"I miss you too," she grinned.
"You need the break, and from what I read, the place you're staying will help you get back in balance," Carlo said.
"Everyone keeps saying that, but I don't know why," she huffs lightly.
"You, Mom, Fallon..." she mumbled.
"We know you too well, Christy," Carlo said.
"Is the fact that I never stopped loving her that obvious? I just- I don't want to be the person who leads someone on when I know I have no desire to attach myself," she rubs her hand over her face, "I don't want anyone else to be put through that... but it's about more than being in love with her, I was her friend too, and I got both versions of her ripping my heart out. I'm not wrong to feel used... my feelings are valid."
"You are also like your mother and overthink things. Amor will happen, or it won't." Carlo said.
"I can't go through that pain again, Papa, I can't..." she's in tears, "I'm so scared..."
"But you are in pain now, Estrella," Carlos said.
"I've been in survival mode for seventeen years; nothing's changed, and I'm so done with treading water...!" she cried so hard, letting seventeen years of world and earth-shattering heartbreak out.
"Estrella, we've tried so hard to help you with this," Carlo said, "What happened wasn't your fault, and she left because her mom moved her. We thought you moved on with Terri and then with Johnny."
"I thought so too," she sniffled, "but as hard as I fought against my heart, my heart's not willing to let go. I don't know what it wants anymore!" She's shaking her head.
"Just remember, it's been seventeen years. Are you the same person you were that night?" Carlo asked.
"In certain ways, yes," she sighed.
"Do you think she is the same person?" Carlo asked.
"She can't be; she's someone's wife and mother," she finally said aloud, and her breath hitched as she gasped.
The tears came again, "Is this what they mean when they say that love hurts?"
"In some ways, yes, but you are suffering from one-sided love," Carlo said.
"She didn't... she didn't love me..." she barely gets it out before she cries again.
"Estrella, enjoy your vacation and put these thoughts aside. See the sights and take in the fresh air," Carlo said.
"I'll try," she sighed.
"Just do it, as Nike said," Carlo said.
She threw her head back and laughed, "Do what? See the sights or find the guy who deals weed and buys booze for the college frats and gets high and drunk as hell?"
She's half-joked about that last part, of course.
"Find the woman that you were meant to be, Estrella, find happiness, find life," Carlo said.
"If I'm still trying to remember how?" she whispered.
"It's not about remembering; it's about finding," Carlo said.
"I'll work on finding my way back," she smiled.
"Not back, but forward, Estrella," Carlo said.
"I always figure it out," she nodded.
"But have you?" Carlo asked.
"Eighteen years ago, I just took a forced detour, and maybe that's why I'm here," she shrugged with a soft smile.
"I hope you are right," Carlo said.
"Me too, Papa; well, CJ's next," she smiled, "You know he worries, given Fallon probably told him where I am."
"That's what brothers do, Estrella," Carlo said, "And enjoy your vacation."
"I love you, Papa," she whispered.
"I love you, Estella," Carlo said.
She blew him a kiss before going into her Facetime log and hitting the missed FaceTime call from CJ. She smiled as his happy face greeted her, "Hey, little brother, how's it going?"
"How was your flight? See any married cousins yet?" CJ asked.
"Really, Carlito?" she snorted, "I just got here."
"And the flight was pretty easy, seeing as it's a short one."
"So, you didn't see any cousins that married? I'm disappointed," CJ said.
"There's still time," she joked back, a grin on her face.
"You didn't burn the cafe down yet, did you?"
"That's what they all say, to me, at least," CJ said.
"We also told you after the first time you narrowly avoided doing it that we'd never let you live it down," she smirked.
"No, the cafe is still standing, maybe a little browned, but still standing," CJ said.
"You think you're so damn funny," she mumbled, rolling her eyes.
"I know I am," CJ said and laughed.
"So, beyond your lack of sophisticated humor, how is this B&B you're staying at? A little old ladies' house?" CJ asked.
"Uh, no, it's Brooke's place," she shrugged.
"The B&B at the Manor," she said.
"So, she's an old lady," CJ said.
"Manor, such an overused word," CJ said.
"Don't let her ever hear you say that," Christy shook her head.
"The old lady part, I mean," Christy shook her head again.
"So, it's at the manor. Is that supposed to be impressive? In Nassau, they have four-bedroom manors," CJ said.
"With detached apartments," she nodded, remembering, "The manors of Nassau can fit in her foyer; let's just put it that way."
"What is this place a castle?" CJ asked, chuckling
"It certainly looked like it when we came up," Christy nodded.
"You can't be serious," CJ said.
"Had I not seen it with my own two working eyes, I wouldn't have believed it either," she whistled impressively as she thought about the view as they came up.
She finds the video tour of the B&B and sends it to him.
"Haven't you been there before, for you know who's wedding to that redneck?" CJ asked.
He opened the link, watched the video tour, and made a few faces, showing he was impressed.
She's twirling one of her fancy refillable pens in between her fingers.
"Looks like a castle," CJ said.
"Told you," she said.
"But hadn't you been there before?" CJ asked.
Her voice is thick with emotion, and she's back in that mood, the one where every time Chase was mentioned, she started shutting down, "Yeah, but not on this side, and I was asleep on the drive up."
"I just looked it up, and they have three pools in the whole complex, but since you're only a guest, you get to use only one; sucks to be you," CJ said and laughed.
She didn't respond, "Get back to work, you brat."
"Look at the pot calling the kettle black," CJ said.
She just smirked, "I love you too."
"You're just saying that because we're family," CJ said.
"Hey, you stayed," she whispered.
"You're older; you could have left," CJ said.
"Like she did?" Christy whispered.
"I didn't mention Voldermort here," CJ said.
"I would've been lonely; I know I could've gone to school in Milano, but I didn't really want to; that's something I'll never regret."
"Man, sis, you have a one-track mind," CJ said, "Maybe it's time to bury that body."
"Maybe," she whispered.
"No, you should; it's been far too long; we've been out of high school far too long," CJ said.
"She's married, CJ," Christy sighed.
"And she never really cared anyway, so why reopen that wound?"
"So, move on. You're reopening your wounds by not moving one," CJ said.
"You think that's fair to her? She's got kids, for god sake!"
"Anyway, Sis, do me one favor, and it's unrelated to Voldemort," CJ said.
"If you leave her alone and move on, it's completely fair to her and her family," CJ said.
"And if my heart won't let me?"
"Force it," CJ said, "But sis, do me a solid, please."
"Name it," she said.
"Try to find out who Anna Becca is. I need to know how true that novel is," CJ said. "Some of that haunts my dreams."
She finally laughed, "I'll do my best."
"God, that girl Anna was crazy," CJ said.
"Yeah.." she chuckled again.
"I gave you the book to read," CJ said.
"I know," she nodded.
"The kayak trip where she met those two hikers was crazy," CJ said.
She moaned; now she's got a totally different visual in her head, and she shuddered in a mix of blissful delight and fear.
"Thanks for that visual bud," she sighed, laughing.
"Hope it keeps you warm tonight," CJ said, "Now Mama, well, she's not going to be as much of a sweetheart as I am."
"You and Papa just know how to handle me. Don't worry, I've become an expert at not letting her offend me."
"I love you, bud, and I'm glad you're here."
"She might be right, Christy," CJ said.
"And look who's calling and sending angry Imessages... I gotta go, love you!"
"Love you, Brat," CJ said and disconnected.
She hung up, and when Caroline called back, she accepted, "Hi Mama," she readied herself for a lecture.
"Christy, I hope you found your hotel okay," Caroline said.
"I'm here, and it's a beautiful place, Mama," she smiled.
"I'm sure, so why this place of all places?" Caroline asked.
"I needed to get out of my comfort zone, and boy am I uncomfortable, and, maybe it's a little bit of, oh, I don't know, emotional masochism?"
"Really, Christy, you can't get that high school fling out of your system? That's why you screwed it up with Johnny, isn't it," Caroline said, "Just think of Charlotte."
She narrowed her eyes, shook her head, and threw her hands up.
"There you go, throwing a tantrum again," Caroline said.
Christy just goes silent and shrugged.
"Christy, she wasn't worth all this pain, never was, and I'm friends with her mother. You've always been able to do better than her and did," Caroline said.
"Blame it on my heart, Mama. I know I deserved better and want to let go, but my heart won't let me."
"But you keep letting your heart fawn over some troublemaker," Caroline said.
"Little do you know," she shot her mother a disappointed look, "I went to the wedding."
"Why would you do something like that?" Caroline asked, "Are you down there because they just divorced?"
She blinked, "I- I have no idea.. they split?"
She looked like she had been gut-punched.
"I don't know; I didn't raise a homewrecker, so that's the only reason I would assume you went down there," Caroline said.
"Nice to know you have faith in the way you raised me, Mama," Christy looked at her mother like she had been gut-punched again and also kicked in the ribs.
"Don't give me that hurt look," Caroline said, "I know you love your father more than me, but I've been a realist with you. I've been telling you it would never end well for you since this mess happened. You have to be stubborn and try to prove me wrong, but all you do is prove me right."
"Then don't waste your breath because all I've ever done is exactly what you asked of me daily. No wonder I'm so damn miserable!"
She glared at her mother and hung up.
Caroline: Why don't you leave them alone? Move on; you already messed up one good relationship with a good man; why don't you try and settle down for the good of Charlotte?
Christy: I wasn't going to hurt him. I knew marrying him wouldn't have been right. I would never have been emotionally invested in the relationship, even though his family understood that Johnny did, too. We always put Charlotte first, Mama, always.
Christy turned off her iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch and lay back in bed, trying to process everything she had just heard.