Ella Frank - Exquisite

“Hello.”

“The next time I see you I want you to wear those boots.”

She shivered at his deep voice drifting through the phone.

“I don’t know Mason. I told you my terms the last time we were in the same bedroom.”

She heard some rustling and knew he was in bed. Closing her eyes she waited listening to his breathing.

“Well, things have changed since then.”

“Have they?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes Lena. Everything’s changed.” he paused then asked softly, “Did you mean everything you said to me the other night?”

Swallowing deeply she nodded and then realizing he couldn’t see she answered, “Yes. Every word.”

He took a deep breath and she heard him sigh and say softly, “Then everything has changed.”

There was a long tense silence and then she said softly, “I’m supposed to go by Precious Petals tomorrow to get some paperwork from Rachel. Will you be there?”

“No. I have to go by the restaurant, but I’ll give Rachel my spare key. Just take it and let yourself in. I should be there at around 6pm.”

Lena closed her eyes and prayed to whoever was listening that this was really happening.

“Ok. I’ll be there.”

“Lena?” he asked and she clutched the phone tight.

“Yes?”

“Wear the boots.” and with that he hung up.

Mason was standing in his office the next day when Rachel came in. “Hey you.”

He looked up and she smiled at him as she leaned against the door. “Hi.”

“So I’m going down to see Lena today.”

He nodded and said softly, “Yeah she told me.”

Rachel moved in and asked cautiously, “Are you two, you know?”

Grinning he asked innocently, “No what?”

Rolling her eyes she sighed, “Are you two back together?”

He shook his head and watched the disappointment slide onto her face. Then he added. “Not yet.”

A grin replaced the frown and she asked, “But will be?”

“Fingers crossed.” he said holding up his hands. He came around the desk and reached out for his sister. She wrapped her arms around him and he kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry I checked out for awhile there.”

Rachel looked up at him and he saw a tear fall down her cheek. “I knew you were here Mase, we just had to deal with things in our own way. I’m just glad you came back to us and I’m glad you’re bringing her back to us too.” she paused and sniffed then said softly, “Mom really loved her you know?”

“What makes you say that?”

Rachel gave him a sad smile and told him, “She use to tell me about a girl, around my age, who would come into the shop and she was so sad and mom really wanted to help her.”

Mason was quiet not quiet believing that Rachel had known about Lena all along. It was true, Lena’s life had been running parallel to his their whole lives and it was as though his mother and fate had finally made them cross paths. He heard Rachel say his name.

“Mason?”

Looking down at her he smiled, “Yeah Rach.”

“Some things are just meant to be.”

Nodding he pulled her in tight and hugged her hard, yeah he thought, some things were just meant to be.

Lena arrived at Precious Petals at 4.30pm. She opened the door and heard the chimes tinkle above her head as she stepped inside. She took a deep breath and looked around the familiar space. Everything looked the same but it wasn’t. The most important part of this place had gone, the heart. Catherine. Looking around she tried to recall a memory when she’d been in here and Catherine wasn’t. The only one she could come up with was when she’d gone to hospital that one time, and Mason had been here instead, but he wasn’t here either. She moved through the aisle and then saw Rachel step out from behind the back door.

“Lena.” she said smiling over at her. Not until this moment had Lena noticed how very alike mother and daughter had been. Rachel may have been on the loud side when it came to her hair and clothes but the warm smile and the shining eyes mirrored her mother. This was now the heart of the shop. Moving over to the counter Lena returned her smile and reached over to take her hands.

“Hi Rachel.”

“How are you?” she asked grinning. She had dimples just like her brother and Lena couldn’t help but smile back at her.

“I’m good. Busy at work but otherwise good.”

“You look great!” Rachel pointed out as she leaned over the counter looking her over. “Killer boots!”

Feeling a blush creep over her face Lena nodded. “Ahh thanks.” Pausing she hiked her bag up on her shoulder and asked, “So where are these papers you need me to sign?”

“Oh!” she said rushing back behind the door and coming out with a smile, “Yeah it’s a trip she left you part of this place right?”

Lena looked at Rachel quickly, wondering if she was upset about it, but then Rachel nodded. “But it makes sense, you were here more than us. Mom said you came in every night for years.”

Lena sucked in a breath not knowing what to say. She wasn’t aware that Rachel had even known about that. Rachel reached out and took her hand and squeezed her fingers between her own. Then in a voice far more serious than Lena had ever heard from her she said softly.

“Don’t worry. I never knew who you were, not until just recently. Mom use to tell me about a girl who came to her shop. I always thought it was so sad but mom told me she loved it when you’d visit. She looked forward to 5.30pm when you would stop by and pick out your sunflower. She told me how proud she was that you turned out to be an amazing doctor.” pausing Rachel looked her right in the eye and said on a soft whisper, “She loved you. You’re just as much a part of her as we are. She was so very proud of you and I’m so glad I got to meet you.”

Lena felt a tear run down her face as she stood in the store she once thought of as her safe haven and held the hand of someone she now considered her sister.

She arrived at his place at around 5.30pm. Rachel had given her the key and she’d made her way over quickly, wanting to be there before him. She let herself in and put her bag on the kitchen counter. Leaving the lights off she walked into the living room and turned on the lamp he had on a coffee table. It illuminated the room with a soft glow and she looked around at the familiar furniture. She was nervous.

Tonight was the first night in months where they would be together in what promised to be an intimate evening. After laying her heart on the line the other night all she could do was hope he’d managed to forgive her and try to convince him she was worth taking a chance on. Turning toward the window she moved over to it and looked down at the people walking by on the street. The sun was just starting to dip down below the horizon and the street lights were starting to blink on and as she stood at the large window she was reminded of a conversation they’d had many months ago. She’d been asking him for his ultimate fantasy, and although the answer he’d given her had confused her at the time and had not been what she wanted to hear, he’d told her and she’d listened, and tonight she would deliver.

Mason was almost home. He was so eager to get to her he’d missed half of the cab ride and when he finally got out on the corner where they guy dropped him he leaned over and paid then turned around intending to race down the street into his building and up the stairs. However, for some reason he stopped and looked up as he walked toward the entrance of his place and there she was. Standing in the window of his condo, illuminated by a soft glow, she stood at his window looking down at him. His eyes were glued to her. From where he was he could see she had on a short skirt, he was assuming the little mini and her hair was down and flowing over her shoulders. His eyes moved down and he could see those sexy boots just under her knees that wrapped around her calves and disappeared below the bottom of his window. She looked so unbelievably sexy standing there he felt his mouth fall open a little bit on a sigh. Her eyes were glued to his and even from this distance he could tell she was watching his every move.