"Q.E.D." Part 32
"The answer is 'no'. To both questions," she said.
Stefan looked up and saw Laura framed in the doorway, like a
living portrait. And he couldn't help but admire, once again, the
handiwork of the artist.
He smiled. "Lasha, what a delightful paradox you create. I
assume you're referring to my letter."
Laura shut the door behind her and walked to the bed. "I didn't
create it. You asked the question."
"Yes. Rather unfair of me, wasn't it? But then again, I have
never been known to be forthright."
"You have your moments ..."
She sat on edge of his bed. He found it difficult to ignore the
pull of her body on the sheets. It became a profound act of
intimacy to him.
"Yes, I suppose that I do," he replied. "You seem to have the
ability to make me admit to almost anything. At any rate, I am
pleased that you do not despise me, either way."
"How could I?" she asked, looking at the Tsar's ring on his right
hand. She felt a sudden impulse to reach across him, and run her
fingers over the smooth gold band; but the feeling would
manifest itself only as an awkward twitch, and her hand
retreated back to her lap.
Stefan nodded at the observation window. "I see your husband
has arrived. I gather he's not here to inquire about my health."
She turned to glance back at the window, wishing she could have
slowed the movement of her body. The action seemed too quick,
implying an undeserved guilt. "Luke is here to support me," she
said.
"I see. I'm flattered that he considers me to be so formidable."
"That's not what I meant!"
"Then what do you mean?" he asked. "You have not always been
entirely forthright yourself, Lasha. It is a foible that we have
shared, on occasion."
"Yes," she admitted. "On one occasion in particular."
"You knew that it was me in your bed that night, didn't you?"
"Yes. And I'm sorry I never told you. You suffered needlessly for
it ..."
"Oh Lasha, you know how I despise being cast in the role of a
martyr. Did it not occur to you that I may have correctly
surmised your feelings, and acted on my own feelings,
accordingly?"
She regarded him with the look of a bemused skeptic: eyebrows
raised, one corner of her mouth upturned. "I suppose that could
have been the case," she replied. "But you make it sound like
such a calculated thing... "
"The act of reason does not diminish the act of love. It provides
a clarity of purpose which elevates our experience beyond that
of the baser creatures. There is no greater passion than the one
which originates from a choice well made." Stefan smiled and
covered her hand with his. "If it pleases you to think that I acted
completely without forethought that night, then so be it. But I
have had more than enough time to mull over our relationship in
retrospect. I stand by my choices... then, and now."
Prior to her reply came a silence which, to Stefan, hinted at an
incomplete thought. "And I stand by my choices... " she said.
And prior to his reply came a similar silence. "I understand."
Laura looked back at the window, and smiled at Luke. "You're so
different, the two of you."
"Yes," Stefan replied, squeezing Laura's hand, "but we share
some common goals."
"You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?" she asked.
He smiled. "Not this time, Lasha. I have learned that you are
more than capable of handling any number of difficulties." He
glanced at the window. "And now, I shall release your hand,
before your husband decides to break through the glass. I hold a
position of respect here, and I don't want to jeopardize it."
"Has Nikolas been in to see you yet?"
"No. He was very quiet on the plane. I'm sure he's more upset
about this than he led me to believe."
"I'll try to talk to him."
"I would appreciate that."
She rose to leave, and then stopped. "Nikolas is a wonderful
young man," she said. "And I have you to thank for that. I
realize that, with you raising him, he would have probably turned
out the same, either way, but... I'm still glad that he's your son."
"So am I," he replied. "Although I considered him my son from
the moment that you first placed him in my arms. The title I
assumed, was simply that."
"Luke? I'm surprised to see you here."
Luke turned around at the sound of his sister's voice. He jerked
his thumb in the direction of the window. "Well, I figured I'd
better keep an eye on him. I still don't trust that guy."
Bobbie glanced into the room. "Are you sure it's Stefan you don't
trust?"
"Now what the hell kinda comment is that? Haven't you learned
anything from being married to that manipulator?"
Bobbie looked down at the floor. "I guess not. Did you know that
he didn't even tell me what was going on? I still don't know."
She glared at the window. "But I'll bet she does..."
Luke pulled his sister in for a hug. "She only thinks she does,"
he muttered.
"I've decided to ask him for an annulment. Does that make you
happy, Luke?"
"Hell no!" he cried. "Barbara Jean Spencer, you go for the big 'D',
babe. Take the guy to the cleaners! You get yourself a good
lawyer and show that self-righteous, horse's Onassis what an
All-American, Red, White and Blue divorce is all about!"
Go To Part 33
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