A Window to Love (Windows) (Volume 1)

by Fifi Flowers

  Looking at my watch, I realized it was time to pop back over to the dress shop. I told the girls there was no reason for them to go with me for my final fitting of the dress, and since they weren't ready to leave they didn't argue with me. I didn't see Charles inside. Thinking he might be outside, I headed out the door, but he was nowhere in sight. Seeing the shop was just across the street, I decided to go by myself. I turned back to the bistro one more time and saw Lily and Jane sitting in the window waving at me with silly grins on their faces. I loved those girls!

  As I was strolling along the sidewalk my phone rang, “Hey bébé, where are you? Charles just called me to say that you left the bistro without him.”

  “I need to go back and try on the dress one last time before they deliver it to the hotel on Thursday.”

  “Why did you leave without Charles?”

  “I couldn’t find him, and I’m already late. I just have to pop across the way. I’m almost there. Don’t worry, everything’s fine.”

  “I love you, bébé. Be careful. Charles should be there soon,” Evan said in a worried voice.

  “I love you too,” I said and tossed the phone in my handbag.

  I hurried toward bridal shop and just as I was about to reach the entrance, a hand reached out of the crowd, grabbed my arm, spinning me around. Before I had time to think about what was happening, his face was in mine, forcing me to look into those dark angry eyes that I had come to fear. Their hard, piercing stare drilled holes to my core. His grip on me tightened as he whispered, “And so we meet again, Princess. You didn't think I'd forgotten about you and your little debt, did you?”

  Anger quickly took over my shock as I tried to pull my arm out of his grasp, “What the hell are you doing? Let go of me! I don't owe you a fucking thing you miserable jerk.” My eyes darted around, looking from one passerby to the next. Wasn't anyone seeing what was happening here? Looking back at him, my eyes met his and I yelled, “Help! This man is hurting me!”

  Derek glanced around and laughed, “Keep moving. There's nothing to see here” then looked back at me and hissed, “Shut the fuck up you little bitch. Don't make me do something I don't want to do. There's a car parked right here at the curb. You are going to quietly walk to it and get in.”

  His grip burned into my skin as he steered me to the car. “Just let me go, and we can talk about this. I'll give you whatever you want!” I pleaded.

  Again I heard his soft angry laugh, “If I believed that, for one minute, I wouldn't be doing this. I wouldn't have spent hours tracking you, waiting for the perfect moment to grab you. You fell right into my lap today.” With a firm grip, he pushed me. “Now, get in!”

  The car door had been opened by someone inside. As Derek tried to push me in Charles' face appeared in the crowd, and I screamed, “Charles! Help me! He's trying to take me!”

  I heard the pounding of running feet on the sidewalk. Charles was running to me followed by half a dozen men in uniform. In a moment, it was over. Derek was on the ground in handcuffs, and I had collapsed in Charles' arms.

  “You're okay now,” he said softly over and over again as he stroked my hair. “I'm so sorry, Melissa. I stepped away and didn't see you leave.”

  I tried to pull myself together, but the trembling fear and anger running through me refused to be calmed. Through sobs, I asked, “If you didn't see me leave, how did you know I needed help?”

  Charles points to two of the faces I loved most. Jane and Lily were watching us; their wide-eyed faces filled with shock slowly turning to relief. “They saw what was happening as they watched you cross the street and head for the shop. Their call to 911 and quickly finding me is what made this all end well.”

  Evan appeared out of nowhere, breathless and for the first time that I knew of, looking completely undone. He pulled me into him, smothering me in his arms as he asked if I was hurt; if I was okay. Silent tears ran down his face as he held me.

  I nodded into his chest that I was okay then looked up at him through my tears, “Really, I am okay... shaken up but I'm okay.” I stepped back from him as several police officers approached me and asked if they could take my statement. But, I saw the door to the shop and suddenly reminded me I was now late for my dress fitting.

  Evan told them we would head down to the precinct and I would give them my statement later, if that was okay with them then turned to me, still looking visibly shaken, “Are you going to tell me who that guy on the ground in handcuffs is?

  I sighed softly, shaking my head, gathering myself, “There was a time, a very short time when I thought I was going to marry him.” I tried to read Evan's face, to gauge his reaction to what he just heard, but his face was blank. “Please, Evan. Listen to me,” I said as I took his hand in mine, “It was a long time ago. I hadn't seen him in several years until... Paris.”

  Evan stepped back from me, letting his hand drop from mine, “This is the guy from Paris? The guy you lead me to believe was no big deal?”

  I nodded silently, still holding his eyes with mine. “Yes... I know I should have told you what really happened, but I didn't want to ruin Paris! Can't you understand that?”

  Evan shook his head in disbelief, “Are you kidding me, Melissa? With all my worrying about you, you keep this from me because you think it might ruin our trip? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  He turned and pointed his finger at Derek who was being hauled to his feet by the officers and growled, “You stay the fuck away from me, my wife and anyone else I know. You got that? I even hear you're in the same state as I am, you will find out how serious I am about that.”

  Evan brought his attention back to me and said as if he was weighing each word he used carefully, “I will say this only once, Melissa so I will be clear. You and I. We will not have secrets from each other. I won't live that way with anyone. I won't live that way with you. If you think you will have a problem with that in the future, we have a lot to talk about and a wedding isn't one of them.”

  Stammering, my eyes pleaded for him to believe me, pleaded for his forgiveness. “Evan, I'm so sorry. I promise... no more secrets. Never again... please. You have to believe me. Please...”

  Evan looked at me for a long moment then pulled me into his arms and sighed softly into my hair, “Bébé, you cannot keep secrets for me. When something happens to you, you must always tell me so I can take care of it. Promise me. My life without you... there are no words for what that would mean to me”

  I whispered back to him, “I promise. I should have told you.”

  Still feeling uneasy about the day's events and Evan's reaction to who had caused them, I told Evan, “Maybe we should postpone the wedding.”

  Evan pulled me into a kiss. “Absolutely not. I love you Melissa. You will be my wife in two days. And from now on you will have security with you.”

  I could see another man standing near Charles. I thought I knew him from somewhere, but I couldn't quite place him.

  “Melissa, this is Andrew.”

  Shaking his hand, I asked, “Why do you look so familiar?”

  He shook my hand, but Evan was the one to answer my question. “He was in charge of you the night at the club. I would go crazy if anything ever happened to you.”

  I reached up and stroked my handsome husband-to-be’s face, “You’re always looking after moi. Je t’aime, monsieur.”

  He placed his hand over mine and smiled at me with a sparkle in his blue eyes, “Let’s go, bébé. We need to go to the police station, give your statement and then go home. We’ll drop the girls back at the hotel first.” Holding me tightly to him, he started walking me to the car, and I remembered the dress!

  I pulled back and looked up at him and reminded him, “Wait! I’m supposed to try the dress on one more time.”

  “Are you sure you’re up to it?” he asked looking at me with a concerned, but surprised face.

  “Not really,” I said, wanting to be alone with him and added, “But it has to be done today.”r />
  “I’ll go with you,” he said pulling me close, “I’m not letting you out of my sight for the rest of the day.”

  “You can’t see the dress! It's bad luck!” I exclaimed.

  He laughed. “Okay, bébé, Lily and Jane can go in with you.” He lifted my hand to his mouth, sliding his lips along the inside of my wrist and then released me reluctantly, “I’ll wait by the door with Charles and Andrew.”

  The girls and I stepped into the shop, and I survived the final fitting. All I wanted was to be in the safety of Evan’s firm arms. When we stopped at the Pierre to drop off the girls, I hopped out of the car and exchanged air kisses and hugs with them before we went to the police station. “Merci beaucoup,” I said to Lily and Jane, “I can’t imagine what could’ve happened to me if you didn’t call 911 and alert Charles. I love you both so much.” Leaving their embrace, I got back in the car, rolled down the window and blew kisses to them as we pulled away.

  Evan…

  RETURNING HOME FROM the precinct, Charles pulled to the curb to let us out, and a swarm of paparazzi was camped outside the entrance to our apartment building. Questions were yelled at us from every direction as we pushed our way through with the help of our two bodyguards. Word had traveled quickly about Melissa's attempted kidnapping and they were all there in hopes of getting the inside scope and the photo of the day.

  “When is the wedding?”

  “Show us the ring.”

  “Look this way, Evan.”

  “Are you okay, Melissa?”

  “Tell us about Derek!”

  Without a response to the madness, we finally made it inside to the safety of the lobby. I told Melissa that I would call my public relations rep and have a statement issued. I knew there would be offers sent to my agent for exclusive wedding photos as well as requests for interviews about today's ugly events.

  It felt so good to be home. I was glad Melissa was able to finish with her dress fitting after the big scare, but I was emotionally drained and in need of a relaxing tub. I suggested a bath to her, and she smiled, “I was thinking the same thing.” I scooped her up in my arms made a beeline for the bathroom.

  I settled Melissa on the side of the tub while I filled it with water and removed my clothes. She started to take off her own clothing, but I stopped her, “Let me undress you, bébé, I want to take care of you. Feel you.” She stared into my eyes, and my chest tightened “I keep thinking about what could’ve happened to you today.” I unbuttoned her pants and slid them down her legs along with her panties. Before pulling her top over her head, I captured her mouth and kissed her softly, exploring her mouth. I didn't want to stop kissing her, but I did, so that I could finish undressing her. As I unclasped and removed her black lacy bra, I sighed, “Please don’t hide things from me. This never had to happen.”

  Standing before me so beautiful and fully exposed, a few tears rolled down her face as she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Evan, I love you so much.” She lowered her head, and started to speak, but I didn't let her.

  “Look at me, bébé. Whatever you have to say, I want you to look me in the eye when you say it. You can tell me anything. I want you to be honest with me. Remember, no secrets between us. Let’s get in the tub, and then you tell me whatever you want.”

  Melissa slipped in the warm fragrant bubble-filled water. I lit a few candles around the tub deck and joined her. Usually I sat behind her, but I wanted to see her gorgeous face. I rubbed her feet making her whimper in delight. “You’re so good to me. I don’t want our pasts interfering with our future.”

  “Not all pasts are bad. Our pasts make us who we are. But in the future I would prefer no surprises from the past,” I said pulling her body to the middle of the tub.

  “If I could think clearly now...” she said breathlessly as I stroked the inside of her thighs and pulled her even closer “I would tell you there were no more surprises.” When I moved to her naughty bits, she couldn't keep from moaning until my mouth covered hers and I plunged my tongue into her mouth.

  Gasping for a breath, she begged me for more. “I need you inside me. Please!” I was always happy to fulfill her requests, and I lifted her onto my extremely hard cock.

  AFTER OUR MUCH needed soak, we put on some lounging clothes and curled up together on the sofa in the library to watch It’s a Wonderful Life. Even though she was obviously enjoying it, I could feel her tense up.

  “Are you thinking about your parents, bébé?” She nodded her head yes. “Do you want to tell me what you're thinking about?”

  She snuggled in closer to me, holding me so tight that I tightened my hold on her. “I was thinking of our last Christmas together. We watched this movie.”

  “We can watch a different movie, bébé.”

  “No, it's fine.” She heaved a big sigh and continued, “It was an incredible day. I stayed at their place Christmas Eve, and in the morning, my dad came to my room telling me to get up, that Santa had been there. He used to tell me that when I was little, and he hadn't done that in years. My mother had told him to let me sleep, but he was too excited to get the day started. I told her it was okay, and that I'd be right down. When I walked into the living room, there were several packages under the tree. It looked like Santa did, in fact, make a delivery. I unwrapped a passport holder first, then a first class boarding pass, new luggage, all new clothes and..." she held up her arm and showed me a bracelet.

  I lift her hand to my mouth; kiss the bracelet and the inside of her wrist. “That's why you never take it off?”

  Melissa nodded her head and took a deep breath. “After we finished with the gifts, we made breakfast together and then spent the day watching movies. It was a great day. The next morning was filled with packing because I was heading to Paris to spend the rest of my holiday break with Lily. We were going to ring in the New Year together. And as you know, my parents were off to meet yours. They dropped me off at the airport before they headed to their plane…” She stopped and then continued in a strained voice, “You know the Eiffel Tower in the other room…” I didn't think she wanted a comment from me so I just nodded yes and she started again, “My mother gave it to me as she was saying goodbye before I left.” I felt her tense in my arms. I gently rubbed her back as she went on, “She said ‘I hope all of your dreams come true in Paris. I love that City; it’s so magical. I know you love it as much as I do, mon Mimi. I have a feeling something good is going to happen when you’re there. Something that will truly change your life’ Then she tucked my hair behind my ears, kissed me on each cheek and pressed the jeweled Eiffel Tower into my hand. Curling my fingers around it she said, “I love you forever.”

  I couldn't see her face, but I sensed she's crying. I hugged her tighter and kissed her cheek. “Bébé, you don't have to tell me anymore...”

  “A driver met me at the airport and took me to Lily's. I texted my parents to let them know I arrived. I didn't hear back from them, but that wasn't unusual so I didn't think anything about it and Lily and I headed out for a night of fun…” I sighed at the thought of that night, the same night my parents were lost to me forever. Wiping my eyes, I continued, “Then a day later, I received a phone call from your father. He told me I needed to come home immediately; my parent's plane was missing. Lily and I packed our bags and went straight to the airport. When I saw your family waiting for us at the airport, I knew they had bad news.”

  “I'm glad they were there for you.” I rubbed her arm trying to comfort her as much as I could. I knew this was difficult for her.

  “They wanted us to stay with them. I thanked them, but I wanted to go home. I wanted to walk in the door and see my parents sitting in the living room in front of the Christmas tree as they were only a few days before. Lily and I grabbed a couple of bottles of wine, curled up in my parents’ bed, drinking and crying until we fell asleep. The next morning I called my mom's designer friend asked her to get a bed and some bedding delivered to the apartment. Then, over the next two days, Lily went
through some of my parents’ personal items and noted other items that would need to be moved. I grabbed two things I wanted, called for a car and headed to the city. I never returned to the house.”

  Melissa went silent, and I decided to ask a question now that she was opening up. “Bébé, what’s the story behind the glass globe? I noticed earlier that the globe was now sitting on the desk in here.”

  She turned in my arms and looked back at the globe. “That was my dad’s. It always sat on that desk in his office upstate. When the light hit it this morning, I decided it needed to be where it rightly belonged. My dad used to show me the globe when he left on business trips. He would point out where we were and where he was going and would always say the same thing, ‘The world is small, and we will always be within hands reach of each other.’ It was one of the things I wanted to keep and had in the closet here until it found its way to the living room.”

  “I would’ve had it sitting on the desk if I knew the story.” She turned back around; I hugged her tight to my side and kissed her forehead.

  “How could you know? I knew so little when I came to this apartment. I didn't even know my own parents’ burial wishes. Thanks to their attorneys and your parents’ help things were arranged according to their wishes, and their funeral was held. A week later my masters program began again, and I started school in a fog; it’s a wonder I made it through. In my four years of college, I only saw my parents on school breaks so when I came home, I kept expecting to see my parents. Life changed so fast; I couldn't call them on the phone and I had no one to check in with. It’s still strange. Sometimes, I imagine they are off on a holiday somewhere and someday they will come home.”

  “I think that’s a natural feeling,” I said softly, wiping her tears.

  “Your parents were so good to me. They called me from time to time, but I never saw them until you took me to their holiday party. I should've stayed in contact with them, but I wanted to forget my old life.”