Thanks to Kenji for his help in editing. It is always appreciated.
Chapter 47
So many things had changed when we returned from Paris, but at the same time, so many things stayed the same. Obviously, my parents were chuffed beyond words at our engagement, not that they weren't aware of it, as I had used their jeweller, but were happily surprised that Maisie had taken the opportunity to propose to me, too! They had invited Maisie's mom, Ainslie, over for a 'surprise' dinner that Sunday evening. Although we were tired from the trip, we graciously went along with their kind gesture. Later, mom told me they had considered inviting Belle, but as Ainslie took precedence, decided that, perhaps, too many unwanted questions would be raised. Good call, mom!
Mum had put together a special dinner for us, celebrating what everyone already knew. The table was set a bit fancier than normal, as I hugged Ainslie, her smile welcoming me to her family. The evening was just as relaxed as any other, the atmosphere convivial and warm.
We showed off our rings, Maggie seemingly jealous, but smiling! Hmmm. Maisie showed everyone the lock I had placed on the fence all those years ago. Daddy smiled knowingly and squeezed my hand, knowing how much it meant to me.
We handed out the small gifts we had bought and gave them a short, abridged rundown of what we had seen.
Then there was the usual talk of when and where for the nuptials, but we quietly told everyone to relax. It wouldn't be 'til Maisie and I were settled, at the very least.
"My daughter's not getting in your way, I hope?" Ainslie asked dad.
"Not at all, Ainslie. It's a pleasure to have her here. And
yes
, she pulls her weight, okay?" dad laughed. "She can stay whenever and for as long she likes, okay?"
When dessert was finished, Maisie excused herself but quickly returned with a large, wrapped, flat package in her hands.
"For you, darling," she said, and she kissed me.
"What? It's not my birthday!" I laughed.
"Just open it, hen," she smiled so brightly.
I tore the paper and saw a frame. Another long rip and I saw it. Maisie had framed up my original dirtied, work design of Belle's garden. It looked fab, as all the trees, flower beds, and bushes were coloured now.
"This is..." I began to say, but the words wouldn't come.
"Martin has a good copy, leannan. Normally they keep the originals in their files, but he said I could have this. Do you...like it?" she asked.
I pushed my chair away and grabbed her, my lips tenderly engulfing hers.
"I...I love it, darling. Thank you...so much," I chuckled.
"This is so you never forget your first big project, okay? Ohh, and Maggie did the colouring. She did a grand job, aye?" she said, and I hugged our Maggie. It was wonderful. Simply perfect.
We had a wonderful evening, talking, jostling around and telling tall tales to each other. Eventually, Maisie went home with her mom, needing fresh clothes and all before work tomorrow.
I helped moms clear up, then thought this would be as good a time as any to broach something that had been niggling me.
Belle had been spending an inordinate amount of time in London, too, visiting mom at the V&A, and sharing lunches together. Their attachment seemed to be growing and I was concerned. As a daughter, 'kay? Not as a jealous lover!
"Mom? Gotta minute?" I asked, and I took her hand and walked out to the garden with her.
"So, mom. Belle? Hmm? She seems to be making quite a few trips up here lately. Anything you need to talk about?" I asked, unsure if I wanted to hear her answer.
"Oooo. Look! My Chloe is what, possessive?" she teased, and laughed. "Nothing is going on, sweetie. She's a friend, okay? And yes, probably a good friend now, but that's all, all right? You should know me by now, Chloe. Your father and mother know. She just needs someone, hmm? I like her. We all do, but she'll never be a lover...although she is frickin' gorgeous, hmm?" she laughed, so I swatted her arm.
"Don't tease!" I huffed. "Just...be nice, 'kay?"
"Chloe, we're all there for her, all right? She will
never
be in our bed. Your mother and father are not like that. You should know that by now," she smiled, and hugged me. "So, how are things going, hmm?"
And I told her of Maisie and my trepidation; about how things seemed to be changing. And yeah, as it turns out, Belle was talking to her about the same thing! Mom was pretty coy about saying too much, but I felt that something was up.
The next few weeks were busy, the deadline for completion looming over me. Maisie and I spent our obligatory two nights in 'our' room and the other two with Belle. There was still something niggling at me, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Maisie had the same feelings, so at least I knew I wasn't imagining things. Our connection was close, but that elusive 'something' was missing.
Belle was always more herself after Jonathon had spent the weekend. Gee, I couldn't imagine why! Maisie and I loved the way she seemed so bloody perky on the Monday mornings after he left. This was the Belle we had fallen for.
A few weeks before the project was to finish, Belle sat us down after dinner. Maisie and I held her hand, pretty much knowing what was going to be said. I mean, God, Maisie and I had thrashed this thing to death over the last weeks, too!
Ever since Maisie and I had returned from Paris, she was a bit, well, off-ish. Not reticent, but she seemed to be pulling back from us.
Belle, Maisie and I had finally had the talk that needed airing. We had been spending our time with her, but now that the commission was almost over, the question of 'Now What'? loomed over us. I think we all knew this was going to be a turning point for us, none of us was certain how we would work. No matter what our hearts and intentions were telling us, the time we would need to really solidify ourselves was minimal, at best. It was Belle who broached the subject, as only she could, in her own incomparable way.
We sat in her front room, the sunlight streaming through the large picture window. Furtively, she sipped her glass of wine, the words not coming.
"Go on, Belle. Just say it, hmm?" I said. "You think we should, what, break up?" I asked, unexpectedly calm at the words.
Surprisingly for her, she shook her head timidly. This was a part of her neither of us had seen before.
"Straight in there, Chloe, hmm?" she chuckled. "But, yes, darlings. We have to, okay? I'm...I'm thinking of you two now, right? Since you've come back and your engagement is real, you need to concentrate on each other, okay? I...I need to step back from...
this
. I need you both to grow together. I'll just be in the way. I know this now. I need to, finally, be fair to you both," she sighed.
