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I fell into my bed wearily, unable to see out of my blurry eyes. I had cried for so many
hours, my vision was messed up. I had blown it. I had accused him without even asking his side
of it, all based on gossip. I couldn't blame him for walking away just like that. He had only
considered marrying me for convenience sake. He was not emotionally involved here. Why go
through with a marriage to someone who spoke to you the way I had spoken to him, and all
because of something I'd heard?
I tossed around in my bed before getting up and pacing my floor for another hour. I went
into the bathroom for the hundredth time and blew my nose. I was going to look like Rudolph
tomorrow morning. I rinsed my face with cool water and lay back down, and after another hour
of staring at the ceiling, I managed to fall into a troubled sleep.
Matasi didn't wake me at 4:30. When I finally opened my eyes and sat up with a groan, I
saw that it was 7:30. I swore at myself for sleeping in, and I reached for the bedside phone to dial
the school. Maria answered. Hi, Maria. Sorry. I slept in. Are my students waiting?"
"No, Lisa. Jimmy had Chang and Vince take them, and he's taking your afternoon classes.
He told me to tell you to stay home. Her voice sounded a bit cool.
I shrugged. Thanks, Maria."
Matasi was gone and so was my car, but Merrick was in the kitchen cleaning up the
breakfast dishes. When she saw me come through the door, she smiled and poured me a cup of
coffee. I thanked her, sinking gratefully onto the chair that she pulled out. I felt like I was ready
to burst into tears again, and she carefully avoided saying anything that would trigger them.
She kept up a pleasant, bright stream of conversation that made it easy to avoid thinking
about what I was hurting over, and I inwardly thanked her for her blessed intuition. Well. I
spoke with Mat this morning, and he thinks I should do a portrait of you. I think it will be
sensational. You have such lovely bone structure."
I flushed and laughed shakily. Me? That would be a terrible waste of canvas and good
paint."
"I think I should do a full length one. I have a beautiful antique gown you would look
exquisite in, a period piece. Yes. I think I would like to do that. Would you consider sitting for
me to do some sketches this afternoon? We both appear to be free."
I shrugged. If you want. You're the artist. I'm more than certain you can make me look
great."
"I want, she smiled. I want to do it for Mat. She called him by a short version of his
name, slightly less Asian sounding, and I smiled. He really would love a portrait of you."
"I have the rest of the week free. Looks like I won't be returning to work until next
Monday, I sighed.
"Great. I sent Mat to the art supply to pick up some things for me. He should be back in a
couple of hours. Her smile was wonderful. I felt warmly calm beneath her sweet spell, and I
knew why Matasi adored her. Then she said something that totally blew me away. I really would
like you to show me some karate. Would you?"
I blinked. Matasi is the master, here. Did you ask him to teach you?"
"I did, but the MCP thinks it's not for women my age. Have you ever heard anything that
ridiculous? I'm only sixty-three."
"MCP? I smiled.
"Chauvinist Pig Male variety. she replied tartly. I'm going to have to reeducate the dear
man, after all. What would he say if someone told him a ninety-year-old shouldn't indulge in
sex?"
"I have, and he laughed at me, I smiled.
"You see? He has a terrible double standard. I'm surprised he considers you capable to
take over his system, with you being a very attractive, extremely female type person, she
frowned.
I flushed. He knew me before I was a full grown female type. He's seen the tomboy brat
in me."
"I think he's seen exactly what the rest of these ridiculous males see in you, and maybe
that's why I was so damned jealous when he first told me all about his beloved Lisa. She sighed,
sinking into the chair next to mine. I wondered if I stood the chance of an icicle in Hades of
attracting a man whose protégée happened to be one of the most astonishingly lovely young
women I'd ever in my life seen, she smiled quietly. I blushed warmly at such praise, coming from
an artist of her repute. I got sick of hearing about Lisa did this, and Lisa did that, and Lisa thinks
this..."
"I'm so sorry, I murmured.
She laughed. Oh, no need to be sorry. I simply had to wait for him to notice I was female
and available. It took me nearly two years to net the man, and I'm glad he had you around to
keep him from being snapped up by some other older woman before I could set my hook."
I laughed in surprise. You've known him for two years? Where was I during this
courtship?"
"The courtship began when you moved out here. He was lonely and looking. I saw my
chance and made myself available. It took me five times with the man before he realized I was a
warm blooded, real woman, but once I got him into the sack, he was a goner."
I laughed, and she grinned with me. But doesn't the fact that he's twenty-seven years
older than you bother you? I asked.
"It certainly doesn't bother him that I'm 27 years younger than him."
"I guessed that much. He's a dirty old man, I chuckled.
"I know, but for 90 he's certainly got a lot of steam left, and I mean to keep him puffing
as long as I can, she smiled.
I sighed and sipped my coffee. Chalk it up to clean living and no smoking."
"If he could bottle and sell it, he'd be rich as Croesus, she smiled. He's more of a man
than most of the 50-year-olds I've dated."
"I really am glad he found you, Merrick, I smiled sadly. He needs someone."
"I'm glad he found you, she murmured, hugging me gently. He told me how you kept
him alive, how you made him believe in life again after his wife died. You were the daughter he
wanted so terribly."
"More than likely the default son he wanted, I grinned.
She nodded and sipped her own coffee, and then, after a moment's silence, she asked
gently, Are you on any kind of birth control, dear?"
I blinked. What?"
"I realize I sound like a mother hen, but the way James and you were going..."
I stared at her numbly. The idea hadn't even entered my messed up mind. Um I have a
prescription of BC pills, and he's been using condoms."
She nodded. Good."
I stared at her. Why?"
"I somehow felt that you might be pregnant. She shrugged delicately.
I stared at her. I couldn't even get a word out. That's impossible! I repeated numbly.
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