When Rachel contemplated the facts, she felt like the middleman because if it had not been for her, Lucien Delors would never have known about Ona’s problem.  She was to blame, but her intentions had been admirable.  She’d watched, and every time Ona and Lucien shared the same space, an explosion of sorts would erupt, and neither would acknowledge the attraction.  She justified her actions based on what she’d witnessed, then she spoke, saying what she believed Ona needed to hear.

"I can go with you...if you'd like.”  Rachel waited, faking a calm demure and she’d not counted on her coworkers response.

"Or I will."  Sahara chimed in, and her unsolicited remark was a confirmation of Rachel's suspicions.  For months, Rachel had noticed Sahara’s unusual fascination.  In point of fact; if Sahara wasn’t talking about music, her conversations would concern Ona Zelle.  She’d become obsessed--and not in a normal healthy way.  In spite of this knowledge, Rachel had chosen to avoid this uncomfortable topic.  In fact...Rachel had purposely ignored the idea that her roommate had a crush on their friend.  But, now she knew that avoiding the obvious had been an enormous mistake.

Rachel said...

"Sahara...we shouldn't be pushy.  If Ona wants someone to go with her, then we should let her make that choice for herself."

Ona wanted to ask them both to go, but she couldn't bring herself to form the words.  For months now, she had tried not to have feelings for Lucien, and she had lied to herself, pretending that her emotions were rooted in admiration.  But last night when she called him, confirming that she would meet him at the end of the day; she hung up the phone seeped in an over consuming knowledge.  She wanted this meeting; and she wanted to meet with him alone.

Ona braced her hand on the counter, while faking a smile.

"I'll be all right.  You two go home and have a good holiday weekend."

Sahara said...

"Are you sure because..."

Rachel interjected, cutting her off.

"Come on Sahara.  We'll stay and wait with her--but as soon as the driver arrives, we'll part ways because this is something Ona needs to do for herself."

Sahara glared at Rachel when she said...

“Look...for the record; I think she’s making a huge mistake.  We’re getting along fine and I don’t see the problem.”

“Of course you don’t see the problem because you’re tucked away behind a soundproof glass, teaching music classes; while Ona and I are out here, turning away teary eyed kids.“

Rachel had embellished her point for added affect, but on her next point; she simply repeated information that Sahara had shared with her earlier.

“Didn’t you say that Judd is prepared to put in more hours, and that means additional classes.”

This was news to Ona, and she said...

“Sahara, when did he say that?”

Sahara pursed her lips, then she snidely said...

“My brother realized that dating a selfish, rich, think that she’s a princess bitch, wasn’t all he’d thought it would be.”

“Cool it with the language.”  Rachel warned her, and Sahara rolled her eyes because in her mind, the title fit.  She said...

“Bottom-line...Judd is breaking up with Fawn Gustafson.  He plans to tell her in a few days.  I think she’s out of the country or my brother wants to go out of the country...”

Rachel positioned her hand in Sahara’s face, giving her a full view of her palm.  The gesture said it all, and Sahara cooled her jets, giving Rachel the floor to lend a brighter light to the situation.

“Judd is flying to Montreal but when he gets back, he plans to end his relationship.  His girlfriend had been against the idea of him volunteering his time, and since she won’t be in the picture anymore; that kinda makes him a free agent again.”

Ona nodded because now she understood and she wanted Sahara’s support but she didn’t have the willpower to debate the issue.

Ona powered down the computers, then Rachel turned off the lights.  As they walked out of the warehouse, the alarm was set, then they stepped out onto the sidewalk.  It was spring, and the center had closed early.  Ona needed time to make her meeting and get to the dock before that last ferry left.  When the women stepped to the curb, a long black town car turned at the corner.  When the car stopped in front of the building, a driver jumped out, then rounded the vehicle to open the curbside door.  Ona felt a rush of foreboding.  A thousand questions raced in her brain.  She stood frozen, until Rachel touched her elbow saying...

"Don't be nervous.  He likes you and not for the reasons you might think."

Rachel's words had been a declaration of something she'd speculated for months.  She'd seen it in his eyes, and the way he addressed her.  She also knew that she shouldn't give him false hope.  She knew how to discourage unwanted suitors because Geff had not been the first man circling and plotting how or when he would take his chance.  In spite of this, there was something about Lucien that fascinated her and she didn't want to discourage him.

Ona gathered her wits, composing herself when she said...

"Thank you Rachel."

Sahara said...

"This is a bad idea.  Maybe we should go with her."

Rachel braced her hand on Sahara's elbow, then she said...

"Ona will be fine.”  Her eyes bore into Sahara when she added...  “Come on...let’s go home.”

Rachel was practically pushing Sahara down the block when she said over her shoulder...

“Goodbye Ona.  Call me."

They were moving at a steady clip.  Ona watched them, and she contemplated her life.  She had never had a girlfriend much less, a girlfriend that wasn't a Samaritan.  Deep down, she hoped that Caleb saw in Rachel all the fine characteristics she’d come to treasure.  Her lungs released a swell of air because she knew that her friendship with Rachel would live far beyond her project.

“Ma'am...”  The driver said, gaining her attention.  Ona briefly looked at him because she was treading on new territory; grounds that her parents would not approve of.  She smiled at the driver, forcing images of her family in the rear of her brain.  When the driver closed the rear door, she rode in the car, completely unaware of her surroundings.  If her heart beat any faster, she would faint and the only thing that helped was the contrived images of children’s faces.  The children that her program could not accommodate.  That was the reason she was doing this.  She told herself this; even though the utterance was a mistruth intended to sustain her.

Lucien paced the width of the room because nervous energy was all that he had.  He couldn’t abide the fact that she might change her mind, deciding not to come.  All sense told him that something would interfere; given that she lived by a strict set of rules.  He’d paid a staff of people to search the internet for months, digging up whatever they could find pertaining to the Samaritan Religious Sect.  He had made it his personal mission to learn all that he could and with each revelation; his spirits would dive, because the knowledge never seemed to be in his favor.  This had been his fate and for months and weeks, he’d endured this.  That is, until last night, when Ona Zelle called him, requesting that they meet to discuss her charity program.  From the moment the conversation ended, he’d not had one moments rest.  Lucien had demanded a great deal from his staff and he still couldn’t still his nerves.  Everything that could be done had been done, yet he still felt a sense of unpreparedness.

He startled when the intercom chimed, humming with the assistants voice...

“Mr. Delors...Ona Zelle is here...your three O’clock appointment.”

He cleared his throat then he said...