“Tollin’s ex-business partners are being considered.  Then there are a few foreign investors--and I don’t know the specifics concerning those beefs and I suppose that’s the reason the investigators are looking closely at his investments.”

He tried to sound interested when he said...

“That all sounds promising.  I’m glad to hear that something is finally getting done.”

“And it’s all due to you Lucien.”  Marisela leaned into her words when she said...

“I mean it.  You get all the credit and if it had not been for your support, I would have given up months ago.  When my parents saw how disturbed I was over my brother’s death, they’d advised me to leave it alone, and to get on with my life.  Personally, I think that my parents had tried to discourage me because my father is afraid that we might learn that my brother had been involved in an unsavory business deal.”

“Well...that’s still a possibility.”  He warned because he sided with her parents on that note, but Marisela didn’t appear daunted when she said...

“I don’t care Lucien...and I have you to thank for that.  You see...you helped me to understand why knowing the truth is so important to me.  I loved my brother...and unlike my parents who have chosen to remain in the dark; you’ve given me the courage to accept whatever I might learn.”

“Well...”  He shifted uncomfortably on his seat.  He brushed off the compliment, when he said...  “You’re giving me to much credit.”

“I don’t think so.”  She'd said...

“Oh, let him play the modest card because he won’t accept any praise.  Not my brother.  Perhaps you can think of another way to thank him.  Maybe a trip.  Perhaps we can jet down to Saint-Tropez it’s beautiful there at this time of year.”

Chantel had made a remark to her friend, but Lucien had zoned out of the conversation, and his thoughts had strayed to the woman of his dreams.  He still had not figured out how best to contact her, and he wouldn’t accept that he’d never see her again.  Lucien’s mind clouded with possibilities and he wasn’t even sure how long he’d zoned off.

A voice startled him, like the snap of a finger.

“Lucien--what’s wrong?  Did something happen at the office?”

Marisela said...

“He wasn’t at the office.  Remember...we stopped there before coming here.”

Chantel studied her brother, and she knew the reason he appeared so distracted, but with her friend here, she didn’t dare discuss his Ona problem.  On the other hand, what were siblings for, if not to share their mistakes

She said...

“If you need to talk...you know that I’m always here to listen.”

“I don’t want to talk Chantel.  As a matter of fact...”

Words that were the sum total of ‘get out‘ teetered on the tip of his tongue; and he would have mouthed them, had it not been for a knock on his door.

Chantel said...

“That must be Clive.  I told him to meet me here.  We’re going out for dinner.  Marisela thought that you might want to join us--evening out our numbers.”

Lucien wanted to groan, and he would later because Chantel had outdone herself.  Not only had she brought Marisela to his home; she’d arranged a scenario that amounted to a double date.

He stood from his seat, and he spoke while walking in the direction of the door.

“No thanks sis.  I have plans for the evening.”

“Oh pleeeease.”  Marisela trill, making him want to plug his ears.

He crossed over the threshold, leading to the foyer.  They were out of sight, and he considered ditching the trio, if it came down to it.  He reached for the doorknob while speaking loud enough to be heard in the other room.

“Not this time ladies.  You’ll both have to share Clive as your escort.  I’m sure my brother-in-law will get a kick out of that.  What blue blooded man wouldn’t want the pleasure of having to lovely ladies on either side of him.”

“Not funny”  Chantel had said, and he ignored her while pulling open the door.

“Clive...your wife is a...”

His voice dropped to a whisper, when he said...

“Ona...what are you...  I mean...how did you get here?”

Ona was wearing the long black overcoat that he’d become accustom to seeing.  There was nothing out of the ordinary when it came to her clothes; but by her demeanor, she appeared distraught and her eyes were the picture of grief.  He stepped aside, clearing a path for her to enter.  He touched the tip of her elbow, and he felt a wetness on the pads of his fingers.  A light snow had begun to fall, and her hair was wet because she’d neglected to cover it.  He’d seen her standing here in his apartment many times, but he sensed that this visit wouldn’t resemble the others.

“Ona...”  The sound of his voice crisscrossed her senses; and instead of hearing him, his pronouncement had felt like the caress of his fingers.  In that moment he’d wheeled one word that had had the power to overtake her.  She felt the sway of the floor before completely losing the strength in her legs.  A range of feelings overtook her; uncertainty, hesitation, resolution, then abject misery, brought on by defeat.  When she heard Lucien recite her name, she’d been jolted by her refusal.  Seeing Lucien had forced her to accept what she already knew.  She didn’t love Geff and she couldn’t give herself to him in marriage.  She lifted red rimmed eyes, and her knees grew weaker.  Lucien encased her in his arms, steadying her.  He’d wanted to shepherd her away, taking her to a part of his apartment where she wouldn’t be seen.  And he would have done that, but when he turned them both around, Marisela and Chantel had been standing just beyond the foyers entrance.

Chantel wrinkled her forehead, and her eyes did a slow up and down appraisal, before saying...

“Lucien...perhaps I should call Clive and tell him to meet us at the restaurant.  By the look of things, you might need my assistance.”

Ona lowered her eyes, avoiding their gaze.  She felt Lucien’s fingers when he tightened his hold, and she felt a firmness in his chest when he spoke.

“Maybe you and Marisela should join Clive at the restaurant.”  His eyes narrowed when he said...”As a matter of fact...that’s exactly what you two ladies should do.”

He looked at the door, then back to Chantel, and his voice hinted that she shouldn’t cross him.

“Don’t worry Chantel.  I’ve got this covered.”

Chantel looked at Marisela, and she couldn’t bare witnessing her disappointment.  She didn’t know at what point her friend had made the mistake of falling in love with her brother.  More to the point; she didn’t know what foolishness Lucien had gotten himself involved in.  A Samaritan girl; really!

“Come on Marisela.  Maybe my brother will join us later this evening.  It is getting rather late.”

She averted his eyes, and the late hour reference was a dig at the Samaritan transportation system.  Chantel and Lucien had talked about the Samaritan ferry and she knew that the last boat for the day would be departing soon.

Marisela stepped out into the vestibule, dejected and before Chantel joined her, she gave her brother the evil eye.  He waited and watched as she closed the door and once she was on the other side; he heaved a sigh.  They were alone.  Lucien directed his attention on Ona.

“Ona...the ferry...”  He guided her out of the foyer, directing her into the living room area.  His brain sprung to life, recalling the dock schedule, then he said...

“You’ll never make it back in time to board the last ferry.  Is there someone we can call to ask the boat master to wait?”

He led her to a chair because he didn’t trust that she wouldn’t fall.  He’d placed his hand at the curve of her back, and through her layers of clothing he could feel her trembling.

Ona’s voice quavered.  The tone possessed no vigor and the sound was flat with a metered cadence.