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Fourteen months later -- Greece
Janette could not believe her eyes. Natalie
Lambert strolled down the street. In her arms, she carried a small
infant - maybe half a year old.
As if sensing her, the baby turned her head to look directly at her.
Beautiful blue eyes held her gaze.
"Luci, what are you staring
at, hmmm?" Natalie turned to follow her line of view. She saw
Janette for a moment only. But there was no mistaking her.
"Janette!" Natalie called.
She turned and fled as quickly
as possible back to the little apartment where they had been living.
She knew she didn't have much time at all.
Janette was there when she
turned around after making the phone call.
"Sorry to startle you, Natalie.
I thought I should hear your story before returning to Nicholas."
Janette listened to her
impassioned plea. How the child would only be used as a pawn, or
a weapon, or a means of control in their three way struggle.
"My heard belongs to LaCroix, and my child to Nick. It would
greatly pain me to have to choose. You know how it is to be in the
middle of those two. Probably better than anyone. I am her
mother. I cannot give her over to that existence."
"Her conception," Janette
interrupted. "It was possible because of the temporary cure?"
"Yes, although it wasn't
entirely my decision. I love her, Janette. I must do what I
know is best for her."
"At the cost of denying
your own heart what it desires?"
Natalie nodded.
"You also deny Nicholas
his chance at fatherhood, and LaCroix his chance of real love. Quite
a price to pay for this little one." Janette looked at the baby longingly.
"Did you ever consider that maybe..."
"Luci," Natalie said.
"That Luci would be the
cause for a truce, a reconciliation?"
"I dream of it every night.
But that's all it is. A dream. The reality of it is with me
out of the picture, father and son are getting along better than they ever
have."
"Reconciled through grief,"
Janette said.
"It has been over a year.
Surely LaCroix no longer mourns my passing."
"I'm afraid he does.
Nicholas too. I was always able to calm him down before, but he had
something too painful to discuss even with me, it seems. I think
that you must have told me what that was tonight. I sense that you
hold no grudge toward him? LaCroix knows, and although he doesn't
hold it over Nicholas' head or even mention it, it haunts him."
"LaCroix escapes to your
boat as often as possible. He plays the same two songs over and over.
He and Nicholas share equal time on the radio, now. I don't know
whose comments are bleaker. I expected as much from Nicholas, but
LaCroix - it's as though he's unable to move past this. Perhaps unconvinced
you're really gone. Now I see why.
"Natalie, I appreciate your
willingness to confide in me. I know exactly how you feel, having
spent centuries between the two myself. But you must have known,
even as you tell me this, that I cannot keep this from them. Even
if I wanted to, they will sense..."
Natalie nodded. "I
know, and you must know that I will not be here when you return."
"When *they* return, Natalie.
I'll not aid them in this. Do you have sufficient funds...?
May I assist you in...?"
"No, thank you. I
was a doctor, after all. Not exactly a poor man's job. We are
quite comfortable, plus LaCroix made sure I would never want for anything...
Thank you, Janette."
"Good luck, Natalie."
"Good-bye, little one.
She has his eyes, you know."
"I know."
.........................................................
Epilogue
Natalie slipped the chain
around her neck. The weight was comfortable, familiar. Another
present from him. Her first. She glanced at the paper in her
hand. It was getting to be quite worn, the edged frayed. The
star he'd named after hare and the map which told her how to find its location
in the sky was the last thing to be put away before they left. She
folded them
carefully and put it in her pocket. Some things were too precious
for suitcases. She wished she had a picture. No matter, he
was forever etched in her memory. Would she always think of him and
wonder what could have been?
It would have been so much
more simpler if she had been able to convince herself that she loved Nick.
At one time, this would have been all she wanted in the world. The
impossible made possible. She looked around one last time at the
home they were leaving behind. The first of many, she thought with
a sigh. She picked Luci up, and headed downstairs to the taxi.
The End
A final note: the song lyrics are taken from Andre Bocelli's
song entitled: Voglio Restare Cosi . The other song lyrics are from
Loreena Mckennit's song entitled Dante's Prayer. No copyright infringement
is intended. If you liked it let me know at nicolehrtln@yahoo.com
Back to Part Six!
