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The Tessarae Inn |
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Regrets In Jade Tones
CHAPTER 27 “Dayum, Blair. Whose tongue to do want to drop to the ground tonight?” Blair laughed and turned around to see Toni standing in the doorway of the bedroom. “You like?” “Girlfriend, I will not lie to you. You are looking good.” Blair turned and looked at herself in the mirror again. She did look good. Damn good. She had decided to go with the white knit with the subtle beadwork even though it was pretty daring. It was the most luxurious fabric she had ever felt but it clung to body like a well fitting glove. The dress had a turtleneck but no sleeves and was short enough that when she sat down her legs would have star billing. She was a married woman with two beautiful children and the CEO of an up and rising company, could she get away with dressing like this? Hell, yes. “Let me see what you decided on.” She and Toni had agreed to wear the colors of JStarr for the opening. Toni chose red because she had two dresses she believed would work and Blair was more than happy with white. Toni closed the bedroom door then dropped her fur coat dramatically. She stretched her hands out and said, “Ta Da!” “Wow!” Toni had decided to go with a red dress that had spaghetti straps and a draped bodice that made you hold your breath thinking that the slightest tug would release her breasts. The dress gently caressed her upper torso but right at the mid point of her hips the dress flared and became flirty and undulating. The dress draped so well that a gentle breeze appeared to be moving around her even when she was standing still. “You look great. I guess you did have something that would work.” Toni smiled and walked beside her. They stood for a few minutes looking at themselves and at each other in the full-length mirror. “We are doing JStarr proud tonight,” said Blair. “The men will all pause when we walk into the room.” “I remember that song. Klymaxx right?” “Right and you are living proof of the truth of that song.” “You look…” Toni waved her hand and cut Blair off. “Thanks but it’s your night, Blair. Your company. You deserve every accolade you will receive especially after that Wyatt Cooper mess.” “We both deserve credit for not letting that lunatic ruin things. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received about the campaign and the photographs. Now what about RJ?” “You're not going to let it rest are you?” “Nope.” “I took your advice. Finally. I told him everything about how I felt and my lame excuses for my shitty, selfish behavior. Then I asked him for his forgiveness.” “And?” “And I love him. He loves me. He’s working on forgiving me and I’m working on being worth his forgiveness.” “What did he think about the dress?” “Which time? The first time I put it on and he almost tore it off of me just before we made mad passionate love or the second time?” Blair laughed. Maybe it shouldn’t matter so much to her whether RJ and Toni worked out their differences but it did. In the end, they might be one more sign of the power of love and forgiveness that she could hold onto whenever the next storm hit. The door opened slightly. Oh, no. It was Todd. “I don’t want him to see me yet,” she whispered to Toni. Toni moved quickly and blocked the door from opening. Blair rushed to put on her evening coat that had a high standup collar and was designed like a swing coat. “What the hell?” grumbled Todd. “Can’t come in yet. We’ll be down in a minute.” “It’s my damn bedroom,” yelled Todd. “Do you think that for just once you could do what someone asks you to? Wait downstairs.” “The answer is no.” Todd pushed into the room then glanced around. “What’s going on?” “Nothing,” Blair and Toni said in unison. Todd narrowed his eyes and studied Blair for a minute then shifted his gaze to Toni. “You look nice.” Toni stumbled back a step then smiled at him. “Thanks,” she said and picked up her coat. “Are you riding with us?” “No. RJ is waiting for me outside. You and Blair deserve to make a grand entrance.” “Okay. Right. Then see you later.” “I can take a hint,” said Toni as she strolled out of the bedroom. Todd walked over to Blair. “Sometimes I wonder about you and Louise.” Blair laughed. “If it were not for you.” “You look good too, Blair. What’s under that thing a puffy dress?” “Close enough.” “I have to wait, huh?” “You look beautiful enough for the both of us.” “Cut it out.” “Love of my life, you are.” Blair placed her hands on his face and kissed him lightly. Todd took her hand. “Are you ready?” “Yes, I’m ready.” “The coven is going to meet us there, I assume.” “Yes. Starr and Jack are coming with Cassie, Kelly and Kevin.” “Now that’s a trio from hell.” “Not tonight, okay. You and Kevin can square off tomorrow but let’s all just have fun tonight.” “Fun? It’ll be torture every minute. But I’ll do anything for you, Babe.” “Liar, but I do like the way that sounds.” “The bumpkins from Mayberry?” “They will meet us there as well.” “Good. I had an image of all of us stuffed into the limo with a few cows and goats thrown in for authenticity.” “They love you too.” ======= There had been times in the last few months when he had been lonely for Blair. Times when he was afraid that she was pulling away from him and leaving again but in the end the dreaded disturbance had come into his world and the lasting affect was that he and Blair were stronger and more in love than ever. He had been a fool to let the boil on the butt of their relationship called Téa grow and become infected when all he had to do was pierce it and drain the pus away. Well, it had finally happened and all he could see down the road was smooth sailing. As he strolled into the refurbished loft of JStarr he had never felt prouder to have Blair on his arm. People clapped and cheered when they entered. The coven and its attendants rushed over and circled around them while Mayberry was close behind. Everyone was so happy it was giving him a headache. Then out of the mist of the circling glow of love stepped a hired minion in a crisply starched uniform who offered to take their coats. He shrugged out of his and dumped it in the woman’s outstretched arms without preamble but Blair slowly released the clasp of her evening coat. He moved behind her and helped her slide it off her arms and shoulder. He turned and dumped the coat on the woman in the uniform. He heard a collective gasp, a loud buzz then ooohs and aaahs. When he turned around and saw Blair in that dress, his heart almost stopped. What in the hell was she doing? He turned quickly to grab her coat back but the woman was gone. The crowd around them took several steps back as if they needed the extra distance to truly appreciate Blair. This was just not right. She didn’t have a right to look that good. Not in front of all these people. Just as he was about to explode. A whirl of energy broke out of the crowd. “Mommy,” screamed Starr. “You look beautiful.” Blair bent her knees and leaned over and kissed Starr. He couldn’t take his eyes off of Blair, until Jack tugged at his knee. He bent and picked him up. “How’s my big boy?” “Mommy pretty. Pretty Mommy.” “Yes,” he said and hugged him. “Mommy is very pretty.” “Well, Todd, I see you deigned to sharpened you vampire teeth and get your cape out of the dry cleaners and join us tonight.” “Dorian, there are a least three hundred other people here tonight. Go pester one of them.” “You don’t deserve her. Never did.” “Mother, please. Don’t start anything.” Dorian harrumphed. “I never start anything. But I always finish things. Right, Todd?” Dorian strolled away and Cassie moved into his line of sight. “Here let me take him.” “Isn’t Mrs. Castle here tonight?” “Yes and Aletha Riche from the church too. They will watch Jack and Starr and River and keep an eye on the other children as well. Blair just wanted us to all be together as a family first.” He grunted. “We’ve set up the bedroom for the children to have a quieter place and when it’s time for them to go home, I’m going with them. So don’t worry.” “I’ll always worry, Cassie.” She blinked and her facial expression softened. “I know but I promise that I will protect them with my life.” Todd brushed his hand across Jack’s hair. No demons or monsters or scheming shrews would ever get near his wife and children again. He had special security people working the party but Cassie didn’t need to know that. Ignorance is happiness in pointed toed shoes. Cassie smiled at him with a glint in her eye. “Now I think you need to go stand beside Blair because the way she is looking tonight you may have some real competition.” He kissed Jack and handed him to Cassie. She was right about one thing. Everyone in this place needed to know that Blair belonged to him and only him. ======== Blair had talked to all of her business associates and everyone seemed happy and impressed with the launch. The party was beyond her wildest expectations. The mood was shifting now to the pure celebration portion. The speeches had been made and acknowledgments made. The tables had been moved back to enlarge the dance floor and the lights lowered and candles lit. People were beginning to dance. Rae was dancing with Larry and from their movements Blair wondered if there was something going on between those two. Hank and Carlotta whirled around as if they had spent a lifetime dancing together. Hank needed to be careful or Sandra Cole would pick up on those vibes. The rumors about an impending engagement were probably a little premature. Cassie was dancing with Kevin. She glanced quickly over at Kelly. This was not the night for family explosions. Kelly it seemed was diligently ignoring how good and right Kevin and Cassie looked together. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. She had pulled it off. She spied Toni talking to Lindsay and eased over toward them. “All I’m saying is that an artist with your talent needs to be careful of how you exploit your gifts. This little campaign is nice but was it worth the hit to your artistic reputation as a result?” Before she could hear what Toni said, Sam emerged out of nowhere. “Congratulations, Blair. I’m really happy for you.” “Sometimes things work out.” “And sometimes they don’t.” Blair followed his gaze to Bo and Nora whirling merrily around the dance floor. Unfortunately for Sam they looked like they both had finally come home. “I got a letter for Mason Paige today,” said Sam as he abruptly looked away from the dance floor, “again thanking me for the information on Amanda. He understands that the source of the information will remain confidential but he asked me to express the family’s undying appreciation.” “Thanks again for handling that, Sam. There is no way that I could have withheld that information, but I’ve been afraid that Amanda was the one who would pay the price when the truth came out.” “Don’t worry. Everyone involved seems to be intent on putting her best interest first. There were some real fears about disrupting her life but the two families are working together and it looks like she’ll end up having twice the love.” Blair hugged Sam and as if on cue, Lindsay appeared at his side. “Great party, Blair, but I hope you will reconsider using Toni Reynolds for your next campaign. She is a truly talented artist. You can get any old hack for your sort of thing.” “I’ll take it under advisement. Excuse me.” Blair slipped away from Lindsay and Sam. “Hey, Cat.” Blair turned and hugged Sheri who was as they say big with child. “I’m so glad you’re here.” “Me too. Like I told you before I was a little scared because this is a long way from a diner in Creedyville. But everyone is really nice. I’m having such a good time.” Blair chuckled. She wasn’t sure she would call everyone in Llanview nice but Sheri could pull the best out of anyone even a bunch of fire breathing malcontents. “Your cousins are great. They’ve made us feel right at home. I even tried to get your husband to dance with me, but he wouldn’t bulge.” “He doesn’t do a lot of dancing.” “I know. I just asked him to see him squirm. He said something like dancing tends to traumatize unborn children.” Blair laughed. “That sounds like him.” “And your Aunt Dorian is a hoot and a half. She and Maddog just got into it. He was claiming that since he is like your uncle then he and she had some connection. I don’t know who was madder about that comment your aunt or Dottie.” “Where’s Wes? I’ve only had a chance to say two words to him all night.” “The last time I saw him, he was over there in the general vicinity of Todd.” “Todd!” “Don’t worry. Emily is heading over there and …Oh, my God, look.” Blair turned toward the door. ======== “Hey, Outlaw.” Todd found himself smiling at Emily despite himself. “I see your son knocked up Sheri.” “We are very proud of him.” “I can imagine.” Emily glanced over toward Blair. “Looks like you’re taking really good care of her. She’s glowing.” “I’m good at what I do.” “Never doubted it for a moment. Not for a moment.” For a minute, he and Emily smiled at each other. Todd wasn’t really sure of what to do. It was so strange to be around someone he really liked. Then Asa appeared over Emily’s right shoulder and the moment passed. “This here is some filly, Manning. You don’t find them like this one too often.” “Where’s Renee?” “Oooh, now boy, don’t you throw a lasso around your one brain cell and cut off its oxygen worrying about me and mine. All I’m interested in is corralling this one here for a dance.” Emily glanced over at Todd. Todd cleared his throat. “You remember what you said about the posse? He’d be the cattle baron leading the pack.” Emily smiled. “Thanks, Outlaw. I knew you’d have my back.” Todd grunted as Emily and Asa swung out onto the dance floor. Where the hell was Blair? Wasn’t it time to go home yet? He needed to get her home. Just the thought of getting her out of that dress was unsettling him. “How you holding up?” Todd grimaced then shrugged. “Shouldn’t you be with Toni? I saw at least four guys almost fall over a table looking at her.” “Thanks for the suggestion. How’s Starr?” “She’s got both her mother’s beauty and her strength. How’s Jason?” “Tough kid. Real tough.” For a moment they stared at each other. “Come by club someday,” said RJ. “I’ll give you a scotch on the house.” “As long as it’s the good stuff. I have my standards.” RJ smiled, nodded his head then walked away. “Damn, Manny, you sure know how to throw a party. These jumbo shrimp are well…jumbo.” “Aren’t you supposed to be working on a story?” “The one I need to write you won’t let me. If I didn’t already know it to be true, I’d suspect you were censoring the news.” “How come every other Sun employee here is busily getting drunk and avoiding me but you?” “It would have been different if you had let me…” “I don’t want to hear it, Duke.” Duke popped the shrimp in his mouth. “Next time I guess you’ll listen. And by the way, I want a damn raise.” Todd glared at Duke’s retreating back. He’d give him a raise all right. He’d raise his foot and kick his ass. “Everything is lovely, Todd. I know Blair is so proud but you should be over there with her. She’s just radiant.” “Look, Viki, I’ve done as much radiating as I’m going to do for evening. This is her thing not mine.” “I see. One piece of unsolicited advice. Don’t rain on her parade, Todd. I can see the love in her eyes when she looks at you. Thank your lucky stars, everything has worked out.” “Were you talking about me? What about me? I’m your lucky star?” Todd looked down at Starr then touched her hair lightly. “Always.” “Hello, sweetheart,” said Viki. “You look extra special this evening.” “Mommy says I have a real fashion sense but Jason said I look like a dork just because I didn’t wear the snakeskin suit I told him about.” “Don’t listen to that kid,” said Todd. “What does he know? Here take a shrimp.” “Wow, Daddy! Who’s that?” Todd glanced over toward the door. People were pointing and smiling. He strained to see around people who were rushing toward the door and blocking his view. Finally, he got a good view and wished he hadn’t. “Who is it, Daddy?” “That’s trouble.” |