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The Tessarae Inn |
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose CHAPTER 3
Blair wiggled her toes and then stretched her legs until they almost reached the end of the chaise lounge. Her body still felt warm and tingly from the sea salt scrub administered by a very European gentleman named Raphael. Her face was now slathered in a honey mustard mask and the sounds of the artificially created but still wonderfully soothing waterfall and the chirping birds in the glassed-in aviary that stretched behind her made her drift toward sleep. “These are real cucumber slices. Classy place.” She lifted the cucumber slice off of her right eye and glanced over at Toni. “For goodness sakes, Toni. Stop eating the beauty treatment.” "Hhmp. Isn't that their motto: Good enough to eat." "They don't mean it." "Say what you mean, mean what you say. That's what I think. And I'm hungry-y-y-y." "Will you please give it a rest. We'll go to lunch when we leave here." "Good because I'm not in the mood for carrot juliennes sprinkled on top of the rest of the leftover cucumbers that this place probably calls lunch. And food these days is really really important to me." Oh, what now? Blair removed her other cucumber slice and narrowed her eyes and stared at Toni. Everyday lately it was something new. Cassie patted her stomach . “Yeah, this is nice, Toni." Blair sighed and looked over at Cassie. This was becoming a habit. Cassie seemed to drift into conversations five minutes late. "Glad you suggested it, Blair," Cassie said. "We needed a break.” “Actually we’re working. We're hard at work. I’m thinking about letting Gale Winds serve as the exclusive spa/resort source for JStarr beauty treatments, so we are on a fact-finding mission. And, besides, both of you were working on my last freakin' nerve.” Toni shot straight up so quickly she almost toppled out of the chaise lounge. “Like how?” Blair sighed then folded her arms over her chest and stared pointedly at Toni. “Like that. You need to chill, big time. I’m going to hog tie you and shove tranquillizers down your throat next if this doesn’t work.” Toni swung her legs around and put her feet on the floor as if she was about to jump up but then stopped her movement. She turned back around, stretched out her legs, leaned back and exhaled loudly. “Sorry," said Toni softly. "It’s all RJ’s fault.” Oh, damn. She had listened to every neurotic complaint and fear Toni could find to harp on about the wedding for the last three weeks but this was a new one. “What are you talking about?” “Just the thought of him sends me into a tizzy.” “Sounds to me like you need some sexual healing,” Cassie said. Good one, Cassie. And right on time for a change. “Can’t happen,” Toni mumbled. Blair leaned back and replaced her cucumber slices. ““Why not? You need to go find your man right now and gather twigs and stuff.” “Twigs? What exactly the hell have they put in those cucumber slices you're sniffing over there?” “Shut up, Toni. All I'm saying is you need to go work a ritual with your man. I suspect it’ll make his day.” “We’re staying celibate until after the wedding.” Oh, no-o-o-o. Not another three weeks of listening to this newly created "tragedy." Blair sat up slowly and then noticed that Cassie was sitting up and staring at Toni, too. “Are you serious?” “My idea for making the wedding night special.” “Oh, for crying out loud, Toni," Cassie said. "I’ve heard that plan a zillion times and nobody has ever said it worked. Your wedding night is going to be special all right. You’ll both be so frustrated and stressed out you probably won’t know which end is what.” Toni looked over at Cassie. “Can I get a little support here, please? I mean weren't you married to a minister or something once?" "Yep. And that's why I know it won't work." Toni chuckled. "It's not the sex thing that’s stressing me out.” “If you say so.” “It’s this thing with Keri’s fiancé’s parents. You know RJ…. Well…” Damn. So much for hoping that situation would just blow over. She hated having to champion lost causes but Toni was desperate and couldn't handle a reality check right now. “I’m going to talk to Todd tonight. I promise. And he’ll probably be able to get through to RJ.” "But can you get through to Todd?" "I have a plan. Foolproof. I can only pull it out for truly serious stuff." "That white dress?" "It's cousin." Toni laughed. "Poor guy doesn't stand a chance. Okay, when you finish prepping him for market, tell him RJ is staying at his old apartment.” “He’s what?” “Look, I said we were going to stay celibate until after the wedding. I didn’t say it was going to be easy.” Blair rolled her eyes. Toni sighed then looked away. “Change of subject time. Cassie, are you still seeing Treyscott? Is he your date for the wedding?” “No. Maybe. We aren’t really seeing each other. Just some mutual shoulder leaning but he has nice shoulders to lean on.” “Tell me about it," Toni said. "He is truly fine. I shudder whenever I think about that Shuttlesworth she-bitch and her cooties getting near him. I’m still shaking my head about that one. He could have done so much better." Toni suddenly whipped her head toward Blair. "She’s not still trying to throw them in Todd’s face, is she?” “Please-e-e-e. She may be crazy but she's not stupid." "Are you sure? I mean someone with an IQ bigger than her waist size wouldn't have jiggled them in Todd's face in the first place." "Oh, she's called a couple of times with some quote unquote warnings about The Tornadoes but we shut her down and I think she finally slithered back into her hole, hopefully located on the other side of the world.” “Be fair, Blair,” Cassie said. “She isn’t all bad, just a little misguided. Carl loves her dearly.” This was the other thing about Cassie lately. She seemed to have no idea when something she said was truly bizarre. "Oh, really," Toni said. “So what you're saying is that you still have it bad for that old devil in disguise.” “Hey!” Cassie tossed her cucumber slices at Toni. "Don't call him that. And he's not old." Toni shrugged. “Look, none of us are in love with saints. Got to love those bad boys even when they break your damn heart. Got to know what you’re dealing with, though, Cassie. Because a man like that can put his mark on you just by touching you and after a while there’s not a damn thing you can do to get rid of it.” Blair shook her head then said softly, “Give it a rest, Toni.” Cassie pulled her knees close to her chest. “No, she’s right, Blair. I do know and need to know what Carl is. My heart just can’t seem to hear that message. My only saving grace is that mother doesn’t know a thing about it. If she found out--" "Oh, cut it out, Cassie," Toni said. Blair leaned closer to Toni and said in a hiss, "What is your problem?" Toni patted her face mask then studied her hands for a second. "I told you people that I am stressed out here. Sorry, Cassie, but I’m going to tell you something from experience. Don’t let your mother keep you from the man you love. All you’ll end up with is wasted time and regrets. Now, if Carl is not right for you, despite what your heart tells you, then so be it, but don’t let your mother do your dirty work.” “It’s not that. Mother just has a way of making some things worse.” Toni wiped her hands on her towel. “Well, I say tell her about Carl and let the proverbial shit hit the fan. Maybe she's just the wake up call you need. Fight for your man or let him go but don’t pretend your mother has one wit to say about it.” “You don’t really know Dorian,” Blair said. “Okay, but I did know my father. And I also know what hiding behind him cost me." Blair nodded. From the stories she'd heard, Toni did have dibs on the controlling-parent-from-hell wing of the Family Dysfunction Institute. "I never forget that it’s a flat out miracle that RJ and I found our way back to each other again. A damn miracle.” “Mother really isn’t that bad. She’s just protective.” “Okay, fine but let me ask you this? Do you have twenty odd years to waste? That’s what it cost me.” Cassie exhaled, leaned back on the lounge and closed her eyes. Toni looked over at Blair. “Am I being a total bitch?” Blair nodded. "Oh, yeah." “Sorry, Cassie,” mumbled Toni. “Pass me the guacamole, Blair. I think it’s just the hunger talking.” “That’s the facial mask.” “Well, why are there corn chips around it?” “To make the point like you said that their products are good enough to eat. See why I like this place?” “I’d like it a lot more if they gave me something real to eat.” "In your case, you know what that hunger is really all about, don’t you? Food is just a poor substitute.” “Will you give it a rest, Blair.” “I have three words for you.” “I’m afraid to ask.” “Twigs and stuff.” Toni rolled her eyes. “Hop around in a circle and flap your wings in close vicinity of your one true mate. Todd taught me that one. What happens next will do wonders for your disposition.” Toni burst out laughing. “I’m hungry too,” said Cassie. “Let’s stop for burgers on the way back to the office.” "Burgers? So we spend hundreds of dollars on beauty treatments that Blair won't let me eat and you want to stop for a $1.99 burger for lunch?" "Plus fries." Blair started laughing and couldn’t stop. She truly loved both of them. Even when Toni was driving her crazy and she was worried about Cassie, she was just happy when they were around. Life was sweet.
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Suspicions In Scarlet Repose FAN FICTION SLIDESHOWS
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