Love's Rendition
Part 22
by Tragedy88
E-Mail: Tragedy88@goplay.com
Disclaimers: See
Part 1.
Chapter
Twenty-two
Allison
had had no destination in mind as she’d stalked away from the gallery and
Grace.
She’d opened the gallery to Grace’s
paintings, just to show the young artist that she was something, could be
something more….
All
my life I’ve used people. Taken them to
my bed, then tossed them back to where they came.
She was afraid it was happening all over again.
Allison’s path down the sidewalk was
unconsciously leading her to the subway.
Absently she paid the fifty cents to enter, passed through the
turnstile, then found a seat on a crowded bench to wait for the train.
People surged all around her. Big and small, short and tall. Well dressed, or in tattered pants and coats
too light for winter.
Grace
could be one of these people,
she realized. And, before, I never even would have noticed her. How many people have I passed by and not
seen? What if it was me?
A slow and steady rumble pulled her from
her thoughts as the train came to a clacking halt at the loading platform. She entered with the mass of people and
found a seat in the back.
Three stops came and went before she
exited the train and took the long, graffiti covered hallway to the
surface. On the top of the stairs she
stopped and looked up at the dark gray sky.
It had started to snow.
Wispy flakes fell, landing on her nose,
bangs and lashes. Someone elbowed by
her, muttering a curse, before she stepped up to the curb.
She realized she had no idea where she
was, till she saw the dull concrete and crumbling walls of the York bridge off
in the distance. All around her
buildings stood in crumbling testament to one of the poorest sections of
town. Children ran past, chasing
snowflakes that fell in an ever increasing ferocity. Tired adults slogged past, going to or coming home from
work. An electric company van sat on
the curb, while a frozen workman adjusted buttons and wires in the control box.
This had been Grace’s world.
Snow fell faster as she stood there, just
watching. She shoved her numb hands
into the pockets of her coat as the harsh winter wind barreled down between the
buildings. Her dark hair swirled and
whipped around her face.
The crowds thinned and disappeared all
together as the wind-chill dropped and they sought shelter.
After an indeterminable amount of time Allison
slowly resumed her course.
•••
I
stood at the window watching the snow storm and all its blinding fury. There was fear in my heart…not the fear and
terror of hungry days and freezing nights on the street, but fear that I was losing
Allison forever.
Making the mistake of questioning
her motives had been…idiotic. I knew,
KNEW, what my heart was saying, what my soul was craving. But still I voiced my uncertainties.
With a heavy sigh I turned to the bed and
packed the small bag that Vella had given me, with the things that Allison had
brought from the station locker. I laid
my beautiful gown across the bed and smoothed out all the wrinkles.
“You’re leaving then?” A soft voice asked from the doorway.
I spun around, startled to find
Allison, her dark hair a wild frenzy around her face, blown from the harsh wind
and still covered in snowflakes that were slowly melting. Her cheeks were brushed with red, and her
eyes looked swollen. Shaking hands were
quickly thrust in her pockets as I gave her the once over.
“Yeah. I’m leaving, just like you told me to.”
Allison flinched. “I never meant to hurt you, Grace.”
My temper was beginning to rise, and my
sadness from moments before vanished.
“Well, you did.”
“Grace….“
As she stepped forward I stepped
back and fastened angry eyes on her.
“Don’t say anything, Allison.
Cause whatever it is I’d rather not hear it.” Hastily I picked up the bag and my coat and turned back to the
door. She was blocking it
completely. “I’d rather leave
remembering the best months of my life-“
“I’d rather you not leave at all,”
Allison interrupted softly.
“What?” I sputtered. “You said-“
“I know what I said,” she replied,
taking a hesitant step into the room.
She tipped her head and regarded me silently for a moment. “But, if you want to go I’d understand.”
My mouth opened and closed. My throat tightened and I couldn’t talk
anymore as my anger drained away, replaced by a weary sadness.
I sagged onto the bed and dropped
the bag at my feet. No one spoke, and
the only sound was the chiming of the grandfather clock in the hall, and the
wind rattling the windows.
Allison crossed the room in two
strides, knelt down in front of me, and gently placed her hands on my
knees. “Have you ever found someone
whose smile lights up the darkest recesses of your heart? Someone you’d give everything to, to see
that smile everyday? Someone you find
yourself hoping never leaves…even when you make stupid mistakes?”
I nodded silently.
“You don’t owe me anything, Grace. I put the paintings up for you and only
you. I realize now I should have
asked.” She paused, eyes shimmering
with regret, before continuing. “In answer
to your question; the only thing I want is for you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” I whispered. I was close enough to smell the wind and
snow in her hair, to see the tiny flecks of gold in her eyes…and know that I
never wanted to leave her.
I reached out a shaking hand and
traced the line of her jaw. “We all
make mistakes, Alli. My mistake was not
trusting in you, and what my heart was saying,” I said as I removed my
fingertips from soft skin, and dropped them to my lap. “I love you, Allison. Never what you could give to me. Not money, clothes or food, but you. You...and only you."
Amazed, I watched her face suddenly break
down and a hitching sob come tumbling from her lips. “You love me?"
I nodded. “I think I always have.”
“Grace-“
“Shhh.” I held my finger to her lips.
“Let me finish?” She
nodded. “I see you in my dreams. I think of you every waking moment. I tremble at your touch and crave more. I want to kiss you, hold you, and touch
you.”
•••
Allison
drew in a deep breath, staring long and hard into the verdant eyes in front of
her. They shimmered with tears and with
honesty. They spoke more then Grace’s
words alone.
She loves me.
I love you.
Allison moved her trembling hand
across Grace’s cheek, over her lips, along the line of her jaw and slowly to
the back of her head. She gently pulled
Grace closer, until the heat of their breath mingled together.
Silent tears traveled down Grace’s
cheeks.
“Don’t cry,” Allison whispered and wiped
the tears away. “I- I love you.”
"No one’s ever told me that
before,” she whispered.
Pale, blue eyes widened. “Never?”
“Never.” Grace shook her head. “Say
it again?”
•••
I
leaned my forehead close and rested it against hers.
“I love you,” she said again, her voice
low and throaty. "Stay with me,
Grace. I need you."
My chest tightened painfully at her
heartfelt confession. I tilted my head
up and brushed the lightest of kisses across her lips. She responded instantly, a light moan
escaping from deep in her throat.
I pulled away gently so I could look into
her eyes. They were still closed. I smiled as she cracked them open and slowly
focused.
She cleared her throat and offered a
little, lopsided grin. “Sorry if I’m
kinda rusty….”
“Could have fooled me,” I said as I ran
my hands down her arms. She placed a
hand on each of my hips and pulled me close.
I sank to the floor beside her and nestled against her chest, listening
to her heart thundering wildly. “Tell
me I’m not dreaming,” I murmured against the soft cotton of her shirt.
“You’re not dreaming,” she said as she
laid her chin on the top of my head.
“Tell me….” My pulse quickened and I wrapped my arms
around her waist.
“Tell you what, love?”
“Tell…me…this is for a long, long
time….”
“For as long as you can stand me.”
I pulled back and looked up. “I think I can handle you.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “Oh really?”
“Really.”
•••
“Think
you can handle this?” Allison captured Grace’s lips with her own
and kissed her with rising passion.
Warmth flared throughout her body as they melded together, hands
exploring and mouths tasting.
Breathlessly they broke apart,
starring at each other in wonder.
“Remember when we had dinner at the
Salisbury?” Grace asked suddenly.
Allison nodded and grinned. “You mean when you swore at me in Arabic?”
The artist lifted a pale brow. “I wasn’t cursing at you.”
“Mmmha,” Allison mumbled. “So, you ever gonna tell me what nek ni
means?”
Grace shook her head. “Nope, but I can show you.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.”
•••
©Tragedy88 2000