Элла Франк - Exquisite

Watching her closely he reached above her head to where her bent arm rested. He took her fingers in his and entwined them. “Tell me what I can do to convince you Lena.”

Shaking her head those big green eyes watched him. “I don’t know. I just know for the last nine years I haven’t let anyone in. I haven’t wanted anyone close.”

“Why?” he asked softly. “Tell me, let me know what I’m up against.”

Closing her eyes she gripped his hand hard.

“Me.” she blew out a breath and he felt it on his face and lips then her eyes opened and focused sadly on his. “My guilt. My fear.”

Scooting his body closer on the blanket until there was only an inch between their bodies he reached over and placed his free hand on her hip, they mirrored one another and his eyes were lined up with hers. He wasn’t letting her get away from him and he wanted to understand what she meant.

“What do you mean your guilt Lena? You didn’t do anything. Your walking around with all this self imposed guilt you don’t even deserve.” he paused and asked softly, “Did you pull out before the light turned green?”

Her eyes widened and she sucked in a breath. Finally she shook it and whispered, “No it was green and it was later determined that it had been green. The other car ran the red.”

“Then why do you beat yourself up?” he demanded quietly. “It wasn’t your fault. It was a horrible accident that happened in the blink of an eye and you lost Carly tragically but Lena listen to me. It wasn’t your fault.”

He traced an open palm up her arm and cupped her cheek. “Baby you need to let these old ghosts go. They’re making you old before your time and you’re going to end up being left behind.”

Lena felt her eyes well up and a tear escape. She bit her bottom lip trying to hold it together. “I know all of that. I’ve been telling myself for years there was nothing I could’ve done, but I replay that night in my head over and over and all I can come up with is that I wish it’d been me and not her.”

He cupped her cheek and brushed a thumb over it. “Oh Lena, don’t ever think that. Number one if that had happened, you wouldn’t be here to help all the hundreds or maybe even thousands of children you have over your career.” he paused then smiled, “Like that young boy you told me about, what’s his name? Robbie?”

Sniffling Lena nodded, “Yeah.”

“And secondly I’m pretty damn thrilled you’re here. Let me be what you need.”

“I’m scared.” she confessed.

“Of what?”

Looking down she took a deep breath and admitted, “Letting you in then losing you.”

“Lena, look at me.”

She raised her eyes to his blue gaze and they were full of understanding and compassion.

“I’m not going anywhere unless you make me or someone up there,” he paused raising his eyes skyward, “Makes me. But you can’t go through life not letting anyone in on the off chance they’ll die, or else you’ll die of a lonely heart.”

Lena sat up and swiped at her eyes. He followed sitting cross legged opposite her. He reached out and took her hands in his.

“I’m going to say this once and then we’re going to go home and I’m going to take you to bed and show you how much nicer it is to feel and be with someone than to be numb and alone.” He paused leaning over to lay his lips on hers, “It’s time to feel again. Let me save you from yourself. You were drowning when I found you, but I’m not letting you go not without a fight.” He kissed her sweetly and moved back standing up and over her. Lena looked up at his out stretched hand.

“Take my hand Lena.” He offered and she knew he meant it in a way that went far beyond offering to help her stand.

It’d been two weeks of late nights spent in Mason’s arms and rushed days down at the hospital. Lena came into her office and sat down behind the desk. She’d agreed to go down to Exquisite tonight and have dinner and she could feel herself getting pushed further and further back from the time she wanted to leave. Looking at the paperwork on her desk she was about to start charting when there was a knock on the door. Raising her eyes she was shocked to see her mother standing there.

“Mom. What are you doing here?”

Lena watched as her mother smiled warmly as she stepped into her office. “Now is that anyway to greet your mother?”

Lena smiled back and her mother looked at her with a curious expression. “No. I suppose it isn’t. I just wasn’t expecting you today. Is dad with you?”

“No dear it’s just me.”

Lena stood and walked around her desk waving her in. “Well come in. I was just about to do some paperwork.”

“Oh, well don’t let me interrupt you honey.”

“Oh nonsense, it can wait. It’s waited this long.”

Her mother took a seat then looked at her with a smile so bright it almost blinded her. Lena sat back against her desk and grinned at her. “What is it?”

“You.” she paused, “You look different.”

For a horrifying moment Lena wondered if Mason had left any noticeable marks on her from the night before, then her mother clarified.

“You look happy Lena.”

Ahh, she thought nodding her head. Wow, maybe Mason had somehow changed her molecule make up and now she was glowing. Grinning at that thought she replied.

“I am happy mom.”

It was almost comical how shocked her mother looked except it wasn’t because she knew that for so long she’d caused this wonderful lady to worry.

“You’ve met someone.” she accused with a secret little smile coming over her face. Lena clasped her hands in front of herself and continued to smile in a way that she could never have seen herself doing a few weeks back. She felt like she was twelve with a crush instead of a woman in her mid thirties very possibly on her way to being in love. Her mom sat forward on her seat and bit her lip like she was about to share a secret. “Well tell me all about him.”

Lena felt her cheeks tighten as she grinned. “He’s wonderful mom. He owns a restaurant downtown and is the head chef.”

Her mothers eyes widened and she sat back, “Oh honey, good for you getting a man who can cook.” she paused then asked, “How did you two meet?”

“Actually through you.” Lena replied and watched her mother frown.

“I don’t understand. I haven’t been here in weeks and even then.”

Lena laughed now shaking her head. “No, remember when you sent me flowers a couple of months ago for Carly?”

Her mother nodded silently.

“Well his mother owns the flower shop you used, and he delivered them.”

Lena watched as her mother clasped her hands and beamed up at her. “Oh isn’t that a wonderful story!”

Lean smirked a little, “Well not really, we couldn’t stand each other at first.”

“Oh pish! Who cares about that obviously you got past it.”

Laughing Lena aggreed, “Yes we did and Mason’s wonderful.”

Her mother froze then her mouth dropped open. Lena raised a brow as her mom asked, “You don’t mean Mason Langley? That young man that’s been splashed over the television? What are they calling him? Ahh the Casanova Chef.”

Lena winced knowing she’d had everything to do with that nickname. “Yes actually, that’s him. But that whole article and nickname was a misunderstanding and is kind of my fault.”

Her mother still looked like she was in shock. “You’re dating Mason Langley?”

Nodding slowly Lena was worried this wasn’t going to go well at all, and then her mother said softly. “My oh my Lena O’Donnell. You don’t date for years and the first man you choose is a man labeled Casanova?”

“Mom,” Lena said softly about to defend Mason.

“Well I always said you were quietly brilliant. Honey he’s gorgeous!” and just like that they burst out laughing together.

That’s how Mason found her. He’d come down to pick her up on his way into work and there she was in her office laughing with a little lady who was seated with her back to him. He stood at the door for a moment and enjoyed the sight of her. Over the past few weeks he’d watched her change and grow into a calm, relaxed and incredibly beautiful version of herself and right now as she laughed freely she took his breath away. She must’ve felt his eyes on her because she raised hers and stood up pushing off the desk. He smiled, feeling pure joy from just being near her, when she leaned down and whispered something in the woman’s ear. Then he saw the woman turn in her chair and look up at him and he was staring into wide green eyes that mirrored Lena’s.

“Are your ears burning?” Lena asked him as she walked around the chair the woman was in and over to him. He moved into the room and paused as she stopped in front of him gripping his arms and leaning up to brush a kiss across his mouth.

He shook his head. “No, should they’ve been?”

“Hmm.” she grinned against his mouth. Stepping back she reached down and took his hand tugging him closer to the woman who was still looking at him with curious but warm eyes.

“Mason, this is my mother. Alannah O’Donnell.”

Mason watched as her mother stood gracefully and walked around the chair. She reached out a hand and he clasped it in his and shook it gently.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am.”

He watched as a smile spread across her face and he was struck by how attractive she was for a woman of her age. She looked like an older version of Lena, and what was that saying? If you find the woman you want to spend your life with, get a good look at her mother because that is who you’ll be with in twenty years. Well, Mason thought, no complaints there. He turned his eyes to Lena and she was beaming at him.