Turning Leaves v1 --Previous version, The nature of Dorian... and Amelia.

[cher62]

Very good chapter. I wanted to see how Dorian handled things with Amelia. I'm not a big fan of Amelia's but could so relate to her relationship with her sister. So Amelia only last week discovered Mel Hayes was Dorian's husband? I'm not sure I buy that. Interesting twist. David. Just ugh. David. Things are complicated in your story. I like that.

[Jaemlyn]

Chapter 26 - Enlightening Messages


The previous evening….

It was one of the emptiest nights Ray had experienced since moving to this place, and that was saying a lot. The television was just background noise for his thoughts. Even the moon seemed to understand what he was feeling as he looked up at it from his apartment window.

Lola was his daughter, and he was all she had left -- her best chance at recovering normalcy in her life. He had not left her side since prom night, except to eat, sleep, bathe, and take care of other business – until two days ago.

The last five months were one big blur, and now that he had time to step back and take stock, he didn't know how to think or what to do with himself. If he would have wanted to stop thinking about his daughter, he wasn't sure he would have been able to.

Even when he wasn't with her, she was his focus, his sole project, his life's work, and his goal was to help her get better so that they could both go on with their lives in a happy, healthy way -- and until he was sure she could have that, he couldn't.

Now he felt helpless – useless to her. And without her as his focus, he wasn't sure what to do with himself.

His thoughts turned to all the things she had said to him after he came back to Llanview -- after he was finally able to stay and be the father she deserved and try to make a home. She had blamed him, numerous times, for her behavior -- particularly when he had asked her not to pursue Markko, and she had turned the tables on him.

The memory made him subconsciously frown and nod at the moon as he reached for his drink. The simple problem was that Dorian had made a different decision than Markko had. And yet, somehow, his decision to stay with Dorian, to keep Lola close to the situation, was part of the problem they faced now.

He turned the TV off and pulled the curtain shut, finished his drink, and put his empty glass in the sink. The couch looked inviting, so he laid down on it and got comfortable.

He was awakened shortly before midnight by a chime from his cell phone. He did not hesitate to jump up and dig the phone out of his pocket. He had fallen asleep -- he didn't know for how long -- and for all he knew, Lola was requesting him.

No. It wasn't Lola.

His momentary crushing disappointment was overcome quickly by curiosity. It was a message from … Dorian.



The next afternoon, Dorian was sitting alone in the chapel at Llanview Hospital, having just come from the site where she and Viki had been in a car crash over a year ago. Things had changed since the last time she had been in either place.

She didn't pray. She just sat there as if waiting for an outcome.

She spent nearly a half hour this way, lost in thought, before her frustration got the better of her. She stood and stomped her foot. "Mel, if you're with me…."

She looked around, but no answer came to her.

I'll give him another five minutes, she told herself as she sat back down. After two, a couple entered with a chaplain and their situation looked desperate. Dorian sighed and took a last, sad survey of the room before leaving them to their prayers.

She made a detour on her way out of the hospital and stopped at the nurses' station down the hall from Shaun to find out how he was doing. She wasn't encouraged that he was not awake, and it seemed to confirm to her that there was – at least currently – no divine intervention in her life.



Amelia figured she was going to be the one to ruin everything after all. Somehow, her sister was always right, even when it made no sense. All it took was a twist in the interpretation. It was obnoxious, and once again Amelia was left wishing that Melinda would stay out of her life.

Amelia wondered if Melinda had actually been able to offer Dorian the words of Mel Hayes. If so, at least that was a good thing.

If only Dorian could understand it.

When Amelia came back to campaign headquarters after lunch, Dorian still had not returned. This was not good. Hopefully, Dorian had at least heard from David. Perhaps she was dealing with that situation.

Amelia wished she had been honest with Dorian about her sister earlier. She had just accepted long ago that when Melinda gave her advice or some cryptic warning, there was usually nothing she could do to change anything. To Amelia, the future was just the future – it was something you could influence and do your best to make the most of, but you couldn't change it with merely vague messages. Sure, if she ever heard anything specific, maybe she could do something about it.

Maybe that was why Amelia tried so hard to change the injustices she faced in the present. Perhaps it was the only control she had over things to come.

Sometimes she wished Melinda would practice her gift more – then, possibly, she could be more specific and more obvious. Amelia fully believed that psychics could be precise – at least, when they were telling the truth and not trying to manipulate people.

Amelia understood all too well what it was like to feel influenced and taken advantage of, and wished there was a way to explain it.

Her phone dinged that she had a new text message and she pulled it out of her jacket pocket, hoping it was from Dorian.

No. It wasn't from Dorian.

She sighed at the phone as she opened the message. It was from her sister.

[divafan]

oooh.....a message from Dorian? I am loving this! Please don't tell me that Amelia is going to interfere with Dorian and Ray reconnecting.....or is it David that is going to interfere?

[cher62]

Is that my man Ray? So what message did Dorian have for Ray? Hmm. Thanks for letting me know what he is up to and that his life has been pretty empty without Dorian. As it should be. So far I am liking the sister stuff with Melinda and Amelia. I felt bad for Dorian wanting to hear from Mel.

[Jaemlyn]

Remember the night Dorian kicked David out? Hm, was that just yesterday evening?

*angelic smile *

[cher62]

Ah OK. That makes sense. Hmm. Wonder how Ray will react to seeing THAT?!

[Jaemlyn]

Chapter 27 – What Are You Doing?

Dorian was ranting at the help about the plants and flowers needing to be watered as she found a prominent home for the bouquet R.J. sent her. “Ana, those live roses would have lasted at least another few days if you had used the preservative I showed you….” She waved her hand as the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.”

She flung the door open. “It’s about time,” she smarted to David. “You called a half-hour ago. Where have you been?”

“Late lunch,” he frowned, stepping inside.

She practically dragged him toward the sitting room by his arm. “Ana!” she called as she pushed him through the double doors and peeked around the corner into the kitchen. “Bring down David’s things, please. Just leave them in the foyer.”

David blinked at her as she turned to him. “What, you packed up the rest of my things?”

She smiled and raised an eyebrow at him. “You bet I did.”

His frown deepened for a split second before he noticed the yellow envelope he had delivered to her on the table near the doors to the terrace and crossed the room to pick it up.

Dorian grabbed the envelope from his hand. “David! What did Todd say?” she demanded.

“You’re not going to like it,” he sighed at her, pulling the envelope back out of her hand and peeking inside.

She took it back. “Just tell me. I can handle it.” She made a daunting face at him and gave him a serious nod.

“Four-hundred-thousand dollars,” he stated, reaching for the package again.

A bit stunned, she allowed him to re-claim the envelope and look inside it. “Four-hundred … thousand?” she reiterated. “David, that’s a completely preposterous amount!” She shook her head, disbelieving. “Todd may not like me, but he knows I’m not that foolish!”

He pulled a couple of the pictures out of the envelope and tilted them away from the glare of the windows to admire them. “He said it was chump change and that you’d pay it if you were serious about not wanting these published.” David crinkled his nose and squinted one eye, looking up in thought. “It was something to do with advertising profits per edition … circulation, and how many people would buy a copy that had this picture on the cover.” He grinned as he turned the picture that had her face in it toward her.

“Todd has apparently forgotten that I happen to know a little bit about publishing….”

Starr’s voice came from behind them. “Uh….”

Dorian grabbed the pictures out of David’s hands and clutched them to her chest as she turned. She flashed a sweet smile. “Starr, honey … I didn’t hear you come in.”

“…Not everyone yells when they come in the front door, Aunt Dorian. What’s he doing here? And where’s Amelia?”

“You first,” Dorian told her. “Where’s Langston?”

“Markko was going to help her study. What’s going on?” Starr eyed David suspiciously.

“Don’t tell me she is over at that apartment again,” Dorian groaned. “You girls really, really, spend too much time over there. Next time one of you wants to see your boyfriend, why not invite him over here?”

David had to interject what he considered to be common sense. “Oh, come on, Dorian. Knowing your mother could knock on the bedroom door any minute doesn’t exactly cultivate the mood to ‘study.’ And I use the term ‘study’ loosely. You know … like ‘studying’ physiology … and I use the term ‘physiology’ loosely….”

Starr glared at David as Dorian closed her eyes and sighed at him. “David, please,” Dorian said. She opened her eyes, giving Starr a pleading look. “I think it would be respectful of Cole and Markko to come by the house more often – not just respectful to your family, but to you girls.”

“Right … sooo … what’s David doing here?” Starr shot him another accusing glance.

Dorian hesitated for only a moment before answering. “He just came to pick up the rest of his things.”

“You couldn’t have just sent them to him?” Starr crossed her arms, skeptical.

“We had a few last business matters to go over,” Dorian explained.

Starr stepped closer. “Business matters that involve my dad’s newspaper and whatever you’re trying to keep me from seeing right now?” She gestured to the pictures Dorian was protecting.

David shrugged. “You might as well tell her Dorian. She’ll just find out from Blair, anyway.”

Dorian turned sideways so that David and Starr were on each side of her. “No!” she protested. “Blair can’t know about this.” She shook her head dramatically before pausing to look at Starr and then looking down at her own hands which were still holding the envelope against her torso. “I don’t want Blair running to Todd and trying to get him to change his mind.” She was careful as she slid the pictures back into their envelope. “Do you know when he plans to publish this?” She looked at David, who seemed either unaware or disinterested in the answer. “Oh, never mind. He’ll probably wait until closer to Election Day. Just tell him … I’ll be in touch.”

David lowered his chin and his voice, eyeing Starr. “So you’re going to pay it then?”

Dorian had not forgotten that David planned to get a cut of the money. “David, do me a favor and get out of my house,” she told him.

Starr watched as Dorian followed David to the foyer. He gathered several bags from the floor at the bottom of the stairs, but Dorian stepped forward when he put a black cowboy hat atop his head. “I’ll keep that, if you don’t mind?” she asked him, reaching up and retrieving the hat with a charming smile.

David sighed and nodded at her. “Need something to remember me by?” He winked at her and turned to go.

Starr closed the front door behind him as Dorian tossed the hat onto the nearby table. “So what was that all about?” she asked. “Is my dad blackmailing you?”

Dorian retreated back into the other room, disgusted. “No, I think David is blackmailing me. Your father is just his cohort.”

Starr pursued her. “So my dad is helping to blackmail you,” Starr clarified. “And he’s working with David?? Is that what you and David were fighting about last night?”

“No.” Dorian opened a bottle of sparkling water. “Sort-of.”

Starr stood beside her and looked concerned.

“Okay, this is what it boils down to,” Dorian confessed to her niece. “If David can’t have me, then he at least wants to get his hands on some money. Todd’s just looking forward to causing trouble – as usual.”

“So what’s in the envelope?” Starr asked, point blank. “Pictures – of what?”

Dorian poured a glass of water. “Nothing worth four hundred thousand dollars, I’ll tell you that.” She swigged her water.

“Four hundred … thousand?” Starr gasped. “Those must be some good pictures.”

Dorian lifted an eyebrow and shrugged.

“What exactly are you doing in those pictures, Aunt Dorian?” Starr asked, half horrified and half amused.

Dorian considered her answer as she sat her glass back down on the tray. “David.”

Starr’s eyes widened. “Ugh, okay … sorry I asked. … What are you going to do? Pay him?”

Dorian sighed. “Starr, don’t worry about it, okay, sweetheart? I’ve got it all under control.” She tried to change the subject. “Are you still going on that shopping trip this weekend? I might have you pick up some things for the boys.” She carried her water to the table and flipped open a catalogue. “I might have to order Christmas presents online this year – I’ve just been so busy with the campaign it seems I never find a minute to actually think about what everyone would like to have.”

Starr knew that there was no going back to the conversation about her father at this point. Dorian had ended it as abruptly as a bolt of lightning ending an outdoor sporting event. “Sure,” she answered, looking around. “I’d be happy to help.” She stood and watched Dorian.

Her aunt looked up at her. “Starr?”

“Aunt Dorian, is everything okay? You’re doing that thing you do.”

“What ‘thing?’”

“That thing where you pretend something isn’t bothering you by talking about something you’re not very worried about.” Starr took a step closer.

Dorian blinked at her. “I just have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Sure,” Starr agreed with a shrug. “Soo… rather than work on the campaign … you’re going to sit at home browsing a catalogue?” Starr thought back on Langston’s theory that Dorian was lonely. “Did something happen?”

“You know,” Dorian answered with a small smile, “I truly just needed some quiet.”

Starr nodded and shrugged. “Okay.” She took a few steps back and turned to leave Dorian to her thoughts.

Dorian looked up at her. “And Starr?”

“Yeah?”

“Please don’t tell your mother about this situation with David.” It was more a statement than a request.

“You mean the situation with my dad?” Starr shrugged, worrying her aunt. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t.”

Dorian smiled and looked distracted until Starr was gone and then slapped her catalogue shut. She hid the pictures in a nearby drawer and decided she should head back to the campaign. Amelia had probably already had to reschedule some thing or another.

Dorian was surprised to hear someone come in the front door, and was going to be happily surprised if it was Langston. She walked toward the doors, but stopped when she saw Amelia in the foyer.

“What are you doing here?” she asked her campaign manager.

Amelia let out a deep breath. “I have a message for you.”

[Jaemlyn]

Reminder - This story is being posted simultaneously at FanFiction.net so if you're not a member of this board and would like to leave a comment, you can do so here.

[Jaemlyn]

“What are you doing here?” she asked her campaign manager.

Amelia let out a deep breath. “I have a message for you.”


Chapter 28 – Moving On


“Another one?” Dorian asked, slightly concerned but mostly disinterested. She turned back to the sitting room and sat down in one of the chairs, throwing her catalogue open again. “I thought you were letting the volunteers take all these calls. Frankly, I’m sick of hearing about this little issue you created.”

Amelia paused before stepping forward with her coat still on. “This message isn’t about the picture,” Amelia informed her, following. “I think it’s something more important.”

Dorian regarded her with a frown. “Oh?”

Amelia nodded and opened the text message she had received from her sister before slowly handing the phone over to Dorian.

Remind her he said, “Always.”

Dorian instinctively knew what the message meant, but couldn’t accept it. She tilted her head at the message. “What is this?”

“That came from my sister just a little bit ago. I assumed she meant you.” Amelia stood nearby. She paused while Dorian didn’t say anything. “I don’t know who else that would have been directed at.” She still felt a bit awkward and uncomfortable after her disagreement with Dorian earlier.

Remind her he said, “Always.”

Dorian read the message again, letting it sink in this time, allowing herself to believe in it, and realized what she had asked in the chapel only a couple of hours ago.

Mel, if you’re with me….

She gaped at the screen of Amelia’s phone as she remembered that Mel had indeed said what she was reminding her of.

I’m with you always.

“Oh,” Dorian told herself, holding the phone to her heart.

Amelia’s curiosity got the better of her. “So you know what that means?”

Dorian nodded before she looked down at the message again.

“Who said, ‘Always?’” Amelia asked. Considering their earlier conversation, she could guess it had been Mel Hayes but she wasn’t going to place any bets on something her sister had said that Dorian may or may not have been reading in to.

“Mel,” Dorian answered with a wistful smile to the text on the screen of the cell phone. Then she paused to consider and tapped the phone with her index finger. “She referred to him in third person,” Dorian whispered.

Amelia couldn’t hear her. “What?”

Dorian looked stunned as she motioned at the phone and repeated herself. “She referred to him in third person.”

Amelia wasn’t sure what the significance was, but took a seat next to Dorian, very careful not to seem too eager or close.

Dorian continued to stare at the cell phone in thought.

Dorian remembered the words Mel had spoken to her in the ladies room at The Palace last Sunday night.

Do you remember what he told you?

She had asked the young woman, “Who?” It was the fact that Mel was speaking in third person that had thrown Dorian off. Mel had said “he” instead of “I.”

You deserve to live a full and happy life….

Indeed, Mel – her own Mel – her husband Mel – had told her that. He had spoken through Madame Delphina.

You deserve a wonderful and a joyous life. That’s all I ever wanted for you.

“Dorian?”

Dorian looked up at Amelia, halfway detached from reality and dazed from her reverie. “Hmm?”

“Always what?”

Dorian sighed at the phone. She smiled and looked back at Amelia. “Mel … Mel Hayes … he’s always with me. That’s what he promised me.”

“So, was this something you needed to be reminded of?” Amelia asked, pointing at the phone.

Dorian grinned brightly and nodded as she clutched the phone to her heart again as if hugging it. “Thank you … for showing me this.” Her grin turned into a sad smile. She had been very severe with Amelia earlier that day – perhaps rightfully so – but it was not Dorian’s experience, at least in recent history, that people she disagreed with showed her kindness or compassion. “Are you still mad at me?”

Amelia held her finger and thumb in the air as if ready to pinch something. “A little bit. Still mad at me for not telling you about my sister?”

Dorian nodded. “Definitely.”

Amelia was not in professional mode. She spoke gently. “Are you going to be able to forgive me?”

Dorian considered. “I don’t want to,” she admitted, “but this gesture helps.” She patted the cell phone she seemed to be hugging. There was no way Amelia could have instructed her sister to send such a personal message, and the timing of it in particular seemed to confirm that Dorian wasn’t being manipulated. She sighed. “And I guess I have to move on if we’re going to be married.” She shrugged and offered a fake smile.

Amelia was annoyed by the fact that Dorian had to put forth effort forgiving her. “All right, then,” she said, trying to sound diplomatic. She changed her mind before finishing her sentence. She wanted to bring up the situation with David – specifically what had happened in the kitchen – but knew it would provoke anger in Dorian and she didn’t want to fight anymore.

Dorian sensed the unspoken words and jumped at the chance to change the subject. “David just picked up the rest of his things. I’m going to call my lawyers before I decide whether or not to pay him….”

“Good,” Amelia nodded. “Just do what you have to do.”

“…I can’t think about that right now,” Dorian continued, handing Amelia’s phone back to her. “Could you … send that message to my phone, please?”

“Yeah, sure.” Amelia complied and examined Dorian out of the corner of her eye.

Dorian closed her catalogue again and stacked it in a neat pile on the coffee table with a bridal magazine on top of it. “What did you have to reschedule today? I didn’t even look at our itinerary and I can’t seem to remember what was planned.”

Amelia was hesitant to answer. “That’s because I didn’t tell you.”

Dorian lifted an eyebrow. “The reason?”

“We were going to accompany some city workers to pick up litter in the park and along the highway leading into town. … I know it isn’t a pleasant thought. But it would demonstrate your willingness to roll up your sleeves like a regular citizen and literally make a positive difference in the beauty of our town and our local environment.”

Dorian made a pained face and nodded. “Well, you’ll have to make sure we fit that back into the schedule. The photo ops will be fantastic, I’m sure.”

Amelia couldn’t contain a smirk in response to Dorian’s sarcasm. “If you’re sure,” she questioned.

“Of course I am,” Dorian nodded. “Despite Viki’s wishy-washy little environmental proposal, I don’t see her sullying her precious little hands.” She looked around. “I know I have some gardening gloves somewhere….”

Again, Amelia had to grin. “All you have to do is poke trash with a stick, Dorian, and look ‘fabulous’ doing it, as Langston and Starr would say.”

Now it was Dorian who grinned. “I think I might just be able to pull that off.”

They both sat smiling until they had no reason to anymore. Amelia distracted herself with their schedule and Dorian sat back and watched her. It was obvious to both of them that there was more that needed to be said, but neither of them felt comfortable saying it.

Finally, Dorian stood. “Back to business?”

Amelia would have been uncomfortable talking about anything relevant at that moment. She shook her head. “Not yet. There’s something else I need to tell you.”

It was obvious to Dorian that whatever the “something else” was, it was something Amelia did not want to say. She swallowed as she sat back down opposite Amelia and leaned forward. “Yes?”

Amelia was still wearing her coat. She was uncomfortable, but didn’t dare to take it off. “When I sent that picture of us from your cell phone, I saw Delphina’s name in your contacts list.”

Dorian furrowed her brows and became almost defensive. “What of it?”

“I know her,” Amelia responded. “Pretty well.” She leveled her chin. “I know you’re going to draw conclusions from that, but before you do….”

Dorian did jump to conclusions, so immediately that she was interrupting Amelia before the other female tried to prevent it. She raised her index finger and silenced Amelia. “You know Delphina? ‘Pretty well?’ … Am I correct in assuming this means you are at least friends with her? That you know her on a personal level?”

Amelia lost her train of thought for a moment as Dorian held it hostage. “Yes.”

Don’t let her take advantage of you.

Dorian seemed to stand back up in slow motion, her movement measured and deliberate. “Let me just venture a guess here. … Delphina also knows your sister, who is also clairvoyant?” She was still holding that index finger in the air.

Amelia slumped her shoulders. Dorian was assuming exactly what Amelia knew she was going to assume. “Please tell me that if I say ‘yes,’ you’re going to leave me out of that equation.”

Dorian bit her bottom lip for a moment and shook her head. “What, do you think, are the chances that Delphina shares information about her clients with other people?”

Amelia swallowed. “Why would Delphina need or even want to share information?”

“Oh, honestly, Amelia?” Dorian was candid. “Delphina channeled Mel for me. Delphina is the one who Mel spoke through when he said ‘always.’” Dorian paced and smacked the back of the couch. “I don’t know what this game is that the three of you are playing,” she pointed at Amelia, “but it has to stop. You can’t just tamper with someone’s memory like that. Or my campaign. Or my … my personal life!”

Amelia closed her eyes for a moment and gathered her thoughts before speaking. “Dorian, I don’t know what is going on here any more than you do. If anyone is being manipulated in this situation, it is me.”

The last time I checked, I was the one taking advantage of her.

“You?” Dorian let out a haughty, “Ha!”

Now Amelia became defensive. “Listen, as far as I’m aware, my sister and Del don’t even speak to each other that often. So if they’re pulling something, it’s behind my back, too.”

Dorian couldn’t believe that. “To what end?” She roamed to the other side of the room, keeping her eyes on Amelia.

Amelia stood and turned in order to continue facing Dorian. “To get even with me? To split up this campaign? To push the gay rights agenda? To help? For all I know, you hired them. I have no idea.”

“I assure you, I didn’t.” Dorian eyed Amelia. “Get even with you? What did you do?” Dorian calmed as she considered Amelia and again wondered what personal sacrifices Amelia was making for their campaign.

“It just doesn’t make sense,” Amelia explained without acknowledging the question. “Now, you know how I feel about my sister, but … she’s never tried to change my behavior with a lie or trick me with a fake prediction. I’m not sure she’s even capable of it. She’s … different. I can’t explain her.”

Dorian stepped closer to Amelia. “So you think her messages to me are genuine?”

Amelia knew how important Mel’s words were to Dorian. “Yes, I do,” she reassured.

“And Delphina?” Dorian wondered.

Amelia shook her head. “I don’t know.”

Dorian pondered Amelia further. “Did something happen between you and Delphina?”

Amelia could feel her complexion change in response to the question – not because she was embarrassed, but because it made her angry. It made her angry that Delphina tried to manipulate her. It made her angry that Delphina might have spoken to her sister. And it made her angry that this was all becoming so obvious to Dorian. “I’ll tell you what,” she answered. “I’ll answer that question when you decide you’re ready to talk about Langston’s uncle.”

Dorian was taken aback. “Oh.” Amelia’s response was an answer unto itself. She remained silent as she paced again and tried to straighten all this new information out in her mind. It all felt too bizarre.

Amelia took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

Dorian turned to her. “Sorry for what, exactly?”

“I’m sorry that I’m associated with people who know so much about you. I’m sorry if it has put this campaign, your personal life, or a chance at a friendship between us in jeopardy, and I’m sorry because I know how you feel. I’ve lived half my life dealing with these unbelievable situations.” She paused to try to interpret a look Dorian was giving her.

Dorian mulled over her thoughts before she explained them to Amelia. “First of all, don’t apologize for being associated with people or for their actions. Apologize for your own, if you need to. Second, don’t walk away and quit trying – ever – when it comes people you love.”

Amelia was stunned by Dorian’s words. Amelia made a point to avoid apologizing for her sister’s actions or her association with her, and had never even considered apologizing for her association with Delphina, but had made an exception specifically for Dorian. When you love something, you fight for it, she remembered.

After she spent a moment reflecting on the advice, Amelia raised an eyebrow at Dorian and stepped forward to lay a hand on her shoulder. “You know as well as I do that there’s a difference between ‘walking away’ and moving on.”

Dorian nodded at Amelia’s words and then stepped back to gaze out at the terrace. “I have never walked away from my memory of Mel, even when I questioned him, even if remembering was painful.”

“But you moved on from other people.”

“Have I?’ Dorian wondered. She turned back to Amelia. “Have you?”

Amelia gave Dorian a genuine gaze. “I want to.”

The two women shared the lingering glance for a moment – in it, a deep, unspoken sympathy for a pain they both understood.

“Do you know what Mel said to me at The Palace?” Dorian spelled.

“You still haven’t told me,” Amelia answered.

Dorian gauged Amelia’s reaction, a bittersweet smile on her face. “Actually, I did – I just wasn’t very clear about it. She said that you could make sure that I live a full and happy life.”

Amelia was shocked. “Melinda said that?”

Dorian still had to get over the fact that Amelia’s sister shared a name with her own sister – and that she was now talking about a psychic’s advice instead of her husband’s. She nodded. “I’m not really sure how to take that.”

Still taken aback, Amelia responded. “Neither am I.”

Dorian reached forward and took Amelia’s hand in her own. She squeezed it once and then dropped it to walk around the room and straighten picture frames and vases and check for dust. “Does that mean … that this election will lead us to bigger and better things? Are you somehow going to instigate an event in my life that leads to lifelong satisfaction? Or is she trying to say that you are the exclusive person that I need to make sure to keep in my life from now on?”

Amelia watched Dorian, still not sure if she should take her coat off, and wondered at her future wife’s thoughts. “I don’t know, but it probably isn’t worth trying to figure out,” she stated bluntly. She let her coat slide off her back and draped it over her arm.

Dorian paused to look at Amelia and her eyes fell on the drawer with the yellow envelope inside. “Why can’t psychics be more specific!?” she spouted. “I could have avoided so much confusion in my life if things had just been clear!”

Amelia almost laughed. “Believe me,” she smiled, an ominous tone in her voice. “I know.”

Dorian couldn’t help but smile back. She squinted at Amelia from across the room. She liked her. She didn’t know why.

Amelia caught Dorian watching her and Dorian averted her gaze back to the room in general. She admired the new pictures with Langston in them, hung prominently on the wall.

- I’m right here -- in this house, in your heart -- forever and always. You know that.
- Oh, Mel. Oh, my darling, don’t ever let me go.
- I’m with you, Dorian. I’m with you always.

Her eyes fell back to the couch, chairs, and coffee table where she had just been sitting with Amelia. She made a funny face at them when she realized she had kissed Delphina. Of course, it wasn’t Delphina in spirit or mind … but physically.

Amelia crinkled her forehead at Dorian. “What’s wrong?”

Dorian shook her head and flashed a smile. “Oh, nothing. I was just … thinking too much again. Remind me to stop doing that.”

Amelia shook her head. If she was going to learn to deal with Dorian, she had to subscribe to the idea that sometimes it was just easier to let Dorian get away with not being open about her thoughts and feelings.

“Now, can we please get back to work?” Dorian offered.

Amelia nodded and smiled, picking the bridal magazine up off the table as she followed Dorian out of the room.

[Jaemlyn]

I recently reached out to several different people about this story, and I got overwhelmingly polarized responses. Some people understand exactly what I've been writing and the significance of what is happening in the story right now, and some people don't see it -- at all. This tells me that I haven't shown the perspective I intended to, and I don't want this to be a story where you have to force yourself to "bear with me" but a story you bear with me on because you understand what is happening and want to see what happens next.

That being said, I think I can tell a better story than this. This story is supposed to have in it a relationship between two women who would not ordinarily end up in the same place -- romantic or not, love or not, friendship or not, desire or not. This story is supposed to ask and answer those questions in a way that people can understand and identify with. With relevance and with ... emotional believability.

If it hasn't, I want to go back to the beginning and try again, because I've obviously let something fail. I don't want to write a different story. I just want to tell this one better.

I am extremely excited about what will be happening in this story in the next several chapters, but if I haven't built up to them properly, they will completely lose their integrity.

Suggestions are welcome, constructive criticism is ALWAYS encouraged. I understand that this story isn't for everyone, and I don't expect it to be, but I want to tell a story that people who would normally read want to read. I am open to discussion.

Bottom line - I'm going to start over. Thoughts are welcome.

This post has been edited by Jaemlyn on Mar 9 2010, 02:14 PM

[cher62]

This thread is closed. For Turning Leaves v2 by Jaemlyn, go here