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Chapter 54: A New Me.
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Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 55: The Blonde And The Brunette.
On my way home, I ducked inside a coffee shop for a short rest, ordered a decaffeinated latte, and hunkered down in a big overstuffed armchair. On the couch next to me sat two women—a blonde and a brunette—who looked about my age. The blonde balanced a baby on one knee as she struggled to eat a brownie with her free hand. Both ladies wore tiny diamonds on their left ring fingers, just as Andrew once told me that the Brits are less ostentatious about engagement rings than Americans. I think that is one of the reasons why Andrew likes London. The Brits' understated quality is the opposite of what he said I am—more or less a shameless showoff.From the corner of my eyes, I studied the women. The blonde has a weak chin but good highlights; the brunette wore gripping aqua velour sweats but held an enviable Prada bag. I know I'm not being shallow for checking out her clothing. I am just being observant, which is a very good virtue. What isn't okay, is drawing conclusions about the women as
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 56: No More Impulses.
I waited at the door for Andrew to return home. A bowl of homemade Greek salad and a glass of wine were carefully placed on the dining table by me while classical music played from his stereo. Andrew walked into the living room with a confused expression."Welcome home!" I said, smiling nervously as I ran back to the dining table to get him his glass, and handed it to him carefully to avoid spilling the wine.He took it from me tentatively, sipped, and looked around his apartment. "It looks great in here. Smells good too. Did you clean?"I nodded. "mhmm. I scoured the place. I even cleaned your room," I said. "Still think I'm a lousy friend?"He took another sip and sat on his couch. "I didn't say that exactly."I sat next to him. "Yes you did."He gave me a half-smile. "You can be a good friend when you try, Tessy. You tried today. Thank you."And the "thank you" is enough for me. Of course the old me would have held out for an *'outstanding'* apology coupled with a complete retract
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 57: Wishes And Madeline.
This morning, I was prodded by another series of kicks from my baby. Andrew has already left for the day, so I used his computer to type up my résumé and a quick cover letter, which articulately explained that my success in the world of public relations had everything to do with my outgoing personality, and that certainly this quality would skyrocket the success rate of any company I'm employed to.I spell-checked the letter, opting for the British spelling of the words 'colourful' and 'organised'.Then, I showered, dressed, and headed out into the London chill to apply for a job at the nursing home Orla and Meg had told me about. * * ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** I arrived at the nursing home and got blasted by the district and depressing odor of old people and institutional food. I immediately felt a wave of morning sickness. I rummaged my purse, found a mint and drew deep breath through my mouth.I studied two little old ladies in matching floral smocks parked in the lobby. As I watch
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 58: Strangely Territorial.
"Andrew!" I squealed. My voice sounded loud in the small, quiet room. "Hey, there!"I caught Madeline giving me a look, perhaps disapproving of my outburst. Even the American couple that was consulting a guidebook, gave me a disapproving once-over. No one likes a loud American and I regretted my sudden excited outburst that shook the place. "Hey Tessy," Andrew said, as he approached my table. "How did it go at the nursing home?" Andrew must have returned to the flat, because I left him a note about my job-hunting mission. "Not so well. But I bought a paper to check the classifieds. Have a seat," I said, moving my purse and binder to clear a chair for him. "I'm so glad you're here. I was just thinking about you. How do you work this little contraption again?" I asked, motioning towards the tea strainer. Without sitting down, Andrew leaned over my table, efficiently placed the strainer over my cup with one hand, and poured from the silver pot with the other. "Have a seat," I said
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 59: A Savoring Extremist.
Sprawled on Andrew's couch, half-asleep, waiting for Andrew with a pit in my stomach as I listened to a Norah Jones CD. Andrew came back and walked into the sitting room looking over at me with a concerned expression on his face. "What time is it?" I asked."Should be Ten," he said, standing over me. "Have you eaten?""Yes," I said. "You?" He nodded. "Where have you been?" I asked, feeling like a suspicious wife who just found a smear of red lipstick on her husband's starched white shirt. "Writing.""Sure you were," I said, trying to sound nonchalant and playful. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, motioning for me to move over and clear a space for him.I lifted my legs long enough for him to sit and then rested my feet on his thighs. "It means, were you really writing or were you hanging out with Capucine?" I asked in a sing-songy way that kids say, "Andrew and Capucine sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!""I really was writing," he said innocently. "How did you spend your
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 60: No X-chromosome.
I phoned Mr Gibson this morning, the doctor Orla and Meg had recommended. Luckily for me, he has a cancellation in his morning schedule, so I took the Circle Line to Great Poland Street and followed my A to Zed to his office on Harley street, a block of beautiful, old town houses, most of which appeared to have been converted to medical offices.** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **I opened the heavy red door to Mr Gibson's practice and walked into a marble foyer, where a receptionist handed me a form to fill out and pointed to a waiting room with a fireplace. I don't know how long that I've been waiting when a plump, grandmotherly woman who introduced herself as Abigail, Mr. Gibson's midwife, told me to follow her into the waiting room and then, led me up a winding, grand staircase to another room that looks as if it should have been roped off in a museum.Abigail introduced me to my doctor as he rose behind his mahogany desk, stepped around it, and gracefully extended his hand. I stu
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 61: Wriggled Toes.
I walked all over town in a daze, the word *'twins'* drumming in my skull. I walked down to Bond street, then over to Marble Arch, then across to Knightsbridge. I kept walking until my lower back ached and my hands and toes grew numb. I stopped myself from going into a single store, no matter how tempting the window display is. I kept walking and not stopping till it started raining and I took a break at a Starbucks. I looked around Starbucks hoping its familiar burnt-orange-and-purple décor will offer me some sort of solace. But, it didn't. Nor did the hot chocolate and bagel I hungrily swallowed. The thought of having one baby is intimidating. I'm currently full-on scared. How will I be able to take care of twins—or even tell them apart? This is unbelievable!I left Starbucks and started walking all the way home, back to Andrew's flat. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** I arrived home, frozen and exhausted at three o'clock as the day is getting dark."Tessy? Is that you
Wild Beauty: A Tale Of Love and Lust. Chapter 62: The Lonely Scintillating One.
I woke up with a fresh panic very early in the morning. I laid in the bed, thinking about my life and how to navigate the shocking news of yesterday from Mr. Gibson. How in the world am I ever going to manage twins? Would Andrew let us live with him? Will two cribs even fit in my tiny room? What if I couldn't find a job? I have less than two thousand dollars left in my account —barely enough to cover my hospital bills, let alone baby supplies, food, rent. "Alright Tessy Johnson, you have to remain calm. Stay focused on your list, and take things one day at a time," I said to myself. I'm going to find a job to raise money for me and my boys . . .** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **For almost one full week, I was all about the job hunt. I kept an open mind, diligently seeking any kind of work: high-minded jobs, jobs in PR, even menial jobs. I checked the papers, made phone calls, hit the pavement. Nothing turned up—except some disappointing findings regarding the difficulty of se
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