Monday, May 7, 2012

End Chapter 26

     Bright and early the next morning, Leah was up and about the house, feeding her little boy, who sat up in his highchair looking at the radiant face of his smiling mother who went about the kitchen cooking up a lovely breakfast for her family. Xation was having a nice hot bath soaking in the marble tub, elated to be home as his wife busied herself downstairs. Lexa awoke to the delicious scent of sizzling bacon and freshly baked biscuits drifting down the hall, so she tossed on a short white silk night gown and slipped on her fuzzy slippers, her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton and she had a bad taste in her mouth, for Lexa had drank far too much red wine at dinner and had passed out in her bed, asleep for nearly 10 hours. As she brushed her teeth Lexa heard her sister singing a happy tune and Lexa was glad to hear Leah was in a better mood than yesterday. Now, unexpectedly, Lexa heard the distinct sound of someone walking down the hallway passed her door, startled, knowing she, Leah and the baby were the only ones home, Lexa peeked out the door, where, to her shock and dismay, she saw Bengiman heading down the corridor, so she leaned her head out of the doorway and shouted in a harsh tone to him "What are YOU doing here?"
     Her words were like venom to him and Bengiman turned and sneered at her "DON'T question me! I'm not in the mood." he said with the all the anger of a bear who had been kept too long away from his honey. It was true, Mr.Pruce was never one to pass up a meal, and he would have crawled through a live mine field to get to a proper breakfast. So he followed the savory scent to the kitchen completely disregarding Lexa altogether.
     Now Lexa had been off asleep when Bengiman had arrived late last night, and Lexa still did not know her brother-in-law had flown back to Argentina in the wee hours of the morning, either. Though she did not know why Bengiman had come down to the city, Lexa did not want  him to be left alone with Leah, EVER,  again. So Lexa tied the sash of her white robe tight, then she went back to the bathroom rinsed her mouth and splashed some cold water on her face, however, now she knew a man would be at the breakfast table, her vanity kicked in, now Lexa noticed, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror,  the dark circles under her eyes; which were blood shot and glassy, and she had deep wrinkles from the sheets, on the right side if her cheek and forehead. Lexa rubbed some moisturizer on her face, then put on a little mascara, and, of course, a touch of pink lip gloss, all this was achieved in seconds, then she dashed out of her room to go and confront Bengiman and try to make him leave, for he was the last person on Earth she wanted to see.
     "Good morning!" Leah greeted Bengiman with a cheery smile and a stack of pancakes.
     "Well, you're looking bright eyed and bushy tailed." Bengiman remarked with a wink "I take it Xation made it home safely to your bed?"
     "Oh aye, my friend! And I am in a word, delighted!" Leah laughed looking like a little general who had just succeeded in storming a castle.
      "What is going on in here?" Lexa came bursting into the kitchen unhappy to see the two of them chatting and having a laugh together. "Why is HE here?" she asked with a great tension and sharpness to her words.
      "Relax, Lexa!" Leah said her words were sweet and soothing like cold buttermilk "Take that anger down a 1000 percent, okay. Xation sent Bengiman here to watch over us.., and to keep him away from Charles, for the time being. So calm down, stop being so negative and have some eggs and biscuits."
     Here Lexa steadied her nerves and tried to take in a deep breath as she sat down to a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs covered in melted cheddar cheese and a spicy garden salsa. Now just as she was about to tuck in, Lexa noticed there was an extra plate at the table, so, she still having no clue about Xation's presence asked "Who is that setting for, are we expecting company?" Now before anyone could answer Lexa's question she heard the familiar sound of Xation's Latin voice.
     "Good morning Sweetheart!" Xation said taking his wife in his arms giving her a gentle loving kiss upon the lips as Lexa turned and gave a Bengiman a look as if to say, 'are we in trouble?', for she knew there could only be one of two reasons why Xation had suddenly flow back in the middle of the night all the way from Texas. 1, he had found out about Bengiman and Leah's little unforeseen tryst, {but Lexa knew that if that were the case Leah and Bengiman would already be dead}, so that only left option 2, he had come to scold Lexa and Bengiman for their year long affair. "Lexa., Bengiman." Xation said in less loving words as he sat down giving them both a look of extreme disappointment. "I am very disappointed in you two."
     "But.., other than that.., everything else is fine?" Bengiman said with a little wink and a smile as he tried to lessen the tension with a little humor.
     Ignoring this Xation gave Lexa a dire look then he asked her "Tell me Lexa, truthfully, do you love Charles?"
     Lexa stared into Xation's dark eyes and with a out a moment of hesitation she opened up her mouth and said plain and simply "No."
     "I see., and what about Bengiman, are you in love with him?" Xation continued as his old friend pursed his lips looking very uncomfortable in his seat.
     Lexa shook her head an replied again "No."
     Xation turned his attention on Bengiman asking him "And Bengiman.., do you love Lexa?"
     "Never." was his only reply, though Bengiman knew this was a lie.
     Here a grave look came over Xation's face as he slowly, sadly shook his head from side to side saying "Well, that's a shame..," here he reached over and grabbed his wife's hand telling Lexa and Bengiman "for if  either of you had answered yes to my question.., then I could have easily of understood, for your betrayal was coming from a place of love and great passion, but, I see clearly now, your disloyalty stems from your own lustful needs and desires, with no care or concern for who gets hurt, in this little affair." Xation imparted these words "For love can make us all do incredibly stupid things." he said giving Leah a little kiss on the cheek "However, neither of you acted out of love, so any excuses, or explanations you have, are all as worthless as they way you treat one another." Xation said not bothering to hear any ones side of the story, but they all knew he was right. Although Lexa and Bengiman could not doubt Xation's words, they could have done without his superior attitude as he sat across the table, ever the loving husband to Leah. Then Xation made the following announcement. "So, I have given this matter much thought, and I have determined the best course of action is the following." Xation said as if he were at a board meeting, addressing a group of employees and not his family. "Lexa, it is high time you head back to California and get out of South America.., for a little while."
     "But Xation!" Leah said as the thought of her sisters departure gave her a sudden rush of panic.
     "Leah.., I am speaking., please do not interrupt me." Xation hushed her protestations with a look as if to say, 'just sit there and look pretty, your opinions do not matter to me'. "Now.., Sweetheart, I will not keep you all alone on the Estate." he gave her sweet smile telling her "My mother and father will be returning to keep you and our son company."
     "And you, my husband.., how long will you be here with me today?" Leah asked in a voice a small as an injured bird.
     Xation turned and looked into his wife's deep green eyes as he brushed a soft curl off her cheek taking her by the hand answering her by saying "I have to leave tonight."
     Here her heart sank into sadness "Can't you take me with you?" Leah pleaded tears of deep loneliness welling up from the depths of her grief.
     "Leah," Xation sighed "You know the house won't be ready for six more weeks."
     Leah bowed her head and she whispered something on her lips no one at the table could hear, then she pushed her plate away saying as she stood "If you all will excuse me, I seem to have lost my appetite."
     "Leah, sit down." Xation said with a curt look but Leah did not respond to his command, she merely picked up her little boy and went back upstairs to her bedroom. "Well, fuck!" Xation exclaimed as he looked across the table at Bengiman and Lexa who both gave him a disparaging look, however none of this dissuaded Xation from his discourse. "Now, as far as you're concerned, Bengiman, I need you on the Estate to keep my family safe.., and Serena will be returning with Felina soon, so she can see Jason for the first time." here Bengiman gave a concerned look "She will be fine! And without my presence Felina and Leah can become better friends." to this Lexa only rolled her eyes "Lexa, they will be here in two weeks and I would like very much for you to come back, at that time, and help everyone to get along." Xation said with much concern in his eyes and Lexa knew Xation cared very much for the health and well being of his family, only wanting everyone to be happy and unified.
   "Fine. I'll go back to La Jolla, hangout on the beach, play some golf, and then I will come back to the Estate in 2 weeks, but., what about Charles?" asked Lexa not wanting to ever have to see him again.
    "I will be bringing him back to Texas with me tonight, I want to go ahead and transition him up to Dallas get him set up at the new house." Xation explained.
     "Thank God! I finally will be rid of him!" Bengiman exclaimed for he never enjoyed the Americans company, nor his good looks, wit or charm.
     "Well, for a little while at least." Xation gave a laugh then he finished his breakfast before he went back upstairs and tended to his wife.

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