A Sweet and Spicy Kind Of Love (4 page)

Without bothering to wait for her breathless words of thanks, Julian turned and left her standing with an invisible wound in her heart, which caused tears to brim in her hazel eyes. She knew without a doubt that there would be no goodnight kisses, or any other kisses for that matter. With a muffled sob Molly left the festive atmosphere and made her way to the balcony to hide in the darkest corner. She didn’t want anyone to see the pain written across her face, until she could compose herself.

 ~~~

Julian was finally there! Valeria rose from her seat like a swan and made her way over to his side. His disinterested gaze did not upset her. Clearly he didn’t want to be there, but that would soon change. With a smug smile she touched his shoulder and faced him with her charms in full force “Hello there my handsome one. How are you doing tonight?”

Julian lips rose in a mirthless smile. He wondered when she would make her presence known. He admitted that she looked good. Her makeup was flawless and her midnight hair cascaded over her shoulders in waves. The short, strapless, sweetheart gown glittered with multiple sequins appliqués, and was a dramatic purple which worked well with her tanned skin. “That’s quite a dress, but a little short don’t you think?”

Valeria’s reaction was exactly as Julian expected. With a petulant pout, she batted her eyelids and shrugged her shoulders. “A little short? What is the point of having splendid limbs, if I don’t get to show them off a bit hmmm? Besides, you have to wait until you have a ring on my finger, before you can make comments about my dress,
don’t you think
?”

It was Julian’s turn to shrug. “You and my father must certainly be good friends. He talked to me about you not long ago. I am curious as to when you both decided to get together to plot my future?”

Valeria laughed and turned away certain that Julian would follow. “Come on big boy. Get me something to eat and leave your naiveté at the door.”

~~~

Molly felt better after her bitters tears and decided to go back inside. No doubt Yolanda would be busy talking up a storm and Danielle would probably be doing the same. As she made her way back, Molly’s gaze locked on Julian’s whereabouts. She just couldn’t seem to help being drawn to him, like a moth to the flame.

Even in that large room with such a big crowd, she found him without difficulty.  He was in conversation with none other than Valeria Trenton. Molly felt like screaming and bit her tongue to keep the wail from bellowing out. How was it possible that Valeria could enrapture his complete attention, while she couldn’t even coax a smile from his lips, or recognition from his eyes?

Molly agreed that Valeria was beautiful, but surely the man wanted something more than a just a pretty face, didn’t he? With a depressed sigh she made her way over to her friends, as she did her best to put Julian Chambers out of mind. It was just as well. He clearly wanted nothing to do with her and she would ignore him as well. She was so intent on her dark thoughts that she missed her step and tripped. One minute she was walking on five inch heels, and the next moment she was down on her face and staring at the ceramic floor.

At first no one appeared to notice that she was down, until someone else tripped over her before she could get up. The girl had one drink too many and landed on top of Molly in an ungraceful heap. As Molly fought to turn and get the laughing girl to stand on her feet, another student tripped over them both and landed on the back of Molly’s knees.

The resulting pain that shot up Molly’s legs robbed her of breath, as she yelled out. “Get off both of you. You are crushing me!”

Neither one appeared to understand her distressing call due to their inebriated state. As a result, the attention of the surrounding graduates focused on Molly’s predicament. As wave upon wave of laughter erupted and cheers along with whistles, Molly struggled to get up as her face flamed in embarrassment. It took four attempts for her to rise to her feet, as she escaped the sea of laughter that followed her all the way out of the door.

~~~

Valeria was laughing so hard the tears ran down her face. Julian had never seen her so happy. Wondering what the amusement was at someone else’s misfortune, Julian crossed his arms and raised his left brow. “Just what is so funny Valeria?”

“Oh puh- lease Julian. Don’t tell me that red headed oaf, doesn’t crack you up? Every time she walks into a room, you just know disaster is going to follow. Do you remember when that horse ran away with her all those years ago and you had to save the day? And then when she let all those frogs run amok and it caused chaos inside the classroom? What about when she tried to make ice cream for ‘show and tell’ and the machine broke down? Do you remember all the liquid cream that sprayed all over the front of the class, and even our teacher Ms. Grant got covered in it? I tell you she is a walking mess. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out.”

Julian agreed with Valeria to a certain extent. The girl was a walking mess. Molly if he remembered the name correctly. But that was no excuse for Valeria’s mean spirited comments. “There is no need to speak so crudely. Some people are just unfortunate and you should treat others with more respect.”

Valeria stared at Julian with a shocked expression. “Excuse me? Are you taking her side? What is this? Don’t tell me you like that little, red headed twit?”

Julian shrugged and got up to leave. Let Valeria think what she liked. “I will call on you tomorrow. No doubt your parents will be pleased by my visit. Goodnight Valeria.”

As Julian walked away, Valeria’s face flamed multiple shades of red and her breathing came in furious gasps. How dare he turn his back on her, without offering to take her home? Biting her lip with vehemence, she raged at the thought that Julian might have some sort of interest in Molly. The very idea that he dared to sympathize with that red headed hybrid, was enough to give Valeria indigestion. Getting up, she moved quickly her previous date forgotten. The night had no more enjoyment to offer and right now, she wanted to nurse her wounds behind closed doors.

~~~

Belinda Makepeace had tears in her eyes and fought to keep them at bay. She was a kind, reserved soul and full of hidden scars from an abusive relationship. This did not mar her appearance. Her blue eyes were gentle, her face serene with understated beauty and her hair was like burnt copper tied back in a bun. Where Molly was tall and curvy, her mother was slim and short of stature, but her strength lied in her words. And it was important to be strong, especially at such a crucial moment in time. Molly was in her bedroom sobbing her eyes out and Belinda felt nearly helpless in the wake of her daughter’s grief.

A broken heart was not a laughing matter and it was important that the heart find a way to heal itself, or remain broken forever. Belinda’s task was to give her daughter enough faith and confidence in herself, so that Molly could move on. And that is what she intended to do. With patient steps, she climbed the stairs and knocked on her daughter’s door. When she heard the muffled cry of “come in”, Belinda entered and found Molly’s crumpled dress on the floor.  Sitting on the bed she inquired gently “Molly darling, tell mother what is wrong. Why do you cry so uncontrollably? This has to do with Julian, doesn’t it?”

Molly did not respond. She only hugged her mother fiercely and continued to cry. Belinda sighed and gently brushed her hand over her daughter’s hair. It had always been unruly, and now even more so. So much life was there and so many dreams. Belinda hated to see that flame that Molly has, become lifeless and eventually stamped out. It was not going to happen. Not with her child. “Molly you will listen to me and you will listen carefully. The sun does not rise and set on a man, do you hear? You will make your life what it is, or you will lose it. I will not have you become some poor girl, running around the street talking to yourself about what might have been. Make your own dreams come true my child.”

Molly reply was muffled with tears “But Mom, Julian is my dream. He is the one I want and he doesn’t even notice me. How can that be? I have always been nice and I have always smiled at him. How can he look through me the way he does? I don’t understand it.”

Belinda framed her daughter’s face with her hands and smiled slightly “You cannot make someone love you Molly. They have to love you on their own. You would not wish to be caught in a horrible marriage like me, would you?”

Molly shook her head and dried her tears. She did not remember her mother’s experience as she was too young to recall, but her mother had told her bits and pieces over the years. “Mom, I forgot about what happened. Forgive me for being insensitive about your pain and only thinking of myself.”

Belinda shook her head and kissed Molly’s hair. “No, I should remember what it took to get me where I am today. And perhaps it will benefit you as well. Now let me get you some tea and we will talk woman to woman, both you and I. And then you will know what it means to know and love yourself, before you can know and love someone else. I’ll be back with the tea in just a moment.”

~~~

Valeria had tears of her own and she hated to cry. It always made her eyes swell and her face blotchy. Nothing beautiful came from shedding tears, but this night had not ended as she had hoped and the tears were inevitable. “Mother, he spurned me. Can you believe it? Spurned me for a red headed Amazon, named Molly Makepeace. A big, clumsy, oaf full of red, pointy, hair and knobby knees. How dare he do that to me?”

Daisy Trenton pursed her lips and nodded. She understood exactly what was going on and it was not a good development in the least. Lionel Chambers had promised them that Valeria would be Julian’s wife, but if the boy was already upset with her or nursing second thoughts, that did not bode well for their future together, much less the future of the Trenton legacy. “You must act quickly darling. Tomorrow I want you to go to the Templeton Manor and visit with Lionel. Tell him of this newest development, so he can impress upon his son the need for discretion with wayward females like this Molly person. I do know Molly’s mother. Perhaps I should make a visit myself. That way we will ensure that Julian has eyes only for you. Now dry your tears. You must get a good night rest to have a glowing complexion tomorrow. That way you will look your best when you visit Julian’s ancestral home. It is important Valeria, to make a handsome impression. You must make Lionel see that you are the only one who can grace the halls of such a magnificent estate.”

Inclining her head, Valeria did as she was told. She would get her man after all. It was only a matter of strategy after a good night’s rest.

~~~

The next morning was a beautiful day, but Molly still felt battered and bruised. Just the same, she got up and walked out to the balcony of her small bedroom. The Makepeace home was simply furnished but with a lived-in atmosphere. Belinda favored pastel colors so the decorations were a mixture of light pinks, blues and yellows. Molly’s bedroom was the nicest room in the house with blue lace curtains, two night tables made of sandalwood with a soft bed, a chair in the corner with a desk and framed pictures of flowers and valleys. The bedroom walls were painted in a light blue, trimmed in cream and the light in the center was shaped like a flower hanging from the ceiling.

The most beautiful part of the house was the garden and Molly’s balcony had a splendid view. The flowers thrived under Belinda’s loving care and adorned the surroundings with festive colors, which gave the house a woodland look. Some of the blooms crawled up the wall nearly carpeting the entire house, and added a natural beauty which outshined even the most expensive estate.  It was not uncommon to see neighbors stop outside the house to take pictures, and painters setting up their easels to capture the beauty of the floral display.

Molly absorbed the beauty of the scenery and breathed the perfumed air deeply. Her mother’s words had a powerful influence on her feelings the night before and she was now prepared to move on. There was no point to rehashing the nonexistent situation between herself and Julian. It was clear where his attentions lied and she would leave it at that. Valeria would make a beautiful companion for him and perhaps someone else would show up for Molly. With that firm resolution, Molly prepared for a new life and resolved to leave Julian behind, along with the dreams and hopes that would clearly never come true.