by Leslie
by Leslie
Giovanni paced. Patience was definitely not a virtue. Not in his case. He needed everything to go right, if his plan was to work out. He had Amanda here, right where he wanted her. What he didn't count on is Cameron. What it did to Giovanni to see his old friend again. How powerful the feelings were between Amanda and Cameron.
He checked with the desk again, the fourth time this hour. The plane was running about 30 minutes late but would be landing within the hour.
Finally.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A perfect way to spend an afternoon in Venice would be to take a long, very slow gondola ride down the canal, complete with a glass or two of chilled champagne and a violinist to serenade you and someone you care about. At least that's what Amanda thought before today.
"Well, here we are again,
I guess it must be fate,
We're tried it on our own,
But deep inside we've known,
We'd be back to set things straight."
"You know….." Amanda tried to finish her sentence before Cameron began another assault, along the side on her neck, to her earlobe, then down her cheekbone.
"Know what?"…Cameron did not miss a beat.
"I think we better eat some of this food before it spoils. The hotel manager went through quite a bit to get this food prepared just the way I wanted."
"Somehow I thought once you knew what was for dessert, you'd want that first."
"Cameron Sinclair…..I am……" He kissed her again.
"You're what? Shocked? Surprised?"
"Not exactly."
"I still remember when,
Your kiss was so brand new,
Every memory repeats,
Every step I take retreats,
Every journey always brings me back to you."
Amanda ran her fingers slowly down the side of Cameron's face, memorizing the feel of the man who sat beside her. His eyes closed for a moment; then she leaned in and gently brushed her lips against his eyelashes. The effect that it had on poor Cameron was like no other.
Taking one shallow breath, then another, Cameron opened his eyes and looked into Amanda's. "Miss Cory….if you continue to take these sort of liberties with me…."
"You'll what?" She had no plans to stop.
"I may just have to authorize a ground assault of my own!"
"After all the stops and starts,
We keep coming back to these two hearts,
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall,
And after all that we've been through,
It all comes down to me and you,
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me
After all."
The house was practically still once Rachel arrived home. She wandered around downstairs and found herself out on the patio. She stood looking over the grounds for quite some time before she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Mom, are you OK? You look like you're in another world."
"I'm fine Matthew. I just have a lot on my mind."
"How did your visit with Dr. McDonald go today?" Matthew went inside to pour himself a drink, not even noticing that Rachel had followed him inside.
"Actually, I'm glad you asked that. Come sit down."
Rachel sat down on the sofa and Matthew joined her. He had no idea what she was about to say. His mind was still on business.
"My visit to Dr. McDonald was fairly normal."
"Fairly normal?" Now she had his attention.
"I had made the appointment for my yearly visit with the doctor awhile ago and was almost going to cancel it. That is, until I found a lump."
"Mom?" Matthew was flustered. Everyone in his family had always been healthy. Even headaches in the Cory family did not happen with regularity.
"I found it while I was taking a shower. And I didn't say anything because I wanted to have Dr. McDonald check it out first. She did, and I've already had an ultrasound."
Matthew was asking questions but he still didn't understand. "An ultrasound? Isn't that something they do to women who are pregnant to make sure their baby is OK?"
"Well son," Rachel took a deep breath, and looked into Matthew's eyes. She could tell he was frightened for her; "they can also use that test for women who have breast lumps, to make sure they're not solid masses, but cysts instead."
His posture became more alert. "And is that what they told you? That what you found was just a cyst?"
"I don't know. The technician was very nice and told me what she could. But the test results will be sent to Dr. McDonald and she'll call me. Hopefully soon."
"You'll be fine Mom. I know it." Matthew hugged his mom tighter than he had done since he was younger. When Rachel had to comfort him. Now it was his turn.
The phone rang.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was getting close to six and both Cameron and Amanda knew they had to be back in the hotel lobby for more pictures at 7. Reluctantly, the picnic basket was closed, but not before some of the 'delicacies' could be sampled again.
"Now THIS is what I call a picnic! Delicious food, wine, and a pretty girl……what more could a man ask for? Life is good."
Amanda went to pick up the blanket, but Cameron snatched it from her hands and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her in close to him.
"Care for any more dessert, miss?" Feeling somewhat shy, Amanda never even looked up. She knew he would be able to read her mind, and they didn't have time for this.
"Kind sir, unhand me, before I pummel you."
He dropped the blanket, unwillingly of course. Amanda bent down to grab the handles of the picnic basket when Cameron's hand touched hers.
"My lady does do menial labor! How quaint."
"Cameron Sinclair, if I didn't like you as much as I do, I'd….."
"You'd what?"
"I'd leave you here to find you own way home." Enjoying what was left of their afternoon, Amanda and Cameron rode back to the hotel quietly. His hand holding hers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rachel was on the phone for a long time. She had excused herself and taken the call in the library. Matthew knew it had to be the doctor. He waited.
"Mom….was that the doctor? What did she say?"
Rachel sat down on the living room sofa, barely hearing Matthew's words. She knew he had said something because she saw his lips move.
"Matthew, that was Dr. McDonald. She wants me to check into Bay City General in the next day or two. She wants to schedule a needle core biopsy."
"Biopsy?"
"Yes, a needle core biopsy. From what Dr. McDonald told me, the lump that I found was not a cyst as we originally had hoped. What they need to do now is check further."
"Isn't a biopsy done when they suspect cancer?"
"Matthew…I don't want to think that way now..PLEASE!…." Rachel was trying to remain logical, but it was difficult, especially with a son who didn't seem to understand how to be comforting right now.
"I'm sorry mom, I just want to understand. Really."
"All right. Dr. McDonald explained that a needle core biopsy is a procedure they do in which a doctor takes a small sample of the lump in your breast tissue with a needle. The sample is then sent to the lab to be analyzed."
"Are there any risks?"
"Dr. McDonald said the risks are minimal. She'll be able to explain more to us once I get to the hospital."
"Is she going to call you once the test is scheduled?"
"Yes, Matthew she will. Now if you don't mind, I'm going for a walk on the grounds. I need to clear my mind."
"Mom, not yet. I think it's time you called Amanda."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giovanni had been dressed and waiting for this evening to begin. The photo shoot had been canceled but he wasn't about to tell the models. That would just be one of the many surprised greeting them tonight. He thought a nice, 'quiet' get together would be much more interesting.
As 7pm loomed closer, the models arrived one after the other. Giovanni's impudence didn't peak until Amanda and Cameron walked leisurely through the front entrance to the hotel together.
"Perfect! Everyone is here now."…..They gathered in closer to where Giovanni was standing. Mariano was confused. He didn't know what his brother was up to.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I've decided to cancel the shoot for this evening." Everyone just stood there. No one knew what to think. That included Mariano.
What was his brother up to now? "Let me continue please and I'll explain. Looking over what you've done, we've decided that there are more than enough photographs to work with. Your employment for the Luna Company is finished. You will be paid quite handsomely for your time here. Now…… there is someone I'd like you all to meet before your dinner this evening." Giovanni extends his hand to the side and brings the lady forward. No one recognizes her. Except for Cameron.
"Hello Cameron."
"Stefani…..it's been a long time."
Editor's note: The song mentioned earlier in this chapter is titled "After All" and is sung by Peter Cetera and Cher.
Giovanni was very pleased with himself. His 'surprise' brought just the reaction he had expected and wanted.
"Amanda, I'd like you to meet Stefani. Stefani, this is Amanda Cory. She runs Brava magazine in the States."
Stefani extended her hand in a friendly gesture towards Amanda, and Amanda of course, reciprocated.
"Very nice to meet you Stefani. I've definitely heard quite a bit about you on this trip." Although she was uncomfortable being on the spot, Amanda made the attempt to be friendly with Stefani. Something Giovanni did not plan for.
"This beautiful woman walked out of our lives a long time ago, it seems…but we haven't forgotten her, have we, Cameron?" Giovanni said, with a smirk.
"No, we haven't. How are you Stefani? What brings you to these parts, or do I already know the answer to that question? " Cameron answered, looking over in Giovanni's direction.
Stefani was about to answer, when Giovanni graciously grabbed her elbow and began leading her towards the elevator and her penthouse suite.
"Cameron, please feel free to join us in Stefani's room for a cocktail before dinner. You are available, are you not? And Amanda, I would love to have you come too. Please accept my most sincere invitation."
They looked at each other, knowing full well Giovanni's part in the unfolding situation. Not wanting to give him the upper hand, Cameron agreed to join them within the hour. Amanda nodded her approval. Puzzled, Stefani walked onto the elevator and cautiously nodded her head towards Cameron before the doors closed.
"What do you make of all this?"Amanda wondered.
"I don't know. It's never been Giovanni's nature to be subtle. There's only one way for us to find out."
"I guess."
"Do you mind? Joining them for a drink and all? I was sort of hoping for some quiet time with you before we have to leave."
"I don't mind. Really." The elevator stopped and Cameron and Amanda got off. He walked her to her room.
"Giovanni's plans, whatever they are, will not spoil the wonderful afternoon we had." Wrapping his arms slowly around Amanda's waist, Cameron drew her in close. Leaning in for what he thought would be a quick peck on the cheek, Cameron was overwhelmed by the emotional kiss he received.
"Well….." trying to regain some composure, Cameron mumbled something, then spoke more clearly……'what did I do to deserve that?'
All Amanda did was smile. Sliding her arms down the sides of his body, her hands found their way to his, and she gave them a slight squeeze, then let go. Opening the door to her room, she told Cameron she would see him within the hour, then closed the door slowly behind her.
He didn't move. Whatever he had done in his life meant nothing until this moment. Suddenly thoughts of Giovanni and why he had brought Stefani here brought Cameron back to reality. He needed to find out why she was here.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sitting down on her bed for a minute to catch her breath, Amanda couldn't help but smile. The time she spent with Cameron was beyond explanation. She should have listened to her mother when she first told her to go out with him and enjoy his company. But no, Amanda had a mind of her own. She needed to do things her way. "Wouldn't mom laugh if I said she had been right all along?"
Wanting to change from the clothes she was wearing into something a bit dressier, Amanda went to her closet to pick out an outfit when the phone rang. Picking it up, she expected the voice on the other end to be Cameron's and responded in kind.
"Now isn't the kiss I gave you before enough to satisfy you for even a few minutes?"
"Well……I don't know anything about a kiss. And I haven't seen you for awhile, so I'm sure you're not talking about me."
"Matthew, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else" Amanda answered.
Knowing her reaction and how she must be turning various shades of red, Matthew said, "No need to be embarrassed Amanda. How's the trip going?"
"Our business here is finished. We should be leaving within the next day or two, thank goodness."
"I don't dare ask what that means. We have other things to worry about."
Concerned because of the change in her brother's tone, Amanda wanted to know what he meant.
"It's mom….."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cameron found himself whistling as her changed his clothes and prepared for his evening with Amanda. Even though he had to share his time with Giovanni and Stefani, he knew that she would be there too. He couldn't stop smiling. Or whistling for that matter.
He was happy. A Sinclair happy was a rare thing in life. When you have a parent telling you at every turn how worthless you are, you begin to believe it after awhile. As you get older, you come to expect nothing out of life. If happiness suddenly appears, you're skeptical because good things never happen to you, or to your family.
This time was different. And Cameron was not one to let happiness escape him. He had cared for Stefani before. But nothing in his past had prepared him for one, Miss Amanda Cory.
Within a record forty-five minutes, Cameron had changed, shaved, applied some "Giorgio' cologne and found himself in the lobby, trying to find a single red rose for Amanda. That's when he caught a glimpse of Paige at the desk, scrambling to leave.
"Paige….what's got you all in a rush? "
"Miss Cory's brother called her. Their mother has been hospitalized. She's headed for the airport……"
"Is Amanda O.K.? What's wrong with her mother?" Cameron was very anxious.
"Something about a biopsy, she said."
"I have to see her before she leaves."
"Mr. Sinclair. That's what I meant before. She's already heading for the airport. I have to get her bags packed and shipped home. She called ahead to have the corporate jet ready. I guess she didn't want to waste any time."
"I wish she had told me. I would have gone with her." Pacing, Cameron was just trying to think what to do next.
"Well, maybe if you hurry, you can still catch her."
"Thanks Paige. You're the best." He grabbed a piece of paper, penned a few words on it, and asked the concierge if he would make sure it would be delivered to Giovanni. Rushing out the front door, he thanked Paige again for her help and grabbed the nearest taxi driver, agreeing to give him a generous tip if he could make it to the airport in record time.
Taxi drivers in Italy were always up for a challenge like this.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Timing was everything. At least that's what Giovanni thought. He hadn't expected Cameron's less than surprised reaction. Or Amanda's calmness. But there was still hope.
He had changed his shirt, straightened his silk tie, and made his way back to Stefani's room and was greeted with a less than pleasant salutation.
"Giovanni." Stefani barely opened the door wide enough for him to walk through. She said nothing as she closed the door behind him.
"Well, that's certainly not the greeting I expected from you."
Amazed, Stefani answered him; "I beg your pardon?"
"I fly you half way around the world to sweep your first love off his feet and that's the thanks I get?"
"Giovanni, I had no intentions of starting things up again with Cameron. You knew that before I got on that plane in LA. You knew it and I knew it."
"A guy can dream, can't he?"
"You said you had a modeling job for me and a chance to meet up with Cameron again. I resent your using me in this plot of yours. I am not a pawn in some chess game. I know I don't appreciate that and I can guarantee Cameron didn't either."
"All right, Stefani. Calm down. This was all a little joke."
"I don't think so, Giovanni. Somehow I have this feeling it all has to do with you, Cameron and perhaps that lovely lady that Cameron is so taken with. Am I right? AM I RIGHT?"
"Perhaps."
"Then I'll let you in on a little secret. You can't manipulate others' lives for your own personal gain without someone getting hurt in the process. Now I don't know about your relationship with Cameron since he's been here, but I'll bet things were getting better."
Giovanni wandered towards the window."You may be right."
"We hurt him, you and I, when we got involved. And now, you have the chance to make things right….finally…and what do you do? You are a foolish, foolish little man!" Stefani walked back to the door and opened it. "Leave", she said.
Just then, the concierge appeared with a note. Stefani thanked him for delivering it before he left. She looked at whom it was addressed to.
"It's for you. From Cameron."
Taxi drivers are a rare find. Not only do they need to know locations, but they also have to be able to get to said location within record time.
Cameron knew Amanda had at least a 20-minute lead on him getting to the airport. But he was hoping that 'Lorenzo' would be able to make up at least part of that time and get him to the Cory jet before it took off.
He could only imagine what Amanda was going through. He knew how close she and her mother were, and wished that he had been given the same opportunities to become friends with his own mother. But his dad had seen to that. There would be no friendly relationships of any sort.
Thinking of his own family and what could have been kept Cameron occupied for most of the trip to the airport. When they finally arrived, he and the taxi driver were directed to the hanger where the Cory jet had been since Amanda arrived.
Jumping out of the taxi and mumbling something in his attempt to communicate, Cameron slammed the door shut and ran inside.
The Cory jet was taxiing on the runway. It was ready for take-off.