"THIS TIME AROUND"
By: gb
Chapter 36
Alex brought her overnight bag to the entryway of Wildwind and nervously waited to tell Edmund that she was going out of town for a few days before Ryan and Gillian came downstairs for breakfast. She desperately wanted to avoid them- especially Ryan! Her wish was not to be granted as Edmund did arrive, but with him also came Ryan and
Gillian. Eugenia followed a few minutes later.
"Alex!" Gillian came to her and the two held hands.
Edmund remarked, "Alex, I don't think you've met Gillian's husband, Ryan."
"Yes!" Gillian said excitedly, her face animated brightly. "I can't believe you're finally seeing each other! Countess Alexandra Devane Marick, please meet my darling husband,
Mr. Ryan Lavery!"
She turned to Ryan. "Ryan, this is Dimitri's wife, Dr. Alexandra Marick who's also a doctor."
Ryan had patiently waited for introductions and now stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Please to meet you, Countess." he smiled.
"Please call me Alex." she said automatically but stared at him as if in a trance.
When she didn't move, Ryan shifted around self-consciously and looked to Gillian
curiously.
Alex seemed finally to come out of it and quickly tried to cover nervously.
"I'm sorry- I must be staring," she tried to sound light. "Gillian said you were terribly handsome and she was definitely NOT exaggerating."
Ryan smiled, used to the compliment, but still in embarrassment and Gillian held onto him with pride.
Alex decided to go one step further for Gillian's benefit and continued, "In fact, I think the word she used was 'hunk'- isn't that right, Gillian?"
Ryan looked down at his wife and she was now blushing wildly. He enjoyed watching the pink color going in an and around her face as she looked helplessly at Alex who smiled warmly.
Edmund and Eugenia smiled quietly and Alex said kindly, "I'm very happy to finally meet you, Ryan."
She felt more in control...on the outside.
Edmund remarked on Alex's bag and she told him of her unexpected trip, but he insisted she have breakfast first.
At the table, Alex was dismayed to see that she was seated opposite Ryan and they would be facing each other, but she couldn't change seats without making a scene. Ryan looked at her on and off- in between giving Gillian special looks that only she could understand.
Alex tried to engage the others in conversation to avoid Ryan's glances her way, but inside, she was counting the seconds before she could make her escape!
During a lull in the conversation, Ryan remarked "Alex, have we ever met anywhere before?"
Alex almost dropped the water glass she'd been holding! She tightened her grip on it and didn't speak until her breathing returned to normal and she could think of a good comeback.
"I don't think so," she said casually. "What makes you think so?"
"I don't know," he shrugged, trying to study her face. "I just felt for a second that we saw each other somewhere...awhile back, maybe..."
She stiffened and hoped that no one could tell how nervous she was as she replied, "I'm sure I'd remember someone as charming as you, Ryan. Gillian tells me you're a promoter for a popular nightclub."
She smiled and hoped no one could tell she'd changed the subject.
Edmund did. He was focusing on her now.
Ryan nodded. "No big deal what I do. SOS is a great salsa club, though."
"Modest and spoken like a true promoter." Alex remarked and everyone laughed.
"Gillian says you're a doctor." Ryan continued, probing.
Alex nodded. "Neurology, actually." she didn't elaborate, but instead, turned to Gillian and said, "Gillian, Ryan is every bit as wonderful as you said."
Gillian's face broke into a huge grin and Ryan's eyes held hers for a few moments.
Then he looked back and forth between the two women and noticed some simmilarities.
Alex could feel Edmund's and Ryan's eyes on hers and she tried not to give in to the overwhelming desire to bolt out of the room!
Ryan noticed Gillian and Alex had a simillar type of hair, chin line, even body frame. While one part of him wanted to pursue the matter, the other part simply told him his head was just too full of Gillian right now!
Still, he couldn't help voicing his opinions as he said, "Gillian, you never told me how much you and Alex look alike."
Alex and Edmund stopped talking and Alex's eyes bulged for a second, then returned to normal so fast, the others thought that they had only imagined it!
Gillian only shrugged and said, "I never really noticed it."
"That's because you're far better looking, Gillian," Alex said quickly, then turned to Ryan.
"You know, Ryan, you flatter me to let me believe I actually look as good as your lovely wife- quite an exaggeration at my age, I assure you. In any case, she's the better version.
That must be why you think you've seen me before."
Ryan only smiled softly at Gillian again. Edmund, however, was making mental notes of this conversation for later use. He had to agree that Alex was unshakable at least on the ouside, but maybe Ryan had touched a nerve somehow...
As soon as breakfast was over, Alex left for her trip. As she was walking towards a waiting car, she noticed Ryan leaving the house with Gillian holding onto his hand.
As Ryan got to his car, he and Gillian kissed each other as he helped her into the passanger side. She was now wearing her hospital uniform.
Ryan went for another kiss and Gillian gave him a playful push and Alex could hear her laughter in the distance. She watched their play in fascination, taken in by their obvious love for each other.
"They're really something, aren't they?" Edmund had come up so quietly, she was startled, but he didn't apologize.
"Young love is always beautiful to see." she turned to him.
"They're a lot more than that," he assured her. "They have quite a history together."
She remained silent, so he continued.
"Dimitri was very fond of them..."
"He told me that." she replied.
"Oh, so he mentioned Ryan to you?"
"He said Gillian had someone special in her life." Alex said carefully.
She had the impression that Edmund was baiting her to see her reactions.
"I don't think Gillian will ever give him up or vice versa." he stated.
"Why should she?" Alex wanted to know. "They obviously love each other very much."
"I don't know..." Edmund answered, looking into her face. "I was thinking you could tell me... They DO love each other, Alex. That's the real thing over there."
He indicated Ryan's car. Alex turned to watch Ryan's and Gillian's antics again, but their car was already moving away.
"Edmund," she regarded her brother-in-law carefully. "I really have to leave now."
"Don't let me stop you." Edmund didn't flinch or move out of the way, but continued to watch her face.
"Don't worry, I won't."
Alex walked away from him and left without looking back...
end of part 36
(To be continued...)