Part Two

"Let's go Mom!" Sebastian hollered.

"I'm coming. Wait!" Teddy laughed and ran back up again. "I forgot something."

"Mom, I'm going to be late!" Sebastian insisted. He looked up and saw his friend Kevin pulling up in front of the driveway. "Mom! Kevin is here I'm going to catch a ride with him okay?"

"Okay, sweetheart. See you later," Teddy said as she started coming down the staircase. "That actually works out better. I'm going to the nursery to pick up some daisies to put in the flower boxes by the barn. Beckendall Nursery is on the other side of town so…" Teddy noticed Sebastian staring at her with a goofy smile on his face.

"Mom, you are silly about that horse."

Teddy smiled and shooed him away with her hand.

"Bye," Sebastian said as he kissed her on the cheek and ran out the door.

Teddy smiled and looked out the window as the boys drove off.

"Now where did I leave my keys…." Teddy walked towards the solarium.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia got into her new Jaguar. God she loved this car. She had been a Jaguar lover from way back. She loved the slick lines. She had held onto a XJ6 1989 model until recently because she had not liked the lines of the newer cars. But the new Jag was simply extraordinary. She did miss not having the duel gas tanks but hell the lines were like the old roasters…she would forgo the extra gas tank. She had picked up her new Jaguar the day before. It had been special ordered just for her; powder blue with chromed finish, light cream kid leather interior finished with slick marbleized wood. She sat back and took it all in with great gusto and satisfaction. She popped in her favorite classical CD and rode off.

Julia drove out of her estate and smiled listening to the purr of her new Jag. She was happy with her new toy. She had driven about 5 miles to the first traffic light and decided to adjust her rear view mirror. As she looked at her rear view mirror it was suddenly filled with the sight of another, and then she felt a jolt that propelled her forward.

Julia felt the pressure of the airbag on her chest and her neck hurt. She touched the button that released the bag and she began to breathe easier. She suddenly realized she had been rear-ended. She opened her door and stepped out furious and in pain. Some idiot had crashed into her new car! She looked at her new Jaguar and the rear end no longer existed, the other car was in it.

Julia stomped over and was about to release her anger when she saw the head of the other driver slumped over the steering wheel.

She immediately walked back to her car and called for help. She put down her car phone and walked back to the other driver. By the looks of it, it was a woman driver. Her hair was all over her face.

Julia opened the driver's door and stared not knowing what she should or should not do. She heard a moan coming from the woman.

"Don't move, I called for help," Julia said as the woman began to sit back.

As the driver of the other car sat back Julia finally was able to see her face.

"Oh…God, my head hurts."

Julia could see the hand shaking as the woman touched her left temple. She looked up at the face and saw who it was.

"I feel like I'm going to be sick," Teddy said weakly.

Julia could not believe what was happening. Not this woman again!

"Look the ambulance is coming," Julia said quickly.

"Help me. I'm, going to be sick," Teddy said weakly.

Julia undid her seat belt. Teddy slumped forward almost on top of her.

"I shouldn't move you," Julia insisted.

"Oh…" Teddy moaned as she clung to her.

"Theodora, you must be still," Julia insisted as she sat her back up and brushed the hair away from her face.

"The car…I couldn't stop," Teddy said opening her eyes. "Are you all right?"

"A little sore but otherwise okay."

"Why did you stop like that?" Teddy asked as she held her head again.

"Stop? Like what?" Julia asked suspiciously

"You made a full stop at the light," Teddy said as she looked up still held by Julia.

"Because that's what you do," Julia said as she released her.

"You made a complete stop at a green light!" Teddy accused her suddenly full of vitality.

"Don't you dare try and say that this was my fault!" Julia ranted

"What idiot stops at a green light! And don't tell me you can because you own this county!" Teddy yelled back just as loudly.

"Why you impertinent, insolent upstart…" Julia said as she stood up to her full height.

"What did you say?" Teddy was so angry she could spit. As she got out of the car to confront Julia and as she did her world began to spin.

Julia reached for her almost instinctively. Again it occurred to Teddy how strong this woman was. Her head fell back as she felt her knees give out. Her ears were filled with loud sounds and all she visibly clung to was Julia's face as she was held in that strong embrace before the world got dark.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia felt Teddy go limp in her arms.

"Oh God! " Julia said as she sat down on the ground with Teddy in her arms.

The ambulance was suddenly there. All Julia could do was stare at the pale white face in front of her.

"Ma'am, let go. Let go Ma'am," someone kept saying. Julia looked up and saw the paramedic next to her and she looked down at Teddy in her arms.

The paramedics put Teddy on a stretcher and began examining her. Julia saw more than heard anything. She looked down at her hand and saw the blood in it then suddenly looked at Teddy's pale face again.

"Are you hurt Ma'am? Ma'am are you hurt?"

Julia looked at the man talking a little disoriented.

"Sit down Ma'am. Please."

"I'm fine," she said solemnly. "She was fine one minute and then she just….I stopped suddenly and ….."

"Ma'am, I want you to come to the hospital with us so that we can make sure you are okay."

Julia followed the stretcher and got into the ambulance.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Stop pestering me. I said I was fine!" Julia pushed the doctor's hand away.

"Miss Vale, you were disoriented at the accident scene," the doctor insisted

"I was not disoriented! I was concerned …." Julia trailed off.

"About the other driver?" The doctor inquired.

"Yes, where is she?" Julia got off the gurney.

"I have to finish examining you."

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm fine. Now where is Theodora?" Julia demanded.

"The other driver is down the hall…." Before he could finish Julia was out the door. "You have to sign release paper Ms Vale."

Julia kept walking until she spotted Teddy's body. She walked up to her slowly.

"She's going to be okay," a voice said.

Julia looked at the nurse that walked over from the other side of the room. At that moment Teddy's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"We are trying to keep her awake. Are you a friend?" The nurse asked.

"Yes," Julia said as she got closer.

"We are waiting for the radiologist. Try and keep her awake okay? I'll be right back."

Julia was next to Teddy now. "Well Ms 'please call me Teddy' it seems that I have to keep you awake."

"If you are going to be unpleasant, I'd rather you go," Teddy said as she moved her head to the side.

Julia then saw the bandage on the side of her neck. "Your neck…"

"I got cut."

"You should have driven with more caution," Julia said empirically.

"Don't Julia. I'm in pain," Teddy said as she looked back at her almost pleadingly.

Julia was about to speak when she saw the tear filled eyes. Julia walked out of the room and towards the nurse's station.

"She's in pain. Come!" Julia said to the nurse behind the desk.

"Who ma'am?"

Theodora…Teddy in that room…she is in pain!"

"The accident case. We are waiting for radiology" the nurse said and turned back to her paperwork.

"Did you hear what I said…. She is in pain!"

The nurse stared back. "Ma'am we can't give her anything until she is x-rayed."

"Then get someone down here now! I am a trustee of this hospital and you..." she looked down at the name on the nurse's badge, "Nurse Bolten will be out of a job tomorrow if you don't do something now!"

"Ma'am, as I said..." The nurse insisted.

"Call Brian Kenny. He is the director of this hospital, up on your 9th floor and tell him that Julia Alston-Vale is here and that she is pulling away all the funding for the new Alston-Vale Medical building." Julia waited. And suddenly the nurse realized just who she was talking to.

"I will call Radiology right now Ms Vale and get someone to go and check on your friend," she said immediately and Julia knew that things would roll now.

Julia rushed back to Teddy.

Teddy was crying when Julia came back in. She started wiping the tears away.

"I thought you left," Teddy said softly

"No, I went to get…"

Suddenly a doctor walked in.

"Let's see if we can't help you Miss."

Teddy looked at Julia, understood and smiled her thanks.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Two hours later Julia was sitting at the emergency waiting room. She looked up as the doctor approached her.

"Is she going to be okay?"

"She has a concussion…that explains the headache and the nausea. We will be keeping her overnight for observation. And of course trauma to her neck she got cut on the left side towards the back near her shoulder. It took 12 stitches to close up the cut. Her right wrist is sprained. She is bruised but should be able to leave the hospital in a few days at the most. We finally gave her something to relax her. I believe her husband is on his way. You can go in and see her if you like although she might be a little dopey."

"Thank you," Julia said and started walking towards Teddy's room.

Julia walked in slowly. The light in the room was dim. She stared at Teddy as she lay there.

"Theodora…" Julia said softly. Teddy did not stir.

Julia studied the woman on the bed in front of her. Her hair was the color of fine wheat bathed in sunlight and her skin was the peaches and cream complexion kind that no real person really ever had. Her eyebrows were naturally arched and her lashes were full and long. With her eyes closed she seemed like a vision of a goddess recumbent waiting for some mischievous mortal to come and try and steal a kiss from the mouth….

"Teddy..." Julia said softly like a caress.

Teddy's mouth was full and inviting in front of her. And before she realized it Julia bent down and kissed those lips. She had meant to lightly brush the woman's mouth but it all changed as soon as both mouths met. Julia was filled with a hunger she neither understood nor did she question. The lips she kissed opened slightly and kissed her in return and suddenly the stolen kiss became one of pulsating desire and unexpected fire.

Julia finally pulled away slowly from those lips when she heard a moan escape them. She opened her eyes and saw molten eyes looking back at her and a bruised mouth in front of her. She stared at those lips that that given her such pleasure, trying to regain her breath, then her eyes went back to those passion filled eyes that had mirrored her own desire a moment before. Teddy's eyes were closed.

Julia did not move for a moment. She started leaning down to kiss that mouth again, to feel those lips once more, than suddenly she slowly straightened up. She stared at Teddy for a few minutes and then turned around and started walking out of the room when she came face to face with Brian Kenny.

"Just wanted to make sure all was well," Brian said obviously embarrassed.

Julia knew instantly what he had seen.

"Thank you Brian," Julia said looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Yes, well, if there is anything else I can do…" He trailed off as he looked up at her now.

"Yes, you can be discreet," Julia expressed her desire.

Brian nodded. Suddenly, an attractive dark haired man walked up to him.

"Excuse me, I am Edward Greyson. The nurse said my wife was in here." Edward seemed flustered.

Julia stepped aside and Edward passed her as he went in. Julia stared as he went up to stand next to the bed and leaned down to kiss his wife lightly on the mouth. A look of aggression and disgust covered Julia's face.

She turned away and was face to face with Brian again and again he had been witness to the emotions that were flowing through her. She took a deep breath and looked down as if from a throne.

"Make sure she has the best. I am responsible," Julia said in control again.

"I shall take care of everything Ms Alston-Vale." Brian assured her very business like.

Julia stared at him once more and searched his eyes. "Good night Mr. Kenny, and thank you."

"Goodnight," Brian said as he stared at her walking away.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Brian walked back towards the elevator, got in and pushed 9. He brushed his hair with his fingers. Who would have ever thought. The mighty Julia Alston-Vale, a lesbian. And I had to be the one to see it. Shit!

Brian walked into his office and picked up the phone.

"Alice, this is Brian Kenny. There is a patient in the emergency room. Her name is Theodora Greyson, make sure she gets the royal treatment."

"Anything else I should know Mr. Kenny?" The voice on the other side of the phone asked curiously.

"No, she is a very important friend of someone in this…. Jesus!… this country. Just make sure that everyone treats her with kid gloves, okay."

"I will see to it Mr. Kenny."

Brian hung up the phone. Why me? Shit! I wish I hadn't seen a damn thing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia walked with a firm gait. She would not allow this upstart Brian Kenny to see how this invasion of her privacy had affected her. She walked out the hospital doors and out to the parking lot. She leaned against a car suddenly and all that was in her stomach was soon on the pavement.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia got home, went into her library and locked the door, locking the world out. She turned on her music. She could always count on that. She had tried calling her old friend Consuelo but had not found her at home. Home being Madrid, for now.

Julia and Consuelo de Aragon had gone to the same boarding school in England. Julia had gone to Spain with Consuelo on many holidays. She liked Spain, perhaps because with Consuelo's family she had seen what it would be like to have a family. The Aragon's had been good to her.

Julia had learned the language, customs and to this day still loved the music that the Aragon's had taught her to appreciate. And in view that she could not reach her friend she turned on one of the old classical Spanish CDs that Consuelo had given her once.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Julia gave herself to the soothing tones of the music. Spain had always held a special magic for her. And with this thought she gave herself to the music.

The old song rang deep in her heart as if it knew it was what she needed to hear.

La Noche que me Quieras (The Night That You Love Me)

Y, si ame en suenos… En suave murmullos….. Y con suspirar….. Yes, I loved in dreams… In soft whispers….And in deep sighs….

Como rie la vida… si tus ojos negros…. Me quieren mirar How life laughs….if your dark eyes…..could only be seen by mine

Y si es mio el amparo de tu risa leve que es como un cantar… My solace is your light laughter that fills me like song……

Ella sierra mi herida ….Todo,.. todo se olvida…. it seals all those old wounds……Everything, everything is forgotten…….

Julia breathed deeply and remembered all those old wounds of discovery and the shame that soon after replaced the wonder. The memory of being found out and her parents being called by the head mistress. She shut her eyes hard trying not to relive the memory. Pilar, had denied her then, even when she had sworn she would love her forever.

Consuelo was the only friend that had stuck by her. That summer she did not go insane thanks to Consuelo and her family; her own family made it clear she should make her own holiday arrangement since they would be traveling abroad for an undetermined period of time. Julia understood. They never discussed the incident or her personal life ever again after that.

Julia shook her head, and as much as she tried, memories of Teddy kept coming back to her. Julia still felt her lips on her own. And finally, after so many years, she allowed herself to hear the music and allowed it to seep into her, not caring what she would do or what would come of it. Julia closed her eyes and opened that closed door and she listened to the words.

El dia que me quieras…. La rosa en granada The day that you love me….The rose will come forth……

Se vestira de fiesta…. Con su mejor color And be dressed in its best finery….. In its brightest color……,

Y al viento las campanas…. Diran que tu eres mia… And the wind will sing of church bells;……They will say that ..You are mine…….

Y notas las contaran… se contaran tu amor And notes will tell a tale ……They will ring of your love

La noche que me quieras……. Desde el azul del cielo… The night that you love me…… From the blue of the sky….

Las estrellas de rosas nos miraran pasar And the roses dressed as stars will see us stroll on by…

Y un rallo misterioso…. hara nido en tu pelo And a magical misterious light…… will come to rest in your hair….

No sienten lo curiosa….. Y veran… que eres mi consuelo They don't feel the curious magic…..And they will see… that .you are my consolation

Y al viento las campanas diran que tu eres mia and the wind will sing of church bells;…….they will say that ..You are mine…….

Y notas las contaran…. se contaran tu amor And notes will tell a tale ……They will ring of our love

La noche que me quieras….. Desde el azul del cielo The night that you love me…… From the blue of the sky….

Las estrellas de rosas nos miraran pasar…. Y un rallo misterioso hara nido en tu pelo And the roses dressed as stars will see us stroll on by…. And a magical mysterious light…… will come to rest on your hair….

No sienten lo curiosa….Que veran…. que eres mi consuelo They don't feel the curious magic ….They will see…..That you are my consolation

When the song finished Julia leaned over and switched off the music. It had gotten dark. She sat back in her chair. She was comfortable in the dark.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Well, I wish I looked that good in a hospital gown," Paula said as she came into the room.

"Paula, hi," Teddy said with a smile. "How did you know?"

"I called and Edward told me. What happened?" Paula said as she put her bouquet of flowers on a side table.

Teddy looked at the flowers and smiled at her friend again. "For me?"

"Yes, I though you might like them," her friend said with a smile.

"They are lovely, thank you."

"So, what happened?" Paula sat next to Teddy on the bed.

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you," Teddy said as she put her head back down on the pillow.

"Edward said you rear ended somebody."

"I did not! Well, I kind of did, but it was not my fault!"

At that moment there was a brief knock on the door. "Come in."

A young man poked his head in. "Theodora Greyson?"

"Yes?" Teddy answered.

"I have flower deliveries for you. Where would you like them?" The young man asked.

Teddy looked at Paula then they both looked at the young man again.

Teddy smiled and pointed towards the window. "There would be nice."

The young man looked over where she pointed and nodded. "Whatever you say, Ma'am."

He left them for a moment.

Teddy looked back at Paula who was trying to hold back laughing. Suddenly the door opened and several young men started coming in with basket upon basket upon basket of flowers.

Teddy's mouth fell open.

They had to use the other side of the room as well since all the flowers would not fit under or near the window.

The young man gave Teddy a single card and she took it in confusion.

"This are all for you Ma'am. Here is the card. Have a nice day." He smiled politely and left.

Paula stared at the card in Teddy's hand.

"Well?" Paula said.

"What?"

"The card! For God's sake open the card!" Paula insisted excitedly looking around the room again.

Teddy opened it and smiled nervously as she read.

To: Ms. "please call me Teddy" I hope this makes up for the days of riding that you will miss. Julia Alston-Vale

Teddy looked all around the room and smiled.

"Who is she?" Paula was perplexed.

"She is Ms. Julia Alston-Vale," Teddy said with an air of superiority, putting her nose up in the air. Then she looked at the card again. "It's an apology," Teddy said softly and smiled to her self.

"Thee …Julia Alston-Vale?" Paula said in surprise.

"Yes."

Paula looked at her friend confused and looked at the flowers that filled the room again and when she turned and looked at her friend again and she saw something in those eyes that she not seen in a very long time.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What is all this?" Brian Kenny asked as he was about to get into the elevator he had to step aside and see the flowers being carried out arrangement after arrangement.

"Flower delivery, sir."

"What did you empty out a store?" He asked a bit tersely.

"Three sir, we still have another van to empty."

"Why are you getting everything off on this floor?"

"They are all for one patient, sir."

"That's not possible. That can't be allowed. Who are you taking them to? I am the hospital administrator." Brian Kenny was set on putting some order into this totally absurd situation. He could not allow something like this to happen. This was a hospital not a flower shop.

"Theodora Greyson," the young man said.

Brian closed his eyes then opened them and asked. "She must have a lot of well wishers." He commented dryly. "But nevertheless…"

"No, this is just from one individual."

Brian paused. "May one know who that person is?"

"Well…you being the administrator I guess it's all right. The flowers are from Ms Julia Alston-Vale."

Brian visibly paled.

"What shall we do with them sir if you will not allow us to deliver them? Where shall we take them?" The young man asked.

"It's fine, just take them all to Ms.Greyson."

"Very well, thank you sir."

The young man followed all the others with the flowers as Brian stared in disbelief.

The head nurse came up to him once she saw him standing near the elevators. Before she spoke he stopped her.

"They will do no harm. She is in a private room," he said without allowing discussion. "Remember, she is a very special patient."

The nurse stared as he walked away. "What is going on here? Special patient indeed," the nurse shook her head and walked back to the nurse's station.

"What did he say?" Another nurse asked her.

"He said 'she is a special patient'. "

"I have to find out who the flowers are from. Do you think they are from him?"

"Old tight fist?" She laughed. "No, but there should be a card with them."

"I gotta know Betty!" The young nurse laughed.

"Catch that boy on the way out."

When the procession of flowers ended the young nurse called out to the delivery boy.

"Hi, who sent them? Does anyone have that much money?" The nurse said flirtatiously.

The young man smiled and walked over. "Apparently so."

"Can you tell me who?" She asked as she gave him another smile.

"Sure, our invoice says, Ms Julia Alston-Vale."

"Oh…well, thank you."

"You are quite welcome."

The young man got back on the elevator and made a mental note of the young nurse's name.

"Did he tell you?" Betty asked as she looked up from the chart she was writing on.

"Yes, yes he did."

"Diane! Who?" Betty asked.

"None other than Julia Alston-Vale," Diane said as she smiled.

"Oh…I thought it might be…. Oh well." Betty went back to her writing.

"You can be so dense Betty," Diane said.

"What?"

"Who would you send flowers like that!" Betty said wiggling her eyebrows.

"You know who," Betty insisted.

"No, I mean who sends flowers to a woman like that!"

Diane waited as something like understand filled Betty's features.

"A lover?"

"Yeah."

"Holy Shit!" Betty said out loud. "No wonder Mr. Kenny was so…. Holy Shit!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia stepped out of the elevator dressed to the teeth. She was the picture of aristocratic arrogance. She was dressed in a black suit with a pin on a lapel that was made of emeralds and amber intricately both stones were arrange to seem like a delicate flower. She had emerald matching earrings mounted on yellow gold finished with the delicate chips of amber.

She did not bother to even acknowledge the nurses she walked on by with so much as a by your leave. They both stared one in curiosity, the other in admiration.

"Wow!" Diane said is awe.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Julia walked right in. Paula looked up, as did Teddy. She stood before them.

"I'm sorry, I should have called," Julia said from the door.

"No, come in, please," Teddy said with a smile.

Julia walked in and looked directly at Paula.

"This is my friend Paula Williams." Teddy introduced Paula who was still sitting on her bed.

"Hello," Paula said smiling.

Teddy thought that for a moment Julia seemed unsure. "Thank you so much for all the flowers."

Julia then turned her eyes towards Teddy. She said nothing and just stared. Paula looked from one to the other then stood up suddenly.

"Well Teddy honey, I gotta go. Jim and I are going out for dinner. I'll call you later okay?" Paula leaned down and kissed Teddy on the cheek. Teddy then noticed the oddest thing; Julia seemed uncomfortable.

Paula straightened up and turned towards Julia. "It was a pleasure meeting you Julia."

"Yes, like wise," Julia said politely.

"Well, later kiddo." Paula waved and left them alone.

Julia suddenly looked around the room filled with flowers and then back at Teddy.

"This reminds me of a hot house," Julia said with a seductive smile.

She stared at Teddy; she knew that she was soft to hold and she seemed so lovely and so approachable. To Julia she became at that moment the epidemy of softness and her desire to connect with her became unbearable.

"They are lovely. Thank you." Teddy gave her a genuine smile as she looked towards the flowers than at Julia again.

"I'm glad they please you," Julia said still a distance away. "How are you feeling?" She asked softly.

"I still have a bit of a headache. The hardest thing is this thing on my wrist." Teddy showed her her encased wrist.

Julia walked towards her and took the hand with the wrist brace. She looked at it for a moment and then looked up into Teddy's eyes. Their skin touched and Julia's fingers caressed the skin beneath them; the warmth born of fire spread quickly. Both women held their breath anticipating. Julia looked at down at Teddy's mouth; she began to lean closer and was about to say something when the room door opened.

Julia turned releasing Teddy's hand in the process and came face to face with Edward Greyson.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Continued in Part Three