"No, I'm fine, thanks," Khaat smiled. She watched them leave together. Her eyes started to flutter shut, and she woke herself up. "I saw that," Brian said. "You're pushing, Khaat. Look--here's the bottom line to this whole thing. You cannot possibly guard yourself nearly as well as I can guard you. And I'm not sure why you feel responsible for whoever this old hag is that is chasing you, but I'm not so sure it has anything to do with you. Your father mentioned last night that he believes you are merely a pawn in this whole thing. So, if that is the case, then you need to realize all this nonsense on her part is nothing more than manipulation on her part and just not buy into it. You need to let it go. Don't you remember that she was scared out of her wits at just the sight of your father?"
"No. I don't remember that."
"Well, you did take a hard hit. You were pretty stunned at the time. But yes. She was utterly terrified of him. .."
"Brian," she shifted subjects on him, a bit preoccupied, "You know, Rob left me because he couldn't take living the dangerous life that I live. That, I think, is the real reason he opted out. What if I'm destined to never find a man who will truly love me? What if I'm supposed to just be alone for the rest of my life? I mean, what do I do? Do I got to some muggle plastic surgeon and make myself prettier or thinner, or ...."
"Stop. Stop it." He sat down on the edge of the sofa beside her. "Do you really think you need plastic surgery to make yourself attractive? Really? Khaat. Come on. You are, as far as I am concerned, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen on this whole planet--bar none. Nobody compares to you. No one. I promised you a long time ago that you and Abbey would never need to be alone. Never need to worry about anything. And I meant it...."
She burst into tears, feeling alone and lonely. She missed Abbey. And it hurt that her marriage had, actually, pretty much been over before the ink dried on the license. And she didnt know why, really. She knew Rob had loved her, but she didn't know what she had done that she had never been woman enough for him.
"Look at me," Brian said, lifting her face to look into his eyes. He brushed away the tears. "Now, you listen to me. Rob Dent is a worthless, drug addicted little twit. He uses potions and booze to escape the slightest little bit of pressure because he just doesn't want to man up. He thinks that's the mature way to handle life, and in the end it only makes him look like a toddler who needs a lolly every time he doesn't get his way. It wasn't that you weren't woman enough for him. He was, clearly, not man enough for you. You deserve better. And until you find the right guy, you won't be alone. I'll be here. I swear. " He kissed her forehead softly and affectionately. "Now, no more tears. You're far to pretty to cry. "
"What would I ever do without you?" she said softly, taking hold of his hand.
"Well, maybe you'd have found a boyfriend by now if I didn't keep warding them off by bodyguarding you," he laughed.
"I doubt it," she said. "Brian, can I get some sun today, please?"
"Sure. My pleasure." He picked her up and took her to the smaller upper terrace that was off of his room and hers and allowed her to change into her swimsuit in order to tan. He did not show in the least how abhoring all of her bruises were. They were hideous. It made his heart ache for her. He brought the sunscreen and very gently spread it on her damanged skin. "We're going to watch very carefully. Would you like a book to read while you're out here?"
"Do we have any magazines?"
"Yes. I bought you a whole new stack of them when we went on the cruise that you haven't had time to get to. I'll get them for you and a fresh lemonade in an insulated waterbottle. In fact, I think I'll join you. I'll bring a deck of playing cards and maybe we can play some gin."
"You beat me last time. It should be my turn, then."
"We'll see," he grinned, liking any challenge. He laid her wand beside her. "Keep it close. I won't be far."
He left her to go get the magazines, the drinks and the cards. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, just to rest them. She was flooded with a vision that didnt' make any sense. The pink baby blanket that Khaat used for Abbey--the one that had her initials monogrammed in the corner in pink script--it was being cast off, thrown away. She wasn't sure where it was being thrown away at or why. She could not imagine her parents doing it because they loved the soft little blanket as much as Khaat did. And it seemed to be a soothing thing for Abbey. She had come to sleep soundly when it was wrapped around her. Terror rose up in her heart, and she panicked. She bounced up out of the lounge chair and picke dup the wand and tried to race into the house, but her unsteadiness made her collapse flat on the bedroom floor. She began to sob. If anything happened to Abbey, she didn't know what she would do.