Guillaume, Her French Husband

Chapter 10

Lara

It was almost ten in the morning on Wednesday when Ashley walked into Lara’s room.

“Awake?” she asked and Lara rolled over to look at her.

“More than ever. My biological clock has not really adjusted to the time,” she said and Ashley laughed.

“So sorry about that. I could give you something to help you sleep,” she said.

“No, I have to meet the realtor today,” Lara said. “I got the alert on my phone calendar last night.”

“You know I could always reschedule,” Ashley said. “I’m sure the realtor wouldn’t mind. She is a good friend. She would most definitely understand.”

Lara shook her head.

“No…no,” she said as she pulled herself up to a sitting position. “I have already rescheduled twice already. I have to do this. And maybe visit Marco at the salon while I’m at it. I’m thinking of changing my hair color or something. Make myself a little more invisible.”

Ashley forced out a laugh.

“Make yourself invisible?” she asked.

“Well, everywhere I go people recognize me. I just miss those days when I would just walk into a grocery store or a frozen yogurt stand and get myself something without feeling like everything on my person is at risk.” Lara took a long deep breath. “Besides, I am a little on edge about Guillaume.”

“And why is that?” she asked.

“Well, I have been trying to reach him for a few days now. But I have done everything. Called him. Text him. Left voicemails…I even sent him an email,” she said. “I just don’t understand why I can’t reach him.”

“You did say that you left him working on something in France, right?” Ashley asked and she nodded.

“Yeah, a docudrama. It shouldn’t take more than a few weeks really,” Lara said.

“There you have it. Maybe the project has him really busy,” Ashley said in a reassuring voice. “You know as well as I do that the industry is crazy busy.”

Lara nodded.

“Busy as it may be though, it should never cause a wedge between us. We promised that it wouldn’t,” she said as she gently ran her fingers through her curls. “I love that my career is finally where I have always wanted it to be but for Pete’s sake I never had any intention of it taking over my life.”

Ashley sat down on the edge of the bed.

“You knew what was going to happen right from the get go, sweetie. This is a hard path for anyone…even for those who are well seasoned in the trade.”

Lara shrugged.

“I guess,” she said in a soft voice. “But I am still trying hard to figure everything out. Figure out how this new life is going to fit into what used to be my old life.”

“See, that is where you are wrong. You need to let go of your old life,” she said as she looked at her friend. “I mean, you left this place as a single waitress and part time hostess who was a struggling artist and when you came back, you were an accomplished artist who is engaged to be married. Your old life is over sweetie.”

Lara shook her head.

“I guess it is, huh?”

“It definitely is,” Ashley went on. “And things change once you are in love. You find yourself experiencing all these other emotions that you were not used to feeling. Like envy, worry, concern…and all this is before you get a baby. Then all panic sets in.”

Lara looked at Ashley and raised an eyebrow.

“If this is your attempt at easing my mind about marriage, you are failing gravely,” she said and Ashley laughed.

“Listen,” she started. “Nothing is better than committing yourself to someone you love. And even though it has just been a few weeks I can tell that you are in love with Guillaume. Maybe it is just the French charm and that godlike body but I know it in my heart that you are in love.”

Lara took a long breath and then sighed.

“Is it normal that I hate how much I love him?” she asked and Ashley shook her head.

“You have not known true love until you want to punch and make love to the same person at the very same time.” She shrugged. “It is just the way it goes.”

Lara shook her head.

“I think I am just feeling a little scared because I have never felt like this about anyone…I mean, I have dated but does two really count?” she asked and Ashley shrugged.

“Well, from what I know, you never really loved any of the two. You liked them,” she said. “Maybe that is why you feel so…scared. This is the first time you are truly in love.”

Lara shrugged.

“Suddenly I get all those love songs I have been hearing about,” she said as she got off the bed.

“I’ll be downstairs. I already made breakfast and coffee so feel free to indulge. I have to get going though…I am checking out how far the work on the new spot is going before I go to The Broken Elbow,” Ashley said in a soft voice as Lara made her way to the bathroom.

“It’s alright. I’ll catch up with you after I’m done with the realtor,” Lara called out as she squeezed some toothpaste onto her toothbrush.

“Oh and I thought you would rather take my car instead…the tinted windows will give you some degree of privacy,” Ashley said.

Lara poked her head through the doorway.

“Couldn’t you just construct a small three bedroom in your backyard and let me live here? You take such good care of me,” she said and Ashley laughed.

“Don’t you dare think I haven’t thought about it, love but the members of the Home Owners Association around these parts can be quite the bi*ches,” she said smiling. “And besides, you wouldn’t have enough space there.”

“Hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?” Lara asked as she popped back into the bathroom.

“The car keys are on the kitchen table, okay?” Ashley called out as she made her way out of Lara’s room.

“Yes, mother. Thank you!” Lara said jokingly.

After brushing her teeth, she started the shower and took off her pajamas before she stepped under the running water. She closed her eyes as the warm water trickled down her spine…soaking her bre*sts and voluptuous ass. But even in the safe environment surrounded by her whole family, she could not really help but feel empty. She hated what this crazy thing called love had done to her. Before everything, it only used to be just her and nothing else. It was all about her and Myka. It was always The Broken Elbow, a few hours at the Exotic Terrace and then an hour or two of catching up with her sister before they went to bed. But now she was finding herself thinking about more than just work and Myka. She had begun considering what a life with Guillaume really meant. He had spoken of starting a family with her and she was not opposed to the idea. Perhaps that was why she never had a problem with Guillaume making love to her without any protection on. It was like maybe at the back of her mind, she wanted to get started with the whole starting a family plan. Besides, if it did happen, it was not like she would have had any regrets. She could already picture a life and family with Guillaume.