by Jamie Conner
"It's good to see you too," Megan replied. "How was your honeymoon?"
Sophia turned and wrapped her arms around Renee.
"It was fabulous! I highly recommend you try one of your own."
"Alright, Sweetheart. Let's go easy on the hard sell tonight," Renee chastised jokingly. "Just let Megan and Brandi enjoy their evening without any pressure."
"What pressure? I'm simply saying that I want everyone I care about to experience the same wedded bliss that I have." She leaned over and kissed her wife.
"Megan, let's go find out seats before Sophia pulls out the honeymoon pictures and we miss the rest of the event." Brandi waved at her friends and pulled Megan away.
Megan felt a little self-conscious as they made their way to the front of the room. Now that she knew Brandi was being honored as Woman of the Year, she wasn't surprised that they were sitting at a front table, but it still didn't ease the butterflies she felt in her stomach as they walked past everyone else. She felt like there was a spotlight on her — or maybe a bullseye.
"You look absolutely beautiful," Brandi whispered to her as if she could sense Megan's anxiety.
Megan smiled up at Brandi and reminded herself that her's was the only opinion that mattered.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," a tall thin man dressed in a shimmering silver suit greeted from the glass podium. "Welcome the the fifth annual Le Sanctuaire Spring Gala." He paused as the audience applauded.
"That's Franco," Brandi whispered. "I'll introduce you later."
"I'm sure you're going to enjoy the wonderful evening we have planned for you tonight," Franco continued. "But before we start the awards and recognitions portion of our evening prepare to be amazed by the culinary delights of our celebrity chef."
At that moment a stream of waiters began to file out of doors on one side of the room. They were each carrying two silver covered plates high in the air. The waiters wove around the tables like choreographed dancers until finally there were four waiters surrounding each table. On cue, from where Megan didn't know, they each sat a plate in front of two table guests, lifted the shiny silver plate covers, turned gracefully on their heels and waltzed back out of the room.
Megan was following the exodus in amazement until the fragrance wafting up from the plate in front of her drew her attention back to the table.
"This smells incredible!" she whispered to Brandi. And those were the last words she spoke for several minutes. Culinary delights indeed!
A jazz band played soft dining music as the guests at the table made small talk during the meal.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Franco said some time later. "While you finish your desserts we're going to move on to the next part of our evening. I'd like to introduce this year's college scholarship winner, Nikki Broussard."
A young woman stepped timidly to the podium.
"I am so grateful to accept this year's Le Sanctuaire Youth Leader Award," she began in a voice barely loud enough to hear.
Franco stepped up next to her and lowered the mic closer to her mouth and gave her a big encouraging smile. She nodded in thanks and then continued.
"I grew up in Etiolles. My mother worked in a bakery and my father worked as a baggage handler at Charles de Gaulle airport. My father is also a minister and both of my parents are very conservative."
The young woman looked down as if she was trying not to cry. She was wringing her hands in front of her.
"When I was about 13 I realized I was gay. I tried to talk to my parents about it, but my father got angry and said if I didn't change my behavior then I could no longer live in his house. I had to live on the streets for a while," she paused and her eyes roamed the room. "And I had to do some things that I didn't want to do just to survive. I'd been living on the street for about six months when I ran into an old friend on the train. He told me about Le Sanctuaire."
"Because of Le Sanctuaire, I was able to get off the streets and go back to school. I graduated this year and next semester I'll be attending university in Lyon. I couldn't have done any of this without the help I received from Le Sanctuaire. I will forever be grateful for your support. Thank you."
Megan jumped to her feet along with the other attendees. She was clapping and wiping tears from her eyes at the same time. Her heart was so full she thought it was going to burst.
"And now you see why the work we do and the money we raise is so important," Franco said. "And we couldn't have accomplished much of what we did this year without the dedicated support of our honoree, Ms. Brandi Turner. As a result of her tireless fundraising efforts this year, we were able to raise more than 350,000 euro and purchase a new building that will house twenty new Le Sanctuaire residents and continue our mission to give young people like Nikki a safe and loving place to live. Ladies and gentleman, please stand to your feet and welcome Le Sanctuaire's Woman of the Year, Brandi Turner."
Brandi went up to accept her award and was met with thunderous applause after her speech. As she was walking to the table the woman sitting next to Megan leaned over smiling.
"This is really her season. I bet by this time next year we'll be celebrating her becoming the youngest V.P. at Rousseau Development."
Megan didn't know what the woman was talking about but she was excited to celebrate any success that might be coming Brandi's way. She couldn't have felt more proud.
Once Brandi got back to the table the two of them headed for the dance floor and danced the night away. The evening was far better than anything Megan could have imagined. She was on the arm of a beautiful woman, surrounded by people who honored the love they shared, and they were all there to support an organization dedicated to making the world a better place.
Chapter 18
Megan felt like her face was still frozen into a grin when she woke up on Sunday. In spite of the fact that the weekend had flown by and in a few hours she'd be meeting Alfred and Mrs. Leroux at the train station, she felt peaceful and content.
She looked over at Brandi lying next to her snoring softly. Megan gently brushed a tuft of hair away from Brandi's face but resisted kissing her and waking her up. She was so beautiful. How ironic it was that the woman lying next to her had once been the girl who'd broken her heart.
Megan sat there, gazing at Brandi and thinking about all the changes that had taken place in her life in just a few short weeks. She'd found a rent-free place to live for the whole summer, she had a girlfriend who she adored and she was just a few chapters away from finishing her first novel. Things couldn't be any better.
Usually, when things in her life were going well, Angie was the first person Megan shared the news with. Not having internet service at Mrs. Leroux's meant that there was a lot of news she had to catch her friend up on. Megan eased out of bed and tipped into the living room. It wasn't quite 6 am New York time, but she decided to try and reach Angie on FaceTime anyway.
If she yells at me for waking her up it will be worth it when I tell her all about what's been happening here, Megan justified to herself.
She pulled her computer out of her travel bag and opened it.
Darn.
She didn't have the password for Brandi's home internet connection. Megan tapped her fingers on the connectionless keyboard and then a thought occurred to her. Maybe Brandi was like most people and used the same password for multiple things. Megan clicked the internet connection icon and typed Ivan the Tiger into the password box when it popped onto the screen.
Nothing.
She tried several variations of the same password — with caps, without caps, one word — but no luck.
She drummed her fingers on her laptop. She considered waking Brandi up, but she knew once she did that the two of them would more than likely pick up where they'd left off last night and then spend the rest of the morning wrapped in each other's arms. Not that that was a bad idea, but she really wanted to talk to Angie before she went back to St. Amelia and no longer had access to the internet.
What about Br
andi's computer?
Megan tipped down the hall to Brandi's office and there was her laptop sitting right on her desk. A few clicks later Megan was looking at Angie's sleepy face filling the screen.
"Well, I'm happy to hear that I'm still important enough to get calls at inappropriate hours," Angie laughed and then yawned. "So, what's got you so excited that I get a call at…" Megan watched Angie squint her eyes to read the time on her phone. "6 am!"
Megan told Angie all about the shopping trip and last night's gala.
"Wow! That sounds amazing! Make sure you send me some pictures so I can see your dress."
"There's something else I have to tell you," Megan said with a grin.
"Really?" Angie's eyes get wider.
Megan held up her arm so Angie could see the little charm dangling from her bracelet.
"Hmm. Jewelry. Does that mean things are getting pretty serious?"
Megan just shrugged.
"It's not a ring or anything, but it does have both of our initials engraved on the back."
"Somehow I'm pretty sure if a woman gives you a lock with a diamond in it it means a little more than I kind of like you."
Megan just grinned. She was just about to tell Angie about their plans to go to Italy in two weeks when an incoming email notification appeared on Brandi's computer screen. It startled Megan for a moment until she realized Brandi probably hadn't logged onto her computer in a day or so and the system was just downloading all of her incoming messages.
She knew Brandi didn't have any issues with Megan using her computer since she'd done that several times before, but she still didn't want to invade Brandi's privacy by reading her email. Megan tried to ignore the little notification boxes as they appeared and then faded on the screen.
"Hey, are you still there or did the screen freeze?" Angie asked waving her hand.
Megan shook her head. "Sorry. Something distracted me."
Angie squinted her eyes. "If your girlfriend just walked in go ahead and log off. I don't want to see anything freaky on my phone. It's too early here and I'm in bed alone."
Megan laughed so loud she had to cup her hand over her mouth. She looked over her shoulder to make sure she hadn't woken Brandi up.
"Don't worry. If we get freaky later I'll make sure you're not online to see it."
"Thanks. I'd appreciate that," Angie said sarcastically.
Megan was still chuckling at the thought when another email notification popped up. Even though she tried to ignore it something in the subject line caught her eye.
St. Amelia Property Update - 364-B Route Bleue. Rousseau Moving Forward
Megan's brows knit together. That's Mrs. Leroux's address. What is this about? Why was Mrs. Leroux's property being referenced in an email from someone at Brandi's job?
"Hey, Angie. Can I call you back a little later?" Megan said suddenly not able to focus on her conversation with her friend.
"Sure. I'm going back to sleep. See ya."
Angie's face disappeared from the screen. Megan clicked the X to close the FaceTime app and then just sat there staring at Brandi's email inbox. She felt a little awkward about it, but after a few hesitant moments, she moved the cursor up to the last email that had come in and clicked on it.
She quickly read the message.
Hey, Brandi,
I tried to catch you before you left the office, but I must have missed you. I just wantedto say congratulations on your Woman of the Year honor. It looks like you might be celebrating a promotion soon too!
This St. Amelia property looks like a great piece of land. Our department is looking into it. Hopefully, we'll be able to scoop it up for next to nothing. I'll let you know as soon as it's clear to get the broker involved.
Congrats! ~ Robin.
What in the world was this? Was Mrs. Leroux's property somehow in danger? And did Brandi have something to do with it? Megan flashed back to the comment the woman made at the gala last night. Was Brandi trying to use Mrs. Leroux's property to land a promotion at her company?
Megan's head started to throb as she read and re-read the email trying to figure out exactly what was going on. She was so focused that she didn't even hear Brandi walk into the room.
"So, did last night's passion inspire another chapter in your book?" Brandi asked slipping up behind her.
When Brandi leaned over to kiss Megan's neck Megan's whole body stiffened.
Brandi lifted her head and gave Megan a puzzled look. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Brandi, what is this about?" Megan asked, pointing to the open email. "That's Mrs. Leroux's address and the message says something about your company trying to buy her property."
"What are you talking about, Megan?" Brandi asked as she stepped closer and looked down at the computer screen.
Megan watched Brandi read the email and then she saw her face go pale.
"Wait a minute. How did this happen?" Brandi mumbled to herself.
"That's exactly what I want to know," Megan said as she got up from the chair and stepped away from the computer — and Brandi. Her voice was cold and serious.
Brandi just stood there looking back and forth between Megan and the computer screen shaking her head but not saying a word.
"Brandi, is your company trying to steal Mrs. Leroux's land?" Megan asked almost shouting.
Brandi's face twisted as if the word steal had cut her like a knife, but Megan didn't care. As far as she could tell that was exactly what was going on.
"Megan, I promise you I don't know what this is all about," Brandi said, her voice filled with confusion.
"So you don't know why this Robin person from your company is wishing you congratulations?" Megan didn't even try to hide the sarcasm in her voice. "Maybe you need to start by telling me why you were at Mrs. Leroux's house the night she collapsed in her kitchen."
Megan knew her words were tinted with accusation, but from what she could see that possibility wasn't all that far-fetched. Maybe Brandi had been at the house that night trying to convince Mrs. Leroux to sell her property? Megan had seen how upset the woman had been when her son suggested such a possibility. It wouldn't be out of the question for her to get equally or more upset at the suggestion coming from a stranger.
"Hold on Megan. Just… just let me think a minute." Brandi sat down in the chair and began to rub her head.
"Let you think? Let you think about what, Brandi? Do you need time to get your lies straight about why you were so nice to Mrs. Leroux? About why you've been so nice to me?" Megan's voice cracked as she considered the possibility that all of this had been part of some elaborate real estate scheme.
There had always been a part of her that wondered if that was all too good to be true. A woman like Brandi wanting to be with someone like her. It hadn't made sense ten years ago and it didn't make sense now.
"Megan, how can you say that? I'm not lying to you and I certainly haven't been using you to get close to Mrs. Leroux."
Brandi's voice sounded genuinely hurt, but Megan didn't know what to believe at the moment.
"Look, Megan," Brandi said after taking a deep breath. "The truth is my original purpose for staying in St. Amelia after Renee and Sophia's wedding was to look for property for my company. And the night I found Mrs. Leroux on the floor, I had been looking for the property owner," she said softly.
Megan felt her stomach wretch like she was going to be sick. She stumbled back and collapsed onto the couch a few feet from where she'd been standing. Brandi got up from her chair and rushed toward her, but Megan lifted her head just before she reached out to touch her. The sick feeling in her stomach had been replaced with rage.
"So, this is what you do," Megan said in a cold angry voice. "Drive around the country trying to weasel land away from little old ladies?"
Brandi opened her mouth and then closed it slowly. Megan saw her shoulders slump as Brandi took a step away from her.
"Megan, I'll admit that in the past I have used some questionabl
e tactics to persuade property owners to part with their land, but spending time with you and Mrs. Leroux has really got me thinking about the way I've handled business previously. And beyond that, I'm telling you the truth when I say that I didn't send my company any information about Mrs. Leroux's property. I wouldn't do that to her and I wouldn't do that to you."
Brandi's voice sounded surprisingly sincere and it dampened the anger Megan was feeling. But still, none of this was making any sense.
"Then how did they get Mrs. Leroux's address?" Megan asked still trying to sound as cold as she did a moment ago.
"To be honest with you," Brandi said softly. "I don't know."
Megan looked into Brandi's eyes and as much as she wanted to stay mad all she could see was sadness and confusion looking back at her.
Memories of the time they'd spent together flooded Megan's mind. She saw them sitting at the hospital, making Mrs. Leroux's jam, visiting the perfumery, making love. It didn't seem possible that Brandi could have faked all of that — could she?
The room fell silent as both women considered what to say next. Then Brandi spoke first.
"Megan, I know all of this is upsetting but you have to believe me when I say I don't know what's going on. But I promise if you just give me until Monday I'll get to the bottom of this. I'll make sure everything gets straightened out and I won't let anything bad happen to Mrs. Leroux's property."
Megan looked into the eyes of the woman she'd fallen in love with. As frightening as the whole situation was, something in the deepest part of her heart whispered for Megan to trust Brandi — just one more time.
Chapter 19
Brandi felt like she was going to be sick when Megan walked out of her apartment door after barely kissing her goodbye. It wasn't like Brandi could blame her for being confused or even angry. In fact, she was beyond grateful that Megan had agreed to wait until Monday afternoon to see if Brandi could clear all of this up — she certainly didn't have to be that nice. But that was Megan's M.O. always the nice one while Brandi was always the one to screw things up.