We head back inside the house, and are greeted by several maids as they are shuffling about. Tristan leads me through the white French doors to a kitchen that is the size of my whole house. It is deep cherry wood, a huge island that flanks the whole room a window seat with massive cook books and the counters are all Carrera marble.
“Come Aria there is someone I want you to meet” as we walk into this Clive Christian kitchen which is what it reminds me of, there are heavenly aromas that beckon us in, one of which is of homemade bread, oh wow how delicious it smells. Tristan takes my hand and pulls me to the huge island where I am introduced to a tall older gentlemen with silver hair, in a marvelous black suit and tie. He is adorning a white apron as he is putting the finishing touches on what looks to be lunch.
“Aria I want you to meet Cheswick my right hand man and my man about the house” shit he has a butler!
“I relish the compliment sir” oh wow and he is English, I look up at him as his blue eyes regard me kindly, I like him immediately as he has a fatherly way about him.
“Cheswick this is my Aria” by his smile I take it Tristan has been quite vocal to him about me. I guess he knows more about me than I do about him...Hmm
“How do you do Miss Aria? We shake hands, he nods to me. I smile shyly at him because I have never met a butler before and here in Ohio yet. Wow the city on the lake is surprising me at every turn.
“Nice to meet you too Cheswick” I blush, I look over at Tristan and he is smiling ear to ear like I am meeting his father or someone very dear to him.
“Come I am just putting the finishing touches on lunch” Cheswick directs us over to the huge cherry table that is set for two with grapes as the centerpiece they look like a picture as they are bunched and display on a pedestal the plates have the Eiffel tower on them and the flatware is sterling silver with gold trim, we sit down at one and I just feel so flattered as if I am the guest of honor or something, I don’t know how he managed all this while I was in the shower or when he woke up so early but here we are.
Tristan sits next to me as Cheswick stands behind the kitchen island facing us, he is a delightful, charming and charismatic man, quite entertaining, we start talking and I am totally surprised how Tristan holds this man in such a high regard, I have never seen Tristan respect anyone like this, well the old Tristan I mean. The Tristan I see before me is relaxed and joking with Cheswick and myself, and I can tell he is happy that we met.
We all begin to talk as the food is passed and wine is poured we lunch on cream of water cress soup, Nicoise salad, home-made French bread, black berry butter and of course Tristan’s wine from right outside. We feast while Cheswick makes little comments here and there about Tristan, filling me in on his formative years, which I knew some things but not all, like how he is allergic to evergreen trees and so am I, how crazy is that.
“So you all never had a real Christmas tree either?” Tristan looks at me
“No I break out in hives”
“Same here as a matter a fact I told my mom I was allergic to Pine sole so I couldn’t help her clean”
Cheswick laughs at my joke and Tristan smiles at me as he squeezes my hand.
Cheswick is very forth coming about young Master Tristan and his very disobedient stages of his youth, his termination from several schools for fighting and gambling as well as his acceptance to Harvard, his major was Business and Economics but he could have gone pro-law as he champions him.
Cheswick also fills me in on Tristan, from his rebellious teenage years, which spilled over to his twenties when I had the pleasure of meeting a very young Tristan; let’s see he was a pompous arrogant pistol as I recall who was sharp and determined. I was beguiled by him when we met completely infatuated and obsessed, but I have to say I always felt lovesick. I think I liked him at first, I think I was drawn to him and his enigmatic charm that just sweep me away.
I love that Cheswick has known Tristan his whole life, he has filled in some of the blanks that Tristan never mentioned to me about his home life like for instance how his mom abandoned her marriage and her three children, the end of their marriage was the beginning of ‘Tristan the tyrant’ as Cheswick put it.
“You see Cheswick was my grandmother’s butler for over forty years, she was not fond of my mother when she left my dad, so grandmother sent me Cheswick so I would have someone at home with me” I also find it interesting that Tristan’s two older sisters were both sent away to school while young Tristan remained here.
“How devastating you were the only one here when she left?” Tristan nods at the unhappy memory.
“I remember that day all too well, my mom stood at the door with her designer luggage in hand she rubbed my head as she walked out the door and left before my dad got home from the office” Oh his words make my heart bleed for him, I now see him as the petulant teenager - mother abandoned him and tore apart his would for her lover, who I believe she is now married to if my memory serves correct.
Cheswick continues his story and I am nervous as I hear all the gory details, it was not pretty, the angry talks, the constant battles between the two of them, none of which I knew about, I met Tristan after all of this, I met him as the out of control pistol slash sex God stage in his life.
“Aria it was terrible to be in that house I couldn’t take it, my father was devastated and he rarely came home, I would go and stay with my grandmother and was pulled away by my mom who was granted custody of me because I was only sixteen, so when I met you know Pamela Hardy I was enthralled in her, she was my escape and when my mom didn’t like her, I wanted her more just to spite my mom and what she did to us”
Oh wow he is talking to me about the slut-bag-ugly-whore, my mom’s words haunt me ‘if you are going to air your dirty laundry in public be prepared to be hung out to dry’ he didn’t have to bring her up did he? I try to calm myself and remember that what happened to Tristan was before we even met, but how he used it as his excuse for the way he treated me and behaved was inexcusable. I am pulled from my fury by Cheswick.
“So Tristan left, ran away with the undesirable, and we were all quite devastated, he was uncontrollable for years, we were surprised he even made it through Harvard” I look at Tristan as he raises his glass and gives me his bad boy smile. I shake my head at the smug son of a bitch.
“Aria after years and years of anger and resentful behavior all of that changed when he met you” oh wow Cheswick is smiling at me as he looks at Tristan and me. I look over at Tristan and he is fidgety and seams uncomfortable now maybe because Cheswick is revealing too much? Nonetheless he takes it and he nods agreeing at Cheswick’s statement.
Tristan looks at me with an honest and contrite heart as he reaches for my hand, the spark is there as my heart blooms for this man, I finally get the big picture, it wasn’t all about me, it wasn’t that I was not good enough for him, it wasn’t that he was too good for me, it was the fact that his mom hurt him so bad by what she did that he couldn’t deal with it, so when I just happen to come around I was clueless, I was someone so honest and uninhibited I didn’t understand his fury and I believe now that he wanted me but was so full of rage he wouldn’t let himself be happy and have me almost as if he was undeserving of me.
I take a deep breath and he speaks.
“Aria I have gone through all the channels, I have tried to get my head together, but the only time I have ever had a sense of peace was when we were together, it scared me, and that is why I ran from you” I am sure that he has been mulling over this statement for a while now, the tone in his voice is apologetic and contrite, I just wish it was sooner rather than now.
Cheswick lightens the mood bringing out a tray of strawberries and cream. Tristan opens another bottle of wine and we both sigh a sigh of relief, gosh I feel as if we are talking to my dad. Cheswick is regal like my dad, an older stately man who has a father quality all his own, he cares for Tristan and that is comforting to know that Tristan has him.
Tristan and I are
now relaxing as the air is cleared between us and I am left with a great deal of information about my dear Mr. Bach.
I have always felt comfortable with Tristan, we have always bonded over a meal, I find it comforting that he and I still share this.
Tristan was the hot shot who was snapped up from college by our Firm in the New York office, he was brought in to help assist me with a merger and that is how we met, and like I said we made a shit load of money together and we had record breaking deals and acquisitions we were the dynamic duo we had the inside on companies and CEO’s and we abused a lot of power. We were the driving force behind many a hostel take over, we loved the energy and the power, the destruction was massive both personal and professional and I can see how Cheswick had to deal with Tristan as he became more powerful it fed the beast and made Tristan less controllable.
Looking at Tristan now in this setting that old life seems like a million years ago, we were both ambitious and out to take over the world, sadly it was our relationship that put a stop to our corporate raiding.
Cheswick makes me laugh as he tells me stories of when Tristan and I met and the aftermath of our fall outs, I love hearing every bit of it. I can tell he adores him so, we laugh and joke and Tristan kisses my hand every once in a while, as we spend a lazy afternoon in the vineyard.
Cheswick watches us together and I know he must see my ring, shit I forget I’m engaged damn it and it’s not to the one kissing my hand all afternoon.
Chapter 11
I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS
We finish lunch and Tristan takes me on a tour of his house, we leave Cheswick and we make our way out of the cherry and marble kitchen which is bigger than my house mind you, through the butler’s pantry, thank goodness he has a butler, to accommodate this very room!
He reaches for my hand, I don’t mind that he has been holding my hand all day, I rather like it.
He stops at the set of huge white doors.
“We’ve seen your favorite room in your house this is my favorite room in my house” this is the Tristan that I missed, the one who always shared his inner most thoughts, his wants, his private desires and his life with me, yes he has got me all hot and bothered and I am excited to see what is on the other side of these doors.
He slowly opens both door and takes my hand, we are surrounded by works of art, books as far as the eyes can see, a library, a music room, and it is simply breathtaking.
We are dwarfed by the sheer size of the wall to wall books with a rail and ladder around the room.
Huge windows, floor to ceiling, adorned in royal blue and gold drapes. There is a sitting area, with French chairs, a sofa and a coffee table, the lamps have chains that you pull to turn them off and on, very beautiful and very stately.
A very ornate square table with the chess board inlaid into the cherry tabletop, there is a wet bar, an extraordinary billiards table, but what catches my eye is the huge nine foot Steinway concert grand!
“Come” he leads me over to the piano I gently run my finger down the shiny black edge, she is impressive, the music on the piano is Rachmaninoff piano concerto no. 2. Op 18 I look up at Tristan as he watches me.
“Will you play this for me Tristan?” this piece of music is my all-time favorite, it speaks of romance, unrequited love and desire for one so dear.
Tristan regards me quizzically as he runs his finger over his chin as if he is pondering something...hmm, I watch him with great eagerness and I smile softy at him hoping he honors my request.
The notes catch my eye, I look at the music and it is a feat in deed, key changes, variations and I know next to nothing about what is written on the page, but seeing it and knowing how it sounds I have to hear him play this for me.
He's mulling over something alright and then he speaks, as he tugs on his ear.
“I’ll play this for you if you let me take you to the Symphony this evening!” he pulls two tickets out of his jacket and shows them to me.
________________________________________________
THE CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA AT SEVERENCE HALL
A NIGHT WITH JAZZ AND STANDARDS
SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY
ROD STEWART
SATURDAY JUNE 11, 2012 AT 8:00PM
ONE NIGHT ONLY
Seat 9 row J orchestra section
________________________________________________
I look over the tickets, wow I love Rod Stewart, a smile comes over my face, I have nothing going on tonight why not, I look up at him and he is anxious, he wants a yes out of me, he is so adorable when he wants something.
“Yes I would love to go Tristan” he sighs as if he was holding his breath.
I give him the tickets back he puts them back in the breast pocket of his jacket and hands me his jacket to hold.
He puts me to sit down one of the overstuffed chairs facing the piano. Kisses my hand and he takes his place on the black leather tufted piano bench.
Tristan moves the pages to the beginning as they are in a spread sheet formation.
I hug his jacket in my arms it smells of him and I take it all in as I sit.
Ladies and gentleman what you are about to hear is one of the most poignant pieces of music ever written by human hands, I cannot emphasize the depth of feeling, emotion and reverence that this music has instilled in me, and to have someone that you love so much play this for you, it is a soliloquy from his heart to mine.
He begins and the hair on my neck stands up, Oh wow we are not alone, his fingers bring the notes off the page and breathes life into them. I watch as he plays with little or no effort, it is almost a natural motion for him, as his whole body is enthralled in this peace, he is not just fucking around, this is something so deep and personal to him, I feel it because it beckons at my soul.
He makes quick work of his seduction, gliding his skilled fingers over the keys ever so gently, so poised and confident, I am impressed beyond comprehension.
Tristan always use to play for me at my house just messing around, toying with me but nothing as seductive as this, that pulls at my heart, the story of how Rachmaninoff wrote it for the women he loved who didn’t want him, unrequited love, rumor has it ‘full moon and empty arms’ was its title, well at least that is the story my mom heard from her father, who knew Sergei Rachmaninoff in New York, my grandfather on my mother’s side was a big violinist in New York City.
This is my favorite part, I scurry and lay under the piano, my head at his feet and the sound resonates through-out my body tantalizing me, it is so erotic with every note he plays, his timing and pitch is shear perfection, he plays with such color and brilliance I am under his spell. The piece is forty some pages long and he has me wanting more, with every crescendo, the anxiety and intensity of the melody that pounds so deep inside of me. It’s like nothing I have ever felt.
The anticipation, the preponderance echoes all my senses, to hear someone play this beautiful piece of music as perfect as this I am in awe of Tristan Bach. This is seduction at its finest.
I lay on the Persian rug hugging his jacket close to me as it smells of him. I look up at the length of this monstrosity that is The Steinway nine foot Concert Grand, it goes on forever its long, and bold presence is intimidating, the dominance and power is earth shattering under Tristan's tutelage, what he does to me with his manipulation of the keys…
he soothed the beast in me, that was hostel and angry with him, oh God in heaven what is this man doing to me?
He plays beautifully, my eyes well up as he builds up to the climax, then rings out with such power and dexterity, refined determination, line by line, note by note it’s as if this piece is his apology to me for all the hell he's put me through, I feel his pain in every aching note, then It hits me, his sorrowful plea as he gently brings the piece to an end, my tears fall at the strike of the last few notes, they linger and echo between us until they are diminished and it is just the two of us again. I quickly whip my tears.
Tristan Bach, w
ine maker, Chef, and musical artiste.
“Hey Aria, what are you doing down here?” I sniffle and smile he is dumb founded I know in my heart that what he just played was us. All the ups and downs of this poignant piece, the beautiful music that speaks… is us.
“Tristan that was beautiful”
“When words fail music speaks”
He comes and lies down next to me, we both look up at the underbelly of this massive piano and it is simply magnificent, with its impressive size and over all depth, it is just overwhelming, as it takes me by surprise that Tristan can play with such vigor, with such poise and dare I say love, his performance was complete grandeur, I am awed by this man. Tristan proceeds to tells me how his grandmother insisted that he take piano lesson when he was six years old proclaiming you are a Bach and all Bach’s play the piano and how he hid from her and all the tricks he played on his teacher. He makes me laugh from his antics as a little boy and my tears are gone.
“I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TIME IT WAS” he looks at his Tag Heuer watch, and we get out from under the piano.
“Thank you for playing for me” I glance at the music, it’s still on the first page, wow he played the whole piece by memory, oh that is so hot!
“Come we have to be going, let me grab my tuxedo and we can get ready at your place”
I hand him his jacket he slips it on and leads me over to the door, I turn back and give the room one last look, I will never see this room again. That notion pains a bit.
I acquiesce to his demands, we walk out to the foyer where Cheswick is.
“So you two are off?” Tristan is coy, gauging my reaction to Cheswick.
“We have tickets I’ll grab my things and be right down, Cheswick keep her company if you would please?” he struts up the stairs, even in lasts night clothes he is beautiful.
“It was so nice to have finally put a face to the fair Aria.”
A Wedding Affair (The Wedding Affair) Page 14