The Wind

(A David Blaine Story)

by Atonia

Part 1

"While you have been indulging in your tortuous therapy, I have been doing some research on your computer." Ali helped David remove his clothes and get into bed.

"What?" Ali eased him down on the bed.

"I was initially doing some of my own business in Switzerland and I came across a clinic, because unlike you I am not satisfied to spend months doing repetitive exercises to regain the strength in my arm. They use water, heat and massage and diet. I have made arrangements for both of us to visit."

"Switzerland? I can’t even think of that right now. What about Lyssa?"

"Will you give it a month? She is well situated with Martha Langston."

"Have you made any progress getting your family to Switzerland?"

"I have a residence now for them, I confirmed it today. They will be traveling within the week."

"I don’t like the idea of traveling to Switzerland. I am trying so hard to stay in one place…I need it, Ali."

"I know you do, darling but if this clinic can work miracles for you then you come home and travel no more. I see your frustration daily and it hurts me to see this pain you suffer."

"You suffer too…" his pain medication was beginning to take effect. "…don’t suffer for me…don’t…"

Ali kissed him softly and left his bedside tears glistening in his eyes. "Don’t suffer for you…every day of my life…" he said more to himself than to the room. He’d moved over to the window and looked out at a strip of blue-gray sky at least it wasn’t raining. The door to the flat opened and he turned quickly, it was Mandi using her key.

She glanced at the bed, "How is he?"

"He’s just had his therapy session and taken his medication."

Mandi tiptoed over to Blaine and pushed a lock of his hair out of his face, "Poor baby…" she whispered. Turning she looked at Ali, his dark eyes swimming she went to him and put her arms around him. "Come, come upstairs with me…you need…something I can give."

Mandi sat on her low sofa putting another coat of purple polish on her toenails. She’d turned her music up, a Tibetan chant, and turned a lamp off behind the beaded curtain where Ali slept. She glanced up licked her lips and concentrated on her little toe. He was delicious, everything about him...absolutely. But then they both were, separately and together, especially together. She smiled a little…but something was happening here…something very unexpected. She tried to ignore it but it wouldn’t go away and kept waking her in the middle of the night. Just now it raised its head again causing her to smear the polish over her toe.

"All right." She said quietly and screwed the polish lid on tight. She had allowed it to happen; little by little David claimed a part of her life. She couldn’t imagine not seeing him, she loved him sexually and tenderly. He brought out a mothering instinct she didn’t’ know she had and now Ali had flowed into the mix. The two of them were so right for each other and for her. She had become three. They could exist without her and had, but now that she knew them she had to question her own future.

A familiar sound brought her walking on her heels to her door, "Hi gorgeous." She bent and kissed him.

"What’s wrong with your feet?" David asked.

"I just painted my toes, see?"

"Hmm…" he looked toward the beaded curtain and back at her, "you put him to sleep."

"He needed a little TLC." She pulled his chair over to the sofa and took one of his feet in her lap. "I’m going to paint your toenails."

He grinned a little but didn’t stop her. "Did he tell you about Switzerland?"

"He wants to take you there."

"Come with us."

She looked up pausing the paintbrush, "You’ve decided to go?"

"It’s worth a try…I’ll try anything…what color is that?"

"Grape fizz." She started on his other foot.

"I’d like for you to come…"

"What about my job, Cramer has need of me."

"Not as much as we do, we have a greater need."

"You speak for Ali too?"

"Not in all things, but this one I do.  Cramer can find someone else…he has a way of finding fantastic women."

Mandi took his foot in her hand and blew on his toes. "I’ll think about it…he’ll fire me you know."

"Stay with us and you will not have to worry about a job."

"What would I do all day?" she rested her elbows on his knees and looked up at him. "I don’t cook except for toast and drinks. I suppose I could clean up after the two of you, but then you’re both old enough to do that for yourselves." She shook her head and widened her eyes, "Can’t think of anything…can you?"

"What do you want me to say?"

She moved up into his lap and kissed him. "Say nothing I’m only teasing you. I can’t think what it would be like without you and Ali…I don’t want to have to imagine…" He pulled her mouth to his for a deep kiss.

Ali became aware of the murmur of their voices in the other room, he looked down to see what was covering him it made a sound…an iridescent sari sewn with bells had been spread across him. He laid his head back wondering at the new path his life had taken. Exiled from his country and the life he knew, even his family. His wife had become bolder since the separation from their families and had publicly spoken about his sexuality. He was a marked man and he lived with that knowledge, but he lived carefully now. He would see them settled in Switzerland, his children enrolled in private schools. She could do as she pleased then. There was no question of divorce but they would make what they could of their lives. Officially he was dead and for now it suited him to be.

He turned his head toward them, she was in his lap now, he wondered how much David would allow him to be a part of his life. "What are you doing in there?"

David answered him, "Go back to sleep."

"Come and join me." He entreated. Giggles followed and David rolled through the beaded curtain with Mandi.

Ali wrapped him like a package in the sari and went to take a shower while Mandi unwrapped him.

Later Ali strapped on his watch and looked at the two of them still lying together, passion spent but indulging in the fug that followed.  "What are we doing for dinner?"

"Do you cook, Ali?" Mandi asked.

"I do not…I eat."

"She’s coming to Switzerland with us." David said.

"Oh then you are coming…"

"I didn’t say I wasn’t; I had to think about it. My brain was in a fog…"

"Your brain stays in a fog; if it’s not medications it is sex, you have become an addict my dear." He was only half kidding.

"I believe I have…it will be good for me to get away for awhile."

"Do you mind awfully, Ali…about me coming too?" Mandi asked.

Ali sat down on the bed and played with her small breast, "No…I don’t mind at all."

Mandi changed her clothes three times, no four ,she was nervous and tried to make up for it with the perfect outfit for a trip to the country to meet David’s daughter and his adopted mother, Martha Langston. She looked around the room; her bag was packed for the trip to Switzerland, everything was clean and put away locked in the hall closet next to her bathroom. Her wardrobe ran the gamut. Mostly her clothes were a little funky bought at expensive boutique’s all over the world as she traveled. If she had to have a particular look for a job she bought clothes that fit and then discarded them afterward unless it was something she liked, something  a little out of the ordinary like the white leather jacket she pulled on with her black jeans and boots. Under that she wore a multicolored silk and lace top pieced together with ribbons.

Ali knocked on her door. She applied her lipstick and opened it.

He looked at her a moment, "I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you fully dressed…you look very nice."

"Do I, are you sure… is it Mum and daughter meeting enough?"

Ali laughed and picked up her bag, "Are you ready to go, I have Blaine in the car he waits for us."

David was strapped in the passenger side and watching for them to emerge from the front door of the building. A security guard had already been over to check and ask questions about the car being parked there. David told him a patient was coming out soon and indeed when Ali emerged from the building he had his arm in a sling and Mandi rolled her own bag beside of him.

Ali hated the sling and rarely wore it like he was ordered to. Blaine was glad to see he had it with him that meant Mandi would be driving his car.

She held the steering wheel with both hands tightly leaning forward as though she’d never driven before. It was ridiculous.

She removed a hand and flexed her fingers, David reached over and took her hand and kissed her fingers.

 "Relax…she’s only four."

Mandi smiled a little, it wasn’t the four year old that had her so nervous. She’d heard a lot about Martha Langston and did a little research of her own. The woman was famous for her borders, her gardens, she’d written books. This whole thing was crazy, why couldn’t she just meet them at the airport it would have been so much easier. But Ali had complained about his shoulder, though in truth he drove about when he wanted to, and of course Blaine couldn’t drive.

She aimed the car toward a fence and slowed…

"Turn here…here Mandi…"  David leaned forward, it had been a long time since he’d been here. Two months had passed. Ali hadn’t been there either except for a night or two. After the attempt on Blaine’s life, he’d been staying with him and sleeping on the sofa or upstairs with Mandi. A light came on by the front door.

Part 2

Martha stepped out onto the bricked path wondering how Ali was going to get Blaine inside with his sore shoulder. She was surprised when a woman stepped out of the car too, nothing had been said.

Ali brought his chair around to the passenger side and Mandi feeling awkward for several reasons moved around to help him.

Martha told Lyssa to stay put a minute and went out to the car to see what was what.

"Good evening, Blaine," she bent and hugged him. He’d gotten himself into the chair.

"Martha," he smiled hugging back, "where is she?"

"Hanging around in the doorway. Ali…how is your arm now?"

"It’s getting better, still a little sore…Ms. Langston this is Mandi Manolovich, she is a friend of ours and has come along to help with things."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Manolovich." She turned to Ali, "You should have let me know I would have prepared a room for her."

"Oh please don’t go to any bother over me Ms. Langston, I can just…anywhere really…a chair…"

"She’s with me," Ali responded. He thought it might be better all around if that were so while they were here.

"Ah,  well then," Martha smiled quickly and decided to think about that later. "Lyssa, come on over here your Daddy is here."

Lyssa was wide eyed, he was still in a wheelie chair and she hadn’t expected that. She didn’t  think he’d be in a chair at the house, that was for the hospital.

"Hello sweetheart, come and ride with me." David got her to his knees and picked her up on his lap. "We have a new wheelie. I don’t think you’ve seen this one."

Martha noted the new chair too. He’d been given one at the hospital after his was destroyed on the boat ramp but it was hard to maneuver and Ali had bought him a nice one. "Looks like it might be easier to manage."

"It is much easier." David looked ahead at the walk and Martha took the handles and gave him a push, it wasn’t bad at all so she pushed him to the doorway. Ali came and helped get him in the house.

Martha had tried to make her downstairs a little more wheelchair friendly, furniture was moved around clearing out wider pathways. "I’ve set up some drinks in here in the lounge and dinner will be in about a half hour." Martha was not noted for her kitchen prowess, however she did have a few things she had mastered and tonight it was roast duck with orange sauce from Mr. Babbs’ farm.

David was taken up with Lyssa, Ali made him a drink but he barely touched it. Lyssa brought him things to look at and at one time a book for him to read. Martha told her not to be silly one didn’t read stories when they were getting ready to sit down for dinner, that would hold until later. Lyssa shyly put the book away.

Mandi was intent on watching David with his daughter. She’d been introduced to the little girl and thought she was lovely. This was a David Blaine out of context and not the same man who shared her bed. Martha had asked her a few questions and when she mentioned working for Cramer she nodded her head. Now Martha had her in the picture…she worked for Cramer.

Ali was as usual in social situations, charming and witty much more the extrovert than Blaine. He put Mandi at ease and took a seat on the arm of her chair thus presenting them as a couple. Martha was still not so sure about that; wasn’t he married with children. Not that it was any of her business of course.

"You’ll be traveling to Switzerland with them?" she asked.

"Yes it turns out I’ve been to the area where the clinic is located just outside of Zurich. I should be able to help them with logistics."

"I’ll worry about him of course until I know something. Please if you would have him call me when he arrives. It’s important that I know where he is because of the child.

Mandi was watching  Blaine, he was laughing and smiling, something she didn’t see much of in the city. It touched her heart the way he was with Lyssa. At the same time she felt out of place here in Martha Langston’s house, Ali tried to make her feel comfortable, he was a dear sweet man.

After dinner Martha took Lyssa upstairs to put her to bed but she wasn’t having it, her daddy was downstairs. After a while Martha gave up and let her go. What was one late night, God knows the child spent little enough time as it was with him.

Ali had wheeled him out of the back door so he could smoke and Mandi joined him.

"You’re awfully quiet?" David observed.

"Well…I…don’t have much to say." She walked over to the edge of the flagstones and flicked her smoke.

"What is wrong, this is not like you?"

"Oh…it’s all the…goodness of the place…Mum and baby…I don’t belong here. It was fine you know at the flat but here…and Ali’s claimed me…"

"You know  why he did that don’t you?"

"I think so…to protect you…you see what I mean…"

"No I do not…come here," he took her hand and pulled her down and kissed her. "We are all the same people."

"Daddee…" Lyssa ran through the kitchen to the back door.

"Ah  Lyssa you did not go to bed…" David took her on his lap…Mandi disappeared.

"I’m sorry Blaine, I did try to get her into bed."

"It’s all right," David looked up at Martha and cuddled his daughter.

"What time is your flight tomorrow?"

"4:30…"

"And how long will you be gone?"

"Six weeks…I’m registered for six weeks. Regardless  of the outcome, I will come home after that."

"Home…meaning?"

He spread his hands and shrugged, "here…unless my house is livable."

"What about Ali?"

"I do not know and I think perhaps neither does he. His family is in Switzerland but he is estranged from his wife so…I…"

"Ah well that explains Miss Manolovich."

"Does she need an explanation?"

"In my mind she does. I had you and Ali coupled up and you know I don’t have a problem with that, I never have unless it’s flaunted about like the ones in Hyde Park in funny costumes. I know you both have a deep love for one another, it’s lasted through the years. For him to show up here with a woman on his arm just doesn’t fit the picture or the man as I know him anyway."

"What if she were mine…"

"Is she?"

He didn’t answer, running  a hand over Lyssa’s head. She’d fallen asleep in his arms.

"Blaine?"

"I do not know. It is too soon to know I think. I need her…right now I need her." His eyes flashed up and back down to his daughter.

"Should I make up a separate room for her?"

"No…no…"

"I’ve had my neighbor bring a bed down and put it in the other parlor for you, it’s a narrow bed and it’s mate is upstairs. There are only four bedrooms here and one I’ve made into Lyssa’s room. Ali’s room has a double bed."

"It’s all right, Martha most of the time Ali has spent with me he’s slept in her flat with her."

"You’re sharing her between you…that’s not right, Blaine." She got up from the chair and pushed it under the table.

"I am sorry I have disappointed you…I am not perfect. For a while she makes me feel like a whole man, like I am blown up to my full height. Perhaps you do not understand…I know it is a complicated thing with me. She helps me to forget  what I have lost. "

"Nothing about you or connected to you is simple. Neither is it black or white. As soon as it is possible for you, whether you are walking or not you need to take your child back under your wing. She needs her father, she’s lost her mother and I imagine she has thoughts of losing you too. She doesn’t see you often enough it’s just not convenient for me to make that drive every day I’ve got two jobs I’m working right now. I’m not trying to get rid of her, the little minx has stolen part of my heart but I know what is missing in her life right now and it’s you."

He was quiet for a moment and when he looked up there were tears in his eyes. "Thank you…"

Martha went over to him and put her arm around his head hugging him to her bosom. "It’s going to be all right in the end. Here let me have her I’ll take her up to bed." She gently took Lyssa from his arms.

A little while later, "Are you ready to come in?" Ali stepped out onto the terrace.

"I think this is probably a mistake, six weeks is a long time."

"Not if it means you walk off the plane, you will have the rest of your life to make up for six weeks. What is this, is it your daughter?"

"Yes most if it is…It is time that I face up to my responsibilities. I’ve left the care of my daughter to Martha, the refurbishing of my house to Martha and she has a life of her own…her own responsibilities. All this while I have been lying in bed and letting machines work my body. I once said I wanted to be the wind not the leaf that tosses about but I have tossed up in your bed  and in Mandi’s and forgotten."

Ali took a chair and reached for David’s hands, "I think we shall cut back on your pain medications for I believe you have too much need of them. And Mandi is a whole person, my dear not a drug. She has great affection for you and is now upset over this whole trip and is begging to go home to her flat."

"Why?"

"You should talk with her and listen with your ears and your eyes and not with  your cock. Are you ready to go in and to bed?"

"Yes…will you help me?"

Ali wheeled him to the other parlor at the other end of the house. He brought David’s bag back there with him and pulled out a tee shirt and pajama pants for him. "You’re becoming spoiled," he said softly pulling the sweater over David’s head. "Soon you won’t be able to dress yourself or comb your hair."

"I can dress myself."

"An yet you let me undress you… things you can do for yourself you do not do. You are becoming dependent my darling."

"Dump me on the side then…" Blaine turned his head away.

"You would like that wouldn’t you," he pulled the tee shirt over his head and held on to the bottom of it pulling him close. "Then you could cry and feel sorry for yourself…I cannot walk I am helpless." He forced Blaine to look at him. "Do you want to be my baby or an equal partner………?"

"I could never be equal to you…"

"Stop it…stop…it." Ali kissed him and backed away, "now is not the time, not here…deal with your own pants." He left him alone.

Up in his room Mandi was already in bed, her back to him facing the wall. He took in her curve of her hip and knew it was Blaine he wanted  but he took her anyway.

She turned in his arms and buried her face in his neck, "Take me home in the morning, please."

Part 3

"I never check my bag, it fits in the overhead." Mandi  got in line to check in, got out and then got back in. She had not talked to Blaine and before they left Martha Langston’s house she decided she did want to go after all. Now she was unsure again. Ali was getting aggravated with her and looked at Blaine, "Take her somewhere and talk to her. It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other."

"Mandi…over there in the corner we have to talk."

"Tell me what’s wrong?"

"I…should let you and Ali go alone you don’t really need me."

"I do need you…please think about it, Mandi…there is not much time."

"You don’t understand and there isn’t time to explain properly. You go ahead with Ali and I wish you the best of luck. I really do and I hope you walk off the plane when you get back but if you don’t it won’t matter to me. Maybe I will see you when you get back…I’ll keep your car if that’s okay, or I can take the train back…no problem. I just…it’s not…I don’t know how or why it happened but anyway you’ve been so good for me…"

"Mandi what are you trying to say?"

"Nothing…nothing…don’t worry about it, love. You um…oh Ali is looking for you…I can’t go…I can’t I need to be apart from you for awhile…it’s too much." She kissed him and pulled out of his grasp. "Now you go…" she turned and ran into Ali. "I’m not going…love him for me." She pulled away from him and ran away with her bag trailing behind her.

Ali looked at Blaine and knew what Mandi’s problem was, she was in love with Blaine. "What did she tell you?"

"Nothing that made any sense." Blaine looked after her.

"She’s in love with you."

"Why did you tell me that?" He still watched after her when his chair began to move.

Ali sat down at the gate rubbing his shoulder but quit when he saw Blaine watching him.

"You are in pain, why didn’t you say something?"

"I am often in pain," he met Blaine’s eyes, "I don’t cry about it. That was a long  way to push you, you are getting heavier."

"We could have got someone to push me, where is the sling you are supposed to wear?"

"Why are you worrying about it now, I didn’t wear it all day."

Blaine looked at him a moment and looked away.

Ali had arranged for a car and driver in Zurich. The first night there he had a hotel suite booked. The  following morning they would be driving to the clinic.

He tipped the bellhop and tossed his wallet on the table running a hand over his face. He was tired. There were phone calls he wanted to make and possibly set up a meeting with his wife while he was there, and Blaine was in pain, too long he’d been sitting.

"Have you seen the bath, it’s a whirlpool I will fill it now for you."

"Where are my pills, you took them from me?"

"Are you accusing me of stealing your pills?"

"No, not stealing, but you are keeping them from me."

"Yes…have the bath and if you still need a pill…"

David whirled his chair around there was something wrong  here…something very wrong. The atmosphere was wrong here.

Ali came from the bedroom,  he’d removed his shoes and his shirt and had the bath going for Blaine. "Come I will help you."

Ali helped him strip and went to lift him from the chair to the big whirlpool tub, "Come in with me…" David’s arms were around his neck.

"No…I have some calls…to make."

"Make them later…come in with me."

"I thought you were in pain…your back…"

"I am…I love you, Ali…"

Ali traced Blaine’s upper lip with a finger…"You win again because I love you."

"When we get to the clinic," Ali was explaining at breakfast in their rooms. "We will be separated. Our injuries require different treatments. You will be in one wing and I in another."

"You won’t be with me?"

"No, you will be on your own. So I will tell you now to do what they ask of you don’t sit like a sulky child. They know what they are doing here. I may see you at meals I don’t know…we place ourselves in their care…this is not a spa it is a clinic that takes itself seriously."

The first two days David went through a battery of tests. The third morning attendants arrived and took away his wheel chair. They brought him leg braces and crutches and walking sticks. "From this day forward you walk. You are no longer confined to a wheelchair you are upright as you should be. It is the mind you see," the doctor grinned and pointed to his head.

David did not smile he regarded the braces . He was shown how to put them on and how to maneuver around with them. On his own he fell twice but they got him back up and moving again. There followed a rigorous daily work out and a diet that left him constantly hungry. After a while he became used to the diet and was willing to go through anything to get to the pool in the afternoons. Oh how he had missed swimming. He began thinking of his house in Coventry…a pool was a necessity now.

The braces were heavy and somewhat painful but he experienced joy standing in the bathroom.  And in his little kitchen where he could lean against the counter and put the crutches aside.

Daily he was given injections in his back and soon his missing pain pills were forgotten. After two weeks he could stand alone with the braces. He could actually feel the strength coming back into his legs and his back. Sessions in the whirlpool, deep body massages it was all working for him but he missed Ali.

He also missed Mandi, especially at night when he was alone in his bed.

After three weeks Ali was able to leave the clinic. He went to see his children and his wife. They had been married for 18 years through thick and thin. Their marriage began as a contract between their families, but over the years they became friends and shared a deep affection for one another. She’d known for a long time about his extramarital sexual affairs but she’d never met with any of his partners or even knew their names until David Blaine came to Saudi.  He was seen as a threat and they’d had many arguments over him. It all came to a head before they were forced to leave their home and before the explosion that supposedly took his life. He made no apologizes for what he was, it was up to her to either accept it or not. She’d had some time to think about it now and he hoped for the best.

David had two more weeks left at the clinic. He was making his way back from the pool one afternoon when he saw a familiar looking guy leaning on his doorway.

"You are doing well, my dear."

"Ali. Look what I can do," Blaine was smiling holding his arm crutches out to the side.

Ali was all smiles too waiting for Blaine to open his door.

Once inside Blaine put his arms around Ali and hugged and kissed him, "Thank you my friend for making me come here, without you I would still be in that chair."

"But you’ve done all the work by yourself…ah it is good to look you in the eye again."

"And you…where have you been they told me you were gone?"

"I’ve been out for a week…I went home, Blaine. My wife and children are here now and settled in."

"She took you back?"

"Yes, she doesn’t like it but I think...I hope…she likes me more."

"I am glad for you…you need them you know; they anchor you so you don’t blow about in the wind like me. Have you heard from Mandi?"

"No, not a word."

"I tried to call her and it went to voice mail."

"Well there is time when you get back to sort that out."

"You’re not coming with me…Ali?"

"No, Blaine I’ve got to try and put my marriage back together and you’ve got your daughter waiting for you and that house in Coventry…how is it coming along?"

"It is going well, I have pictures emailed to me. Depending on the weather perhaps later this month. Oh I will miss you."

"You have me today," Ali smiled his eyes twinkling."

"The day is nearly over…"

"Are you through with your work today?"

"Yes, I was going to take a shower and…you smell intoxicating."

"Life is finding the new normal. This is for you," he handed Blaine a little velvet bag.

"Umm it’s been awhile since I wore this."

"Go take your shower I’m not going anywhere."

David went off to do just that and Ali paced around the suite of rooms. He was so happy to see Blaine upright and perhaps a little less clingy. He’d been worried about telling him he wasn’t going back to England. He turned to see him coming from the bathroom a towel over his hair.

"You’ve lost weight, you look good Blaine."

Blaine smiled a little and reached for his under pants. He had to sit down to put them on but he’d stood up in the shower only holding on the bars once. "It’s the diet…lack of food."

"It’s the exercise, lack of sitting."

"A little of both. What will we do, I can’t go out and eat, I can’t drink anything but water and the clinics special tea."

"Let’s talk for awhile the rest will take care of itself."

"Okay," Blaine sat back against the headboard of the bed with a pillow for support. "How is your shoulder, you must have done well to get out in three weeks."

"I was boxing when I left. They came around and said there was nothing else they could do for me. I could have languished around like you for another three weeks," he ducked as a pillow came by him and grinned. "I’m proud of you, Blaine. I knew you could do it."

"I’m not 100% and will always have problems with my back, but the important thing has happened. I sent a message to my contractor to make sure there is a place for a pool, a covered pool that I can use year around. I love to swim as you know, now it is therapy. I cannot walk for long distances…but I think how I was when I came here and short distances are a good thing."

"You will have to manage going home alone and where will you go?"

"Depends on whether Mandi  picks me up or Martha Langston. I need to see Mandi and find out what is in her mind. I am not…not ready for a serious relationship with anyone except you. I still have…" he looked down at the bed cover and traced a line " feelings for Charlie. Mandi was fun, Mandi as you know….well know is very good and she satisfied something for me, made me feel like a whole man again. Now that I am…mostly I don’t know how that will effect anything. I need to concentrate on Lyssa for awhile."

"I think you are very wise…when did you become so wise my darling?"

David smiled a little, "Being with you.

Ali picked at a decorative pillow’s fringe, "You know you have a way about you, and  I never know if it is something you do or if it is unconscious; you flirt, you seduce and yet you remain innocent. There is an innocence about you that makes people want to protect you Long after the seduction is complete and you have had your way with them."

"I seduced you long, long ago but not on purpose; you first had me in the palm of your hand. I fell hard for you and have loved no one as well since then. Not even Charlie though I did love her dearly."

"You seduced Charlie, Cramer, Martha Langston and Mandi."

"Not…I do not try, I only want to be nice. I want people to like me and yet I’m afraid to get too close. You are the only one I’ve ever been totally open with."

"You just want to be loved, something you were deprived of from an early age. I fell in love with you early on when I was tutoring you, and I think how can I get him into my bed. I see you responding…do you remember the first time we kissed…I wanted to eat you alive."

"I remember your passion scared me"

"But you wanted it oh yes you did and you were so pure so virginal I couldn’t believe you’d never been deflowered."

"Why are we talking about this now?"

"Because I want you to know how much I love you and always have. I am in exile from my homeland because of you. I have lost my son and my secretary because of my relationship with you. Don’t ever doubt how  strong my feelings are for you. If it were possible, and I thought it might be for a  little while, that we could be together, but it is not to be. My family has reclaimed me and yours waits for you."

Part 4

He was slow and he used both arm crutches but he walked from the plane into the terminal. He looked around to see who might be meeting him. He’d emailed Mandi and Martha Langston and was surprised to see Cramer waving from the end of the ramp. Still his eyes scanned over the people waiting.

"Hey Blaine…look at you, great job, buddy, great job." Cramer was beaming.

"Hello, Cramer." Blaine paused at the end of the ramp

"Guess you’re wondering, um let’s get over here want to sit for a bit?"

"No, I’ve been sitting," he moved over to a waiting area at the gate."

"I got a call from Ms. Langston this afternoon, her car’s not starting and she had someone coming to have a look but couldn’t make it in to the airport."

"Where is my car, is it here or did Mandi take it?"

"Mandi? Well um Mandi is in South America right now. Didn’t know you knew her."

"We met when I was in the hospital, she came to see me and we became friends."

"Ah yes, she did ask me about you. I guess it was inevitable that you’d meet with her living there above  you. You asked if she had your car?"

"She took us to the airport."

"Oh, okay I wouldn’t know, we can check the car park but you can’t drive can you?"

"Yes I can, I’ve been released from the clinic I have my papers somewhere. The car has an automatic transmission, it’s easy to drive…Charlie chose it."

Cramer looked grave for a moment. "What do you want to do? I can take you anywhere."

"Help me find my car."

"Actually Mandi might have driven it here, I offered to give her a lift but she said she had a ride."

"When did she leave?"

Cramer looked at him for a moment, "Yesterday, she asked for the assignment."

"I tried to call her from Switzerland several times but she didn’t answer so I was beginning to worry about her."

"She’s been pretty busy…if you know what I mean; yes sir, I’m not going to let this one get past me."

"You and Mandi?" Blaine asked raising his bows. Cramer only grinned.

This put a whole different light on things. "If  you could help find the car I’ll go through customs."

"Sure thing, Blaine." Cramer moved off through the crowd.

Blaine got in line still reeling from Cramer and Mandi.  A flight attendant had brought his bag down the ramp for him and he pulled it with one hand and leaned on the crutch with the other. It was slow going but he’d get there eventually.  Perhaps Ali had been mistaken about her feelings for him. He got a trolley for his bag and crutches. He wheeled his trolley toward the front of the airport, the car park was across the road. He was still thinking about Mandi when he saw his car approaching, a sigh of relief escaped.

"You’re sure now that you can drive, it’s a long way out there…"

"I can drive, thank you Cramer, thank you."

He made it to the ring road and he had a decision to make the M40 to Coventry or M4 to Swindon. He knew he should go to Martha’s she would be looking for him but…Home he wanted to go home. Whatever state it was in it was home now. He’d been looking at pictures long enough it was time he saw it for real.

He called Martha as he pulled into the drive at Gravesend and let her know he’d be there in the morning. He could tell she wasn’t pleased but one more night and he’d come and take his daughter if they had to live in a hotel until the house was finished. He didn’t tell her that of course.

He got himself out of the car and his crutches from the back seat, there was a light on so electricity was working. Mindful of the uneven turf and hidden flagstones he made his way to the back door following sounds of a saw of some kind. The light was coming from the workman still going at it in the kitchen. He came out with a piece of tile in his hand, "Hello mate…looking for summat?"

"I’m David Blaine…this is my house."

"Oh righty then, well I’m just finishing up the backsplash around the sink. Should have it done in a jiff."

"Are the electrics on all over?"

"Ah yeah, electrics and gas and water all on now."

"I’ll have a walk trough." David went up the two steps into the hallway that ran from the front door to the back. He glanced into the kitchen, it was a mess of tiles and buckets.  Across the hall a back parlor he remembered as his father’s study. Everything in the middle of the floor and covered in dust sheets. He found the same in the front parlor. The rooms had been repapered. The dining room table and chairs were covered too but at least the furniture had been placed back in its original position. Up a short flight of steps and he was on the second level a ball room occupied most of the floor, he remembered riding his bike in there. He wandered over to a folding door and looked behind it. There was his bike. It brought tears to his eyes, yes he had lived here, his father taught him to ride a bike here in this room. It had been winter and rainy and cold. By summer he had another bike, one without the little training wheels on the back. Down the hall there were  bedrooms and a room his mother had used for sewing.

He went down the hallway opening doors…it was all there, except for new light fixtures nothing had changed . The bathrooms had been redone all with new tile and fixtures. A strange little dogleg  and he was in the master’s wing, a large bedroom flanked by a sitting room and dressing rooms, baths…his and hers. There wasn’t a her…He sat down on the bed and discovered a new mattress still with the plastic covering. His mother and father had slept in this room, loved, conceived a child. What would she think if she knew he was here and about to take possession of her house…his father ‘s house not hers. It had never been hers, not really. There were no oriental influences in the décor…had she ever been happy here?

"Sir…Sir…"

Blaine heard the call from the stairs and went out into the hallway. "Yes?" He met him at the top of the stairs.

"Sorry about the mess but it’ll be put right in the morn. If you would, Sir, not use the sink until I’ve taken me pegs out and grouted the lot. I’ll be around in the morn by 7:30."

"Right…thank you." Use the sink? For what, he hadn’t any coffee or tea things. He went to the front door and brought his bag in up the six steps, he would have a ramp put in down each side of the steps. He was beginning to feel it now, the fight, the drive, the steps. A hot bath, soak in the tub. He banged the bag up the stairs holding on to the rail. Clearly he’d overdone it he could hardly wait for the tub to fill.

He sat in the deep tub until the water began to cool, his muscles were relaxed now and the light pain killer he’d taken was working. He dried off on his clothes and slipped on a pair of sweats and a long sleeved tee shirt.  He slept in one of the guest rooms because there was a pillow and coverlet, both musty and faded but it didn’t matter.

"Good morning, Martha, I’ve just had a cup of the workman’s tea…not bad. How is your car this morning?"

"Ah it was only a flat battery, someone, and I’m not calling out names here, left the radio on all morning. So you slept in the house, it’s not finished."

"Finished enough what’s left to be done?"

"Floors are to be sanded and stained in the parlors. The dining room is pretty much finished I think.

"Why must they be sanded and stained they are already brown."

"Well you wanted it done up…"

"Electricity wiring, water pipes, heating that kind of thing, to make it livable."

"I’ll tell you what, I’ll pack up Miss Lyssa and we’ll come on up there and I’ll talk to you about what has  and has not been done."

"When you pack her up, bring her clothes she will stay here."

Martha went quiet, "If you wish."

"Please."

The tile man was busy in the kitchen and Blaine decided to go into town and find some basic necessities. Towels, soap, tea, sugar, milk, biscuits, coffee, bread and butter. He bought some tomatoes and some fruit…things he remembered Charlie always had in a bowl.  Back at the house he pulled his car around back parking next to the work vehicle. The tile man had noticed his difficulty walking.

"I’ll give you a hand and if ya want I’ll knock ya up a little ramp out here, make it easier for ya."

"Thank you…very much…yes it would."

"What happened if I may ask?"

"I broke my back. How is the tile work?"

"Just cleaning up now, it’s done."

Thirty minutes later the kitchen was cleared out, dust vacuumed up and the tile man was busy ‘knocking up’ a ramp.

David filled the kettle he’d bought and made a cup of tea. He was feeling rather accomplished and domestic by the time Martha and Lyssa arrived.

"Daddy, Daddy…" she bounded out of the car and ran to him. This was her Daddy, the one she remembered standing up.

"Oh…" Martha bit her lip he was standing.

"Whoa there, darling," she nearly knocked him over. "My you are growing into such a big girl."

"Daddy," she clung to a leg.

"I cannot pick you up until we go inside and sit down, okay?"

Martha got to him and looked into his clear green eyes, "You did it."

"I did it…I had to, they don’t give you any choice there. Shall we go inside?"

‘You’ve been shopping," she noticed a bowl of fruit on the table.

"Only a few things, I need everything including salt and pepper…so many things to think of."

He was happy, she could see it in his eyes, his expressions. "I’ll help you get set up if you want me to."

"I would like that."

"As I said the house is not finished, third floor has not been touched except for  wiring and heat and plumbing. I’ve ordered bedding for all the bedrooms except the master I wasn’t sure what you wanted in there…linens and all have been ordered. Also I didn’t know where you’d put Lyssa I got her to pick out something for one of the guest rooms so if you want to put her in there…it looks like a room for a little princess." She smiled at Lyssa who was trying to soak up her daddy.

"It won’t be delivered for  three days. I thought they might be finished with the papering by then."

"Will they be here today?"

"Tomorrow, they were waiting for the tile man to finish before painting the kitchen."

David looked around at the walls, "Does it really need it?"

"Yes, dear it does, this house has sat empty for about 15 years."

"Longer than that more like twenty five years."

"Daddy, may I have napple?"

"Of course you may."

"Cut it in four pieces for her."

David glanced at Martha. "She has been mine for 4 years and I have fed her."

Martha looked aside, "I suppose you have but you had help. Have you thought about that you’re going to need somebody here, Blaine."

"Perhaps I’ll put an advertisement in the paper…"

She twisted her mouth around and got up to survey the downstairs. He was awfully touchy and wanting to drive on his own.  It was time for her to step back and let him. "If you don’t want these floors sanded and refinished then when the workers get here have them put the furnishings right. The rugs have been cleaned and are rolled up in the hallway under that dust cloth. I’ll get her things from the Rover…"

Lyssa went upstairs with Martha to the princess room, it happened to be the one David had slept in the night before and his things were still in there. Martha left them alone. She came back downstairs and found him in the back parlor pulling dust sheets off the furniture.

"Blaine…I’ll run into town and get your pantry stocked up…"

"Wait we will go with you." He dusted his hands and picked up his crutches and walked over to her letting them fall to the floor he put his arms around her and hugged. "I don’t know what I would have done without you. Not just your care of Lyssa but your care of me from the very beginning…you gave me work to do when I needed it, your selfless care and help for Charlie and Lyssa in Saudi and your strength. I love you for it."

Martha blinked back tears, "I knew from the beginning you were worth it. You’ve had a rum deal, Blaine and now here’s a chance to start over again and I pray it’s the last time you have to do this. Work is waiting when you are ready. We still don’t have funding for the Japanese gardens at Hawthorne House, but I’m already working on it…the job is right up your alley and, with your sensibilities it will be a winner."

"I look forward to it, and in the meantime these gardens here need some major work. I shall hire a strong back with good hearing and willingness to work. I will have a pool installed with a glassed enclosure. I will need a housekeeper and perhaps someone to help with Lyssa. It will be a good life here."

"I wanted to ask you about the woman, Miss Manolovich. I got a card from her a few days after you left. She explained a few things to me and I felt bad for her. She didn’t go with you to Switzerland…"

"No…"

"Well…maybe it’s best."

"She is seeing Mr. Cramer."

"She works for him…I think that’s about all there is to that."

"She is in South America now…let’s find Lyssa and go shopping."

Epilogue

She clutched the advertisement in her hand and parked her new mini in the drive. It was autumn and the smell of burning leaves met her when she closed her car door.  She breathed in the smell and took in the front of the old house, last of the roses were blooming over the door. She took a deep breath and walked up and knocked on the door. It was answered by a middle aged woman.

"I’ve come about the job…companion job."

She got the once over and was told to come in and wait in the front parlor. She walked around the room looking at the paintings on the walls, the shining fireplace tools, a porcelain bowl full of oranges gave off a warm scent. She heard an uneven gait coming down the hall and held her breath.

He rested his crutches against the door and walked into the room…"Mandi."

"I’ve come about the job…but if it’s taken or if…you…"

"Job?" he continued toward her and she held out the scrap of paper.

"Mandi…I thought…"

"You never were good at thinking. I’ve quit my job with Cramer and put my flat up for sale. I’ve been half way around the world running from you and here I am…well is the job taken or not?"

"No…no it is not…what does this mean?"

"It means unless you’ve found someone else, unless you don’t want to see me here, unless you’re afraid of the word love, unless good character does not apply to me…"

"Hush," he gathered her in his arms and kissed her.

The End