The Ultimate Betrayal (18 page)
“You should have told me to wear running shoes, not high heels,” Joy grumbled as she hastened to catch up.
†
Sophia walked into the elegant Empress Hotel and marveled at its old world charm. She insisted that they check in and then immediately return for afternoon tea which was served in the lobby until four.
As she sat across from Lara in the elegant wing backed chair, she looked around the room and marveled at the antique furniture, rich tapestries, and hand carved tables. She’d read that this British, time honored tradition, brought to Victoria had served famed royalty, celebrities, and other various dignitaries. However, this wasn’t what impressed Sophia. What she enjoyed was the warmth of the place. A sense of peace and relaxation permeated her body despite the angst of the past few days.
Sophia looked directly at Lara when she heard the buzz of her phone. “Go ahead. I know you want to look. I’m enjoying the ambiance, so if you need to take a quick call, I don’t mind.”
“It’s a text message, just let me read it and if it’s urgent I promise I’ll deal with it quickly. I won’t even leave the table,” Lara promised.
Sophia nodded and watched carefully as her wife read the message.
Lara turned white and shoved the phone in her pocket.
“Lara. Are you all right? Bad news?” Sophia asked.
“No, no. I do feel a little queasy. Maybe I have a delayed response to the flight. If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to visit the washroom. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
“Do you need me to come with you?” Sophia tried desperately not to smirk while she asked the question.
“No. You stay here and order a nice calming tea for me. Peppermint is supposed to settle a person’s stomach.” Lara abruptly rose and marched in the direction of the public restroom.
It was now or never. Sophia sent a quick text to Rachel, and prayed that they had arrived and were on their way. She didn’t know how much longer she could stomach playing the adoring wife.
†
Lara considered her options as she paced back and forth in the washroom. Victoria was a big city and the chances of them running into one another were slim—especially if she kept Sophia in the room most of the time—at least until Monday.
She could call Rachel, get a general idea of their plans, and then arrange to visit the various tourist activities located in the opposite direction of where Joy and Rachel might be.
The most pressing issue at this moment was her need to speed up afternoon tea. Lara supposed that her reaction to the text and feigning illness provided her with the perfect excuse to retire to their room for a short while. She figured she still had a few minutes since she’d just received the text and they still needed to check into the hotel before making their way around and possibly deciding to have afternoon tea.
Lara stopped pacing and threw her shoulders back. She could do this. After all, she was the owner of a billion dollar company. This was just a small wrinkle that required her special Lara iron. She was hot and ready to smooth it all out.
When she dialed Rachel’s cell phone and wasn’t able to connect with her, it was Lara’s undoing. “Where the fuck are you, Rachel? You just texted me and now you aren’t answering!” Lara shouted in the empty bathroom.
Lara’s cool collected manner was unraveling. She would have to find time a little later to contact Rachel and discover her plans for the weekend. One of the things she loved about Rachel was her spontaneity. Unfortunately, this did not work in her favor. She needed to find a way to stay a step ahead and that would be challenging given Rachel’s propensity to change her plans at the last minute. She’d have to make frequent calls to her wife to get the most updated information on their plans.
Lara walked briskly back to the table where Sophia sat facing the water view. Steam rose from the two cups sitting innocently on the table awaiting her return.
Sophia looked up. “How are you feeling? It was an unusual request, but they were able to track down some peppermint tea. I don’t think too many people order that particular flavor. I got the feeling it was an insult to the queen.”
“I’m sorry, darling, but would you mind terribly if we went back to our room. I’m not feeling better. Perhaps a short nap will help and then I’ll be ready to go again. I’ll make reservations for afternoon tea tomorrow. Okay?” Lara asked.
Sophia glanced out the window and Lara got the distinct impression she was looking for something. “Are you sure you don’t want to sit down for a minute and have some tea? It might settle your stomach and then we can head back to the room.”
Lara’s forehead wrinkled as her displeasure snuck into her expression. “I don’t think the tea will do the trick. I really think I need to lie down for just a little bit if you don’t mind. You can stay and finish your tea if you wish.”
“No, No, that’s all right. I’ll come with you. Let me get the waiter so that we can pay him.”
Lara pulled two hundred dollar bills from her purse and laid it on the table. “That should more than cover the bill.”
Lara had the uncomfortable feeling that Sophia was using deliberate delay tactics. She watched as Sophia slowly rose from her chair. When Sophia’s eyes rested on a location over Lara’s shoulder and a smile spread on her face, Lara turned around to see what caught her wife’s attention.
Lara turned around and suddenly all the small clues shifted into place. Now she understood Rachel’s odd behavior before she left for Rosario and all the change of travel plans that Rachel kept feeding her. The sudden realization that the trio had played her the past two days was like a neon sign in front of her face. Lara locked eyes with a smirking Rachel and a scowling Joy.
“Hello, Lara. Fancy meeting you here. Did your business in New York take a sudden turn in the opposite direction? If I had known, we could have shared a cab or something,” Rachel snapped.
The exhaustion of maintaining her deception finally caught up with Lara as she crumpled into the chair with her head in her hands. She absently ran her fingers through her hair in a last minute attempt to massage her brain into coming up with a solution, but it was no use trying to salvage anything at this point. She recognized defeat. The bitter pill they forced her to swallow sat heavily in her stomach.
Lara lifted her head to meet Rachel’s cold blue eyes. “I’m sure you have a pretty speech prepared. Get on with it. I’d like to know exactly what I’ll be dealing with.” She looked at Sophia. “If it’s any consolation—I’m sorry. I couldn’t choose. I loved you both too much. I know you don’t understand. How could you? I’m not even sure I understand, but I swear it is possible to be deeply in love with two different women.”
Lara thought she saw Sophia’s eyes soften to her confession, but Rachel’s eyes held the steel glint of pure hatred. She honestly had not intended to hurt either of them and she was genuinely sorry it had come to this. The cool ice in her veins melted as she noticed Sophia’s eyes well up with unshed tears. She imagined the past few days had been pure hell on her.
Lara reached out to touch Sophia. She meant to comfort her, but Sophia slapped her hand away. “No, you don’t get to comfort me and make it all better. You lost that right when you married Rachel.”
Lara cringed when Rachel walked to Sophia and embraced her as her tears finally found a final destination in the fabric of Rachel’s shirt.
Joy stomped to her and slapped Lara across the face. “If I didn’t think that Sophia needed me more by her side than in jail right now, I’d shoot you.”
“I guess I deserved that,” Lara stated.
Lara directed her attention to her two wives. A small part of her thought that maybe she could still salvage something. As she pondered her dilemma, she realized that in a forced choice, Sophia would rise to the top. Rachel was fun and exciting, but she had to admit to herself that Sophia would always be the one for her. She had loved Rachel, but Sophia was her one true love. This realization hit her hard.
“I fucked up. I know that now. Sophia, can we please talk about this? Without an audience.”
Lara glanced at Rachel.
“Rachel, I’m sorry I know this is callous of me, but Sophia is legally my wife and although I care about you, I’ve realized I need to repair my relationship with my wife. I don’t know of a gracious way to end our relationship. This is very awkward for everyone, but if I can just have a few minutes alone with Sophia,” Lara pleaded.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Rachel still had her arm draped on Sophia. “Sophia, I’ll do whatever you want, but please tell me you are not about to listen to this piece of shit. I have all the papers here in my pack.”
“Don’t you dare listen to one word that comes out of her mendacious mouth. She’s like a politician. How do you know she’s lying? Her lips are moving. I’ll slap some sense into you myself if you give her one second of your precious time,” Joy exclaimed.
Sophia slipped from beneath Rachel’s embrace and stood up. “We might have had a chance if you hadn’t married Rachel. I would have forgiven an affair and tried to work through the trust issues in counseling. You don’t get to simply apologize and receive a blank slate. I want a divorce and if you fight me on anything, I’ll have your ass in jail faster than you can call your lawyer. You do realize that bigamy is a felony in both states. Feel free to look at the papers that our attorneys have drawn up and take them to your fancy lawyer to review, but we will only make this offer once. Fight either one of us on this and I swear neither of us will stop until we see you behind bars. If you agree to all of the terms, you can continue to rebuild your business without the threat of jail time hanging over your head.”
Rachel opened her pack and removed four sets of legal papers. She handed the documents to Lara. “Divorce papers for Sophia, financial settlement that I deemed appropriate for my pain and suffering, a separate financial settlement for Sophia’s pain and suffering, and a rather large donation to Seattle Children’s Hospital. We left you more than you deserve. You should be able to rebuild some of the wealth within a few years’ time. Knowing you and your propensity to work twenty-four seven, you’ll probably rebuild your financial dynasty in less than five years.”
Lara took the papers and resisted fighting back. She couldn’t risk provoking Rachel. Sophia might allow some leeway, but Rachel never would. She could see that in her cold eyes. Lara knew that she’d obliterated any ounce of love that Rachel once felt for her. It was time to graciously accept this setback. She would give Sophia some time while she considered her next move. Sophia might be a bit more malleable if she let some of the hurt subside. She’d give her a month to lick her wounds and then perhaps she would be open to counseling and a reconciliation.
“I can see those wheels turning in your delirious mind. Sophia is going to spend a few weeks with Joy and me, so I would advise you not to make any attempt to contact her. I swear, Lara, you will be sorry you ever crossed my path if you ever contact either of us again. You can take that threat to the bank,” Rachel declared.
Rachel zipped up her backpack, slung it back over her shoulders, stood up, and wrapped her arm around Sophia. Lara heard her whisper in Sophia’s ear. “Damn that was hot when you told her about the felony bigamy laws.”
“What about the execution of these papers? I’m going to have to connect with both of you on that,” Lara pronounced.
“No, you won’t. Contact our attorneys if you have any questions. Everything from here on out can be settled through them. I mean it, Lara—don’t contact either of us. I think we’re done here.” Rachel turned around, leading Sophia out of the beautiful parlor. The steam from the tea no longer existed, but Lara could almost feel the steam from Rachel.
Joy cast upon Lara one final angry glare before following her best friend.
Lara wasn’t accustomed to losing. Although this was a particularly challenging problem, every problem inevitably had a solution. She always did like the line,
tomorrow is another day
, from
Gone with the Wind
. That was so much better than,
it isn’t over until the fat lady sings
.
Sophia felt comforted by Rachel’s arm casually draped on her shoulder. It was endearing to her that Rachel felt the need to protect her. At least that’s what it felt like to Sophia. At first, she stumbled when Lara made her emotional outburst. She sensed that Lara was genuine in her confession and ultimate awakening, but it was too late and she’d been proud of herself for making that clear. A small part of her feared that if Joy and Rachel had not been there to lend moral support she might have crumbled and given Lara another chance. That would have been a monumental error. She knew that, but the heart hears what it wants to hear. You can’t just turn off your feelings like a spigot—especially if you’ve been married to someone for nearly ten years.
Joy was pulling her luggage behind her and scrunched up her face. “Okay, now that we’ve disposed of that unpleasantness, can we please check into our rooms? I’m about done dragging around my suitcase.”
“I’m not sure we can check in this early. That’s what you get for packing so much. I always pack light, just in case I have to lug my pack around for a while. I got used to that when I traveled around Europe. I learned how to roll my clothes, leaving plenty of room in my backpack for gifts and trinkets. Do you need me to drag your luggage around until we can check in, princess?” Rachel teased.
“Nope, I don’t need you to carry my books, unless it means something. Like maybe we’ll start going steady with all the side benefits. Of course I will expect sex, if that’s the case,” Joy quipped.
Rachel shook her head and chuckled.
“We were able to check in early, so I’m sure you can as well. Oh shit, my luggage is back in the room. It’s not even been ten minutes and already I’m going to have to face Lara again.” Sophia teared up. “Damn, I can’t do it. I feel like buying new everything and leaving my case exactly where it is, but then I’ll have to give up my favorite shirt. Fuck it.” Sophia slapped her hand against her mouth. “I can’t believe I’m conversing like an ignorant sailor. I promise I am college educated, but those cuss words keep sneaking out of my mouth.”
“You can swear all you want. We won’t think any less of you. Will we, Joy?”
“Hell, no. Cuss away, girlfriend. It’s about time you let your hair down a little,” Joy assured her. “I have no problem storming the fort and liberating your luggage. Just give me ten minutes and I’ll have your bags for you.”
Joy glanced back in Lara’s direction. “Don’t turn around, but Lara is still in the parlor on her cell phone. You two just head out into the sunshine and wait for me. Okay?”
Sophia hugged her friend. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would do without you and Rachel to help me through this little Greek tragedy.”
Sophia had forgotten her sunglasses and as they made their way outside on their way to the Inner Harbor, she squinted in the sunshine. The bright light felt like an omen to her. After two days in hell, she looked up and welcomed the warm sun on her face.
Rachel pulled her pack off her back and placed it next to one of the outside benches near the rose garden. She led Sophia to the bench and motioned for her to sit. When Sophia sat down, Rachel pulled her close and let Sophia rest her head on her shoulder.
“How are you doing? Really?” Rachel asked.
The tenderness that accompanied her question caused Sophia to shed more tears. She felt more care and concern from this near stranger than she had ever felt with her wife of almost ten years. Sophia marveled at the combination of strength and gentleness that exuded from every one of Rachel’s pores.
“How is it possible that you are doing so well and I’m falling apart every other minute? I can’t seem to get my emotions under control.”
“Anger is fueling me at this particular moment,” Rachel replied. “Plus, I’ve always felt the need to make things right. Middle child syndrome, I suppose. I have a hard time not playing the peacemaker or protector, whichever the situation calls for. At this point, that’s what is monopolizing my attention. I don’t have time to feel sadness. Not many people have seen me cry. You should feel honored, you are one of the few that was privileged enough to have a ring side seat at my mini breakdown when we were at the park.”
“Well, maybe when I’m done emoting all over you, I can give you the support you need to come out the other side of this fucked up tunnel,” Sophia offered.
“I might take you up on that, but only when I’m sure you’ve made it to the other side and can help lead me to the promised land.” Rachel brushed her hand through Sophia’s hair and caressed her back as Sophia continued to lay her head on Rachel’s shoulder.
Sophia relaxed against Rachel. She guessed that they both needed to spend a few moments with their own thoughts without speaking. The silence was like a salve and Sophia appreciated how she could just sit without talking.
†
When a half an hour had passed, Sophia began to worry that Lara was somehow starting to weave another web of lies that would put her at an advantage.
Finally, she heard the distinctive clip clop of Joy’s heels and turned around to see her grinning best friend.
“I checked us in and deposited my bag and yours. Mighty mouse can lug around her back pack since she’s such an accomplished traveler.” Joy bowed in front of Rachel.
“No problems?” Rachel asked.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that, but Lara is no match for me. Let’s just say we came to an understanding and she won’t be looking to me as an ally.”
“Mighty mouse, huh?” Rachel laughed.
“Before I forget, I meant to tell you that I am so fucking proud of you, hon,” Joy exclaimed. “I saw you waver for a second and then the powerful, independent Sophia I know came out to play. I couldn’t have done it better. When you threatened to have her ass thrown in jail, I wanted to bump fists like those silly boys do all the time.”
“You do know this isn’t over for Lara?” Rachel asked.
“Hey, don’t rain on my parade. It’s a sunny day. I have a second wind thanks to you, Rachel. I’ll be ready to deal with Lara when she crawls out from under whatever rock she slithers until she’s ready to make her move. Don’t worry, by then I’m sure I will have enough inner strength on my own to deal with her in the same fashion as today,” Sophia assured them.
“Just so you know, I had the lawyers specify how she is allowed to get her shit from your place in New York and the house here in Seattle. She is supposed to make those arrangements through the attorneys and she has the next three weeks to accomplish that. During that time, we will be vacationing together and having ourselves a grand old time, compliments of her generous funding. In case she doesn’t sign right away, I liberated some of her funds and established individual accounts in our names,” Rachel explained.
Sophia looked at Rachel with renewed appreciation. In her eyes, Rachel was a pillar of strength when she felt lacking. Rachel talked a good game, but she suspected that Rachel had her own emotions to deal with. She was grateful that for now while she was still a little shaky, Rachel appeared to stuff those feelings deep inside in order to take charge and attend to all the little details.
“Thank you for thinking of absolutely everything. I was going to crawl back to New York with my tail between my legs and stay at a hotel until Lara cleared out the penthouse, but you know I deserve this vacation and screw it, I’m taking it,” Sophia declared.
“That’s the spirit. Let the debauchery begin,” Joy exclaimed.
“Well, I’m not sure I thought of everything. I’m sure Lara is pondering her next move right now. It’s what makes her such a great chess player. She always has several contingencies that I’m sure I haven’t thought about, but thanks for your faith in me. I agree with Joy, let the debauchery begin. Let’s see what kind of trouble three single, hot, women can get into. Have you noticed how delightfully gorgeous these Canadian women are? They have that wholesome natural beauty thing going for them. I say we check out all the artists performing on Inner Harbor, then order some mojito’s at Milestones. They make some of the best mixed drinks in Victoria, or so I’ve heard,” Rachel suggested.
Sophia watched as the corners of Rachel’s lips lifted. Her brilliant smile caused Sophia to surmise that the sunshine was no match for how dazzling Rachel looked when her genuine smile came through.
Sophia couldn’t help thinking that it was no wonder Lara fell for Rachel. She would be an easy person to fall in love with. Her lighthearted spirit and adventurous style was probably something that many women would gravitate to. Combine that with her stunning looks and her genuine down to earth aura, she could almost understand how she was irresistible to Lara. Maybe if she’d met her first, she might have been the one who started an affair. Sophia shook her head to toss the thought away. Who was she kidding? Sophia was not the type to ever stray from a committed relationship. She would move heaven and earth to work things out before she would ever cheat on her wife or girlfriend. She never had and she never would.
Sophia wondered why she wasn’t prepared to do everything possible to fix her marriage. Some things were just too broken to mend. It would never be the same and she knew it. She also knew that even if she was able to temporarily repair the relationship through counseling, it was only a matter of time before it would break again. No, she was better off not trying, even though it went against everything she fundamentally believed in. You didn’t just walk away from a marriage that you vowed for better or worse, but that was exactly what she was planning to do. She stopped in her tracks as this realization hit her.
Rachel turned around and looked at Sophia. A quizzical expression formed in her eyes and mouth.
Joy frowned. “Oh, no, you don’t. I know you and you think that you should try to work this out with Lara because after all you did make a vow to her. Nope, she broke that contract when she broke the law and married Rachel. Lara is a felony bigamist. Don’t you dare think that you owe it to her to stick with her no matter what. There is a limit to reasonable loyalty. I won’t let you go back to her. Back me up here, Rachel.”
Rachel looked at Sophia with such sadness in her eyes—it broke Sophia’s heart. “I can’t tell you what to do and I won’t judge, but I really wish you wouldn’t consider that a viable option. I don’t know you all that well, but what I do know is that you are better than that. She doesn’t deserve someone like you and she sure as hell does not deserve your forgiveness,” Rachel implored.
“Sorry, it was just a temporary moment of weakness. I guess I let some empathy slip through as I realized how hard it would be to resist falling in love with you,” Sophia confessed.
Rachel’s eyes went wide and Sophia turned bright red as she realized what she just confessed to.
“I can tell you without reservation that if I was married to you, there is not one single person on this planet, including Angelia Jolie—who I think is totally smoking—that would turn my head enough to risk losing you,” Rachel responded.
Sophia was taken aback at the raw honesty she saw in Rachel’s eyes. She realized at that very moment that she wanted Rachel in her life. Rachel could be a good friend, a lifelong friend like Joy. She needed more people like Rachel in her life.
Sophia linked arms with Joy and Rachel and they started walking to the Inner Harbor.
†
Victoria’s Inner Harbor was a menagerie of street performers, local artists, boats, seagulls, and tourists from across the world. The moon shaped walkway stretched around the harbor, giving a home to the eclectic people camping alongside the greenery, flowers, and vivid blue backdrop from the water splashing against the docks.
Rachel had a warm feeling as she felt Sophia’s arm link with her own. As they strolled along the Inner Harbor, she noticed a large crowd encircling two street performers. She tugged Sophia along when she saw the fire torches tossed above the crowd.
“Now this looks interesting and dangerous,” Rachel shouted over the
oohs
and
aahs
from the swarm of people enraptured by the performance.
“Who wants to help me out here? I need a brave assistant,” one of the artists called out.
Rachel nudged Sophia through the crowd and pointed at her head when they were close enough for the performers to notice.
“Well, hello, pretty lady. We like our assistants to be beautiful. It attracts more attention. Come on over here. We won’t bite and we’ll try not to set you on fire, mostly because you’re already hot enough.”
Rachel laughed when she noticed Sophia looking around to see who they were talking to. She whispered in Sophia’s ear. “They’re talking to you, silly.”