Chapter XIX

“Oh my....”  Amber flopped onto the bed face first, cutting off her exclamation and drawing a sympathetic chuckle from Saphira. Amber turned her head just enough to glare at Saphira with glowing eyes. Saphira held up a hand in surrender, but she didn’t stop laughing.  Amber just growled.

“What’s wrong, Amber?” Esmeralda asked in concern.  It was now Wednesday morning following the somewhat anti-climactic meeting between Brianna and Charisma at the diner five nights previous.  As of yet neither of them had spoken to Esmeralda about it – doing their best to avoid her as though they weren’t sure what to say now that the impasse had seemingly been breached.  But Esmeralda had certainly heard about it to varying degrees from every single angel on the project. Amber was just the latest.

“They’re going to kill me – or each other – before this is all over.”

Saphira frowned and crossed over to sit on the bed beside Amber.  “What happened?”

“What hasn’t?” Amber countered, flipping to lie on her back.   “Push me, pull you – two steps forward, three steps back....  Honestly it’s like watching a bad soap – and don’t look at me like that, Saphira,” she commanded as she turned to face her.  Amber glared at the twinkle in the blue eyes facing her and her lips twitched grudgingly.  “Not a word,” she instructed.  Saphira just smirked, but obediently kept silent.  Amber looked back at Esmeralda.

“I think it’s time for a team meeting.  I can’t be the only one getting blasted by this stuff.”

“You’re not.  It’s actually worse for the day crew because they have to interact with them on a mortal level.  Opal’s got it the worst.”

“Yeah... Charisma’s lucky Opal answers to a higher authority.  She’d have quit by now otherwise.”

Esmeralda’s brows rose into her hairline.  Opal hadn’t shared that bit with her and their paths had crossed several times since Friday night.  On the other hand Charisma had always been around and was pricklier than a hedgehog in Esmeralda’s presence.

“Okay – I hadn’t heard that.  I guess it is time for a meeting.  Let me get Coral and you two can tell me what’s been going on at night.  I’ll speak to the rest in the morning before they go to work.”  She felt Saphira’s eyes on her and held up a hand before she could speak.  “I know I need to rest, but it will work better for everyone else to do it then.  I promise to go right back to bed.”

“But will you sleep?”

“I’ll try,” Esmeralda said honestly.  “It’s the best I can do at the moment.  Besides, this way you and Ruby can be there as well.  I’d like your input.”

“All right.  We’ll leave them a note so they’ll be ready early in the morning.”  Saphira rose.  “I’ll grab Coral for you.  You gonna meet in here?”

“At the table,” Esmeralda answered.  “They need breakfast and so do we.”  Saphira nodded and headed out of the room.  Esmeralda stood to follow her, only to find her hand caught in Amber’s.  She cocked an eyebrow but remained silent, waiting.

“You look a little tired still.  Everything all right?”

“Everything’s fine, Amber... honestly.  Saphira is taking good care of me.  I’m not tired really... just frustrated.  I’m beginning to wonder if it wouldn’t have been better for them to have had a knock down, drag out fight.  At least we wouldn’t be riding in this limbo.”

“If it makes you feel better, I think that’s coming down the pipe sooner rather than later.”  Esmeralda waited but Amber shook her head and held out a hand for Esmeralda to take.  Esmeralda took it and pulled Amber to her feet, groaning theatrically.  Amber glared at her then smirked.

“So you’re saying it’s not these pants making my butt look big?” looking inordinately pleased with herself when Esmeralda gave a bark of unexpected laughter.  She hadn’t heard the sound very much lately and it tickled her to be able to draw that response now.  Saphira stuck her head in the door, glancing first at Esmeralda’s smiling face and then to Amber’s smirking one.

“Are you flirting with my best girl?” Saphira growled at Amber.  Esmeralda squeezed her hand before crossing the room to stand beside Saphira.

“I’d better be your ONLY girl,” she stated, poking Saphira in the chest for emphasis.

“Always,” Saphira affirmed immediately.  “You know there’s never been anyone else.”

Esmeralda looked into Saphira’s eyes, absorbing the look of adoration being bestowed on her.  Amber making gagging sounds behind them effectively ended the moment and they turned to glare at her simultaneously.  She held up her hands in surrender.

“I’m just going to go get some breakfast now,” trying to push between them to get out the door.  Saphira smacked the back of her head.

“And you say I have no manners!”

“Well, you’re taking up the entire doorway.  I suppose I could have just knocked you to the ground.”

Saphira snorted.  “I’d like to see you try.”

“All right, you two... enough!” Esmeralda broke in, rolling her eyes at their posturing.  “Honestly, anyone listening to the two of you would think you were still toddlers,” she added, moving out of the doorway towards the kitchen and pulling Saphira with her.  Coral smirked into her coffee, having clearly heard Esmeralda’s last statement.

“Wait,” she said.  “You mean they’re not?”

“Not. Helping.” Esmeralda stated firmly when she heard growls emanating from either side, but Coral could see the twinkle in her eyes.  She chuckled.

“Was I supposed to be?”  She rose from her place at the table and took out some hamburger and fresh produce.  “Well then – take a seat.  I’ll see about fixing us all something to eat.”

Esmeralda moved over beside Coral to begin prepping the vegetables, but Coral simply glared at her.  Esmeralda held up her hands in surrender, moving to take a seat at the table beside Saphira.  Amber grabbed three coffee cups, pouring them up and topping off Coral’s before passing it to her.  Then she set out to make another pot of coffee.

While it made, Amber grabbed a knife and started slicing toppings for the hamburgers Coral was preparing.  Saphira and Esmeralda just exchanged looks, then Esmeralda cleared her throat to speak.  Coral and Amber turned their heads slightly to acknowledge they were listening and continued their work, waiting for Esmeralda to break the silence.  It didn’t take long.

“Okay... so this is a mini-team meeting since the two of you are my night-shifters and won’t be here in the morning when I sit down with everyone else.  I need to know what’s going on with your charges.”  She saw Coral’s startled look at her and continued.  “They’ve been avoiding being alone with me like the plague – like my being witness to their interaction the other night is the ultimate embarrassment.  I figure it will be another day or two before someone breaks down and hunts me up to talk.  But until then, I need to know what’s going on with them from your point of view.”

Coral and Amber gazed at one another briefly, then Amber jerked her head towards the table and turned back to her slicing.  Coral neatly put four hamburgers into the pan, then turned to face Esmeralda and Saphira. 

“Brianna’s been very cool... laid back and reserved with her people.  Indi and Jas haven’t mentioned a whole lot to me at any rate.  But she seems to be intent on driving Charisma crazy.”

Esmeralda cocked her head.  “How do you mean?”

Coral shook her head.  “You’ll have to talk to the rest of the team; I haven’t seen anything myself.”

“All right.  Then what have you seen?  How is she spending her nights?”

“Sedately. She’s been leaving her office early as you know,” waiting for Esmeralda to nod, “then coming back later to work alone.  Since she’s been sending Indi home, my watch starts there.”

“But she’s not in contact with Charisma then?”

“No.  Her time in the late evenings seems to be dedicated to actually working on Senate stuff – please don’t ask me what exactly.  I haven’t figured out all that mumbo-jumbo they use in those stacks and stacks and stacks of paper.”

Esmeralda chuckled.  “Don’t feel bad, Coral.  I don’t think they understand a majority of it.  Hence the reason for the stacks and stacks and stacks... clarification.”

Coral grinned and turned back to the burgers, flipping them smoothly before looking at Esmeralda again.  “Probably.”

“So what happens once you leave there?”

“We go back to her apartment and she maps out ways to get Charisma’s attention.”  Amber whipped around, but Esmeralda asked the question.

“Excuse me?”

Coral shrugged her shoulders.  “You heard me.  So far, every night she’s pulled out a legal pad and made a list of ways to be nice; ways to aggravate; ways to grab her attention - and let me tell you some of what I’ve seen on that list are REAL doozies – ways to offer Charisma her support.  You name it, Brianna’s been thinking about it.”

“And I haven’t heard about any of this before now because...?”

“There’s really not anything to tell,” Coral replied practically.  “She makes a list, then she wads it up and throws it away.”

Esmeralda closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.  She smiled when Saphira moved behind her smoothly and began a gentle kneading of her shoulders.  After a moment she turned her attention back to Coral who was just lifting the burgers from the pan.  “Is there anything else?”

Coral nodded.  “When she throws the list away, she pulls out an album – the same album every night.  From what Amber’s said and what I can figure out, it’s twin to the one that Charisma keeps locked away in her home office.”  Es nodded but didn’t speak.  “Brianna’s gone through it twice since I was assigned to her Friday, but usually she stops on a singular picture and....”  She stopped and shrugged.  “She studies them is the best way to describe it – memorizing or reliving or....”  Another pause.  “I don’t know.  I’m not really sure how to describe it.”

Esmeralda nodded again.  “Is it always the same photograph?”

“No,” Coral denied immediately.  “In fact, it’s a different one every night.”  She put the burger patties on the buns Amber had ready and moved the plates to the able.  Amber placed the sliced vegetables she’d prepared in the center with the condiments and she and Coral to their places.  Coral returned her attention to Esmeralda.  “Is that important, do you think?”

“I think everything’s important at this point,” Esmeralda stated plainly.  “We can’t afford to overlook anything.”  She turned to Amber just as she took a large bite of her burger.  “What about you?”

Amber glared at her and held up a hand, chewing and swallowing as rapidly as she could manage without choking.  “You’ve been taking lessons from Saphira, haven’t you?” narrowing her eyes in Esmeralda’s direction and garnering her a full-bodied laugh from everyone at the table.  She swallowed the rest of her food and took a healthy draught of coffee.

“Better?” Saphira asked with more than a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Much, thank you,” Amber responded regally, pulling another snort from Saphira.  Amber stuck out her tongue and faced Esmeralda.  “How do you stand it?”

“Love conquers all,” Esmeralda said.  Saphira grinned; Amber gagged.

“Remind me why I put up with the two of you again.”

“Love conquers all,” Esmeralda repeated, this time allowing a fond smile to etch itself on her face.  Amber’s head hit the table.

“I give up.  I can’t compete with all the mush around here.  You guys are killing me.”  The other two snorted, but Coral patted her back. 

“Sit up and tell your story.  Surely watching over Charisma gives you a break from all the mush these two provide.”

Amber glared at her.  “You have no idea.”  She sighed and looked at her plate.  “You have no idea how lucky you are to be following Brianna instead of Charisma.  I mean she seems kind of mellow about the whole thing, right?  Maybe making a few plans and doing some reminiscing, but for the most part she’s calm at the moment, isn’t she?”

“Yeah,” Coral nodded.  “I expect that to change sooner or later, but for now she seems pretty much in control of things.”

“And she’s not overly concerned with how this affects her career, is she?  I mean... Brianna has a job to go back to if she decides this political thing isn’t working out for her or she gets voted out at the end of this term – politics has never been a long-term goal for her.”

“Right,” Coral agreed again. 

“This is all Charisma has.  Aside from her son, politics is her life.  It’s all she’s ever known... all she’s ever wanted to do with her life.  And Brianna Walker is poised to take all of that away.”

Coral tilted her head in question.  “Why would she?”

Amber shook her head, curls bouncing all over in an effort to make her point.  “I’m not saying she would or even that she wants to.  I’m trying to make you see things from Charisma’s point of view.  To her, Brianna Walker is a threat – to her and everything she knows... everything she cares about.  And yet for all that, I don’t think she wants to destroy Brianna.”

“What do you think she wants?” asked Saphira.  Esmeralda nodded, telling Amber she wondered the same thing.

Amber blew out a breath.  “I think what she really wants is for this all to have never been.  Barring that....”

“Wait... all of what? Brianna and her ever becoming friends?  Brianna leaving her twenty years ago?  Brianna showing up in her life now?  What??”

“Yes,” Amber stated emphatically.  Amber got up to pace, mindless of the food that sat cooling on her plate.  After a few moments, Esmeralda grabbed her by the hand.  Amber met her eyes and blew out a breath before she resumed her place at the table.

“Give me your impressions, Amber.  I need to know what you think.”

“Well, I think you should expect her to talk to you soon.”  Amber paused.  “She’s gonna have to before she blows a gasket.”

“What do you mean?  I thought she already had... blown a gasket, I mean.”

“Oh she has, according to Opal, but it’s been contained to her staff.  Fortunately for her, her staff is heavenly and has learned to deal with the devil in a number of different ways.  But if something doesn’t change soon, she’s gonna do something in public and that could destroy her.  So I think she’ll come looking to talk to Es to prevent that.  After all – you owe her a story and can relate to hers.”

“I’m safe.”

“Exactly.  And since she’s spent the last several nights pacing and ranting and not sleeping....”

Esmeralda bit her lip thoughtfully.  “Maybe I should force the issue,” watching three sets of eyebrows jump to their foreheads.  “Nono... not like that.  When I get to work tonight, I’ll send Opal and the girls home.  Charisma will talk to me if there’s no way for her to hide behind work.”

“She’ll have a come apart,” Amber cautioned.

“Probably.  But she’s not stupid. And if it gets things moving again....”

Amber cocked her head.  “I’ll be there,” she stated firmly.

“Amber....”

“Es, Saphira can’t be there and I’d prefer you not be left alone if she’s gonna go postal on you.”

“Amber, you can’t.”

“Es, she won’t be able to see me.”

“But I will.  And I can’t share with her if I know you’re there.”

Amber was silent for a long moment.  They all knew how Esmeralda worked so she should have expected the objection.  But with all she had been through recently....

“I don’t like it,” she finally said, “but I respect your reasoning.  I will be there,” holding up her hand when Esmeralda’s lips parted in protest.  “But I’ll wait outside – beyond my ability to hear normal conversation.  So if you need me, you’ll only need to holler and I’ll be there.”

“That sounds fair,” Saphira offered cautiously.

“I can accept that,” Esmeralda agreed.  “Thanks, Amber.  Better safe than sorry, right?”

“Exactly.”

“All right then... you need to finish eating and get to bed.  I’ll give you a call before I head to Charisma’s office.  She’s usually my last stop, and there’s no reason for you to have to be there for hours on end just waiting.”

“Okay – just make sure you call me.”

“I will.  Thanks for breakfast, Coral.  Thank you both for your reports.  I don’t feel quite so out of the loop now.”

“Hopefully it will help things move forward soon.”

“Here’s hoping.”


Chapter XX

“Opal?  I need....”  Charisma stutter-stopped and glanced around her dark and silent outer office.  A frown marred her features and she moved to Opal’s desk, intent on calling her wayward staff back to work if only to fire them for disappearing in the first place.  She froze when she noticed Esmeralda casually sitting behind Opal’s desk.  “Es?” she muttered, struck dumb by the sight of the young woman she had spent the last several days avoiding.  Charisma cleared her throat.  “Is there... is there something I can do for you?”

Esmeralda smiled, her teeth white in the darkness.  Then she stood and held out a hand, gratified when Charisma took it without hesitation.  “No, Charisma.  But I think there is probably something I can do for you,” tugging gently on the hand she held.  Charisma dug her heels in and refused to move.

“Where is my staff?”

“I sent them home,” watching dark brows crawl up Charisma’s forehead before they slammed down in the formation of a scowl.

“Excuse me?” her whisper fierce in its softness.

“I sent them home,” Esmeralda repeated dutifully, then held up her free hand to keep Charisma from speaking further.  “I wanted to speak to you privately, and you’ve used them to avoid me all week.  Don’t,” she continued forcefully when Charisma opened her mouth to deny the accusation.  “I am not stupid, Charisma.  I know avoidance tactics when they are used against me.”

“I would never accuse you of being stupid, Esmeralda.  I just never realized you were quite so conniving... so sneaky.”  Her expression was one of confusion though her voice was more accusatory.  Esmeralda cocked an eyebrow at her.

“Charisma, be honest – if I hadn’t sent them home, would you even be talking to me right now?”  Charisma’s blue eyes met Esmeralda’s green ones briefly before finding the carpet pattern fascinating.  Esmeralda squeezed the hand she still held.  “Charisma?”

She saw Charisma bite her lip before sighing loudly and shaking her head.  “Probably not.”

“Can I ask why?”

Charisma snorted and pulled her hand out of Esmeralda’s clasp.  “Are you serious?”

Esmeralda just tilted her head and waited.  Charisma growled and it was only centuries of familiarity with the sound that allowed Esmeralda to keep her composure.

“Of course you’re serious.  Why would I think otherwise?” Charisma grumbled.  She took several steps away from Esmeralda, raking her hands through what to that moment had been a neat coiffure.  Then she clenched her hands in her hair and whipped around furiously, mildly surprised when Esmeralda didn’t flinch even in the face of Charisma’s glare.  “How did you do it?”

“Excuse me?” a look of confusion marring Esmeralda’s expression.  “I don’t understand.”

Charisma studied Esmeralda for a long moment. “You really don’t, do you?” she asked at last.  “You have no idea....”  She whirled until her back was to Esmeralda and remained that way for a long moment.  When she turned around once more, she did so slowly and deliberately, the politician’s mask firmly in place.  “How did you convince my staff to simply leave here without a word to me?  Surely they know....”

“Know what, Senator?” Esmeralda asked quietly, intentionally using Charisma’s title to remind her of so many things.  “I know that you’ve been terrorizing them since you and Brianna met at the diner Friday night.  No,” she hastened to reassure Charisma when her eyes widened theatrically.  “They haven’t said anything; they didn’t need to.  I’m a student of human nature, remember?  In my job, I see a lot and I hear a lot more. As for how I got them to leave, I asked them to give me a chance to talk to you.”

Charisma’s brows went into her hairline.  “And that worked?”

Esmeralda shrugged.  “Given your state of mind in the office this week?  Is it really that difficult to believe?”

Charisma pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, hoping to alleviate the headache she could feel beginning behind her eyes.  She blew out a breath. “No, I guess not,” she replied without opening her eyes.

Esmeralda walked back over to stand beside Charisma, reaching up and removing Charisma’s hand from in front of her face.  It took another minute, but soon Charisma blinked her eyes and met Esmeralda’s.  “C’mon,” Esmeralda invited, drawing Charisma towards her office.  “I’m tired and you look like you could use a chance to take your shoes off.”

Charisma snickered as Esmeralda’s pronouncement was nothing like what she’d expected it to be.  However, she couldn’t deny the truth of her words either.  “How’d you guess?”

Esmeralda made a show of looking at her sneaker-clad feet before staring at the four-inch heels Charisma wore.  “Dumb luck,” she deadpanned, causing Charisma to snort before she reluctantly chuckled.  Then she allowed Esmeralda to lead her back into her office.

“And the fact that you’re a good half a foot shorter than your partner means you’re the one stuck in heels when you go out.”  She stepped out of her heels with a sigh of relief and simultaneously they collapsed on the couch.

“Actually Saphira is more than my partner, Charisma – she’s my mate.  And when we go out, our heights don’t change.”

Charisma blinked her eyes, opening them wide.  “Really?”

“Um hmm,” Esmeralda confirmed though she didn’t elaborate, seeing another question lurking in Charisma’s eyes.  She waited and in another minute, Charisma cleared her throat.

“Can I ask you something, Es?”  Esmeralda nodded.  “What did you mean you when said Saphira was more than your partner?  I mean... I thought that partner was the proper way to refer to her in regards to your relationship.”

Esmeralda held Charisma’s gaze, searching for any hint of disparagement or bigotry; what she found was an honest desire to understand why Esmeralda had felt the need to correct her wording... especially since she knew she had gotten it right.  It was her business to be politically correct, after all.

“I suppose,” Esmeralda started hesitantly, “that in your politically correct world partner is the description that is utilized most often.  And in some ways, I suppose it’s probably an accurate description of what Saphira and I share together.  After all, we are a couple in a sexual relationship,” she stated bluntly.  “But more than that, we are connected – we are joined... here,” she declared, placing a hand over her heart.  “In our hearts and in our souls.  Even without the recognition of the government or of a church, what we have is beyond price.”

“You mean that,” stated without inflection.

“I do,” Esmeralda assured Charisma without hesitation.  “I nearly lost it once, Charisma, and it almost killed me.  I would have done anything to keep it.”

“Why?  How can you be so sure it’s worth it... that she’s worth it?”

“Because I know what it feels like to live without her.”  Silence reigned while Charisma contemplated Esmeralda’s words.  Esmeralda could see her struggling and she placed a hand on Charisma’s knee as it was the closest body part to her given the way Charisma had curled into the couch.  Charisma looked up.  “What do you want to know, Charisma?”

Charisma swallowed and dropped her eyes back to the small hand that rested lightly on her knee, covering it with her own and smiling when Esmeralda shifted her hand so she could clasp Charisma’s.  Finally Charisma took a deep breath.  “Would you have done it anyway....”  She paused and drew another deep breath.  “If you had something to lose, would you have done it anyway?”

Esmeralda gently squeezed the hand she held, waiting patiently for Charisma’s eyes to meet hers.  “I had everything to lose, Charisma.  Everything.  But without Saphira, it didn’t matter.  None of it mattered.  Without her....”  Esmeralda shook her head and glanced away, remembering all too clearly the desolation and devastation she’d felt when she thought Saphira was gone from her forever.  Charisma sat silently.  Esmeralda let it last a while before she decided to break it.  “Tell me your story, Charisma,” turning to look at Charisma again.  When Charisma didn’t speak, Esmeralda sighed.  “Charisma,” she said softly, “I can’t help if you don’t share.”

“I don’t think there’s anything you can do regardless, Es, though I love you dearly for wanting to try.”

“Even if I can’t, you’re not going to feel better until you get this off your chest, and aside from a therapist I’m probably the safest bet in the world.”

Charisma snorted.  “You’re probably a safer bet than a therapist.  You’ve been there, done that – your experience is hard-earned and therefore more honest in its approach.”

“I’m cheaper too,” Esmeralda replied cheekily, garnering her the soft laughter she’d hoped for.  Charisma squeezed her hand.

“I don’t know.  I think you’re pretty priceless.”  Charisma sighed.  “If I tell you mine, will you share yours?”  Esmeralda nodded.  Charisma squeezed the hand she held one final time, then released it as she stood.  “All right, but I need something to drink.”  She went over to the small refrigerator that sat behind her desk.  “Can I get you something?”

Esmeralda smiled.  “Since I’m betting you don’t keep milk in there, how about some water?”

“Plain or chocolate?” At Esmeralda’s confused look, Charisma chuckled.  “I do have milk.  I started drinking it when I got pregnant with Adam.  I never really gave it up.”  She shrugged.  “Besides, Adam needs something when he’s here, and I’m not giving him soda.”

“Ooh... chocolate then please,” Esmeralda responded with a giggle and a twinkle in her eyes.  “Saphira always gives me white milk at the diner.”

“I’m pretty sure denying access to chocolate milk is grounds for divorce, my friend,” Charisma joked, the twinkle clear in her blue eyes.  Esmeralda chuckled.

“That’s okay – if I have to choose between Saphira and chocolate milk, I’m keeping Saphira.  Doesn’t mean I’m not choosing chocolate when she’s not here though.”

“Sneaky woman,” Charisma commented, even as she passed Esmeralda a bottle of chocolate milk.  She grinned at the look of sheer bliss that covered Esmeralda’s face at her first taste.  “Good, huh?”

“Better than good – fabulous,” Esmeralda agreed with a big smile.  She leaned back into the couch with a contented sigh.  “Maybe I should take a chocolate milk break everyday.”  She turned her head to look at Charisma.  “Now... tell me your story.”

Charisma sighed.  “Do you need to call Saphira and let her know what’s going on?  It’s already late and I don’t want you to make her worry.”

“It’s fine, and sweet of you to consider that.  She knows where I am and that I planned to talk to you tonight.  She’ll go home and wait for me there – she knows I have a guardian angel looking out for me.”  Literally, Es thought, remembering Amber’s silent presence just a few yards away.

“All right,” Charisma agreed with a nod of her head.  “As long as you being here won’t make things worse for anyone.”

Esmeralda smiled and patted Charisma’s hand.  “Trust me, Charisma – I wouldn’t put Saphira through that kind of worry... not after all we’ve been through together.  It’s all good.”

“And you’ll let me drive you home tonight?”

“Absolutely, as long as it doesn’t mess up your time with Adam.”

“Thank you.  I feel better knowing that.  And Adam is taken care of – he’s already in bed asleep.”  Esmeralda tilted her head at Charisma’s announcement, hearing the inherent sadness in her voice.  Charisma gave her a heartbreaking smile.  “Sometimes I regret all the time I miss with him.  But I’m not sure I could give all this up,” motioning around the room. “Even for him.”

“Tell me your story, Charisma.”

“What do you know?”

“Would you like to know what I’ve put together from my observations of the two of you?” waiting for Charisma to nod.  Esmeralda took a deep breath.  “I know that you were friends years ago; that she walked out of your life and neither of you have made an effort to resolve things between you since then.  I know this is tearing you up inside... both of you.  Other than that...?”  Esmeralda shrugged.

Charisma chuckled ruefully.  “You’ve got the basics.”  She stood and moved into the shadows of the room, facing the window so all Esmeralda could see was the stiffness of her posture.  “Brianna Walker was my very best friend,” Charisma said softly into the quiet darkness that surrounded them.  “We were assigned as roommates in our freshman year of college and immediately hit it off.  I don’t know how to explain it – it was like we fit together.  It’s hard... it’s not like I didn’t have friends before.  I mean, I was considered popular in high school, but this was different.  And Mama and Daddy took her into the family without even a second thought.”  Charisma snorted.  “She was welcomed more easily than any of the spouses were just like she had always belonged to us.”

Charisma stopped talking and Esmeralda let the silence lengthen between them, knowing Charisma was nowhere close to being done with her story.  Finally Charisma drew a sharp breath and continued.  “I never thought....  We went everywhere – did everything – together.  It was an unwritten rule between us and among our friends.”

“So what happened?” Esmeralda asked when the silence lengthened uncomfortably.  Charisma turned her head from the window, catching the gaze fixed on her briefly before facing the window once more.  She wasn’t quick enough, however, for Esmeralda to miss the hint of tears that sparkled on her lashes.

“We graduated,” Charisma sighed softly.  “I guess at the time I didn’t realize how that would change everything.  I guess I thought we’d be friends forever.”  She shrugged.  “I was wrong.”

Esmeralda clasped her hands tightly together to keep from crossing the room and shaking some sense into her deliberately obtuse friend.  Instead she bit her lip thoughtfully and took the time to ponder her words before she spoke.  “So you’re telling me that you simply drifted away after graduation?”  She rose and crossed to stand beside Charisma at the window, keeping her focus on the world outside but able to see Charisma’s reflection in the glass.  “I’m not stupid, Charisma,” her tone even and non-accusatory.  “Please don’t lie to me.  I’ve seen the pictures in Senator Walker’s office.  I can guess at part of what happened.  So even if you can’t speak the truth aloud to me, at least be honest with yourself.”

Charisma pinched the bridge of her nose.  “What do you want me to tell you, Es?  The truth is Brianna and I spent four incredible years together almost twenty-four/seven, then three fabulous months tooling around Europe without a care in the world.  It was the most amazing, magical time of my life.  Then she kissed me goodbye and walked out of my life.”

“Which part of that bothered you – the kissing or the goodbye?”

Charisma whirled on Esmeralda, her eyes blazing.   “She left without a word... without explanation!”

“And you never followed her... never looked her up to ask why.  Why is that?”  Esmeralda put her hands on Charisma’s arms, unsurprised to find them shaking though she was unsure if it was due to hurt or fury or terror or some combination of the three.  “Charisma, you don’t have to answer me – you don’t owe me anything.  But you do need to face the truth for yourself if only so you can find happiness in your life again.”

Charisma didn’t move – neither shaking off Esmeralda’s touch nor embracing it.  Esmeralda gently guided Charisma back to the couch, easing her to a seat before kneeling in front of her.  “Let me tell you a story,” waiting for blue eyes to track to hers. 

    “Once upon a time there were two little girls who were best friends.  They grew up together knowing they were mated... that they would always be part of one another.  Then one day, the older of the girls did something that caused her to be banished from her home and so the two - now young women - were separated.  It nearly crushed the younger woman; the older of them, however, once she knew of its effects on her beloved, refused to accept banishment as the sentence for her perceived crime.  She insisted she be given a different punishment.  Her Father, surprised by her actions, offered her a choice.  She could come home – all would be forgiven and everything restored if she and the other young woman remained separated for a time to be determined by Him.  She refused, demanding He find something that would not cause detriment to her mate.  He grew furious, insisting she was in no position to demand anything after what she had done.
    She met His eyes squarely and said, ‘If you are the benevolent Father you claim to be, you will find a way to punish my transgressions without destroying the one I love.  She has done nothing to be punished for.’
    ‘And if I don’t?’ He asked, curious as to her answer.
    ‘If you don’t, we will leave together.  Banishment will be our punishment, but it will be something we will share together.  I won’t allow you to destroy her for my sake.’
    The Father studied her for an eternal moment before finally nodding his agreement.  ‘Very well,’ he intoned.  ‘You will give up everything – your title, your home, your riches and you will do penance together until such time as I deem your debt has been paid.’

He took all that we had, but we still have one another.  And Charisma – it’s enough.”

“Did you really have so much?  Did giving it up change your life?”

Esmeralda’s smile was full of compassion.  “It changed everything.  I had never known hunger or cold or sickness before then.  But I would still give it all up... go through everything we have suffered through together just because it would mean we were still together.  And that’s worth everything.”

“Brianna and I were never together... not like that.”

“Weren’t you?” A beat.  “Maybe you should be,” Esmeralda commented softly.  Charisma didn’t answer.  For a while there was no sound except their breathing.  Then Charisma rose and fetched her purse before making a quick phone call and offering Esmeralda her hand. 

“C’mon,” she said.  “Time to get you home to your mate.”

Esmeralda took her hand and remained quiet, knowing the next step was Charisma’s to take.


Chapter XXI

“So do we still have jobs?” Opal asked with a hint of humor after Esmeralda had taken her first sip of coffee.  They had all been alarmed by the look of utter exhaustion on her face when she’d entered the kitchen a few moments before and had given her a chance to collect herself and wake up a bit.  Esmeralda blinked at the question and pushed messy hair back from her face, blinking again as she cleared her throat and returned Opal’s tentative smile with a more sure one of her own.

“Oh yes... you still have jobs.  You’re not getting out of this assignment that easily,” she teased, garnering smiles from all of them and feeling them relax at her words.  “In fact,” she turned to look at Opal directly, “things might even be a little easier for you.”

Opal’s eyes went wide.  “Really?  What kind of hex did you put on her, Boss?  Because I’ve gotta tell you – Charisma’s never been easy to work for, but this last week she’s been downright wicked.”

Esmeralda’s green eyes sharpened.  “Tell me.”

“Well, I can’t speak for the rest, but in the office she’s been on edge about everything - the way we dress; the way we speak; the tone of our voices; the color of the walls,” watching Esmeralda’s eyebrows shoot into her hairline.  “I’m not making this up,” Opal insisted.  “She nearly had a come apart the day before yesterday because she decided she didn’t like the color of the walls.  Es... those walls have been that color since she got there.  She picked it out!”

“All right,” Esmeralda agreed slowly.  “How has she been professionally?”

“Oh my word – she has nitpicked every single bill and vote to death.  Granted, she has only done so to us in the privacy of her office, but she’s out of control.  If I didn’t know better, I swear she was PMSing on crack.”

“She’s been that way at home, as well,” Ame concurred.  “Very bi-polar.  She’s very calm and under control when she’s with Adam, but otherwise we’re getting all sorts of mixed signals.  It’s a good thing Kent is still out of town.  I’m not sure she could keep up a pretense with him at the moment.”

“Any idea when he’s due home?”  Ame, Turq and Opal exchanged glances, starting when Esmeralda forcefully cleared her throat.  “Hey!  Somebody want to clue me in here?”

“Sorry, Es,” Opal apologized. “We’ve just gotten used to....”  Esmeralda held up her hand.

“I know, and that’s my fault.  I know I haven’t been around as much as I should.”

“No... it’s not....”

“Enough,” Esmeralda cut her off tiredly.  “We can argue fault later.  Now tell me.”

“He’s supposed to be in at the end of the week, but he hasn’t been in touch with Charisma yet to let her know for sure when he’ll be home,” Ame started.

“And...?” Esmeralda prompted.

“And he’s got more than theatre interests in the City,” Turq replied.  “When I was driving him to the airport, I overheard him making plans to meet up with someone.  It sounded pretty serious.”

Esmeralda pinched her bridge of her nose.  “And you didn’t think I needed to know about this?”  She shook her head and blew out a breath.  “Sorry… that was uncalled for.”

“Actually we didn’t start putting it together until this week,” Opal said, taking charge again.  “We don’t have anyone keeping an eye on him.  It’s not like he’s been much of a player in this whole drama.”

“And he is now?”

The three looked at one another again and Ame and Turq gave Opal a brief nod.  “As I said, we’ve only just started putting pieces together.  But we don’t think he will ever be much of a player as far as Charisma is concerned.”

Esmeralda cast her glance around the table, noting the attitudes of attentive listening among all the women gathered there.  Even those who’d just joined her team seemed to be fully invested in what was going on.  She nodded in satisfaction and turned her attention back to Opal.

“Is there any fact to back up your thinking or is it just a gut feeling at this point?”

“A little of both actually.  We know he’s never been much of a factor in Charisma’s life.  She married him because she wanted a baby and she needed a husband.  They were compatible and he was willing.”

“And you don’t think he’s willing anymore?”

“If I was to hazard a guess?” waiting for Esmeralda’s nod.  “I’d say he still cares for her very much – she is the mother of his son, after all.  And in fairness she was completely up front with him about her career coming first before they married.”

“But...?”

“But I think he may have found someone willing to put him first instead.”

“I have a question,” Ruby spoke quietly, causing all eyes to turn her way.  Esmeralda gestured for her to proceed and Ruby cleared her throat.  “Has anyone considered that Charisma may be as much of a beard for Kent as Kent is for her?”  Everyone stared at her and Ruby felt compelled to continue.  “I just think it’s something that needs to be considered.  After all, we know one thing that appealed to Kent about Charisma was the fact that he knew his mother would approve of her as a suitable wife.  The fact that Charisma desperately wanted a child made her even more attractive because he knew he would be able to give his mother at least one grandchild.  The fact that he and Charisma liked one another was a bonus and since she was attractive he was willing to give it a go.”

“You don’t think he loves her?”

“I didn’t say that.  Given what we saw of their courtship, I believe Opal’s right - he cares for her very much.”

“But...?”

“But I don’t know if there is more than caring involved.  And to be completely honest, we don’t know that much about Kent.  At least,” motioning to her compatriots, “we don’t.  Our briefings before we arrived centered on Charisma and Brianna.”

“Ours as well,” Ame concurred, crumbling a bit of toast onto her plate.  “Kent was seen as something of a bit player to the real drama that was playing out between our two protagonists.”

Esmeralda picked up her coffee cup and took another sip, letting her focus go to the window where the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon.  She lifted the cup to her lips again and sighed once she’d swallowed.  “It would be really nice if we didn’t have to dig for answers.  All right, Mal – I need you to go shadow Kent.  Ame should be able to get you the information you need to find him in the City.  I just need to know if he has interests there other than the theatre.”

“You got it, Es.”

“Thanks, Mal.  Now what about the rest of you?  How are things going?  What’s going on with Brianna?”

They looked at one another and Ruby gestured for Indi to start.  “She’s been very tame... very sedate – at least with me.  She comes in early and we tackle whatever’s on the agenda for the day.  She’s learning her job quickly and is already gaining allies.  She’s making a real effort to do the job she’s been appointed to.”

“That’s it?”

“For me,” Indi said.  “She’s been sending me home at what she calls a ‘reasonable hour’ so Coral’s been pulling some long shifts.”

Esmeralda nodded.  “I know.  I talked to both her and Amber yesterday.”  She turned to Jasper.  “What about you, Jas?”

“There’s not much to tell, Es.  She’s only just started using me with any regularity.  I pick her up in the morning and take her to the Senate building.  I pick her up again in the late afternoon when she sends Indi home and take her back to her apartment for an hour or so and then take her back to the office for a few hours in the evenings.  She hasn’t said much.”

“Have either of you observed anything unusual in her behavior?” watching them exchange puzzled glances, then shake their heads at her.

“To be honest, I’m not sure what unusual behavior would be for her.  But she hasn’t gone ballistic; she’s not having a come apart.  It all seems pretty normal.”

“Does she spend any time brooding?”

They cocked their heads at her, then traded looks before turning back to Esmeralda. “Um... no?”

Esmeralda chuckled.  “Are you asking me or telling me?”

“A little of both maybe?” Indi replied.  “She hasn’t done anything that we would consider brooding, but we’re still learning her quirks.  I do know that whatever happened with you and Saphira Friday night changed her behavior somewhat.  That’s when she started this new schedule.”

“It’s like she’s thrown her focus into her professional life.”

Esmeralda pinched her bottom lip between her fingers in thought.  “Have you noticed her studying any of the photographs in her office?” fixing her gaze on Indi.  Indi just shook her head.

“Not at all.  As I said, she’s been very focused... very professional.”

Esmeralda nodded her head and took her last swallow of coffee, grimacing at the lukewarm beverage.  Ruby held up the pot in silent question, but Esmeralda shook her head.  Without missing a beat Ruby poured her a glass of cold milk.  Esmeralda rolled her eyes but dutifully picked up the glass and took a big swallow.  “Thanks, Ruby.  What about you?”

“What about me, Es?  I’m just here to give Saphira a break and keep an eye on the rest of you.”  She arched a brow.  “Someone has to make sure you girls eat right and get some rest.”

“Den mother, huh?”

“You bet your sweet bippy, Sweetheart.”  Ruby pushed the hair out of Esmeralda’s face.  “You worry about taking care of the assignment.  I’ll look after the lot of you.”

Esmeralda covered the hand that cupped her cheek.  “Thanks, Ruby,” her smile tired but sincere.

“And on that note,” Ruby said looking at her watch, “we’ve got to get our day started and you need to go back to bed before Saphira bodily picks you up and carries you to the bedroom.”  She nodded her head towards the doorway where Saphira had been standing during the entire meeting, arms crossed over her chest.  “We’ll keep you in the loop, especially if anything changes.”

Esmeralda nodded and rose, finishing her milk before handing the empty glass back to Ruby.  “I appreciate it, Ruby.”  She turned to Jas.  “I need you to have some sort of mechanical trouble today – just enough to give me a chance to speak to Brianna.”

“Got it covered, Boss.”

“And you’ll let me know what’s going on with Kent?” to Mal.

“As soon as I have something to report, Boss.”

Esmeralda nodded.  “Good work, ladies.  I think we’re on track.  Once I talk to Brianna, I should have a little clearer picture.  But I expect things to start moving pretty quickly.”

“Es?” Ame asked, causing everyone to stop moving and Esmeralda and Saphira to turn back from the bedroom doorway they’d just opened.  Esmeralda tilted her head in question while Saphira merely cocked her eyebrow.  “I was wondering if you had any idea how this was going to turn out... really.”

“In what way?  I’m not omniscient, Ame – you know that.”

“No... I know that.  But this situation has the potential to go out of control so easily.”  She bit her lip.  “I don’t want Adam to get hurt.  He’s just a child.”

Esmeralda tapped the strong arms that had embraced her when she had moved from the table and Saphira released her hold.  Then Esmeralda crossed to stand in front of Ame, cupping her face gently.  “He’ll be all right, Ame.  He still has two parents and three grandparents who love him dearly and who knows - there might be one or two more before this is all said and done.”  Ame nodded but her shoulders slumped.  Esmeralda lifted Ame’s chin, drawing her face back up until their eyes met.  “There aren’t any guarantees here, Ame – you know that.  We can only give them a second chance and do our best to make sure it comes out right.”

“I know.  I just... we usually don’t come into situations this late.  There aren’t any kids involved.”  She leaned forward and brushed a kiss over Esmeralda’s forehead.  “Go to bed – before your mate loses what’s left of her patience with me.”

Esmeralda smiled and the rest chuckled, knowing none of them wanted Saphira on the warpath with them in her sights – not given that she’d stood up to Him for Esmeralda.  They waved goodbye and left to begin their day.

************

“So you’re the reason Jas called me with car trouble?” Brianna asked when she beckoned Esmeralda into her inner sanctum many hours later.  She didn’t appear angry... just a little chagrined.  Esmeralda nodded her head sheepishly.

“I asked her to.  I wanted to check on you.”

“I’m all right,” Brianna assured Esmeralda.  “I’ve just been... I’ve been trying to figure things out.  I need to do something.  I just need to figure out what that something is.”

“And you need to do that on your own,” Esmeralda stated.

Brianna shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I really... it seems like I should, you know?  I mean, this is my life... our lives.  Seems like we should be the ones....”

Esmeralda smiled as she moved around the room, dusting as she moved.  “I understand, Brianna.  I really do.  But I know sometimes you just need an impartial ear and if you find you need someone to talk to, you know where to find me.”

“How do you do that?” Brianna asked after a few minutes of silence as she watched Esmeralda dust around the room then return to her cart for a spray bottle and clean cloth to start a second round of cleaning.  Esmeralda turned back and looked at Brianna with a confused frown.

“Excuse me?” glancing at her cleaning tools.

Brianna chuckled.  “No... sorry.  I understand the cleaning thing even if I’m not nearly as thorough as you are,” grinning at the unexpected blush that chased up Esmeralda’s fair skin.  Then she sobered.  “No,” she said, her voice dropping.  “How do you know just what to say?  It’s true - I have been busy this week trying to settle in and learn this job as quickly as I can.  But I’ve also been avoiding you because I didn’t know what to say after what happened at the diner the other night,” hanging her head down so her hair hid her face.

Esmeralda looked at the stuff in her hands and sighed, then she put it down and crossed to Brianna’s desk and extended a hand to her.  When she realized Brianna couldn’t actually see her hand, she touched Brianna’s hand, gratified when warmth closed around hers immediately.  “Come sit with me a minute.”  Brianna rose without argument and followed Esmeralda to the couch, taking a seat at one end and releasing her hold on the hand she held to let Esmeralda sit down on the other.  “Brianna,” waiting for green eyes to track to hers.  “Do you remember what I told you just last week – your first day in this office?  About being a student of human nature?”

“Of course, Es.  You proved it pretty spectacularly.”

Esmeralda chuckled.  “I’ve had a lot of practice at trying to say the right thing as well.  I don’t always get it right, but I keep trying.  But in your case... well, I’ve been there, done that.”

“How so?”

“When it looked like Saphira might be lost to me, it was... oh heavens... it was so many horrible things wrapped up into this tight little ball of misery that sat in the pit of my stomach and made it hard for me to breathe, much less anything else.  And the worst part was everyone who knew us knew what was happening even if they couldn’t begin to know what I was going through.  So I know what it feels to be embarrassed and humiliated and confused and angry and any other number of emotions that you’ve probably run the gamut on as well.  Helps give me a little more insight to your situation.”

“What did you do?”

Esmeralda shook her head.  “Nothing you want to try, Brianna.  I fell deathly ill.  Saphira was the one who did all the doing.”

“And what did she do?”

“She stood up and demanded something different.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” Brianna admitted.  “Would that apply here?”

“I don’t think so.  What does your gut tell you?”

“That I would like to hear your story.  And then I would like to discuss ideas with you.”

“I can do that, but I need to finish the rest of the floor first.  That will give us whatever time we need.”

Brianna waved her off.  “Go do what you need to do.  I will be here when you get done.”

Esmeralda nodded and put things away.  Then she edged her cart out the door.  “I’ll be back shortly,” she promised.

“I’ll be here,” Brianna answered as she watched Esmeralda leave, then rose and went back to her desk, focusing on her work once more.  Suddenly, she felt better.


Chapter XXII

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Brianna said quietly when Esmeralda finished relaying the story she had also shared with Charisma.  “She really stood up for you... gave up everything??” Esmeralda nodded solemnly.

“She did.  She actually gave up more than I did.  She literally gave up everything – her home, her title and wealth, her occupation... everything.  I kept my job and actually ended up with a promotion of sorts.”

Brianna’s lips twisted wryly.  “Yeah... those ‘of sorts’ things can get you into real trouble – usually more work and responsibility for less money.  But Es, from what you said she didn’t give up her home.  She fought for that.”

Esmeralda tilted her head in confusion.  “I’m not sure I understand what you mean, Brianna.  I know the home she had before... the home we shared.  We don’t live there anymore.”

This time Brianna smiled.  “Oh Es... that was just a house.  The home she shares is with you, and she refused to give that up.”  Esmeralda covered her lips but couldn’t contain the gasp that escaped. Brianna patted her free hand.  “See, I got the important parts.”

“Even better than I did apparently,” Esmeralda replied self-deprecatingly.  “Sometimes I am such an idiot.”

Brianna snorted.  “Sometimes we all are, my friend.  Otherwise the world would be a much nicer place to live, and I wouldn’t be sitting here trying to figure out what to do about the woman I have been in love with for more than half my life.”

“What would you like to do?”

“Kiss her senseless??” Brianna replied immediately then promptly blushed.  “I mean....”

Esmeralda smiled.  “Oh, I think you meant exactly that, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.  I’m just not sure it’s the right thing to do in this case at the moment.”  She paused.  “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” Brianna said good-naturedly.  “It’s not like I have to answer, and it’s not like I couldn’t use some help here if you’ve got any ideas.  Go for it.”

“You’re considered out, aren’t you?  People know your orientation?”

Brianna frowned.  “Pretty much, yes.  I mean... I didn’t announce it over a PA system like Ellen did, and I don’t introduce myself as Brianna Walker, lesbian, but it’s pretty common knowledge as far as I know. I haven’t used a man as an escort since my first year out of college and I have been seen with women publicly – both for professional reasons and in my personal life.”  She hesitated then continued.  “I’m no blushing virgin if that’s what you’re asking.”

Esmeralda’s brows went into her hairline.  “Um, no... that wasn’t what I was asking but thanks for sharing,” grinning when Brianna stuck out her tongue.  “No... I was asking because - would you go into the closet?  Would you hide your relationship to be with Charisma?”

Brianna held green eyes that matched her own for a long moment then shook her head.  “I don’t think I could,” she said honestly.  “I don’t think I could be someone I’m not to be with anyone.”  She shrugged.  “If I can’t be honest and be who I am with the person who is supposed to love me unconditionally, what kind of foundation are we going to have together?  So no.  Besides,” she added, clasped her hands together in her lap.  “Charisma is married and that makes her off-limits to me.  I’m not a home wrecker... ever.”

“All right – I can appreciate the sentiment.  I actually agree with you about all of it.  And as bad as I hate to say it and as much as you don’t want to hear it, I think your very best option at the moment is to become friends with Charisma again.  She’ll fight it and she’ll resist you, but she needs you.  She needs your friendship.  Nothing has been quite right for her since you left, and she knows that in her heart of hearts whether she admits it anywhere else or not.  It’s gonna be an uphill battle though.”

“Of course it is,” Brianna grumbled.

Esmeralda studied her speculatively for a long moment.  “If I gave you an opportunity to get your foot in the door, would you take it?”

“What are you talking about?”

Esmeralda shook her head.  “Uh uh... blind faith.  If I can arrange it so she gets to see the friend she loves and remembers, will you take the chance?”

“Of course, Es.  I’d do anything – short of breaking the law or breaking up her marriage.  As much as I love her... have always loved her... I miss her friendship in my life.  There were a lot of times in the past twenty years when I wished for her advice and counsel.”

“All right,” Esmeralda nodded.  “You just keep doing what you’ve been doing – be polite and kind and friendly.  I’ll do what I can on my end.”

“How will I know?”

“You just will,” Esmeralda promised.  “It’ll feel right.”

Brianna looked at her askance, but slowly nodded her agreement.  “All right....  If you say so.”

“I say so.”

Brianna snickered.  “You sound like my grandmother.”  She chanced a look at the clock.  “Holy crap!  Saphira is going to kill me for keeping you here so late.  She’s gotta be worried.  C’mon,” she encouraged, holding out her hand and tugging them both to their feet.  “We need to get you to the diner before she sets the entire DC police force out after me.”

Esmeralda giggled and lightly squeezed the hand she held.  “It’s all right, Brianna.  I called her before I came back in here.  She’s already headed for home.  I’ll just go straight there tonight.”

Brianna looked her over shrewdly.  “And you’ll let me drive you home, right?  I don’t feel right about you being out by yourself at this time of night.”

“I have a guardian angel,” Esmeralda stated without compunction knowing Coral was waiting out of sight not too far away.  “But if it’ll make you feel better, I‘ll be happy to,” she added with a smile before Brianna could protest.

“Good,” Brianna muttered.  “Glad we got that settled,” going around behind her desk.  “Give me a minute to call Jasper and we can head out.”

“I still have to put my cart away.  Would you like me to meet you somewhere or...?”

“I’ll walk with you; then you can walk with me.”

Esmeralda nodded.  “That sounds good,” waiting as Brianna made her call and shut down her office for the night.  Then they headed out together.

Brianna looked around in wonder, never having seen that part of the Senate Building.  It was positively plain, though it was also spotlessly clean.  “So different,” she murmured.  Esmeralda smiled at her words.

“Isn’t that the way things are in life as well?” not specifying what she meant, but Brianna nodded anyway.

“I suppose it is,” she agreed softly.  “Now c’mon... let’s get you home.”

************

“So are you any closer to understanding?” Saphira asked when she closed the door behind Esmeralda.  Brianna had been as good as her word and dropped Esmeralda off at home, waiting until she was inside and had turned and waved before instructing Jasper to take her home.  Esmeralda blew out a breath and leaned against the closed door with her eyes closed for a moment.  Saphira tenderly cupped Esmeralda’s cheek and leaned down until only Esmeralda would hear her bare whisper.  “Sweetheart?”

Green eyes blinked open and Esmeralda gave Saphira a wan smile even as she covered the hand on her face.  “I understand that I’m an idiot,” causing Saphira to frown.  She giggled tiredly.  “However... that’s neither here nor there at the moment as it had nothing to do with this assignment.  I do have an idea that may help jumpstart things for them.  Have we heard anything from Mal?”

“No,” Saphira supplied, leaning forward and kissing Esmeralda briefly, surprised when Esmeralda held on and deepened it for several minutes.  Despite their interlude only a few days previous – their first since Esmeralda had started on the long road to recovery – things were still not very physical between them.  Esmeralda still tended to exhaustion most days and Saphira refused to push.  She was able to hold Esmeralda in her arms every night, and that was a blessing beyond price.  Still she rarely considered herself to be stupid and when Esmeralda offered as she was doing now, Saphira simply wrapped Esmeralda in strong arms and held on for dear life.

Slowly, Esmeralda pulled back from Saphira until she could look into the blue eyes she treasured so much.  Esmeralda reached up a hand to cup Saphira’s face, smiling when Saphira leaned into her touch.  “I love you,” Esmeralda said gently.  “So much.”

Saphira left her hands on Esmeralda’s waist and turned her face until she could brush Esmeralda’s palm with her lips.

“And I love you, Esmeralda.”

“I know, Saphira.  I know by your words and your actions and the look in your eyes.  I just don’t want you to ever wonder about how I feel about you.”

Saphira smiled.  “I’ve never doubted you, Esmeralda.”  She let her smile become a leer.  “But anytime you’d like to remind me like that,” licking her lips, “please feel free.”  Esmeralda chuckled and threw herself into Saphira’s arms.  Saphira caught her and held on, rocking them back and forth.  “You wanna tell me what brought this on?”

“Brianna.  We had an interesting talk tonight. And she reminded me that I have everything I need in my life – I have you.”

“I hope you never have cause to doubt that,” Saphira said quietly.  “I hope I never give you a reason to.”

“You won’t,” Esmeralda affirmed.  “Not after everything we’ve been through.”  She slid out of Saphira’s arms and let her feet touch the floor.  Then she linked her fingers with Saphira’s and tugged her towards the bed.  “I want to hold you tonight.  Tomorrow I’ll tell you what I’m thinking about all this.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

************

It was later than they normally got up.  Already the day crew was up and gone; Amber and Coral had returned some minutes ago and were in the kitchen preparing something to eat.  Still they lay together while Esmeralda told Saphira about her conversation with Brianna the day before.

“Are you sure you want to get involved like that?” Saphira asked when Esmeralda laid out her idea to help facilitate the building of the friendship between Brianna and Charisma.  Esmeralda leaned up from her spot on Saphira’s chest where she’d been listening to the strong heartbeat beneath her cheek.  The disbelieving look on her face spoke volumes and Saphira waved her hands to stop her speech before Esmeralda could make a comment.  “You know what I mean.”

Esmeralda shook her head.  “I’m not sure I do, Phira.  We’re already involved in this up to our eyeballs.”

“I know, Es, but this is different.”  She paused.  “Isn’t it?”

Esmeralda shook her head.  “No, Sweetheart.  We’re just expanding our horizons by....”  Whatever her thought was going to be, it remained incomplete as there was a rapid knock on the door mere seconds before it opened and Amber stuck her head in, eyes firmly closed.

“You need to come quick, Es.  Opal’s on the phone.  I think there’s trouble in paradise again.”

Esmeralda sat up and reached for her robe, slipping into it before she stood and tying it as she made her way towards the door with Saphira right behind her.  Esmeralda nodded at Coral who put the phone on speaker so they could all hear Opal’s conversation.

“Opal?  What’s up?”

“I’m not sure Es,” Opal practically whispered into the phone.  “Charisma had me call Brianna in for a meeting.”

Four sets of eyes around the table widened comically and they exchanged flabbergasted expressions before Esmeralda cleared her throat.  “Excuse me?”

Opal sighed.  “You heard me.  Charisma had me call Indi and set up a meeting between them.  She should be here in....  Hello Senator Walker.  Thank you for your rapid response.  Allow me to announce you to Senator Tagherty.”  Through the connection, they heard Opal knock on the door and inform her of Brianna’s presence, then Opal ushered Brianna into the inner sanctum before she resumed her seat and picked the receiver up once more.

“I suppose you heard all of that?”

“Yes,” Esmeralda replied decisively.  “What brought this on?”

“I don’t know, Boss.  We didn’t get much more warning than what I gave you.”

Esmeralda blew out a breath.  “All right.  Keep your eyes and ears open and call me back once Brianna’s gone back to her office.  I’m gonna give Indi a call.”

“Will do, Boss.”

“Thanks Opal.  Good work.”

Amber put a cup of coffee in front of Esmeralda even as Coral hung up the phone, then turned around and dialed Indi.  It didn’t ring twice before Indi picked up.  “Senator Brianna Walker’s office.  This is Indigo – how may I help you?”

“Indi, it’s Es,” Esmeralda said without preamble.  “What happened?”

They could almost hear Indi’s shrug through the phone.  “I dunno, Es.  Opal called; I put her through to Brianna.  Next thing I knew she was out the door and down the hall.”

Esmeralda pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.  “How did she seem?”

“Determined, if I had to put a name to it.  She didn’t hesitate and she was pretty focused when she walked out of here.”

Esmeralda sighed.  “All right.  Let me know what happens when she gets back, will ya?”

“You betcha, Boss.  Anything else?”

“No, Indi.  Thanks.”  Esmeralda nodded at Coral who thumbed the phone off and hung it up.  Esmeralda leaned back when Amber put a plate of food down in front of her.  There was the sound of chairs scraping against the floor and silverware tinkling against plates, but otherwise it was quiet in the kitchen as they allowed Esmeralda to process what she’d just heard.  After a while she pushed back from her place and leaned back in her chair.  Three sets of eyes turned her way and she sighed.

“Now what?” Amber asked before Esmeralda could speak.  Saphira reached out a hand and smacked the back of her head.  Amber clapped a hand on her head and turned to glare at Saphira.  “What’d you do that for??”  Saphira just gave her a look.

“All right you two... enough,” Esmeralda said without a hint of a smile though Coral was having problems keeping a straight face.  “Now we wait.  Who knows... maybe they’ll solve this without us now.”

“But you don’t think so,” Saphira stated without question.  Esmeralda shook her head.

“No.  It’s never that easy.”

“Okay, so now what?” Amber asked again.  “And no smacking,” she added with a glare in Saphira’s direction.  “It’s a legitimate question.”

“Yes, it is.  But for right now we do nothing.  We can’t do anything until we know what they’re doing.”

“Any thoughts about that?” Coral asked.

“I have all kinds of thoughts,” Esmeralda replied dryly.  “But I’d like to wait and see what we hear from Opal and Indi.  I have a feeling this is Charisma’s attempt to take control of things before they get completely away from her.  I doubt Brianna is gonna let that happen.”

“Well, you did say things were going to get more interesting.”

“Lucky me,” Esmeralda answered drolly, drawing laughs from around the table.  She stood up and Saphira followed, picking up their plates and moving them to the sink only to be pushed out of the way by Coral and Amber.

“We’ve got this,” they proclaimed.  “You two go... do something else.  We’ll let you know when Opal and Indi call back.  They you can figure out what to do with it.”

“Thanks, guys,” Saphira said with a nod.  The she held her hand out to Esmeralda who took it without hesitation.  Then they went back into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.  Coral and Amber watched them go, then shook their heads and got back to work.


Chapter XXIII

Charisma looked up from the legal brief on her desk when Opal knocked on the door.  She pulled her reading glasses off and folded the arms together, placing them on the desk and motioning Opal in.  Opal stepped into the room just past the threshold and announced Brianna’s arrival in the office.  Charisma nodded her acceptance and simply said, “Show her in.”

Opal crossed back into the outer office and gestured Brianna forward.  When Brianna reached the door, Opal announced her.  “Senator Brianna Walker.”

“Thank you, Opal,” Charisma acknowledged with a smile, then she looked at Brianna.  “Can she bring you anything...?”

“No thank you.”

Charisma nodded and Opal took the dismissal for what it was, closing the door behind her and returning to her desk to resume her conversation with Esmeralda.  Meanwhile inside the office, Charisma motioned Brianna to a seat.  Instead Brianna stood behind one of the guest chairs facing Charisma and braced her hands on the top.

“Why am I here, Charisma?”

Charisma held Brianna’s gaze, searching the green eyes she’d once known as well as those she saw in the mirror every morning. Brianna didn’t flinch or look away and eventually Charisma sighed and looked down at her desk for a moment, leaning her arms on it and folding her hands in front of her before bringing her eyes back up to meet Brianna’s.

“Brianna, would you please have a seat?”

Brianna held her gaze another full minute, then relented and took the seat she had been hovering behind.  “Now will you tell me why you summoned me, Charisma?”

Charisma’s eyes widened.  “I didn’t summon you.  I simply asked for a few minutes of your time at your earliest convenience.”

Brianna barely contained the urge to roll her eyes.  “Semantics, Charisma,” then held up her hand before Charisma could protest.  “It doesn’t matter.  What can I do for you?”

Charisma picked up her glasses and leaned back, crossing her legs and bringing the arms of her glasses to her lips.  “I thought perhaps we could clear the air... set some ground rules,” watching Brianna’s brows fly into her hairline and her eyes darken to a stormy gray color.  “I mean,” she stumbled on hastily, “since we’ll be working together and all.”

Brianna settled back herself, crossing her legs and leaning her elbow on the chair arm so she could prop her head on her fingertips.  “Can I ask why?”

Charisma frowned.  “I don’t understand – why what?”

“Why this?  Why now?  It’s not like we’ve really had occasion to interact with one another so far so why start worrying about it now?”

Charisma sighed.  “Because at some point in the near future, we will have to interact with each other, and I’d like us to be on the same page when it happens to save us both from being embarrassed or worse.”

“And I’d like for us to be friends again, but I doubt there’s any likelihood of that happening in my lifetime, despite....” trailing off when she saw the anger cloud Charisma’s blue eyes.

“Despite what, Brianna?  And I suggest you tread lightly, Senator Walker.”

Brianna shook her head.  “No,” she stated.  “I’m not treading at all.  I’m not getting into this with you here.”

Charisma stood and laid her hands on the desk, leaning forward until she almost reached the other side.  “You expect me to simply forget the fact that you walked out on me twenty years ago with no explanation?”

Brianna rose and mirrored Charisma’s position until they were nose to nose, practically breathing the same air.  “I expect you to remember that you never once tried to find out why I did.”  She drew in a deep breath and was suddenly assaulted by the scent of Charisma that surrounded her.  Instinctively she closed her eyes and straightened, backing away from the desk and walking towards the door. “You never once considered that I did it for you, did you, Ri?” Brianna smiled sadly at the flummoxed expression on Charisma’s face.  She waved her hand to stop Charisma’s speech before she could open her mouth.  “It doesn’t matter, Senator,” she went on formally.  “I will be the consummate professional on any occasion we are forced to work together.  If anyone asks we were college roommates that lost touch, only to be brought back together again by the winds of chance or Fate or God... whatever.  Pick one – I don’t care.”

“Are you serious?”

“As a freaking heart attack,” Brianna replied flatly.  She reached the door and put her hand on the knob, then turned back to Charisma once more.  “I’ve missed you, Charisma... more than you could possibly understand.  But I’m not going to be pushed into anything.  If you ever decide you want to talk about things, well... you know where to find me.”

A frown creased Charisma’s face.  “That’s why I called you down here – so we could talk.”

Brianna shook her head.  “No – you called me down here so you could ensure that I wouldn’t screw up your political career by embarrassing you in some way.  I can assure you that I won’t and have no intention of doing so.  But I don’t want or need your lectures on behavior and deportment.”

“That’s not what....”

“That’s exactly what you were going to do.  You were planning to give me ground rules, remember?  That’s tantamount to a lecture.”  Brianna sighed.  “Look, I haven’t done anything in twenty years to mess you up.  I’m certainly not going to start now.”

Without another word Brianna opened the door and crossed back into the outer office before shutting the door soundlessly behind her once more.  Charisma simply watched her go, unable to think of a way to make her stay without causing some sort of scene.  And since that had been the entire point of meeting with Brianna in the first place, she decided that discretion was definitely the better part of valor in this case.

Opal observed the shakiness of Brianna’s limbs as she paused outside the closed door but did nothing to bring attention to it.  Instead she returned the courtesy when Brianna nodded her goodbye, wondering how long it would be before Charisma came storming out of her office.

Meanwhile Indi followed Brianna into her inner sanctum, hoping she could find out something to report to Esmeralda.  What she got was a request for a tea tray and some notes on the bill Brianna was currently studying.  When she’d retrieved the things Brianna had asked for, Indi made as if to leave Brianna’s office, intent on calling Opal to see if they could conference call with Esmeralda.  A question from Brianna immediately waylaid that idea.

“Indi, do you know the custodian Esmeralda?”  Brilliant blue eyes widened, but otherwise she gave no indication of what she thought of the query.  She blinked once and nodded, wondering where this had come from and better yet - where it was going. 

“Um, yeah... sure.  Senator Whitman was very fond of her.  He always stayed a few minutes to talk to her when he could so I’ve known her for a while now, I guess.  Why?”

Brianna shrugged.  “I think she’s far more than she seems.”

Indi smiled.  “Aren’t we all, Senator?  I mean, none of us really reveals all of who we are to anyone.”

“That’s true,” Brianna nodded in agreement.  “But with her I feel like... I don’t know exactly.  I feel like I’m missing something important.”

Indi tilted her head in question.  “Do you like her, Senator?  Do you trust her?”

Brianna chuckled.  “That’s the funny thing – I really do.  My gut tells me she’s good people... she and Saphira both.  And I learned a long time ago to trust my gut.”

“But...?”

“But she seems too good to be true.  Too real... too genuine.”

“If you trust her... trust your gut... shouldn’t that be enough?”

“I don’t know – should it?  What are your impressions?”

Indi took a deep breath.  She was treading a very thin line.  “Senator, I can only tell you what I know from what I’ve learned in this office,” waiting for Brianna to nod before continuing.  “Right... in the time I’ve know Esmeralda, she’s proven to be loyal, insightful and able to keep a secret tighter than Fort Knox.  Her genuine concern for people could have made her a part of the clergy or the medical field, but she seems happy in what she does as a custodian.”  Indi scratched the side of her jaw.  “Come to think of it she’s a really good custodian.”

“And your personal opinion?  C’mon, Indi,” Brianna coaxed when Indigo hesitated.  “I know you’ve got to have one.”

“I am glad that she is willing to call me friend,” Indigo confessed.  “I’d like to be like her when I grow up.”

Brianna’s eyebrows went into her hairline.  “May I ask why?  Indigo, you’re the epitome of a successful woman – beautiful, brilliant... a college honor grad with a successful career.”

“And you don’t think Es is because she didn’t go to college or because she’s a janitor?”

“I didn’t say that,” Brianna replied defensively.  “In fact it was Es that pointed out to me that most people don’t consider her to be successful for those very reasons.”

“And those that dismiss her miss out on so much - that is why I’d like to be her.”  She paused.  “Is there anything else, Senator?”

Brianna gazed at Indigo for another moment before nodding her head.  “Thanks, Indi,” dismissing her before turning back to the work she’d been engrossed in before Charisma’s phone call.  Indi nodded and went back to her desk.

Things were finally starting to move – she needed to get ahold of Esmeralda soon.  But first she was going to call Opal.  They might as well be on the same page before they brought Esmeralda into it.

************

Opal sat quietly taking care of her work and directing the work of the other aides while Charisma remained conspicuously silent behind closed doors.  She wondered at the lack of reaction, but like the others in the office she was just counting her blessings.

For a little while they just went about their business quietly so the phone ringing caused everyone to jump slightly.  Opal glared at it briefly before lifting the receiver to her ear.  “Senator Tagherty’s office.  This is Opal – how may I help you?”

“Op... it’s Indi,” her voice quiet across the wire.

“Hey, Indi... what’s up?” equally cautiously.

“What’s happening on your end?”

Opal glanced at the still closed door.  “Nothing.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing, Indi.  Not one thing.”

“I don’t understand.”  Opal rolled her eyes.

“What do you not understand, Indi?  Nothing is happening here.  Brianna left and closed the door behind her and we haven’t heard anything from Charisma yet.  She hasn’t even asked for coffee yet.  Why?  What’s happening on your side?”

Opal couldn’t see it, but she heard Indi shake her head.  “It was weird.  Brianna kept me in her office for a few minutes; we had a very cryptic conversation about Es and then she shooed me out to go back to work.”

“And?”

“And?  That’s it.”

Opal pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it strangely for a long moment, glad that the rest were too involved in their own work to pay attention to her conversation.  Then she tucked the phone back between her face and her shoulder and turned back to her computer.

“All right, Indi.  I want you to start this dialogue over; step-by-step and don’t leave out any of the details.  Then we can decide what to do next.”

************

“Es, this is Opal and I’ve got Indi conferenced in.  Have you got a few minutes?”

“Talk to me, ladies.  What’s going on?”

First Opal told her side and then Indi shared hers.  Then for several long moments they sat silently while Esmeralda considered their words.  Finally though....  “Es?  You still there?” Opal asked since no sound could be heard from Esmeralda’s side of the phone.

“She’s here,” Saphira answered.

“Is everything okay, Saphira?”

“I think so.  Es is kind of in her own zone at the moment.  Not sure I want to mess with that.  Do you want me to have her call you back when she comes out of it?”

“No,” Esmeralda said.  “I’m good.”  She sighed.  “All right.  Thank you both.  Keep your eyes and ears open, but I doubt you’re gonna have anything to worry about for the rest of the day at least.  If I’m wrong though, feel free to let me know,” her voice dry and droll.

Opal and Indi chuckled. “No thanks, Boss.  We’re going with the ‘Es is always right’ theory on this one,” Opal stated.  “I can’t speak for Indi, but we’re enjoying the peace in Charisma’s office.”

Saphira snorted; Esmeralda just shook her head.  “All right. You two get back to work.  I’ll be in at my normal time tonight.”

“Nothing special planned tonight Es?”

“No.  They’re talking to one another... sorta.  I can’t mess with anything if they’re making an effort.”

“Even if their efforts suck?”

“At least it’s an effort,” Saphira commented wryly.

“At least it’s a start,” Esmeralda corrected.  “As long as they’re talking....”

“And if they stop?”

“I have an idea how to move things forward.  But if I don’t have to, I won’t.  All right, guys.  Back to work.  Thanks.”

“Later, Es.”  Then Esmeralda and Saphira were left with nothing but a dial tone.

Esmeralda covered her face with her hands and she leaned into Saphira’s body when strong arms wrapped around her middle.  Saphira didn’t speak – she simply rocked them gently together, humming an old lullaby she knew was a favorite of Esmeralda’s.

When Esmeralda dropped her hands from her face, she turned in Saphira’s arms and twined her hands into the dark hair.  “Thank you.”

Saphira smiled and hugged Esmeralda to her for a long moment.  “C’mon,” she invited.  “Let’s go enjoy the sun for a little while before we head for work.”

Esmeralda pulled Saphira’s lips down to meet her own briefly.  “I’d like that, Love.  I’d like that a lot.”

They were out the door in record time and Esmeralda locked her arm with Saphira’s as they walked against the wind.  She took a deep breath.  “This is nice,” after a long stretch of silence.

“Yeah, it really is.”  She paused.  “You all right?”

Esmeralda smiled.  “I am.  I will be interested to hear their points of view if they decide to share though.  I’d like to know what was said in that office and I’ll admit to being a little curious what Brianna was thinking about when she talked to Indi.”

Saphira snorted.  “I’d like to know that myself.”

“Well, I promise if I find out so will you.”

“Sounds good.  In the meantime....”

“In the meantime we’ve got to get to work.  Who knows what adventures await us today.”

Saphira just shook her head, and guided them to the nearest metro stop.


Chapter XXIV

Saphira noticed Mal first and she squeezed Esmeralda’s hand lightly to get her attention before jerking her head in Mal’s direction.  With a nod they edged towards the nearest coffee shop and Mal followed them inside.  She gestured towards the sitting area and Saphira led Esmeralda towards it.  Esmeralda rolled her eyes good-naturedly at the pampering, but allowed Saphira to seat her comfortably before she stepped up beside Mal to help carry their coffee back to Esmeralda.  Esmeralda accepted hers gratefully and turned to Mal expectantly.  “What news?”

“Sorry it took so long.  This is the first chance I’ve had to get here.”

“Easier than just calling?”

“Coming here via the heavenly express takes about as much time as making a phone call and I knew I could catch you in person at this time of day.”

“So what’s up?”

“Well, first you need to know Kent’s going to be gone for a little while longer. He has actually been legitimately busy with his theatre gig.  He’s at the theatre as we speak.  The show is already in dress rehearsals, and he’s signed for at least three months.”

“Does Charisma know?”

Mal shrugged.  “I don’t know.  He hasn’t called her since I’ve been with him.”  Saphira and Esmeralda exchanged glances and Mal simply watched them communicate silently for a long moment before they turned back to her simultaneously.  Her eyes widened.  “What?”

“What else?” Esmeralda asked.  “If that was all you knew, you’d have just called and left a message with someone knowing I’d get it fairly quickly.”

Mal smiled crookedly.  “Some days you’re just too smart for your own good,” shaking her head and taking a sip of her coffee.  “You’re right – there’s more... I’m just not sure how much more.”  She sighed and took another swallow of coffee, aware that the impatience in Saphira’s expression was the antithesis to the serenity Esmeralda wore.

“Well?” Saphira prompted then clamped her lips together when Esmeralda laid a comforting hand on her arm.  “Sorry,” Saphira mumbled after taking a deep breath.  “I’m just....”

Mal smiled and patted her other arm.  “Trust me, Saphira.  We’ve all been where you are and felt like you’ve felt.  No one wants this settled soon more than we do – even those of us who haven’t been on this assignment as long as you and Es have.”  She turned back to Esmeralda.  “I’m still working on what the more is.  I think he’s invested in some sort of fledgling business... at least he seems to be spending most of his free time away from the theatre there.  I’m still trying to ascertain if he’s interested in the business itself or someone in particular there.”

“What’s the business?”

“It’s a bar/restaurant.”

“Like a sports bar combo?”

Mal shook her head.  “No.  It’s more upscale.  They’re completely separate yet part of the same building.”

“Thoughts?”

“I don’t think I’ve got enough evidence to support anything at this point... not even impressions.  Give me another day or two and I’ll get back to you with something more concrete.”

Esmeralda nodded thoughtfully.  “All right, Mal.  Good work, thanks.”

“You know it, Boss.  I’ll be back as soon as I have something more to report,” she added as she rose and emptied her cup before she nodded to them and headed out the door.  Esmeralda and Saphira remained where they were, hands still cradling their coffee cups.  Finally Saphira spoke.

“How do you stand this?”

Esmeralda gave her a smile and leaned her head on Saphira’s shoulder.  “Lots of practice.”  She patted Saphira’s leg with her free hand.  “C’mon,” she continued after a moment, sitting up straight once more.  “We’re gonna be late.”  She slid forward and stood then offered her hand to Saphira.

Saphira accepted the proffered hand and stood, keeping Esmeralda’s hand in hers as they exited the shop and headed for the metro once more.

************

Esmeralda slowly pushed her cart through the hallway, stopping at each office to clean as she made her way towards Charisma’s office.  Opal had given her an update as soon as she arrived on the floor, ensuring Esmeralda knew Charisma had yet to emerge from her office after Brianna’s visit.

She interacted with everyone that she encountered, spending a little time with the people in each office as she went along like she did every working day.  However, the later it got, the fewer people she met until she was sure she was the only one left on her floor. 

Still her training held and she knocked on each door before she entered either outer or inner office.  When she reached Brianna’s office, she wasn’t really surprised to find it empty.  Given what Indi had shared with her earlier, she’d have been more surprised to find Brianna waiting for her.  She was a little stunned at how much Brianna’s sudden doubts hurt.

Esmeralda bit her lip and shook her head.  She knew better than to take anything personally; in her job, she couldn’t afford to.  But it was hard not to in this case.  So much of this was personal and familiar and it made her heart hurt on a number of levels.  She wondered, however briefly, if what she felt now was part of His punishment, but she didn’t dwell on it.  She couldn’t afford to... not now.  Later maybe when this was resolved, she would be able to give the idea more consideration.

She turned her attention back to her work, cleaning methodically and quickly.  Only when she reached the rogue’s gallery of pictures did Esmeralda slow down and take a good look at the images in the photographs. She didn’t even hear the door open and close behind her.

“Do you see any answers, Es?” Brianna asked as she leaned casually against the door.  She had to smile – except for the slightest hesitation at the initial sound of her voice, Esmeralda hadn’t reacted to her unexpected presence at all... not even a flinch at the vaguely accusing tone.

“It would probably help if I knew what the questions were first, Brianna,” Esmeralda replied evenly, continuing to study the pictures for another moment before she looked up to meet green eyes.  She shrugged.  “I know what I see.”

Brianna cocked a brow.  “And what is that?”

“I see two women who have lost the ability to communicate with one another on the most basic level.”

Brianna glared.  “How do you do that?” slapping her palm against the door before crossing her arms over her chest.  “How do you know...?”  She held up a hand before Esmeralda could respond.  “Who are you, Esmeralda?  Who are you... really?”

“No one, Brianna.  I am no one.”

“Nuh uh.  Not buying it.”

“I’m not sure what you want me to tell you, Brianna.”

“The truth, Es.  All I want is the truth,” her tone one of frustration tinged with anger though Esmeralda wasn’t sure at whom the anger was directed.

“I haven’t lied to you, Brianna.  I wouldn’t lie... not about something this important.”

“See?  There you go again!  Why is this important?  After all, I’ve lived with this for almost twenty years.  So why does it matter to anyone besides me at this point?  It hasn’t up to now!”

Esmeralda held Brianna’s gaze for a long moment before she answered carefully.  “I can’t really say anything about that.  I’m not God, you know.  But you know why it matters to me – I would never see anyone suffer what Saphira and I have to be together.”

“Why would you think Charisma would even care?  She hasn’t given me any sign that it makes a difference to her except how her career is concerned.  And yet you’re certain she does care beyond her career aspirations, aren’t you?”  She paused.  “Who are you really, Es?  And how do you know this stuff?”

Esmeralda tilted her head and gave Brianna a tiny smile.  “Would you believe I’m an answer to prayer?  That I was put here in this time and place for a reason?”

The unexpected reply caused Brianna to start, then freeze as her mind processed Esmeralda’s words.  Esmeralda stood still and let Brianna think about what she said, waiting for the deep breath and exhalation she knew was coming.  When it happened Esmeralda smiled at the wonder that filled Brianna’s eyes.

“You know what?” Brianna finally said after a long moment.  “I would actually believe that.  I’m a firm believer in karma... that everything happens in its own time and way for a reason.”  She dropped her eyes and shook her head.  “I don’t know who you are, Esmeralda or who sent you here, but I guess it really doesn’t matter.  I truly am glad to have met you.”

“I’m glad to have met you too, Brianna.”

Brianna pushed off the door.  “Do you have a few minutes?”

“For you?  Absolutely.”  Esmeralda paused and waited for Brianna to cross the room and take a seat on the couch before moving over to join her.  “What can I do for you?”

“Tell me more about yourself or about you and Saphira.”

Esmeralda frowned.  That hadn’t been what she’d expected to hear.  “What would you like to know?”

“Anything you’d like to share.  You know so much about me, and yet I know next to nothing about you.  I’d like to change that.”

“Level out the playing field a little?”

Brianna shrugged and blushed faintly.  “Maybe,” she conceded.

Esmeralda looked at her for a moment, then rose from her spot on the couch to resume her work.  “I have a better idea,” she said as she grabbed the duster and began her next round of cleaning, paying special attention to the pictures Brianna treasured.  “Why don’t you come to visit Saphira and me this weekend?  We have a few hours on Saturday or all of Sunday together, and we’d be glad to have you join us for a meal and some conversation.”

Brianna’s eyes widened.  “I’d like that.”

Esmeralda smiled and nodded.  “All right.”  She picked up a pen and carefully wrote the address on a piece of Brianna’s letterhead, then passed the folded paper to Brianna.  “You let me know when you ‘re available and I’ll make sure Saphira and I are too.”

Brianna accepted the missive with a watery smile, touched by Esmeralda’s guileless generosity.  “Thank you,” she nodded.  “Could we try for Sunday?  I promise not to take up your whole day off.”

Esmeralda smiled.  “Sounds good.  It means we don’t have to rush.”

Brianna reached a hand over and placed it on Esmeralda’s arm, squeezing gently.  “Thank you,” she said again.  Then she chuckled and nudged Esmeralda out from behind her desk before taking her seat and slipping on her reading glasses.  “Guess if I’m going to play hooky on Sunday for a little while, I better spend a little extra time here the rest of the week so I don’t get behind, huh?”

Esmeralda smirked and moved back towards her cart.  “Whatever it takes.  Have a good night, Senator Walker,” causing Brianna’s head to pop up in response and laughing at the glare and finger wag it garnered her.  She gave Brianna a grin, laughing at the comical expression she got in return.  Then she opened the door and headed out to finish the rest of her day’s work.

************

Charisma checked her watch when the knock sounded on her door, muttering, “Come in,” without ever removing her eyes from the documents in front of her.  Esmeralda poked her head into the office, not surprised to find Charisma engrossed in some piece of legislation.

“Excuse me, Senator Tagherty.  Is it all right if I come in and clean up in here?”

Esmeralda’s soft question got Charisma’s attention immediately and she raised her eyes from the papers in front of her.  “Of course, Es.  Please,” motioning her further into the room.  “I know you’ve got a job to do here too.”

“Yes, but it can wait until you’re done if it needs to, Senator,” putting emphasis on her title.  Charisma smirked wryly and shook her head.

“Not really, Es... and you know that.”

Esmeralda grinned.  “I know.  But your work has to come first.”

Charisma shrugged.  “Maybe,” she granted as she pushed her chair back from the desk and stood.  She straightened up the papers she’d been studying and shoved them into her briefcase, then set about shutting down her computer for the night.  “But I can take mine home and work on it there.  You literally have to keep your work at work, because I’m pretty sure you’d get arrested if you tried to take my office home with you.”

“I’m pretty sure that’d give me a hernia,” Esmeralda joked, smiling when Charisma chuckled softly.  “Besides,” she confessed, “I like not being able to take my work home.  It means when I leave here, I’m done til I come back and Saphira and I have time to be together.”

Charisma tilted her head.  “What’s that like?”

Esmeralda’s eyes widened.  “I beg your pardon?”

“Having time together... wanting to have time together.”  She paused.  “It’s never been that way with Kent and me.  I don’t mind spending time with him, but neither of us goes out of our way to make it happen either.”  She turned and closed the laptop, slipping it into her bag as well, then locking it shut.  “He called a little while ago – Kent did,” Charisma clarified and waited for Es to nod her understanding.  “He got the part he wanted.  He’ll be staying in the city for the next few months.” 

“How do you feel about that?” Esmeralda asked when she realized Charisma was waiting for her to comment.

“I’m glad for him,” Charisma said instantly.  “He really wanted this and I want him to have the things he wants out of life.  I’d like him to be happy.”

“And it doesn’t bother you to be separated?”

Charisma shook her head.  She picked up the phone and made a brief call to Turq then turned back to Esmeralda.  “No... why would it?  It’s only a few months and he’s only a couple hours away if something comes up here.  Our military men and women are separated from their families for much longer and without the access I have.”  She looked hard at Esmeralda.  “You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m sorry, Charisma.  What was the question again?”

“What’s it like wanting to have time together?”

“You already know, Charisma.  Don’t you wish you had more time with Adam?”

“Not the same thing, Es – Adam is my son, not my mate,” remembering Esmeralda’s discourse.  She picked up her briefcase and headed towards the door.  “By the way,” she said casually as she reached the same spot Brianna had earlier in the day, putting a hand on the doorknob and turning partially to give Esmeralda a view of her profile.  “I spoke to Brianna today.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

Charisma shrugged.  “Time will tell.”  She turned until she could look fully at Esmeralda.  “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Charisma.”  Then Esmeralda turned back to her work, not noticing she remained under Charisma’s regard for another long moment before the door closed.

************

“So we’re having company Sunday?” Saphira said as she and Esmeralda walked home from the metro station closest to the house they shared.

“Yeah – I hope the rest won’t mind disappearing for a while.”

“Well except for Amber and Coral, it shouldn’t be a problem.  And they’ll both be asleep upstairs.  We’ll manage.”

 “We always do.” Esmeralda smiled as she spoke.

“What about Charisma?”

“I don’t know, Phira.  She’s harder to read than Brianna is.  She’s been hiding a lot longer... from herself as well as everyone else.”

“And when she finds out Kent has been hiding from her?”

“I don’t know,” Esmeralda repeated.  “She won’t make a scene, but she may use it to push him further out of her sphere.  I think it’ll depend on what he’s been hiding.”

“Well, hopefully Mal will find out soon and before Charisma knows.  It’d be nice to be ahead in this situation for a change and be able to make plans accordingly.”

Esmeralda chuckled as they mounted the steps to their abode.  “It never hurts to hope, I guess,” she said quietly as they entered the house, taking care not to waken the other occupants.  It wasn’t long before they were settled in bed and silence descended once more.

Part 5