Impulse: Book
Two
IT’S JUST
THE BEGINNING
By Mezzo
“This
is Book Two in my series called Impulse.
If you haven’t read Book
One: AFTER ALL IS SAID, you might want to start
there.”
DISCLAIMERS: (see
INSTALLMENT
ONE)
Copyright
© 2002 by Mezzo All Rights Reserved
Visit
and join http://groups.msn.com/MezzosMelodramas
for installment previews.
Comments
and feedback are welcome at mezzosmelodramas@msn.com.
*****************************************************************************************
INSTALLMENT SIXTEEN
It
was just
“What
the heck?” Tori went chasing after her nephew, curious to
find out where the little tyke was headed.
“Hey Markie, my boy, what ya up to?” Tori laughed as Marcus
turned and gave Tori a toothless grin. Running back to her, he raised his arms for her to
pick him up.
“Upf… you’re getting heavy…Now why don’t you tell
your Auntie Tori why you’re running around here like a
maniac.”
Marcus
looked at her, gave her another winning smile, and started to giggle.
“I
see. Mommy and Daddy have no clue you’ve escaped huh?” Tori swiped him on the
nose with her finger.
“Why
don’t we go see where Mommy and Daddy are, okay?”
Tori went up the stairs to where Pamela and Ian stayed.
As Tori got closer to their room, she could hear Ian and Pamela having
a heated discussion.
“Look
Ian, I don’t know what I’m feeling. But I’m just not
happy……..” Pamela sounded
fatigued and rather fed up.
“Pam
please. I’ll do anything. Just give me some time. Once
everything settles down, we can go to counseling. Whatever you want. It’s just that with everything that’s
happening, I’m being pulled in too many directions.” Ian sounded beaten and terribly lost.
“Look
Ian. You’re going to have to decided what’s going to
come first in your life. Your work or us. We’re not going to be here forever.” Tori heard a slam of
the bathroom door and thought it was best if she slipped away unseen.
Bringing
Marcus back to his room, she turned on a light on the nightstand near his crib. Turning on the train set that went around the
ceiling of his room, she sat in a rocker near the window.
She
remembered a song that her mother used to sing to them when they were children. Marcus cuddled up in the crook of her arm and
yawned.
“Okay
little guy it’s time for you to go to sleep.”
“When
the stars fill the sky and moon rises high.
There’s
a land that awaits, all the sleeping babes.
It’s
a world where your dreams are filled with magic and delight
Where characters are happy
and the laughter fills the night.
There
are castles, and cottages, and little
ponies too.
Where
the sheep run cross a meadow full of dew
There
are elephants and ostriches and camels from a far
But
best of all are bubbles that float up and turn to stars.
So
close your eyes and wait for the sandman to arrive
And
if you’re lucky he will let you ride, right by his side
Before
you know what’s happening you’ll find yourself upon,
A
land that’s filled with laughter and with fun
Close
your eyes and you’ll see all that’s waiting there.
For all the little boys and
girl sleeping everywhere.
When the bright sun rises to
meet the morning sky.
You’ll
wave goodbye and meet again when you close your eyes.”
By
the final stanza, Marcus was well on his way to neverland. Tori kissed him on the
head and carefully placed him in his crib. Turning
she found her brother waiting for her at the door. He
had tears in his eyes and a sad look on his face. She went to him and took him in her arms
trying to soothe his pain.
He
had been standing there listening to Tori sing the old lullaby
that their mother used to sing to them. He
hadn’t heard it since their mother passed and it broke his heart. Life seemed so much simpler when they were kids. A part of him wished that life could be that simple
again.
The
two shared a much needed cry and Tori wished there was more
that she could do for her brother.
“Hey
guy. What’s going on?” Tori observed her brother. He just wasn’t himself.
“I
don’t know. I just feel like
everything’s getting away from me. I just
don’t know what I can do.” Ian tried
to pull himself together, but was failing miserably.
“Look
Ian. I’ve got things under control. I can
do tomorrow’s meeting with my eyes closed. I’m
sorry. I kind of overheard your argument with Pamela and I think you need to concentrate
on your family, first and foremost.” She
placed an arm around her brother and they went downstairs to the family room. Tori fixed them both a
stiff drink and sat beside her brother.
“Tori, you’ve taken on so much already. It isn’t fair.
You have to have a life also. I feel like I’m letting everyone down.”
Tori noticed the dejected look on her brother’s face. What’s
going on?
“Ian
what’s bringing all this on? I know that
we’re taking on a lot at work but there’s something else isn’t there?”
She
knew that Ian and Pamela had been together since they were teens. Maybe that was it.
“Pam
just isn’t happy. We thought another
child would be the answer but it’s not. And to tell you the truth, I don’t know
what else to do. You know there is no one else
for me but her. But I’m starting to think, that she doesn’t feel the same way at
all.” Tori
knew that they had never dated anyone else and Pamela had never really taken the time to
figure out what she wanted besides Ian and the kids.
“Have
you thought about counseling or something?” Tori was getting a bad feeling and
didn’t like what was going through her head. Not one bit.
“I
tried to talk to Pam about it and somehow every time, it seems like it’s always my
fault. We’ve got so much going on at work
I don’t know what I can do.” Ian
really didn’t know what was expected of him. He
had loyalties to the family and the business and he had responsibilities to his wife and
kids. Something had to give, but what?
“Look
Ian, let me handle things at the office. Lucky
for you, you have a brilliant sister.” She
shot her brother a smug look.
“You
are a cocky little shit aren’t you?” Ian
loved his sister dearly. She always knew how to get him out of a funk.
“Don’t
I know it and don’t you ever forget.” Tori sent a smirk his way.
“Well
humility was never your strong point.” He nudged his sister knowing his comment
couldn’t be farther from the truth.
“Yeah. But seriously, I have
everything under control. Take whatever time you need.
The business will be waiting there when you come back.” Tori hoped her brother
would take her advice. The conversation she
had overheard had really concerned her and she really felt Ian needed to take it
seriously.
“But
Tor, it’s not fair for you.
You never have time to just relax. I
haven’t seen you with anybody for the longest time.
It’s no life. I can’t ask you
to do this.” Ian hated always having his
sister bail him out. But that always seemed to
be the case.
“First
of all, you didn’t ask. I volunteered.
And just because you haven’t seen me with anyone doesn’t mean that I’m
not.”
“Who
are you seeing? This is news to me. Did you
and Cole get back together?” Ian was so
excited. He hated to see his beautiful sister
bury herself in the company.
“No
it isn’t Cole. It’s Brett.” Tori waited to see her
brother’s reaction.
“Brett? Brett who? Do
I know him?” Ian sat there running
through all the people he knew and then the light came on. “Brett! Oh my gosh. Yu’re, you’re, you’re…. Brett is….. you are….. when did this? How can….?”
Ian, unable to finish his thought, just sunk into the couch stunned. After a long moment, he final got it. “You’re a lesbian.” It wasn’t a question,
it was just stated like a fact.
“Well,
I’m really bi-sexual, if you have to label me. And that doesn’t really describe
me completely. If there was a category called
‘Brett’, I’d fit perfectly in that one.”
With all her experience, the one thing she knew for sure was that Brett did it for
her. Like no other man or woman ever could.
“Brett.
Wow. Well I’ll give you one thing, you
sure have great taste. Cole is amazing. And Brett….. Well, she has to be the cutest, no….. adorable, no….. sweetest….. Well you know what I mean. Way to go sis.
So……. what’s she like?” Ian….
take away the exterior and he was a dog at heart.
“ Hey. I’m not going to sit
here and discuss that with you.” Tori put on an offended look.
“Oh
come on. This is your big brother. Just think?
Now you and I have something else in common. This is great.
I can give you tips and you can give me tips as well.” Ian nudged his sister and gave her a wink and a
smile.
“Uhhhh… I don’t think so.” Tori shook her head not
very comfortable with revealing that much to her brother.
“Okay…Listen. I’m happy for you sis. Brett’s a great gal. I know you two were always close. It makes sense somehow.” Ian turned and gave his sister a hug.
“Thanks.
That seems to be everyone’s reaction so far.”
Tori was relieved that so far everyone was being so
supportive.
“Hey? You don’t think?
I mean first Adrian and Alexi announce they’re a couple. And
now you and Brett? You don’t think
it’s the water do you?” Ian held a
straight face as long as he could and then burst into laughter.
“You
are such a jerk. You know that?” Tori punched her
brother in the arm and pushed him away.
“Hey
what’s going on in here?” The two
looked up to find Pamela at the entrance of the family room.
“Hey
Pamela, how are you?” Tori got up off the couch and went over to her sister in law.
“I’m
alright, sweetie. A little run
down but I’m hanging in there. How about you?” Tori and Pamela had gotten to be good friends during the years. Especially when Tori dated her brother Cole.
“I’m
good. Great in fact. I
was just telling Ian a bit of news.” Will
this ever end. Now
how do I break the news to Pam? Pam knew
that her and her brother saw other people but didn’t know how she’d react to
this bit of news.
“Really? Something good I hope? I could really use some good news.” Pamela stood there in anticipation.
Well
here goes nothing. “Pam……..
I’m dating Brett Montgomery.” Tori waited to see what Pamela’s reaction would be.
“Well
it’s about time. Does Cole know? I’ve
always thought that you two were destined to be together.
Don’t get me wrong I love Cole. But
you and Brett had something. I don’t know…I can’t put my finger on it.
That’s great!” Pamela went over to Tori and gave her a big hug.
“Okay…..
did everyone know about Brett and I? All this time I thought everyone would be against
this?” Tori
just stood there perplexed. Maybe I should
have just told Brett when we were younger. Oh
well, no use crying over spilt milk as they say. But what a waste of time. Tori sighed
and resigned herself to enjoying her life with Brett now.
“I
didn’t know. Well not until now.” Ian looked at his wife and sister.
“Yeah
well……...” Tori
shrugged her shoulders and lifted up a hand. As
if to say, ‘you’re a little slow on the uptake’. Tori and Pamela
exchanged a look and they started to laugh.
“Hey
what is that supposed to mean?” Ian didn’t like being the brunt of a joke.
“It’s
alright honey, we understand.” Pamela
went over to Ian and sat on his lap. “I
love you anyway.”
“You
do?” Ian gave his wife a very sad look. Hoping that it wasn’t too
late.
“Yes
I do. I know I haven’t showed it lately,
but I do.” Pamela bent down and gave Ian
a kiss. The two just needed to get some help.
“Well
guys, I’m going to head over to Brett now. You
have a great evening.” Tori really wanted them to talk.
Hopefully, they would be able to now.
“But what about
tomorrow? We were supposed to go over the negotiation?” Ian lifted his head and questioned his sister.
“And
I told you I’d handle it. This is where
you need to be.” She pointed at the two of them.
“Believe me. I’m keeping track of all the favors you owe me. Paybacks are
a bitch and I plan on collecting sometime.” Tori gave her brother an evil grin then softened her smile.
“I’m serious. You two go and take as much time as you need. The company will still be there when you get back. What you two have may not, if you don’t take
steps to improve it.” Tori’s eyes
focused on Pamela and saw the tears in her eyes. Tori went over to the couch and crouched down in front of them. She wiped the tears away from Pamela’s face.
“Honey,
believe me when I say this. It’s no
better out there…...” Tori motioned her head to the door.
“…..than it is here.” She looked at the two of them.
“There
are people out there who would kill to have what you two have. And there are no guarantees
once you walk out that door. Figure out what
makes you happy and everything will fall into place.”
Tori leaned over and kissed Pamela on the forehead. “You’re not alone sweetie. You have a family that cares about you and are
willing to help you get through this. Whatever you need…”
Pamela
lifted her arm up from behind Ian’s neck and turned to hug Tori. “Thank you.
You don’t know how much I needed to hear that.
Ian tries, but it just sounds different coming from you.”
Tori smiled and looked at her. She rubbed Pamela’s back. Pulling away, she gave them each a cocky grin. “I know. The
girls just love me.” Pamela laughed and
Ian just rolled his eyes. “I was just
telling Ian how brilliant I was.”
“Out…
get out! You have a girlfriend. You’re
not smooth talking my wife as well.” Ian
pointed at the door and gathered his wife back into his arms. “Mine.”
He flashed Tori a smile.
“Well,
I know when I’m not wanted.” Tori stood up from her position on the floor. “You know, I hear the skiing is great in
“Oh
Ian…could we? I really like that
idea.” Pamela gave her husband a hopeful
look.
“Okay
honey. I’ll call the travel agent in the morning.”
Pam threw her arms around her husband, buried her head in his neck, sobbing
uncontrollably.
Tori waved to her brother and started walking backwards toward the
door.
Ian
waved and mouthed the words “thank you” to his sister.
Tori nodded and soundlessly said “I love you” with a wink
in return.
TO BE CONCLUDED. Installment Seventeen
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