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Date Posted: 19:58:12 12/27/08 Sat
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: bas21-toronto12-1242431666.dsl.bell.ca / 74.14.0.178
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 164
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods, Chapter 160" on 21:00:37 10/28/08 Tue

Chapter 164

The three women and Willie exited the elevator and waited while Lakeisha opened her hotel room door. Willie stood silently across the hall watching the door like a sentinel.

Just then, the other elevator chimed and an uniformed hotel waiter wheeled a cart out carrying what they saw was a plastic case of twelve large bottles of club soda.

“Are you the ladies who requested this?” the older uniformed man asked politely in French.

“Yes,” replied Marie in that language. “please bring it inside. Thank you for being so prompt in delivering it.”

“Lakeisha.” Marie said, this time in English, “take as many bottles of this club soda in the bathroom as you can carry, plug the tub and get Nikita to take off her dress and soak it in it. Quickly. It’s made of satin, yes?”

“Yes it is.” Lakeisha said.

“Give Nikita your bathrobe, and get it soaking as quickly as possible.” Marie commanded.

“Alright.” Lakeisha agreed. “Come on Nikita.”

Having said that, Lakeisha grabbed Nikita by the hand and led the blonde into the washroom. Then she quickly returned to the room and grabbed several bottles from the cart. Seconds later the door shut firmly behind them.

“Monsieur Johnson said this club soda was for Madame Samuelle, the new owner’s wife.” The waiter continued. “She’s the blonde, oui?”

‘New owner? Michel bought this hotel? Wow! Chuck didn’t tell me that!’ a surprised Marie thought.

“Monsieur Samuelle owns this hotel now?” Marie asked in awe.

“Oui.” Jacques replied. “I understand it became his last night. You’re a friend of his?”

“Oui.” Marie answered. “I had no idea.”

“And the blonde? She’s his wife, non?” Jacques repeated.

“Oui. She doesn’t speak French sir. What is it you wanted?” Marie asked, frowning slightly.

“Nothing.” The man replied sadly. He had noted the wine stains on Nikita’s beautiful dress. “I heard that she was attacked, that’s all. Such a shame that someone would do such an awful thing to such a lovely lady! This party tonight… it was supposed to be a wedding reception for her and her husband, isn’t that so?”

“Oui.” Marie replied. “It was.”

Marie watched as the older man shook his head and then said in obvious disgust... “Such a shame that a so-called high-class person would treat this lady that way! I’m just happy to be able to assist her.”

“I see.” Marie replied as her attitude toward the older man mellowed considerably. ‘He’s got that right! Claire is about as high class as a street corner harlot!’ “Is there anything else?”

“Oui.” The waiter replied. “Monsieur Johnson said to let you know that the women who attacked her are no longer at the party. He thought she might want to know that.”

“Thank you…. Jacques.” Marie replied softly, noting that the man’s name tag identified him by that name. “Please tell Monsieur Johnson that his sister will tell her.”

When Marie opened her purse to give Jacques a tip, he waived her off.

“No.” Jacques replied. “Monsieur Johnson has already done that. Is there anything else you ladies would like? I’d be happy to bring it to you. I am appalled at the way Madame Samuelle has been treated and I’d like to help, if I may.”

“You may. Coffee would be nice, thank you.” Marie said in a pleased voice.

“Of course.” Jacques replied. “Would the gentleman in the hall like some too?”

“Probably.” Marie said, remembering the dour-faced black man who had accompanied them up to Lakeisha’s room. Whatever *his* problem was, she hoped he’d get over it. “Thank you for your kindness, sir. Monsieur Samuelle will be pleased. He’s very upset I’m sure. Where is he?”

“I believe he’s still in the ballroom. Monsieur Johnson said that his attorney advised him to sit down and have a cup of coffee.” Jacques revealed. “He was furious… I’ve never seen a man so upset before.”

“Oh?” Marie asked curiously; silently inviting the man to continue his revelations.

‘Good for Madeleine!’ she thought as she tried to suppress an ironic grin. ‘I’ll bet that was a battle of wills! Michel can be *very* stubborn when he wants to be!’

“Monsieur Johnson also said he was sure you ladies could handle things from here.” Jacques said, smiling slightly now as he neatly side-stepped the overt invitation to gossip. “If I may, I’ll tell him he was right.”

“You may.” Marie replied, with an answering smile, delighted at the man’s manner. “And thank you again.”

Jacques briefly nodded, and then quickly left, backing out of the room with the cart he’d arrived with.

As soon as door closed, Marie turned to knock on the bathroom door seconds before it opened.

Nikita stood there, in the white terry bathrobe hotels provide their guests and Marie could tell that she was in a daze.

“Come here Nikita.” Marie cooed softly as she hugged Nikita as she would have with one of her children. ‘Oh my! The poor girl! She’s trembling!’ Then she led Nikita by the hand to Lakeisha’s bed and gently pushed her down to sit on it.

“Nikita dear, I know you don’t know me, but I’m Marie Leconte; Chuck’s sister. We’ve both known Michel for many years. In fact, he’s is like a brother to me. He saved my life once.” Marie said quietly.

At that, Nikita’s ice blue eyes focused sharply on the blue clad woman in front of her. “He did?”

“Yes he did.” Marie confirmed with a gentle smile at the beauty seated before her.

“When was that?” Nikita asked quietly.

Marie smiled slightly in remembrance of that day. “It was a long time ago.”

“Tell me.” Nikita demanded softly.

“Very well.” Marie replied, gently smiling at the young beauty seated before her. “I was fourteen years old at the time and not that good of a swimmer. I dove into our family’s pool to impress a young man I knew but I wasn’t able to make it to the side. Michel dove in and pulled me out when I began to panic.”

“He’d do that.” Nikita said quietly.

“Yes.” Marie replied, smiling slightly as she remembered that long ago day. “Poor Michel.”

“Why would you say that?” Nikita inquired; curious now about the gentle smile gracing her new acquaintance’s face.

“I’m afraid I acted like most silly young girls do at that age after that.” Marie admitted.

“What do you mean?” Nikita replied; intrigued by this glimpse into her husband’s past.

“I’m afraid I developed a crush on Michel.” Marie laughed. “Now… when I look back on it… it must have made him feel very uncomfortable.”

A small smile crept onto Nikita’s face, as she processed this information about her husband’s past good deeds. “I’m sure. He’s a quiet man.”

“It’s understandable too.” Lakeisha interjected impishly. “You were at an impressionable age.”

“I was.” Marie agreed as her smile widened and she gently squeezed Nikita’s hands.

“After all, here was this older handsome *man*… who had rescued you….” Lakeisha said with a wicked smirk. “Poor Michael… it must have been embarrassing for him afterwards.”

“Oh I’m sure it was.” Marie agreed as she chuckled in remembrance. “I haven’t seen him since then, but I got over it… a long time ago. Chuck and he are as close as brothers and after a while that’s how I came to think of him too. I’m not sure he knows that however. He probably still thinks I’m that annoying little girl he remembers.”

“No doubt.” Lakeisha giggled. “It’s unlikely he was looking for hero worship… or a fourteen year old girlfriend.”

Nikita smirked a little, as she took in this interesting information about the man she loved, but said nothing.

‘How is our relationship that different?’ She knew it was though. ‘Our relationship may have started with ‘hero worship’, but it quickly developed into respect, friendship and love.’ She knew too that all those ingredients were still there and formed the basis of all she loved about the man she’d married.

“True.” Marie replied. “After all… he was only trying to do the right thing… not be a hero. He certainly didn’t do what he did out of any romantic nonsense that I attributed to it later…. but enough of that. Lakeisha tells me he saved your life too. Is that right?”

“Yes.” The blonde whispered. “He’s a wonderful man.”

“He is. When did this happen?” Marie asked.

“About three months ago now. Michael found her in a snow filled ravine in the middle of the woods.” Lakeisha interjected quietly. “She had a broken leg and she’d been there for hours. It was freezing out and if he hadn’t found her, she would have died.”

“Oh my!” a surprised Marie exclaimed. “Were you there alone Nikita?”

A lone tear trickled down Nikita’s cheek then and Marie looked at Lakeisha in alarm.

“What did I say?” the alarmed Frenchwoman asked both Lakeisha and Nikita.

“Let me explain.” Lakeisha said with a small sad smile. Then she went on to tell Marie about Carla and how Michael and Nikita had met. She also told Marie a little of Nikita’s background as well.

“That’s the most romantic story I’ve ever heard.” Marie said with a sigh as she stretched out her hands to clasp Nikita’s hands tightly in her own once more. Her heart went out to the young blonde’s still painfully evident grief over Carla’s death. “How tragic that you lost your friend! You poor girl!”

“Yet, she never complains Marie. Never.” Lakeisha said emphatically as she gently rubbed Nikita’s shoulders from her kneeling position behind her friend on her hotel bed. “If I know her, she was probably trying to get Michael to change his mind about throwing those women out before they attacked her.”

“You’re right.” Nikita whispered in reply; no longer content to sit silently and be talked about as if she weren’t present. “I was. I’m such a fool. How am I ever going to go back down there and face all those people?”

“You’re not a fool, Nikita.” Lakeisha said consolingly as she sat next to her friend on the bed and quickly hugged her while she gently continued her massage of Nikita’s terry-cloth covered shoulders. “If I know you, you were probably just trying to smooth things over for Michael’s sake. I’m sure you were convinced that you could reason with them.”

“You’re right.” Nikita said with a sigh. “I wanted to, but I couldn’t undermine Michael. He’d already informed them that they needed to apologize or he’d throw them out.”

“What?” Marie asked sharply as she stared at both beautiful women incredulously. “Apologize for what? What did those tramps say?”

“I don’t know.” Nikita admitted sadly. “Everyone spoke French and the only thing I knew was that brunette…. Veronique, is that her name?”

“Oui… that’s correct.” Marie confirmed.

“She kept calling Michael ‘chérie.’ ” Nikita explained. “I didn’t like that. I know what that word means, even if I don’t know any other French.”

“I wouldn’t like that either.” Marie mused. “I don’t blame you for being upset.”

“I wasn’t really upset Marie.” Nikita explained patiently. “I could tell *she* was though. It was surreal, really. I couldn’t understand anyone, but I could tell Michael was furious! Oh my goodness… his face was thunderous! I’ve never seen him that way before… and I hope I never see him that upset again!”

“I noticed that too.” Marie said softly. “And just so you know… I’ve rarely seen him that upset either! I’m sure what upset him most was how those two brats were acting!”

“Oh, I have *no* doubt of that!” Nikita replied. “Poor Michael! Veronique’s father was nice enough to introduce himself to me…. and speak to me in English for a few minutes, but after that he switched back to French just like everyone else.”

“So that’s what was going on!” Marie exclaimed. ‘No wonder Michel was upset! Here he is… trying to introduce his bride to his peers and these two brats get in the reception line to deliberately act out! What did they think they’d accomplish? Unbelievable!’

“Michael continued to speak in French too… but after all, *he’s* French… like you Marie.” Nikita reasoned as she focused on her new acquaintance. “It’s only natural that he’d speak in the language that he’s most familiar with especially when he was so upset! I also think he did that to shield me from what they were saying!”

“Shield you?” Lakeisha echoed.

“Lakeisha, he never said so,” Nikita replied, shifting her focus briefly to her friend once more, “but I know Michael asked everyone to speak English tonight because of me. When both Veronique and Claire insisted on speaking in French, he was probably so upset, that he naturally responded in the same way.”

“But what were they saying, I wonder?” Lakeisha speculated aloud.

“I don’t know… Michael wouldn’t say.” Nikita replied. “It was obvious that Veronique was having a temper tantrum which was directed at Michael… and her father! It was confusing.”

“So how do you know they were insulting you Nikita?” Lakeisha inquired.

“Michael said they were.” Nikita replied simply. “We spoke privately for a few minutes and that’s all he would say.”

“Yes..” Lakeisha said. “I saw that you did.”

“Whatever she was saying must have been awful,” Nikita continued, “given the looks I saw that the other people were aiming at her… but Veronique seemed oblivious to anyone else’s reactions.”

“That sounds like her… she’s only interested in things that affect her.” Marie replied.

“Michael was furious and said they either apologized or he was going to toss them out.” Nikita revealed. “He didn’t say *what* he thought they needed to apologize for and I didn’t know what to think, so I didn’t ask. I did ask him to let them stay, yes… but then he said he’d already made it known that he would throw them out if they refused to apologize.”

“You could have insisted that he let you try.” Lakeisha retorted, knowing full well she never would have.

“No Keisha…I couldn’t.” Nikita replied firmly as she turned to look seriously into her friend’s dark eyes. “Michael’s my husband and I trust his judgment. It’s also my job to support him.”

‘Her job?’ Marie thought in surprise. ‘What an amazing attitude!’

“But they insulted *you*!” Lakeisha protested.

“It doesn’t matter Keisha.” Nikita replied. “I couldn’t understand them… so how could I be insulted? Anyway, Michael loves me and I trust him to make the right decisions for both of us.”

“But…” Lakeisha protested again.

“No.” Nikita replied firmly. “If I had tried to push my own agenda on Michael after he’d already made a public statement, how would that show our unity and my trust in him? That would make me his weakness when I need to be his strength. I won’t do that.”

“I know those two.” Marie interrupted softly, amazed at the attitude of the blonde beauty seated before her. “They have no class, and even less tact. I have no doubt they were being extremely rude. Good for Michel… throwing them out is the best thing he could have done. I just wish he’d done it sooner!”

“I was watching you and Michael before that redhead attacked you.” Lakeisha said softly. “You say you weren’t scared…. but what you’re describing does sound upsetting. Are you okay now honey?”

“Yes, I think so.” Nikita replied. “There are so many people downstairs; it was overwhelming. I don’t like meeting so many people at once… but that’s what Michael wanted.”

‘Poor girl!’ Marie thought. ‘I can only imagine how I’d feel if I were in a situation like that and I didn’t know the language… and then to be greeted by such undeserved hostility! Unbelievable! I can’t believe how rude those two were! And Michel! How could he do that to her? I know he just wanted to introduce her to everyone… but he’s not shy. He probably doesn’t realize how upsetting this was for her!’

“Especially when you couldn’t understand what they were saying.” Lakeisha supplied, while looking at Marie who was nodding in understanding.

“Yeah.” Nikita said with a sigh.

“Were you scared of them?” Lakeisha wanted to know.

“Not scared really.” Nikita replied. “Overwhelmed maybe.”

“It was probably the language barrier.” Lakeisha interjected.

“That was part of it, I think. Veronique…” she paused, looking at Marie for support... “was almost pathetic in a sense. I could tell she was angry.. and yet I could also tell her Father was trying to smooth things over for her with Michael.”

“Really?” Lakeisha replied.

“Yeah… it was almost funny. It was weird too… I felt almost detached from the situation… even though I *knew* it was all too real.” Nikita replied.

“What do you mean?” Marie inquired.

“Well..” Nikita said, searching for the right words to describe the experience, “it was very much like watching something on a stage in a sense. It didn’t seem real and the fact that I couldn’t understand their actual words made that unreality complete. It doesn’t matter though… you can sense things even without knowing the words.”

“What do you mean?” Lakeisha inquired.

“I think I understand.” Marie interjected. At Lakeisha’s curious stare, she continued. “You can comprehend a lot just by facial gestures and body language. Isn’t that what you meant Nikita?”

“Precisely.” The blonde replied. “I’m certain though that Veronique’s *Daddy* was attempting to make apologies for her and when he did, she got angry at him.”

“Poor Maurice.” Marie sighed. “He’s a good man. What a cross it must be to have a daughter like her.”

“He did seem nice.” Nikita agreed. “He also seemed embarrassed. Veronique kept glaring at me… the anger on her face was scary.”

“And all she would respond in was French?” Marie inquired.

“After her brief conversation with me.. yes.” Nikita confirmed. “Then she reverted back to French.”

“Does she speak English?” Lakeisha wondered aloud.

“I know her.” Marie replied; turning to face the dark-skinned beauty again. “Of course she does… she was just being rude. That’s probably what upset Michel most.”

“Most likely.” Nikita said in agreement. “After her father asked me if I’d forgive her poor manners, she refused to speak to me in English after he said that.”

“Her bad manners?” Lakeisha echoed. “Was he kidding? Her behaviour sounds like it went well beyond ‘bad manners’.”

“No.. he was totally serious. Oh Keisha… it’s probably all my fault!” Nikita exclaimed softly.

“What do you mean.. *your* fault?” an amazed Lakeisha inquired.

‘How in the world can she think that bitch’s bad manners could be *her* fault!’ an amazed Marie thought.

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Replies:

  • Northern Woods, Chapter 165 -- Hannah, 23:27:30 12/30/08 Tue
  • Re: Northern Woods, Chapter 165 -- del, 09:02:48 12/31/08 Wed
  • Chapters 164 and 165...and Happy New Year!! -- Asorzer, 12:26:39 12/31/08 Wed
  • Re: Northern Woods, Chapter 165 -- Lina, 00:58:09 01/02/09 Fri
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