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Date Posted: 22:51:24 01/28/09 Wed
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: bas21-toronto12-1242561122.dsl.bell.ca / 74.15.250.98
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 166
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods, Chapter 160" on 21:00:37 10/28/08 Tue

Chapter 166

“Anna is Carla’s mother.” Nikita replied with a soft smile. “She’s Willie’s mother too. Their family took me in when my own mother didn’t want me.”

Marie’s face registered her surprise, but she politely didn’t inquire any further. ‘Nikita’s mother abandoned her? What sort of a woman would do that to this exquisite creature? Oh well…it’s not my place to ask. Maybe I’ll hear that story another day.’

“Willie? Who’s that?” she asked instead.

“Willie is the bodyguard outside.” Lakeisha supplied.

“Really?” Marie said, remembering then what Chuck had told her and Sarah earlier.

“Yes. He’s like a brother to me.” Nikita replied with a gentle smile. “Michael hired him because he knows Willie cares about me and that he’ll protect me better than a stranger would.”

‘That makes total sense.’ Marie thought. ‘Michel isn’t taking any chances… and who could blame him?’

“Michel is lucky to have you.” she said instead, politely declining to probe further into anything about Nikita’s mother. No doubt it was a delicate and emotionally charged subject if the hurt look she’d just glimpsed on the young blonde’s face was any indication. ‘How could any decent woman do that to her child? This Anna on the other hand, sounds just the opposite. Maybe I’ll get to meet her one day.’

“I agree.” Lakeisha said, sensing Marie’s hesitation to pursue the conversational opening Nikita had just provided. “However, Michael, like the sweetheart he is, wanted you to have that ‘show’ anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Nikita said in confusion.

“He bought you this.” Lakeisha replied as she focused on her promise to her friend’s husband. “He said he wanted you to wear this tonight as ‘a memory for the future’.”

With that said, Lakeisha stood up from the bed and opened her closet door. Nikita gasped and her china blue eyes widened in wonder as she recognized the logo on the garment bag her friend was revealing.

“Oh my!” Nikita gasped in amazement as her hands flew up to her parted lips. She watched in wide-eyed wonderment as Lakeisha hung up the covered garment. “He bought me another Alfred Sung gown?”

“He did.” Lakeisha said simply as she turned to reveal a wide grin. “Whether you wanted to be ‘Cinderella’ or not girl… tonight you *are*. Your ‘Prince Charming’ left this with me, and I’m not going to disappoint him… and neither are you! Now change, so we can get back to that party! Your man is waiting for you girl! You’ll need to borrow my cream heels and I’ll bring your red ones back to you tomorrow.”

“How in the world did the design house get all three dresses made so soon?” a shocked Nikita wondered out loud.

“I don’t know Nikita.” Lakeisha replied softly as she gazed at her friend fondly. ‘There’s no real answer for that. I haven’t a clue how they did this for her so quickly… but I’ll bet Michael had a lot to do with it!’

Just then there was a knock on the door and Marie hurried to answer it. There stood Jacques the waiter, with a trolley on which rested three cups, a carafe of coffee, cream, sugar, a vase of beautiful pink roses and a plate of tiny iced cakes.

“I hope you ladies enjoy this.” He said softly in somewhat broken English.

Marie smiled appreciatively at the sight before them.

“I thought you might enjoy a little treat with your coffee. The roses are from the staff… pour vous Madame Samuelle.”

“Why thank you.” Nikita answered quietly; somewhat confused that the man knew her name. She was also puzzled as to why he had bowed chivalrously as if she were royalty. “But how did you know my name?”

“Everyone knows Monsieur Samuelle, Madame. When the staff heard he was in the penthouse with his new wife… and then we learned that he for arranged tonight’s party we were all very happy for him. The roses are to cheer you up after your upset and welcome you…. the lovely wife of our new owner.” Jacques replied gallantly.

“Michael bought this hotel?” Nikita asked; her cerulean eyes widening once more, this time in amazement.

“Ah Madame… you didn’t know.” Jacques replied remorsefully. “I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t overstepped.”

“Not at all.” Nikita replied graciously with a sweet smile that melted the old man’s heart. “Thank you for telling me…. and please tell the staff I said thank you for these lovely flowers. You’re all very kind.”

“Bien.” Jacques replied; charmed by her candid manner. ‘This woman isn’t stuck up… she’s as candid and friendly as any of the young women on staff! Monsieur Samuelle has found a charming young lady!’ “Votre beauté est seulement surpassée par votre coeur gracieux.”

“Pardon me?” Nikita replied.

Jacques looked helplessly at Marie and she grinned, realizing that the man’s command of English was limited.

Swiftly Marie translated. “He said that your beauty is only surpassed by your gracious heart.”

Both Lakeisha and Nikita smiled at the man delightedly.

“Nikita…” Lakeisha said in a hushed voice… “that was so sweet!”

“You’re right.” Nikita said with a grin. “It was.”

Jacques watched in wonder as both beauties walked over to him and flanking him, simultaneously kissed his cheeks, while a grinning Marie looked on.

“Ladies… have mercy!” Jacques replied, again in broken English, as he clutched at his chest dramatically, “I’m an old man! I’m not used to attention from beautiful young ladies!”

“You old flirt!” Marie returned in French as all three women broke out laughing. “Thank you for your kindness. Please tell my brother that we’ll be down in about twenty minutes.”

“Yes ma’am.” Jacques replied seriously as he ceased his comedic antics and quickly left the room.

After the man had left, Marie repeated what she’d told him to Lakeisha and Nikita in English.

“Twenty minutes?” Nikita asked in dismay. “You think we can get me ready in that time and still have coffee?”

“Yes.” Marie said. “I know we can.”

“But my makeup!” Nikita exclaimed.

“Is hardly ruined.” Marie replied bluntly. “We just need to repair your eye makeup.”

“You’re right Marie. Before we do that however, you’re going to have a cup of coffee.” Lakeisha commanded as she pushed a cup into her friend’s hand. “Then I’ll fix your makeup. After that, we’ll get ‘Cinderella’ into her dress. A grin blossomed on her face as she noted Nikita’s hesitation. “Quit worrying girl! It will be fun!”
~~~~~~
Jacques smiled as he waited for the elevator. He knew his English was not that good, but he had managed to make the lovely women smile at his antics and that made him feel happy. Lovely young ladies like that should never be as gloomy as they had been earlier. The blonde in particular had touched his heart. She reminded him of his daughter Isabelle who had recently left home to work for an airline in the Caribbean. He missed her sunny smile and knew she’d be proud of what he’d just done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I don’t believe this!” a still shocked Nikita exclaimed as she got up to wander in front of the hanging garment bag, leaving her coffee on the dresser. “I have to see this gown.”

Swiftly she strode to the garment bag hanging on Lakeisha’s closet door and pulled off the covering. A gasp arose in her throat when she gazed on the sparkling pale cream lace confection that was revealed. The trim waisted, stylish dress was gracefully crafted to swirl elegantly in graceful folds from the single shoulder strap in an almost Grecian design.

“Oh my!” she exclaimed. “Lakeisha… do you believe this dress?”

“No…oh my!” Lakeisha breathed in awe. “Do your know just how lucky you are girl?”

Marie was not as overwhelmed, however. She’d seen several gowns both tonight and other nights among this ‘set’ that bespoke of the owner’s wealth. The red dress Nikita had worn earlier had been gorgeous but the dress Michel had purchased for her as a backup was amazing.

Lakeisha gasped at the stylish creation, knowing just by looking at it that it would highlight her friend’s beauty while covering Nikita modestly. A single strap adorned the left side of the gown, branching out to three straps that would arch over Nikita’s shoulder and trail seductively down the low cut back. One of these arched gracefully to where her right hip would rest while the other two followed that graceful curve at equal distances apart. These straps were embellished with glittering jeweled flowers and led to a voluptuous floor length skirt. On the front of the dress a burst of glittering sequins were scattered from the strap and trailed seductively in a swirling path across the dress’ bosom diminishing in density towards where Nikita’s right hip would rest, with a few scattered delicately down to her hemline. The overall effect reminded Marie of an ancient Grecian gown made of flowing lacy folds and sprinkled discreetly with diamonds.

“Oh my!” Marie exclaimed. “What a gorgeous dress! Any girl would love that for a wedding gown!”

“My husband is the most wonderful man in the world.” An awed Nikita breathed softly when she finally found her voice. ‘It’s not the dress,’ she realized in wonder. ‘It’s the love behind it. He wanted me to have the ‘gift’ of a ‘wedding gown!’ “I love him so much!”

“And they say ‘Prince Charming’ doesn’t exist!” Lakeisha said with a sigh as she took in the gorgeous shimmering lace creation her friend would wear.

“He does.” Nikita sighed. “I married him.”

Both women stared at the dress and then at each other in wonder.

“Keisha” Nikita whispered as she turned amazed azure eyes to stare at her friend, “have you ever heard of anything this romantic? I meant what I said about white weddings… but Michael loves me so much he wanted me to have the fantasy. How can I possibly refuse?”

“You can’t.” Lakeisha replied firmly.

“You’re right… it would hurt him.” Nikita affirmed.

“You’re right… it would.” Lakeisha replied. “Michael adores you… and he was worried that you wouldn’t like it!”

“You can’t be serious!” Nikita exclaimed softly as she turned shocked wide-blue eyes to lock with her friend’s serious brown ones. “How could I not like something this beautiful?”

“I’m totally serious.” Lakeisha said with a soft smile. “You should have seen his face when he brought this dress here earlier. His heart was in his eyes. The man loves you.”

“And I love him.” Nikita said simply, as she smiled contentedly.

Wordlessly, Lakeisha hugged her friend and then announced, “You deserve this Nikita. Come on, let’s repair your makeup, shall we?”

“Okay, but don’t put on too much. I’m not comfortable wearing any as it is.”

“Fine.” Lakeisha replied. “While we’re doing that, I also want to talk to you about a little tradition that you seemed to have ignored.”

“Tradition?” Nikita echoed in surprise at this turn in their conversation; not to mention the slightly chiding tone of voice her friend was using. “What are you talking about?”

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Lakeisha said with a smile as she gently touched Nikita’s jewellery. “I see you’ve already got the ‘something new’ covered.”

‘Ah yes… that old wedding superstition!’ Marie thought in amusement as she continued to observe the two friends.

“Yes. Michael gave me this necklace and earrings. I tried to refuse them, but he insisted they belonged here and put them on me himself.” Nikita admitted with a shy smile.

“They’re stunning.” Marie said in awed appreciation of the lovely set of diamonds that Nikita wore. ‘Elena had lovely jewelry too… but she took them and Michel for granted. This girl isn’t doing that! How wonderful! How he must enjoy giving her things like that! It’s so obvious that she truly appreciates him and his gifts!’

“You would.” Lakeisha said, smiling at her friend and shaking her head ruefully. “I told you Marie… she’s like that.”

Marie nodded in comprehension of Lakeisha’s meaning. ‘She sounds as if she doesn’t think she deserves Michel’s generosity! Incredible… she’s entirely opposite to Elena!’

“Michel is a very generous man.” Marie said softly as she continued to observe her ‘brother’s’ new wife. ‘Wait until I tell Chuck about this! I know he’s impressed with Nikita… oh how I wish he had someone to make him this happy too!’

“He is.” Nikita agreed. “I don’t deserve him or his gifts.”

‘Amazing! Wise.. beautiful, loving and modest.’ Marie thought in wonder as she sat on the edge of Lakeisha’s bed to further observe the two women. ‘No… she’s more than modest… she’s *humble*! Elena, on the other hand was an arrogant, conceited witch! What a contrast the two of them are! No wonder Michel calls her an angel!’

“You do Nikita… you do.” Lakeisha whispered as she swiftly hugged her friend once more. Then she turned away to get a few items she wanted Nikita to use.

Silently Nikita watched her friend go to a drawer in her dresser and take out three different items.

“As I was saying,” Lakeisha continued brightly. “You’re trying to forget these traditions because you’re so shy. I know you… you don’t like the ‘spotlight’. Promise me you’ll do this Nikita.”

Nikita looked in her friend’s eyes, and knew she meant that it would mean a lot to her. Lakeisha loved traditions like this, although she tried to shun them if they meant she was on ‘display’ in any way.

“Okay.” She said quietly. “They just seem silly to me…”

“Traditions are silly sometimes Nikita… but they’re also fun. Look at it this way… you’re only going to get married once and doing this will give you another memory like the one Michael’s offering to you.” Lakeisha replied.

“You’re right.” Nikita replied with a soft smile. “I never thought of it that way.”

“As I said… I see you’ve got the ‘something new’ covered, but we still need the something old.. borrowed and blue.”
Lakeisha said with a grin.

“What is the ‘something old’?” Marie asked, finally breaking her silence.

“This.” Lakeisha said as she held out an antique hair comb. “My great-grandmother wore it on her wedding day and so did her daughter and my mother too.”

“Oh Keisha!” Nikita said in awe, knowing that her friend had brought the delicate antique item to Montreal hoping she’d get to wear it when she married Willie. ‘Oh I hope that will happen! She loves him so much!’

“I want you to wear it Nikita.” Lakeisha said seriously as she held the precious object out to her friend.

“Oh.. I couldn’t.” Nikita protested. “It’s a family heirloom.”

“Please…” Lakeisha continued. “It would mean a lot to me if you did. You’re like family to me. More importantly, you and Michael have accepted me as if I were part of yours.”

“You are.” Nikita said with a smile. “Thank you.”

‘It’s beautiful.” Marie said as she examined the delicate old object reverently. It was made from what looked to be ivory and had been carved with flowers on the edge. “Why don’t we use it to fasten the flowers on your wrist corsage into your hair Nikita? It will look fabulous!”

“Good idea.” Lakeisha agreed. She watched then as Marie rose from the edge of the bed and deftly did just that. The effect was charming and looked like it had been planned. “Then there’s the ‘something borrowed’.”

“Which is?” Marie asked curiously.

“This.” Lakeisha stated simply as she produced a white leather bound Bible. “It was my mother’s.”

‘How quaint!’ Marie thought, smiling slightly while awed by the obviously sisterly connection between the blonde and the gorgeous black lady she called friend.

“Oh Keisha!” Nikita said softly. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Mother always liked you Nikita. I know she would have approved.” Lakeisha said quietly.

“Thank you.” Nikita said simply. “Your mother was a wonderful lady. I’m honoured.”

‘How sweet!’ Marie thought. ‘Lakeisha’s mother must have been close to Nikita as well! I can see why… she’s so unpretentious… and sweet in a vulnerable way… is that what Michel sees?’

“We need something else though.” Lakeisha said quietly.

“What?” Nikita replied.

“Flowers… brides carry flowers Nikita!” Lakeisha said insistently.

“Keisha… it’s not important.” Nikita said gently in rebuttal.

“It is.” Lakeisha insisted. “We don’t have a bouquet… but why don’t we used some of the flowers the waiter brought?”

At that comment, all three women looked at the tea trolley. The vase there held a dozen large pink roses with babies’ breath in a glass vase that was gaily decorated with pink and white ribbons.

“I can make them into a bouquet.” Marie quietly volunteered.

“Really?” a now grinning Lakeisha replied.

“Yes.” Marie said confidently. “If you have a sewing kit it will only take me a few minutes.”

“I do.” Lakeisha replied, as she pulled a small zippered case out of another drawer.

“And didn’t you mention ‘something blue’?” Marie asked as she set to her task.

At that, Lakeisha broke into a wide grin. “I did.” The blue lacey garter she held up on one finger made Nikita’s eyes widen and Marie grin.

“Wait a minute.” Nikita said. “If I wear that, that means that Michael will have to raise my dress up to my thigh in front of everyone! Keisha I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that.”

“Oh my… are you going to be difficult about this?” Lakeisha demanded impatiently.

“Keisha!” Nikita said blushing.

‘She’s so shy!’ Marie realized as she watched Michael’s bride carefully. ‘How is that possible in this day and age? Wait… didn’t Lakeisha say earlier that this lovely girl had never had a real romance until Michel? Does that mean what I think it does? Was she a virgin until she met Michel? Oh my… how truly wonderful! What a fairy-tale!’

“Don’t you ‘Keisha’ me, ‘Kita’!” Lakeisha said with a grin at her modest friend’s discomfort. “Be a sport… and for once don’t be so shy. You have gorgeous legs and Michael will love showing them off!”

“ ‘Kita’ ?” Marie asked in confusion.

“Michael calls her that. Cute, eh?” Lakeisha inquired; grinning at Chuck’s sister.

“Adorable.” Marie grinned, quietly agreeing with the fact that the blonde who had married her ‘brother’ was adorable, as well as the nickname he had imposed on her.

‘Chuck told me stories about Michel before he left Montreal! I find it hard to believe that the gentle man I knew as a child would have become an arrogant womanizer! If that was true… and he *was* a ladies’ man… that has certainly changed now!’

“You know I’m right.” Lakeisha said with a grin, as she turned to her friend again.

“You’re probably right.” Nikita admitted, as she eased the lacey item up above her right knee.

‘Lakeisha is right… Nikita does have gorgeous legs!’ Marie thought in admiration as she watched Nikita adjust the garter above her knee. ‘In fact, there isn’t one thing about the girl that isn’t gorgeous… and that includes her personality. Michel is so fortunate to have found this lady!’

“You know I am.” Lakeisha replied.

Minutes later, they were done with their preparations.

Marie had done a wonderful job with the flowers and Lakeisha had repaired Nikita’s makeup.

Marie had surrounded the pale blooms with a lacey doily that was on the cart; bunching the fabric attractively with stitching and also adding the remaining ribbons that had decorated the vase to the base of her creation so that they’d trail down attractively in front of Nikita as she held them.

“Marie, this is lovely.” Nikita said in awe. “No one would know that this hadn’t been made by a professional florist.”

“Merci Nikita.” Marie beamed; delighted by the blonde’s obviously sincere compliment.

“Thank you!” Nikita exclaimed, delighted to have found a new friend in the woman before her. “I will always treasure what you’ve done for me today.”

Lakeisha smiled. ‘So much for all her speeches about white weddings… she probably thought she’d never have one… and she’s too shy to have demanded one from Michael. Everything she said about marriage was true though….but it doesn’t change the fact that she *wanted* to be “Cinderella”….. she just doesn’t want to admit it. Otherwise, why would she be so happy about all this “fuss” now?’

“It’s a beautiful dress, Lakeisha” a now cream clad Nikita sighed as she twirled in front of the dresser mirror causing the full lacy skirt to bellow out gracefully. “Don’t you think it’s awfully daring?”

“No,” Lakeisha said with a grin, “I think it’s perfect. You’re much too old-fashioned at times girl… you look gorgeous!”

Lakeisha was overwhelmed by the blonde vision in front of her. ‘Michael calls her an angel… but wow… does she ever look the part now!’

“You’re sure?” Nikita asked, anxiously biting her lower lip as she sought her friend’s eyes beseechingly in the mirror.

Lakeisha nodded and looked at Marie. “Don’t you agree?”

“The dress is gorgeous.” Marie concurred, “but you make it look incredible! I can’t wait to see Michel’s face when he sees you!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~

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