want to ruin this weekend with a fight. He looked in the guest bedroom and found Elisa sleeping. He wanted to walk up to her, to touch her skin, her hair, to kiss her but he did not dare.
Instead, he shut the door and went back out on the deck. He had his driver bring him some cognac and he drank thinking about tonight. The sun was setting and the sky was a mixture of blues and oranges. He would have loved to spend this night with Elisa. He sat there drinking and deep in thought.
The next morning, Elisa put on her robe and headed upstairs. She was sitting on the deck at the table drinking her tea and having a muffin. She was not really hungry. She sat there looking out at the other boats on the water. Guy came up and saw her sitting there. “Did you sleep well my Mon Cherie?” Guy sat down. His cook had asked him what he would like and Guy said to just bring him some coffee.
“I am sorry Elisa about last night. I sprung this on you.” Elisa sighed. The cook had brought out Guy’s coffee and left before Elisa spoke. Ignoring his question about how she had slept last night, she spoke.
“Please do not bring this subject up again or ask me.” Elisa continued to stare out at the water without looking at Guy.
“If I give you more t—,” but before Guy could finish, Elisa interrupted him.
“I do not need more time Guy, you have my answer. I have been honest with you from the beginning.” Elisa said sternly.
“Okay my Mon Cherie, I do not want to upset you anymore. We have a few hours to kill before we must leave. I thought that we would have lunch at my cottage and do some shopping before we leave. How does that sound to you Elisa?”
“I would like that Guy, but just as so long as you have me back before I have to go back to work.” Guy ordered his driver to take the yacht back. They sailed back to the dock and Elisa had gathered up her items. Guy’s limo driver took them back to his cottage. When they got there, Elisa went upstairs to freshen up for lunch. Guy told his servants how he wanted the table set and what they would be having.
When Elisa came down in white shorts, a pink off the shoulder silk blouse, a wide brimmed hat, and her sandals, Guy thought she looked like something out of a 1950’s movie. Oh how he wished that she would marry him. “Oh my dear, you look exquisite. “ He took her hand and kissed it. “I have already told my servants what to fix for lunch. Come please Elisa.”
The table was decorated with a lace tablecloth, fresh cut flowers, engraved silverware, and embroidered napkins. The lunch was delicious and they talked, but Guy never mentioned again about marriage. He hoped that she would eventually come around. They finished eating and did some last minute shopping before heading home.
Guy bought Elisa an expensive oil painting and a beautiful vase. Elisa was going to buy some gifts for Guy but he told her, by her coming, that was all the gift he needed. They headed back to his private plane and set off back to the states. Elisa had a great time except for when he asked her to marry him, but the whole way home they never discussed it. They were too busy making love and relaxing.
They got back to New York and Guy drove her home. It was late. Her bags were carried in and Guy kissed her goodnight. “I had a great time Guy, thank you.”
“I did too, thank you for coming.” Guy kissed her one more time. “I will be in San Francisco all week; can I see you when I get back?”
“Sure,” Elisa responded. Guy walked out the door and Elisa watched him leave.
She shut the door and walked upstairs leaving her bags there. She would have Cora unpack them tomorrow when she came in the morning. Elisa sat on her bed. The events of the weekend had exhausted her. Guy asking her to marry him brought back memories of her mother and she missed her more than ever. She wished that she was here for Elisa to talk to. Thinking about her mother made her open the drawer of her nightstand and pull out the letter that her mother had given her before she died.
Elisa saw the letter from her mother with Cara’s name on the envelope. Since she and Cara stopped talking, she had never bothered to give it to her but had kept it all these years for reasons that were unknown to her. She opened the letter and reread the letter her mother had written her.
My dearest and sweetest daughter Elisa,
I do not want to leave you but there comes a time when our time is done and we must say goodbye. Know that I will always love you and know I have not truly left you. After your father walked out on us, I tried to do the best I could to give us a good life. Though we were not rich, we had each other. You and Cara were my life and I even now; do love your sister even though she blamed me for your father leaving. I wish that I could have made Cara understand and explain why her father left and that I did everything I could to keep him here. I couldn’t. She was so angry and hurt and then she up and left.
I never saw her again after that but I never stopped loving her. In the letter I have written her, I hope she sees that I tried to do everything I could do to hold this family together. You grew up Elisa and made me very proud. You went on to college, worked hard, and made a good life for yourself. You kept your promise to take care of me. You have got to stay strong Elisa, even after I am gone. You need to remember that we all choose our own destiny that we all choose how we want to live every day we are given, and that life will throw us a few curveballs but we just have to learn how to hit them.
I remember when you were little how you would dress up and act like you were a model, or read those magazines and learn about the latest fashions. You grew up to be a beautiful woman Elisa. You became a successful woman. I wish that I could have been like you and gone to college and became successful, but I married your father right out of high school and then had you.
I always pushed you to be successful. I remember one evening we were out on the porch and you asked me this question: “Mother do I make you proud?” and I said, “Every day.” Though you and I were closer than Cara and I, I loved you both just the same. Don’t forget where you came from Elisa and where you are now. We all have battles to fight; we just have to know which ones to fight. When you get down or lonely Elisa, remember, someone else may have it worse than you. Remember this song I use to sing to you and your sister Cara, “Oh Star in the Sky” Oh, Star in the Sky, how you shine so bright, oh how you light up the sky, Oh Star in the Sky shine on me tonight. Blink, blink, blink so bright, oh star in the sky. Oh Star in the Sky you give off your beautiful light, Oh Star in the Sky shine on me tonight.
Elisa I am sure your career keeps you busy, but remember this: “Don’t drive through life so fast that you miss the scenery.” My time is almost up and I am getting weaker but I will always love you. I must go now.
Love,
Mom
Elisa was sobbing now. She wanted her mother here to talk to. She could make sense of what all was going on. Sometimes, things just didn’t make sense. Elisa lie back on the bed with her mother’s letter to her in her hand and fell fast asleep.
Elisa was in such a deep sleep that she did not hear Cora come into her home. Elisa woke up and looked at her clock. It was ten a.m. “Shit,” Elisa hollered. Cora came into her room.
“Is everything okay, Senorita Drinnings?”
“No, I am late for work. I am never late for work. I was so exhausted from my trip that I did not set my alarm.”
“Would you like me to put away your things Senorita Drinnings?” Cora asked her.
“What, oh yes my luggage downstairs.” She had forgotten that she had left her luggage downstairs. “Yes, thank you Cora.” Cora left and Elisa saw her mother’s letter on the floor. She picked it up and put it back in her nightstand drawer. She hurried and took a shower and got herself ready and headed out.
Her driver was already there. She got to work and saw the lowly man there on the sidewalk. She got out of the car and ran past him.
“Good morning ma’am.” Kyle said to her.
She