cont'd
Shock and sadness filtered through the family. Sam and Margaret dealt with it firsthand. André returned to France, leaving them to take Marci home. Her suite was ready with its new hospital bed and equipment; arrangements had been made for Harm to be her therapist. The staff had been instructed that there would be nothing but cheerfulness while Ms. Marci recovered.
Conversations were rampant: Margaret and Sam had closed-door chitchats about how to handle André living in the house; Margaret and Leticia carried on about how heartbroken they were that Marci had not married Lance; Jacob and Madi chatted for hours over the way André had tricked Marci into the marriage; Jons and Leticia discussed their concern over Lance's depression.
Still, nobody was more thunderstruck than Audrey. She knew for sure this marriage should not have happened—a premonition had told her so—and never, ever had she been wrong. The day of that vision was a very clear memory still.
She was single then, meeting Marci for breakfast at a café near her apartment. She had arrived first, had not seen her friend come in. Marci was almost at the table when Audrey looked up. The scene took her breath away. Marci and Lance standing at the altar, she in a brilliant white wedding gown, Lance tenderly holding her hand, slipping the ring onto her finger.
So, how could Marci have married André? Everyone was devastated by this marriage; prayed that Marci would soon come to her senses. Audrey lugged the torment around for days, until finally the light went on. Her premonition wasn't wrong, the marriage was wrong. And then instinct, not premonition warned Audrey that a huge happening would blow this marriage apart. Could Marci hold up?
Something else had tugged constantly at her heart, that image in the café. Not in her lifetime had Audrey ever revealed a premonition to the one involved. Should she make an exception? No one had seen Lance since that day at the hospital. He was so tortured, and she was tied to his pain.
Audrey had to make a call.
"Bella, is Ms. Margaret there?
"She's right here, Ms. Audrey."
"Hi, Mom, how are you holding up?"
"Hello, my sweetheart. I'm fine, how about you?"
Audrey explained her situation.
"Weeell," Margaret asked, "will telling Lance betray you?"
A hesitation, "No, I will always be true to myself."
"Then talk to him, honey."
"His pain is so deep, the worst he's ever known."
"Will you be able to find him?"
"I feel attached to him," Audrey revealed, "it's been constant."
"Do what you must," Margaret supported.
"Tell Marci I will see her tomorrow."
"Of course, dear, love you."
"Love you too."
Harm was at the soccer field with Richie; she left a note and headed out. On instinct alone, Audrey drove deep within the acreage to the rear of the castle, reeled in like a fishing line. She came to a stop near the old tunnel of long ago. Before she could climb from the vehicle, Lance was pushing up the trap door in the ground.
"Audrey!"
"You're shocked to see me, I know. It's critical, Lance. Can I come down?"
"I guess," he shrugged.
He held the door and stepped back. Quickly, Audrey scuttled down afraid Lance would change his mind. It was surprisingly cool and spacious below. There were two cave-like openings: one had been sealed off with a wall of cement, the other cast a soft, radiant light.
Lance secured the latch, retreated down the steps, and sauntered into the room. Audrey should not have been surprised, but she was. The walls were paneled, there was a sofa, a computer, a lamp; it was like a living room. Even the floor was hardwood. Lance gestured toward the sofa, as he dropped into the chair at the desk.
"This room, I can't believe it."
"Well, when that crazy woman broke into the castle and tried to drown Marci, Jons and I scoured the tunnel. I was so impressed with this room, couldn't bring myself to close it up. It's been upgraded, become a refuge for me now."
"It's really something for a cave," Audrey concluded.
"And it's all wireless," Lance bragged, "had to be actually."
Audrey looked around the room, "Incredible."
"No more than you finding me," Lance admitted.
"I didn't even look, honest. It was like an invisible path."
Lance attempted a feeble smile, "I'm okay, really."
"No, you're not," she said firmly.
"Audrey," he tried again, "I just need some time."
"Oh no, it's much more than that," she insisted. "This is the worst thing that has ever happened to you, Lance. And for some reason, your pain has become a part of me."
Lance's mouth flew open, "What? How can that be?"
"I know, I know," Audrey groaned. "It took me days to figure it out. Let me try to explain. Do you remember when we met?"
Lance ran a finger across his mouth, "I will never forget the night I first saw you limping along in the rain. You were like a lost soul."
She smiled a little, "And then I started coming to your practices and we became friends. For the first time in my life there was someone I could trust."
"When you told me the things your ex-husband did it was hard to believe," he frowned.
"Ramone was mean when he drank. The night he shoved me from the sofa and caused me to lose my baby, it was over. I could deal with losing my leg to cancer, but not my child."
Lance lowered his head, "Your suffering touched me deeply."
"That's the reason we are so connected, Lance. I believe it's why I feel your pain so deeply now."
Lance looked into Audrey's eyes, "Is that why you're here?"
"Yes," she offered. "Only there's more to it. Do you remember when you wanted me to go the Foundation dinner/dance?"
"Not really," he winced.
"It was the first time that I met Marci and Jacob."
Lance leaned back a little, "Ooh yes."
"Well, Marci talked to me. She realized that I wanted to go, but didn't have anything to wear. She convinced me to accept one of her gowns. We met for breakfast the next day." Then she told him about the vision.
Lance was voiceless, completely stunned.
Audrey continued. "At first, my world collapsed. I have never been wrong. Then I realized it was the marriage that was wrong, not me. I also know that something is near that will shatter this marriage in a very painful way."
"Audrey," Lance whispered, " I ... my head is spinning. I didn't know that you had visions."
Her head was shaking back and forth, "Until I met Marci there had never been a vision."
"And you have never told anyone about a premonition, why me?"
"Because of feeling your pain, something else that has never happened. Marci may be my best friend, Lance, but you and I have a special connection. Life was lonely and bleak when I met you."
"And now you have a family that loves you, Audrey."
"They love you, too, Lance. And they're worried about you. Have faith when I tell you, this marriage will not last."
Lance gripped his hands together, "I hope and pray you are right."
Audrey stood to leave. "It won't be easy. There are trying times ahead, Lance. It's all up to you.
How strong is your love?"
