Chapter 33

It had been three days since Elia turned her off her phone. Once she boarded her plane to Chicago, it was off and that was it. Even the emergency phone had been turned off. For three days she had been alone in the house with Byfuglien. Alone with her thoughts. Alone with Us Weekly magazine.

She was sitting in her bath tub drinking cognac, staring absently out the double sliding door on to the patio. The white squared bathtub sat in the middle of the large bathroom. Large rectangular black tile lined the floor and ran up the walls. Closing in around her. Chicago's first snow of the year was falling, lightly, barely dusting the back deck. Everything was black and white. Wasn't it? The water was cold now, and her fingers had long been wrinkled. If she just stayed there a little longer, maybe the feeling would wash away.

A sound crept into her consciousness. A dull pounding from downstairs. Somebody was at the front door. Slowly she stood up, grabbing a robe from the floor. The dog was barking now, and running ahead.

She could see him by the time she was half way down the final set of stairs. Standing outside on the front porch. His dark wool trench was pulled up around his face, his hands enclosed in black leather gloves. Snow fell and melted on his face.

This was it.

Elia opened the door, silently, looking down, and leaned back against the door. She couldn't look him in the eyes.

"Why didn't you answer my calls?" He asked. He tried to turn her face towards him with his hand but she brushed it away.
"I knew if I did, it would be over." Elia said, she felt tears and anguish filling her but nothing came out. It felt like the waves inside her were turning to stone. Brad turned slightly, looking around and trying to comprehend.
"Why did you do this?" Elia whispered. Brad put his hand above Elia's shoulder, leaning against the wall and blocking the snow and the light from her face. He was staring through her.
"She doesn't confuse me." He said finally. Elia shook her head, as if to say that wasn't good enough, that wasn't an explanation. She grabbed on to his coat and pulled him closer to her.
"I'll never stop wanting you. I want you. I..."
"No you don't." Brad said sternly.
"I love you," She said finally, and put her head into his chest. He put his hands around her neck and leaned down, resting his chin on her head.
"You're acting." He said, a slight disdain in his voice.
"I'm not, I love you, I love you," She said desperately.

She lifted her head and kissed him, pulling him backwards with her until they were pressed up against the door. Their heads parted for a moment. Brad took a deep breath and then pushed her hard against the wall, kissing her again. He slid his hands down and parted her robe, grabbing her and picking her up.

He carried her to the first bedroom they came to, the second floor guest room. Setting her down he threw his coat down, removed his belt and unbuttoned his pants. He never fully undressed, pushing her down on the floor and taking her hard against the white wool rug. With each thrust Elia felt the wool rub open her back, but she barely felt the paint. It could have been an hour, it could have been five minutes, they were lost in the fiery desire that had been the base of their relationship. He grabbed her hair with his hand at the end, holding her head down as he kissed her and came inside her.

He got up silently, tucking his button down shirt back into his pants and fastening his belt. Elia lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. He paused at the doorway, started to turn but stopped. And then he was gone. She sat up and leaned against the bed, pulling the blanket off and wrapping herself in it. Then lay back down on the floor and closed her eyes.

It wasn't until late in the afternoon when Elia finally left the bedroom. She opened her eyes to the dog licking her face. It was dinner time. Together they walked into the kitchen. Brad had left a note her kitchen counter. Elia clenched her jaw as she read it. Then took the paper and tore it into pieces, throwing it back down on the counter.

Notes