Cookie Chronicles--Echoes
 
Author: Eileen Thomson

E-Mail: indigtoast@yahoo.com
 
Rating: NC-17

Summary: Last of the Cookie Chronicles

Author's Note: 24 (ommit comma)!! Suzanne you have the patience of a
saint. Bless you! Thanks to Lynda and limonise for all their
suggestions and advice.



--+-- 


July 2003

Nick picks her up, and with her legs wrapped round his waist he
heads for the bathroom, tearing at a condom packet with his teeth as
he goes. They pull with rampant desire at each others clothing,
trying in haste to undress in the small space. Shayla helps him roll
on the condom. Nick stops and looks at the tiny woman with
undisguised lust in his eyes. He pulls her to him and enters her in
one long thrusting movement. His long elegant fingers gripping the
top of her legs he slowly starts to grind into her, moving faster
and with a fevered intensity. Shayla matches his movements with her
own. With a moan of pleasure she feels the pitch of their lovemaking
change and knows that she will climax soon. Holding on to Nick's
hair, she begs him to go faster. As they speed towards ecstasy, she
hears his office door open and a strange pounding begins.

"Nick, I need to see you in my office..."

"Just coming, Dad!"

"No, Nick, don't go! Please don't stop!"

The pounding she hears just keeps on going unabated, matching in
rhythm their frenzied advance into `Paradise.' Just as Shayla
shudders with spent desire, the pounding takes on a more strident
note. With a jerk she moves from sleep to confused wakefulness.

Someone is at the door. She glances to the clock at her bedside and
reads. 5.45. `Who could be at the door at this time?' Cautiously she
approaches the front entrance.

"Ms DeMarko," a familiar voice calls. "It's John Stevens, the
doorman. I have to let all the tenants know there has been an
accident with a truck carrying some kind of toxic substance. For
safety, all the water has been shut off for three blocks. Ms
DeMarko, are you up?"

"Yes, yes." Shayla raises her voice to be heard outside. "When will
the water be back on?"

"Tomorrow, they think."

"Thanks for letting me know, John." Shayla shouts to him through the
closed door. `Damn! Damn!' She can't get rid of the dream and is not
wake enough to assimilate properly the information just given to her.

Shalya slides down the door, her skin cooling in the early morning
air. She starts to shiver, and hugging herself, she puts her head on
her knees and cries, now sobbing uncontrollably. This dream has been
plaguing her for weeks. Every morning she gets up wearier than the
day before. `He's your friend now. What do you want? He can't be
both friend and lover.' But she wants Nick so badly it hurts. `When
did this start,' Shayla wonders. Rising tiredly from the front door,
she goes to the bathroom. Sitting on the toilet she attempts to plan
her day. She stands up and turns to flush, then realizes…No water!
Damn! Now what?

~*~

The phone rings as Nick gets out of the shower. Glancing at the
clock he raises an eyebrow. Who could be desperate enough to call
this early? He looks at the caller ID and sees Shayla's
number. "Hello, early bird," he says cheerfully.

"Nick I've no water and I've got the preview for the show today. All
the people from the glass industry are coming to see my work and I
can't get a shower." She goes on, hardly pausing for breath, to tell
him about the accident. "The water isn't going on until tomorrow."
There is undisguised panic in her voice.

Nick can hear the desperation, and speaks to her quietly in a self
possessed manner. "Do you still have my key?"

"No, I put it back in the drawer in the phone table. You said you
would move it later."

"Okay, we'll meet somewhere and I'll let you have the key. You can
stay the night in the guest room if you like. That way you'll be
able to get ready for the grand opening of the show tomorrow without
any hassles."

"Glass industries representatives coming today," she says
anxiously. "And the opening is tomorrow Nick. Is this a bad omen?"

"No, just bad timing." Nick lies back on the bed rubbing a towel
over his body. He reaches down and touches his already budding
erection. "Now, where will we meet? Let's try to find somewhere in
the middle, I'm going to be running a bit behind all day as it is. I
just have too much on today."

"All right, how about Primanti Brothers 18th Street? That way I can
get something to eat as well as my daily shot of coffee. I'll have
to use what water I have to brush my teeth and wash."

"I'll see you there. Shayla, do stop worrying. Everything's going to
be just fine."

"I'll be at Primanti's in about thirty minutes Nick. I'll see you
then" Shayla says goodbye and hangs up the phone. Sitting in a daze,
she wonders what Nick would think if he could see into her dreams. A
flash of hot lust courses through her body and she quivers with
delight. Closing her eyes she imagines the bathroom in the offices
of Fallin & Fallin. Looking over the top on Nick's head she can see
the line of his back as he makes love to her. How she wants that
feeling again. Desire overcomes her and she reaches down to touch
herself and feels the wetness that thinking about Nick has caused
once more.

~*~

Nick sits up on the bed and puts his head in his hands. Shayla! In
his house! He cannot believe he offered so quickly. It's become
difficult over the past few weeks to be friends with her. Something
had changed when the factory burned and he is not sure what has
happened. He can't get rid of the need to make love with her. Every
day at some point he is overcome with thoughts of pure unadulterated
lust. At first he laughed them away, but then he found himself
making excuses to have her over to his house. They would meet at
least three times a week, and the torture is overwhelming. `Nick
you're lecherous and a masochist for having her near when she
affects you this way. Be friends with her, it's all she wants. Get a
life and stop hankering for what you can't have.' With a sigh he
walks to the bathroom and looks in the mirror. He looks at the sink
unit and can see Shayla in his mind. He feels her legs wrapped round
his waist and feels the wonderful sensation of tightness as he
enters her. He looks down at his now painful erection and shaking
his head in despair, he steps back into the shower.

~*~

Driving to meet Shayla he talks himself into a state of calm. He
shuts down his emotions and prepares to be with the woman who
torments his every dream. The handsome young lawyer parks the car,
and takes a few deep breaths to entirely quiet his heart. Turning
from the car he spots Shayla, and his body commits an act of treason
by giving in entirely to lust and lechery. Laughing inwardly, Nick
thinks, `well that didn't help much!'

"Hi, there. Are you feeling better now?" he asks

"It's too much to take on board Nick. Of all the times this could
happen." Shayla tries to keep the conversation focused, but is aware
of the vivid craving she feels lurking just beneath the surface. "Do
you mind if I stay overnight?" Her voice quakes.

Nick regards her through lowered lashes, unsure of what is
wrong. "Anytime you need me," he quips. Inwardly he is
shouting, `Stop. This isn't right. Make a move or don't, but stop
playing around.'

They sit in uncomfortable silence with each other for the first time
since they have met. Neither one knows they are thinking the same
thoughts.

Antonio, the owner of the sandwich bar, is unloading the supplies
for the day. He walks past the table holding a box. "Will you look
at this?" he exclaims, "bloody fortune cookies, in an Italian
restaurant. Whatever next! Vanni, try to make the orders legible,
for God's sake." He drops cookies on the tables of patrons as he
passes. "The first time you ever got an Italian fortune cookie? I
hope it will be the last." He laughs as he dishes them out.

Nick, playing for time, reaches over the table to lift the cookies
from the top of the dark leather credit card holder. He hands one to
Shayla and says playfully, "Lets see what today holds." He then
snaps the crispy delicacy in two. The tiny paper fortune falls to
the table, and he picks it up. "Here is what the very first Italian
fortune cookie has to offer," Nick says.

`The social scene can be fun today.' Okay, that sounds good, how
about yours?"

Shayla looks at Nick with love shining out of her eyes. Dipping her
head to mask her ardor she reads.

"An admirer is too shy to greet you."

`That should have been mine,' Nick thinks. Teasingly, he pulls a
face. "You have a secret admirer. You never told me Shayla. I'm
disappointed in you."

Her reaction to this is not what Nick expects. He watches her face
crumble. He sits frozen, not knowing what to do to help. She starts
to cry and hastily covers her face.

"Shayla, everything will be all right. Don't put yourself through
this misery. The show is going to be great." Nick stammers out his
reassurance.

"Fine," Shayla stands up, "I'm just jittery, I'm sorry. Too much is
happening and I'm running on adrenaline this morning." She keeps
talking to fill the gap, trying to get away from the excruciating
embarrassment she has created. "Will you be in for dinner? Do you
want me to cook, or will we order in when you get home?" Shayla is
preoccupied with her purse and misses the look of astonishment on
Nick's face.

The gurgle of Nick's of muted laughter brings her mind into focus.

"What?"

"You sounded like a wife," he laughs. Running his hand through his
hair, he doesn't stop to think what he says next, but apprehension
is trickling down his spine like ice cold water. "I've to work late
at the office dear, feel free to eat if you get hungry." He taunts
her impishly. "If you could hold off though, I would like to eat
with you."

Shayla joins in the laughter. "Sorry, I was thinking of you coming
to my house." Her thoughts tumble out unbidden and unwanted. `This
is getting too serious by half! You are making a fool of yourself,
get on with your day and let the man alone'

Nick walks Shayla to her car and in the empty parking lot, bends to
kiss her chastely. He smells the strong musky scent left by her
dream and his body reacts instinctively. When their lips meet, the
kiss turns into something much more provocative. He kisses her again
and feels the warm point of her tongue touch his mouth. His arms
wrap round her naturally, and he gathers her to him, one arm round
her shoulders, the other pulling her lower body in to meet his. He
pushes her against the car. Then Nick stops, coming to his senses.

"Oh God, I'm sorry, Shayla. That is completely out of order; I don't
know what got into me." He backs away, bowing his head, afraid to
look at her. Tortured and guilt ridden, he whispers, "Forgive me,
you know I would never do anything to hurt you."

"I'm all right," Shayla says. Now she can't wait to get away from
Nick. Her need is starting to color every action she makes, and she
fears she will disgust her friend. She jumps into her car and turns
on the ignition. Driving out of the parking lot she looks in her
mirror and sees him standing where she left him, shoulders
slumped. `You bitch!' she berates herself, `how could you put Nick
into that position? You knew he would respond to you. Now he'll
never trust you again.' She pulls the car over and sits crying till
the tears are spent and she feels washed out and empty. `Get on with
your life, girl!'

Driving up to Nick's to leave her clothes; she feels trepidation
entering the house. Opening the door, she heads up the stairs to the
guest room. She quickly showers and gets dressed for the day.
Passing Nick's room, she cannot resist the temptation to go in and
smell his scent on the air. She lifts his pillow, even knowing as
she is doing so that he would hate the idea of her being there.
Shayla puts the pillow to her face and breathes in Nick's smell. The
sensation is heady, and again she feels the hot thrust of desire
running rampant through her whole being. `Nick if only you cared for
me. I don't care if you never love me, just need me a little.'
Putting the pillow back in place and straightening the bed, she
sighs and sadly leaves the room.

~*~

Nick sits in the meeting rolling the marble round, passing it from
one finger to the next as Shayla taught him. His mind is not on what
is being said, and when Burton speaks to him directly he is caught
off guard.

"I'm sorry, I missed that. What was it?" Nick is mortified that he
has been caught. `How am I supposed to conduct my life under these
circumstances?' he wonders.

"I was just saying that the meeting with Mr. Ichihara has been
cancelled until tomorrow. That gives us at least an hour to get to
work on the Thomas account." Burton is at a loss. His son has been
inattentive for some weeks now and he is nowhere near finding out
what is wrong with him. He fears to ask because Nicholas is a poor
sharer. He watches as his son sits musing, his mind in a different
place.

Nick sits twiddling with his pen with one hand, mesmerized by the
monotony of it. He ruminates whether what he has on his mind is a
viable plan or just another stupid mistake. Suddenly invigorated, he
moves with speed and grace. "Great! Dad, I have something to tend
to. I'll be back in a little while, this is important. It's
fortunate they have cancelled." Nick stands quickly and goes out of
the office before anyone can react to his leaving.

~*~

The first part of the show has gone well and Shayla is walking round
the exhibits. The men and one other woman, who came to inspect her
art-work, were suitably impressed. She is gratified that something
has gone well today. They have all gone for lunch and now it is her
time to relax. She does not hear the door to the gallery open.

Nick stands in awe when he sees Shayla. She is dressed almost the
way she was when he first saw her. She has chosen this time a deep
red gypsy skirt, hung low on her hips hugging her to the top of her
legs then gently flaring to just below her ankles. The crop top
shows off her tiny waist and smooth midriff. She wears flat sandals.
Nick thinks admiringly, `Good for you, show them that it's quality
not quantity that produces perfection.'

"Everything went all right then?" he asks quietly, trying not to
scare her with his unannounced entrance.

Shayla whirls and runs to his side when she sees him. "Come and look
at the new piece I made," she says excitedly. She leads him to the
darkened room and as she passes she puts down a switch. The room is
lit by the celestial lights.

Nick feels the usual characteristic laughter bubbling up in him when
he sees the effects of the dazzling show. "You found a way to make
it work without sunlight! It's awesome. I can't believe you never
told me you'd gotten it to work."

"I'm working on something much better. I've left the prototype at
your house. Will you watch it with me tonight? If I can get it to
work that is. It can be a bit temperamental."

Nick puts his hands of her shoulders and rubs her tense neck.
Leaning down, abstracted by the light display, he whispers
huskily, "Anything you want."

Shayla turns to him and in an instant all things are forced into
action. The feelings of frustration and blistering need burst over
them both. Nick bends and kisses her his tongue forcing a way
through her teeth. Pulling her to him, he lifts her up and she wraps
her legs round his middle.

"There," she says pointing to a door in the corner.

Nick almost runs and opens the door of the large empty room. Holding
Shayla against the door, he tries to open the condom. She is
fumbling with his zipper and breathes a sigh when she finally holds
him in her hand. She strokes him gently, but with great urgency.

"Nick, hurry."

"Help me." Nick is stuck trying to get the condom undone and he
throws it down on the floor in disgust. He knows he has another, but
he needs to feel Shayla. His hand slides between her legs and she
opens up to him like a flower. The soft wetness and the sharp smell
wash over him like a gentle wave from the ocean. Lust rides his
brain like a brush fire. He has no thought of right or wrong. Now
his needs are paramount.

Shayla guides his erection against her soft vulva and holds him just
outside of her, teasing him with the nearness. Rubbing the head of
his penis back and forth on her hot wet opening, she is driving Nick
nearly mad with pent up desire. Nick pants with emotion. Beyond
rational thought. "No condom, Shayla," he croaks, not even hearing
what she is saying.

"On the pill," she whispers urgently. "Now, Nick, please don't
change your mind. I need you now."

As she lets go and stops teasing him, Nick slides into her,
experiencing once more the devastating warmth and tightness he
remembers. This is what had been tantalizing him for weeks. He
revels in the thrust of his penis into her, holding her away from
him, pushing her hard against the door. He watches as he slides in
and out of her and groans with pleasure.

Shayla climaxes almost immediately and moans in gratification as
Nick starts to takes her once more to a higher plane of fulfillment.
She holds him round the neck and braces her foot against the shelf
at the side of the door. Her movements match his thrusting and soon
she is ready to climax again. This time Nick is ready and with her.
He watches as her juices run down his penis dripping on to his
pants. He throws back his head and with a howl of fulfillment and
quickening to an unbearable speed he ejaculates into her. The
satisfaction is immeasurable. Weakened, Nick slumps to the floor on
his knees. Holding Shayla and rocking her gently, his breathing is
ragged and hot against her neck.


Kissing her softly, Nick holds Shayla and whispers to her. "Please
don't be angry with me. Shayla, please don't be angry."

Shayla holds him, barely able to breathe. `He doesn't realize how
much I wanted him!' She is shocked that he would think she would
give him sex if she did not want it as much as he did. Nick hands
her his handkerchief as she disentangles herself from him.

"You first," she says, still stinging from his words.

"I'll have to go home and change. Shayla, we're all right, aren't
we?" Nick's question is timid. `Please, God, don't let me have made
things worse.' He makes a big show of fixing himself. `Wrong move
Nick! Why can't you get it right? Say something, correct this
mistake quickly.' His natural reticence delays him from speaking,
and when he decides to talk Shayla is already moving out of the room.

By the time Shayla is back from the bathroom, her guests are
beginning to return. Nick takes her aside and says, "I'll see you
tonight and we'll talk okay?"

Shayla gives him a stilted nod, and turns to greet the first of her
specially invited guests back from lunch.

~*~

Shayla works with her visitors for some time, before she notices
that she is feeling somewhat more relaxed than before. She grins to
herself.' At least the damn dream will have another chapter now' she
thinks gleefully. Now all she has to do is get this thing with Nick
fixed. How she will do that fills her with disquiet.



At home Nick runs upstairs, pulls off his suit, and bags it to go to
the cleaners. He can smell Shayla and himself on it and it entices
him. He has to get this thing with Shayla fixed. He doesn't quite
know how, but it has to have some kind of conclusion. He finishes
dressing and goes into the guest room. He knows that Shayla would
hate him for doing it, but he picks up her robe and buries his face
in it, reveling in the sweet aroma of her. Reluctantly he puts it
back and heads for the door and the rest of the working day. He is
suddenly aware that he feels much better than he has for some time.
He laughs a throaty growl as he starts the car and drives off.

~*~
 
The show has been a great success. Shayla feels confident about
opening to the general public tomorrow. Now it's nearly nine in the
evening and she can't put off going to Nick's house any longer. As
she pulls up outside the front door, Nick's car drives in behind
hers. Shayla sits, afraid to move. Scared to face whatever this
night will bring. She can't bear the thought of losing Nick. The
fear turns her legs to jelly and her heart beats wildly in her
chest. She can hear Nick approach the car.

Nick hunches down and looks in the window. "Are you going to sit
there all night? Shayla, come on, let's go in and talk. I can't bear
you being like this." A worried frown creases the centre of Nick's
brow.

Shayla opens the door, steps out, and puts her arms round Nick. She
whispers, "I love you."

Nick reels in shock. He has not seen this coming and has no idea how
to respond. `Think you idiot. Say something.' He holds her close and
caresses her back while gently kissing the tips of her ear. But no
words come out of his mouth. He is truly speechless!

"Do you want me to move into a hotel for tonight? Have I terrified
you enough for one evening?" Shayla asks softly, speaking with her
head tucked into the warmth of his chest. She tries to make light of
her bombshell announcement. Her heart is breaking, and she knows she
has done the worst thing possible to Nick. Now she can't take the
words back.

Nick holds her away from him so she can look into his eyes. "Not
terrified, but you've scared me badly." Nick pauses and then laughs
shakily. "I can live with it."

Nick unlocks the front door and they enter the hall. Shayla sits at
the foot of the stairs and as Nick turns to lock the door he asks
quietly. "Where do we go from here?"

"Stay there. Please don't turn round."

"What?"

"Look at the floor." Shayla's quivering voice begs him. "I want to
say this and I don't want you to look at me while I get it out." She
waits until Nick looks down and then begins the speech she has
rehearsed all day. "When the factory burned down everything changed.
No… before that. When I first saw you I knew that you were very
special. Nick, you walk through life feeling that everyone thinks
less of you than you are. You don't see how high in their regard you
rise. Everyone you touch is affected by you in some way. I have
never looked at another man since I first met and made love with
you."

Nick glances up in shock. Somehow he has always thought of Shayla as
a free spirit. The idea of her waiting for him is unbelievable. His
whole body is aflame with warmth and fear of this pint sized woman
who pulls so strongly at the strings of his heart.

Shayla continues her speech, "I told you when you danced with
Frankie that if any woman could unlock you they would be very lucky.
Well, I'm throwing my hat in the ring, Nick, I think I could be the
woman who could bring you the greatest happiness." She looks up
through tear stained lashes to see Nick's reaction. Disappointment
runs in her veins when she sees him as unbending as ever, just
staring down at the floor. She struggles on regardless, too late now
to turn back. "I know that you can't commit to me but I'm willing to
wait. I'll be patient, and I know there will be other women. I won't
be a drag on you. I promise this will be as painless as possible."
She laughs nervously. "You can say something now."

"Give me time, Shayla, you can't throw this on me and expect me to
react to it. Just be patient. I can't tell you how I feel, I hardly
know myself. I know something changed the night the factory burned.
That's when I pinpoint the difference I feel. I can't help that I
want to make love to you every second of the day." With this
statement Nick chuckles. "I can't help it that I won't say `I love
you' to get you into my bed. But I will be honest with you and tell
you that I care for you so much that it gives me pain sometimes." He
pauses not sure whether to try to explain, but unwilling to go too
deep into his feelings. Instead he turns the question back to
her. "What next Shayla, how do we move from here?"

"I don't know Nick. I'm tired, and if you don't mind, I'm going to
bed. Maybe we'll feel better in the morning, having slept on it."
Shayla comes to Nick, and raises her face to be kissed. Nick, his
full lips swollen with desire, bends down, and taking her face in
his hands he kisses her tenderly. Wrapping his arms round her, he
holds her close and doesn't let go. She squirms out of his reach and
with a last peck on the lips says, "Goodnight Nick, I'll see you in
the morning." She turns and walks up the stairs, leaving Nick to
watch her go with tumultuous feelings churning inside him.

Entering the living room after Shayla has gone to bed, Nick is
confronted by a two foot high glass circle with wires attached to
what looks like hundreds of pinpoint lights in the rear. He wonders
vaguely what the effect would be. This must be the new prototype
that Shayla talked about. He wishes they had spoken about this
instead of their feelings. Sitting in the living room mulling over
the events of the day, Nick is confused and angry with himself… and
with Shayla. He is not sure when it became so complicated. He knows
his feelings run deep, but he is not in love. He is not sure he can
live with the idea of Shayla being in love with him. Eventually,
after drinking too much coffee, he gives in and retires to bed still
completely bewildered.

Two in the morning and Nick wakes. Whenever someone stays in his
house he does not sleep well. He is unused to movement in his home
at night and is a light sleeper. He goes to use the bathroom. Taking
a pair of white boxers out of the drawer in the dresser, he leaves
the bedroom in search of the strange sound.

Padding soundlessly downstairs in his bare feet, he walks into the
living room and his heart stops. Unfortunately, the rest of his body
reacts to the sight before his eyes. Shayla is on the floor on her
knees working with the wires at the back of the glass circle. Her
bare bottom rests on her crossed feet and she leans forward, intent
on the task in hand. Her long tee shirt has ridden up and is resting
round her waist. Nick feels the familiar tingling in his loins and
pleasure soars through his body. "Busy?" he says softly.

Shayla looks over her shoulder, distracted for a moment. "Don't
move. Stand just there I've almost got it. Nick this will blow your
mind." She nibbles at her lip. "If I can get the damn thing to
work!" She scoots forward on her knees providing Nick with a
delightful view, and puts the plug into the wall. "Put the lights
out, will you please?"

Nick switches the lamps off and waits. When the lights start to
shine and throw out their own alluring show from behind the glass,
Nick is entranced. This is much better than the last one. He loves
his `thinking twinkles', but this takes everything to a new
dimension. He can see why Shayla is excited. Just then, a note is
sounded low and long. It echoes from the glass. It takes Nick by
surprise and he gasps in shock. Then other sounds, different and
higher. "Are you trying to make music?" he asks in wonderment.

"Nick, this is the first time the whole thing has been up and
running. I didn't know it would happen, but I had hoped. You
remember I said I wanted the colors to oscillate? The notes are
different metal particles in the mix that are being hit by lasers.
The sound you hear is the vibration of molecules. I can't isolate
the lasers which are hitting the particles. There are eighty lasers,
and it's almost impossible to pinpoint the one making the hit. If I
could do that, I *could* make music. It would take money and a lot
of research, but it could be done. Everything would have to be
miniaturized." Shayla is stammering in her excitement. This new
phenomenon has just occurred, and it has blown her artistic
leanings into orbit. "At the moment there are only four notes, but
there are ten different metal mixtures in the glass, so most are not
being hit by the lasers. How do I isolate the four I have? Come on
Nick, please, apply your clinical mind."

Nick is lost in the light, enthralled as always by the beauty and
the feelings of calm the shimmering pulses bring. He pulls his
thoughts back and tries to concentrate. He knows nothing about this,
so he can only say what a layman would, without any knowledge of
how, or indeed if it can be done. "Find and mark the lights giving
the notes. Black out the others and then you will have your four
tones." He states with lucidity of thought.

Shayla's voice is strident coming from the back of the glass. "What
do you think I'm trying to do? You come here and see if you can tell
which ones are making the tones."

Nick hunkers down and waits, watching the lights. "How long is the
time-cycle they run on?" he asks.

"Eighty lights in sixty seconds."

"We have to get them slowed down. Can that be done?"

"I'll phone Tim. He should be able to guide me through doing that."

"Shayla, it's two in the morning, you can't phone at this time."

Too late! Shayla is already on the cell. Nick shakes his head in
wonderment. *These arty people keep the oddest hours.* He suddenly
thinks how they can isolate the notes and runs upstairs.

Shayla has taken the back off the lasers and is being talked through
some procedure by Tim. When it is done, she hangs up the phone and
turns the lasers back on. Slowly this time the lights start up. Nick
is dismantling his two pens, leaving them in parts. He has now the
bottom separated from the nib. The middle part with the ink
cartridge is removed, leaving him with four short tubes. Round in
the middle, but narrowing at each end. The clip and the screw to
hold it on to the pen are put into a dish beside the ink. Nick
breaks open one of the cartridges.

Sitting on the floor beside her Nick watches the light intently. The
first time he hears the sounds he leans forward and dipping his
finger in the ink he marks the light. By the time the cycle has been
through twice all four are marked. He takes the parts of the pens
and places them over the lights to quarantine them from the others
and in effect, he makes a funnel to direct the laser on to the metal
fragment in the glass. Shayla sits back on her heels, staring at
Nick working of the floor. Happiness infuses her soul. She has no
qualms now at having told Nick she loves him. He has accepted the
news too easily and infers from this that he feels the same. `Bet he
hasn't figured that one out yet!' She giggles inwardly.

The pens sit tightly on the laser lights and Shayla starts to put
insulating tape over the others. At last they are ready. With
trepidation, she turns on the lasers. With the pens to guide the
lights, they make their characteristic tones one after the other.
The sounds differ this time because the light is reacting to the
metal in the pens as it passes up the tubes. The tone has become
more like the sound of a clarinet.

Shayla lies on the floor kicking her legs in the air in
excitement. "We did it! Nick, now all I have to do is get someone
interested in miniaturizing the lasers. I can do the metal tests in
my research area. I could make small samples of everything I can to
find the purest notes. I need a computer genius and someone with
vision." Shayla rambles on, overcome with the excitement of the
discovery. Suddenly she catches Nick's eye. He looks down
embarrassed to have been caught staring at her so lustfully. "Nick?"
the question and permission are given by just saying his name.

Nick picks her up from the floor and lays her gently on the couch.
They are both breathing in short pants. "Shayla, is this right? I
don't want to hurt you. When we're done, I won't be saying `I love
you'." His handsome face is creased in worry.

"One day you will, I promise you. Tonight I'll settle for you making
love with me."

~*~

Nick wakes with a start. Something had been trying to get through
his sleep befuddled brain. "Shayla. Wake up. That client of Dad's,
Mr. Ichihara, he does work on miniaturizing. I wish I had been
listening yesterday instead of thinking about making love to you."

Shayla laughs at the idea and stretches her body lazily against his.
Her hand trails down the length of his and rests on his morning
erection. Stroking him gently, she ignores his rambling. There are
other things on her mind.

"Not yet," Nick says as he rises from bed and heads for the
bathroom. A few minutes later, he calls to her, "Come and shower
with me."

Soaping Nicks back is a joy for Shayla. She rubs over his shoulders
and down into the crease of his buttocks her hand slipping between
his legs to fondle his testicles. He groans in ecstasy.

Nick turns her round and enters her from behind. Holding her up on
his bent knees, he slowly slides inside her. Building up speed, he
takes them to the better side of heaven. "Soap and oil," Nick
whispers, "my two very favorite sensations." Running his one free
hand over her breasts Nick enjoys the sensitive touch of her soft
skin. Her nipples are hard and enticing against his long delicate
fingers. Gasping now they both start to come to fever pitch as their
love making reaches fulfillment. Shayla pushes both hands on the
wall and arches her back to take all Nick has to offer. Nick feels
the extra sensation this gives, and passion now in control he throws
back his head and comes in great heaving, uncontrolled bursts.

Washing each other afterwards is a joy shared by them both. `Not a
bad way to start the day,' Nick thinks. Then another thought
explodes into his brain and halts him in his tracks. `We didn't use
a condom… again!' Dressing for work, Nick is perturbed to find he
does not mind Shayla coming in and out his bedroom. She wanders in
half dressed to question him again about Mr. Ichihara.

"I'll talk to Dad first thing. Now go away! You make me want to do
anything but work. Considering you kept us up all night and we have
had little sleep, I'm surprised I have the energy to think at all."

~*~

"What is Ichihara looking for in America?" Nick fires the question
at Burton as he comes into the office.

Pausing with his hat half way to the stand Burton Fallin turns and
frowning at his son, "Good morning Nicholas."

"Ah. Sorry, Dad, good morning. I was just wondering if Ichihara is
looking to take on any new research work?" Nick pulls at his
eyebrow, ashamed of his rude behavior.

"What is it you need him for Nicholas? Explain this to me."

Nick goes into the drama of the evening before, telling his father
about the new glass. When he is done Burton looks at his son and
wonders why Shayla is staying at his house. He pauses to examine his
son's demeanor and finds that Nick is quite excited. He sighs, `More
drama. I told him to be careful.' He turns to Nick, "That is Akio,
the son you need for that. Do you want me to call him and set up an
appointment? I will be glad to get him off my hands for a couple of
hours. He's not interested in the business his father does. He's
into the purer aspects of the miniaturization of things. The art
side his father proudly calls it."

"Give him my number and ask him to call. I will sound him out about
Shayla's new laser and see what shakes out of the tree. Shayla is in
my office just now. Shall I tell her to wait and see what Ichihara
has to say?"

Nick returns to his office. He tells Shayla that things will go
forward today, and he will keep her posted if there are any
developments. They are sitting, quietly talking, when Burton passes
by. As the office door is slightly ajar, he pushes it and starts to
go in. Before he can speak, he is caught by the closeness' of the
two sitting by the desk. Nicholas in his chair and Shayla perched at
the corner of the desk. Both of them are engrossed in the
conversation. Nick reaches out and touches the outside of Shayla's
leg to emphasize a point and she runs her fingers over his hand. `My
god,' Burton thinks, `they are like love struck teenagers. Whatever
next!' Burton clears his throat and enters the office. He is
surprised that neither one moves from the other, but he says, "Akio
Ichihara will meet with you both at three. Will that suit?"

Shayla jumps up. "Great, that gives me some time to get to the
gallery and sort out a few last minute glitches! I'll see you at
three. Thank you Burton, I think this will bring big business here
if everything goes as I hope."

As she moves towards the elevators she hears Nick calling her.
Standing in front of her he says, "If you need me during the day…"
he stops now unsure how to go on. "Ah, call me." He fumbles on the
words and blushes. "You know what I mean."

Shayla comes in close and kisses him. Tucking her head into the
crook of his neck, she lifts her face and kisses him underneath his
chin. "I promise if anything goes wrong, I'll call." She speaks so
softly he can barely hear her.

~*~

Akio Ichiara sits in Nick's office watching the sun play with the
glass. The sight of the sparkling multitude of lights amazes him. He
listens patiently while the new prototype and how it works is
explained to him. He sits on the floor to see the pens and how they
isolate the beam. The enthusiasm of both Shayla and Nick is catching
and he begins to feel caught up in the vision of musical glass.

"I will need to have the dimensions you hope to use as a finished
product." He stops and regards the people he considers will be his
new business partners. "In Yamagata I have my own research
facility. We will draw up an agreement before I go, this will set us
on the road of many discoveries. We will be very good for each
other. This will be the start of great things. The glass can be
used in many ways once we can harness the sounds. I see advertising
and businesses alike clamoring for these singing lights. Christmas
will never be the same! Fog horns will change, and everywhere we
will see evidence of your invention. Mark my words, we will be rich
with this-- but it will take time. It will not be done quickly. You
will have to isolate many substances and run them through a computer
to get the perfect tones. Give me five years and I will give you the
world." Akio speaks with perfect candor. "Is this enough for you?"

~*~

Two weeks later the business agreement is to be signed. Shayla comes
to the office early and gives Nick a long narrow box.

Nick flushes deeply, "A gift…for me?" He opens it and finds two new
pens inscribed `With love, Shayla.'

"It seems your pens are heading out to Yamagata. Akio wants his
engineer Hanako Chishu, to see the first prototype as it is. I
thought I would replace them for you," she says.

~*~

The celebration dinner at Isabella's has gone well, and Nick is
relaxed and mellow. He is careful in what he says to Shayla, but he
knows she is finding it funny. Stopping his car outside her door he
releases his seat belt and leans near to peck her cheek with a
chaste goodnight kiss.

"Nick, can I ask something from you?"

Alarms sound in Nick's brain and he stiffens his resolve to watch
what he says. "Ask away." He mind is in turmoil and his brain is
screaming *please don't embarrass me.*

"Would you like to learn to blow glass? I think you would like it
and you have a very precise mind, I think you might turn out to be
very artistic."

Relief floods over Nick. Like cool water to a thirsty man, he grabs
at the offer, glad it is something unthreatening. He thinks he will
enjoy doing this.

Shayla giggles and gets out of the car. Indicating for him to open
the window she leans in and says. "Goodnight, Strad."

"Strad? Shayla, what is Strad?" Consternation rings in Nick's voice.


~*~

On the drive home Nick is perplexed. The thought that he had just
been taken for a ride hangs over him like the sword of Damocles.
*Allright. Stop thinking what it could have been and go over what
she said. Damn! Shayla you play me like a fiddle.* That thought
strikes at his heart, and he suddenly realizes he has offered to
become a huge part of Shayla's world. *Would you like to learn to
blow glass!* Nick stops the car at his door. He puts his head on the
steering wheel and bounces it gently.

Going up the steps, he pauses to unlock the door when the second
part of the puzzle seeps into his mind. He chuckles ruefully,* At
least she thinks you're a Stradivarius.*


 

~*~
 
 
Part three

Echoes


Nick sits in the darkening room drifting over the past fourteen
years. All the things they have achieved and all the things left
undone. He sees clearly in his mind the day in September 2009 when
everything changed.


True to his word, Akio is coming to bring over the small prototype
laser. Rushing to meet the five-year deadline they had set
themselves, the team had been working flat out for months. Finally,
the forty laser beams fired in a pre-arranged manner. Shayla worked
the tones in with the computer; it will play any tune with very
little adjustment. She has made it to include all the musical
scales. This is the demonstration piece that will be shown to the
prospective buyers. Akio has been right in his assumption that
everyone will want this new glass. The hype has been monumental.

Shayla sits in Nick's house. She spends most of her time there now,
but keeps her own place. Sometimes she still feels that Nick needs
space. True to her word, she has never interfered when Nick has
strayed. She has wept many tears over his behavior, but has never
taken him to task over it. She made a promise and has kept it well.

Nick enters into the living room from the hall and stands looking at
her. She is gazing out of the window, lost in reverie and does not
notice him. "Hey, he'll be here. Just give him some time; it's a
long way from Japan," he jokes.

"He said noon. Maybe the lasers didn't fire and he has had to start
again." Shayla's voice has a quiver to it. "Nick, what if it just
doesn't work? What if the notes are too tinny?"

"Hush now! You know the notes are fine. Everything is all right. You
worry too much."

"I should never have agreed to allow Tim to go to Japan and finish
the computer tuning. I'm worried he won't tell me if it's all wrong."

"Here they are." Nick opens the door at the sound of their approach.

~*~

"Stand here in the middle of the room and feel the full effect of
this," says Akio after he and his wife Hanako have had time to set
up the glass in its small box. "Ready?" Akio asks.

"Ready." Shayla says nervously. "No wait… Nick come and hold me. I
can't bear this!" She tucks her head into his strong chest then
whispers, "Now."

Nick turns Shayla to face the glass and holds her tight round her
small waist. The lights burn deep purple. They have fixed an ultra
violet light to the outside of the glass to magnify the purity of
sound. Their colors range from deep red to the palest of pinks
through to the brightest white. They streak across the room in
random bursts of iridescent pulses. Then the sound begins strong and
pure.

"Rhapsody on a theme! That's my favorite piece of music!" Shayla is
overcome with the joy of the music. The tears run down her face and
she hangs on to Nick, realizing that her dreams are all coming true.
Now she just needs Nick to commit. That will happen too, she knows
she just needs patience.

~*~

During the night, Shayla turns and her hand finds the empty space in
the bed. Several times every week Nick goes out in the early
morning, leaving her alone. She worries about where he is going, but
will not broach the subject. She promised she would not interfere,
but sadness engulfs her and she turns and tries to sleep.

"Shayla, Shayla, wake up. Hurry, we have to go now, or we'll be too
late." Nick's voice penetrates her slumber. Her head still foggy,
Shayla groans and climbs out of bed.

"Nick, what are you doing?"

"Come with me. Come now, we have to catch the sunrise." Nick urgency
carries in the tone of his voice.

He hands her jeans and a warm sweater. "Wrap up, it will be cold out
this morning." He rushes her out to the car and drives off at great
speed.

Shayla has stopped to pick up the camera she carries at all times.
She thinks she knows where they will go and she needs to photograph
it. Nick is taking her to see his beautiful city, his `most beloved'
as he calls Pittsburgh. The owner of his soul! Her heart
soars. `This is it. It's time!'

They go to a storage warehouse. Nick leaves the car at the entrance.
Grabbing her hand he hurries into the dark recess and unlocks a
door. When Nick switches on the light Shayla sees the motorbike.
Its beauty and lines are elegant and awe inspiring. Nick hands her a
box.

"I bought this for you last year. I meant to give it to you sooner…
but--"

Inside the box is a biker's leather jacket. Shayla puts it on and
hugs herself. "I've never been on a bike."

"This will be the trip of your life. I promise." Nick pulls her to
him and she can feel the quivering in his body.

`Make it now' she thinks. `Nick, don't look back. I won't let you
fall, I swear.'

On Mt Washington, at the restaurant Isabella's, they stop. It's not
yet dawn and everything is still shrouded in the dark blue of the
night. Slowly the sky lightens and then the sun peeps over the
horizon. It chases the mist and the darkness in a line right over
the city. Cleansing and purifying the streets with its golden glow.
Shayla takes photographs one after another, unable to make up her
mind which will be best.

She stops…and looks through the camera lens at Nick. She sees a
handsome man astride a monster of a machine. Forty years old now, he
is still the most beautiful man she has ever known. Dressed in black
leather he stirs the very fabric of her soul. Something is coming
she feels it. The air is electric, she take a quivering breath and
holds. Nick lifts his brows and gives her his Mona Lisa smile.
Passing his hand over his lips he takes a deep breath. His hands
resting now splayed out on his leather pants he speaks.

"Shayla… I love you," he whispers

Click.

"Marry me?"

Click.

~*~

August 2023. Time comes back to Nick, with the sound of the
machines. Looking at the bed he allows himself drift into the past
once more.

Nick sees again Shayla's greatest triumph. The lights switch on for
the inaugural ball. The new President of the United States of
America stands in awe, looking upward at the glimmering show gliding
across the ceiling. The lights give giving the impression of the
night sky in movement, playing the music, `Thus Spake Zarathustra.'

Everything moves before his eyes in tantalizing slow motion. All the
good times, all the bad times. He picks himself wearily out of the
chair and goes to the window. He stops to switch on the first
prototype, and Rhapsody on a Theme floats out into the room. Hearing
a differing tone in Shayla's breathing, he looks at the nurse
sitting in the corner.

She shakes her head, "It won't be long now."

"Will you leave us, please?"

Nick feels the tears well and his throat constrict. *Hurry son, you
don't have much time left.* Kneeling at the bedside, Nick's hot
tears drip from his face making a pool in the palm of his dying
wife's hand as he holds it to his face. "I'm falling Shayla,
sweetheart, I'm falling," he says quietly into her ear. The sound of
the front door opening distracts Nick and he roughly dries his eyes
and waits for Burton to enter the bedroom.

Burton Fallin knocks gently, and when he hears Nick speak, he
enters. He walks in, leaning heavily on his walking stick. He
gasps when he sees the pain and heartache imprinted on his son's
face. He sees Nick gather himself and start to shut out all the
emotion.*Don't please Nicholas,* Burton silently pleads his son not
to go back to how he used to be. *Shayla's love took that all
away .Don't let it creep back in.* The movement at his side startles
from his musings. He steps aside and the young boy takes a step into
the room.

"Dad?"

Nick puts out his arms and his son, Burton ÉÉ, runs into them. He
holds the boy, rocking him gently. Crying soft and silent tears, he
looks at his pride and joy. Thirteen years old, Burton has black
hair so like his mother's, but has his father's looks. His eyes,
blue green, are now so full of pain. Nick kisses his son's temples
with gentle love and tenderness. "Burton, you must say goodbye to
your Mom now. Then I want you to go with Granddad, and I'll be with
you soon." His heart is breaking as he watches his son approach the
bed.

"I love you, Mom," the young boy sobs. "I'll take care of Dad, and I
promise you I'll be good and make you proud. I love you. Please,
Mommy." The boy's sobs rip out the centre of Nick's heart as he
leans down and lifts his son from the bed.

"Go now. Please. I love you Burton," he weeps openly as the machines
tell of the coming death of Shayla. "I need you to be strong. Go
with Granddad."

Nick lies on the bed and gathers his wife in his arms for the last
time. He sobs into her hair. "I have loved you so, I'll never love
anyone like you ever again." His tears run from his face and onto
Shayla's giving the impression that she, too, is weeping. He kisses
her lips and says simply, "I love you." Nick stops and holds his
breath. No sound comes from Shayla. She is gone. His sobs echo
throughout the house they have shared for so many years.

Outside the room, his son rests his head on his bony knees and cries
with child-like abandon, joining his father in their mutual mourning.

~*~

Nick and Burton are fighting again, the young boy pulling at the
constraints Nick is putting on him. "Please Burton, I can't take any
more, just go to bed and maybe it will be better in the morning."

Nick sits wearily, but is still unwilling to spend the night in the
room where Shayla died. He falls asleep on the couch and dreams.
Shayla is speaking to him but he can't hear her. He cries in
frustration and wakes with a jerk Nick restlessly tosses and turns
on the couch.

Falling back to sleep, he dreams again, but this time he dreams of
the day Shayla first taught him to blow glass. All the book learning
had been done, and Nick had the theory down pat. Over confident, he
had not done the job slowly enough and the glass had split, bursting
open. A hot piece of molten glass landed on his arm. Shayla had
grabbed him and held his arm under in the barrel of cold water. "Let
it cool, Nick let it cool. This is how it is, with love and with
glass, both are hot and fragile" Waking up with a start, Nick
finally knew what he must do with young Burton.

~*~

The next weekend Nick stands in Burton's room. Gazing at his boy
makes him think again of his beloved Shayla and tears seep once more
through the shield he puts between his soul and the world. Shaking
himself, Nick leans over the bed. "Wake up Burton. Come on, you must
get dressed now. I've laid out clothes for you. Hurry up now."

"Dad? What time is it? It's still dark yet. What are we going to do?"

"Come with me," Nick says quietly. "I want to show you something."

"Do I have to wear these clothes?" Burton is now awake and sees the
father has on workman's clothes. "Are we going to the glass works?"
Burton dresses in a mirror image of Nick with tan steel toe cap
boots, jeans and a t shirt topped with a plaid shirt.

"Why did Mom die?" Burton asks timidly while they are in the car.

"She had a headache and thought it was nothing. When she got into
the office she collapsed. At the hospital they said it was a massive
blood clot. Too much damage had been done for them to operate. There
was nothing to be done to help. I thought you knew all this."

"I just keep thinking we should have seen she was sick."

"Burton, she didn't know she was sick. Try to put this out of your
mind."

A quivering note of fear enters the young boy's voice. "What if it
happens to you, Dad?"

Nick stops the car at the storage garage and turns to his son. "Son,
I won't let you fall, don't worry about these thing s. I'll be here
for you and I'll never let you down. I love you so much. If I don't
tell you that often enough let me know." Nick cuddles Burton to
him. "My boy," he says, echoing his own father.

Entering the room Nick switches on the light.

"Awesome, Dad, you still have the bike! These two photos in the
living room show you on this bike. It must be totally ancient! Why
are the two photos the same?"

Nick hands his son the new leather jacket and puts a mike on him. He
attaches a wire to the small box clipped onto his waist. "Now we can
talk while I ride round town."

Driving up to Mt. Washington, Nick tells the teenager the story of
his Mom and how one picture says `I love you' and the other
says `Marry me'. He talks of all the things they had dreamed, and
how it would be just the two of them who would fulfill the
ambitions. The dawn breaks just as they reach the parking lot where
Isabella's used to be, and they watch entranced as the new day
glides in with golden splendor.

~*~

Nick takes Burton into the workshop and straight to a corner. "This
is grubby Dad, what will we do here?"

"I'm going to show you how to make a marble." Nick takes Burton and
runs his fingers through his son's curly black hair. "This will be
your chore from now on. Each and every Saturday you will come here
and be taught how to blow glass. You will learn everything there is
to know about your Mothers world. That is how you will earn your
pocket money."

"I can do that. Dad, can I learn to design as well?"

"Whatever you want, I will give you all the backing you will ever
need."

~*~

In Shayla's office, Nick sits in silent contemplation looking at her
designs and missing her more than ever. Akio Ichihara knocks and
enters. He hands Nick a brown box filled with polystyrene
balls. "This was your Christmas present. It is the last piece Shayla
made."

Opening the box, Nick finds a small replica of the original
prototype. Embedded in the glass are the two pens Nick had given to
Shayla, the two screws fitted together once more. The bodies of the
pens were joined together again, and the gold nibs sat in the space
as they should be. Nick puts the cool glass up to his face and
weeps. Hearing Burton come along the corridor, he gets up, and
wiping his eyes, he plugs in the lasers. The sound emanating from
the glass is hauntingly familiar but the words escape him. The
lights flicker out all blue tones and they encapsulate his mood. He
becomes lost in the unbearably sad and haunting music.

Driving home in the car, Burton talks endlessly about the glass
plant and Nick is distracted. He hums the song. In his mind he can
hear the words now. Seeing again the night they had watched the late
movie in bed, holding Shayla as she had wept when the Titanic went
down. Unable to stop the tears Nick stops the car and recites the
words to his son.

Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you,
That is how I know you'll go on.
Far across the distance and spaces between us,
You have come to show we go on.
Near. Far. Wherever you are, I believe the heart does go on.
Once more you open the door, and you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on.

*She left us with a great legacy, our love for her, and for each
other.* Nick bends, and ruffling Burton's hair he says. "I love you."


The End