Chapter 15 June 30, 2008

To darling Devonny,

Thanks for reserving such a beautiful house for me. I will move in shortly, I believe by next week. I hope to see you there at the christening of my new abode!

-Love Renée

 

Ding dong… ding dong…

Renée woke up to the sound of her doorbell. “Do I have to get up?” she asked herself as she got up, turned the television off and went to greet whoever was at the door.

Renée glanced curoiusly at the door to see who it was and was greeted by little small wave as she opened the door.

“Hi there, umm do you mind sparing some sugar? My daughter managed to spill our entire stock of sugar on to the kitchen floor.” she said sheepishly.

“Umm, sure why don’t you take a seat while I go get it?”

“Ah, it’s okay, I’ll wait here.”

“You know you can come in right? I do insist, it might look very unwelcoming to my neighbours if you don’t.” Renée called over her shoulder.

“Well, in that case,” the woman replied hesitantly, as she stepped into the house.

“You have a very nice house, I must say.”

“Yeah, it took a while to furnish but it’ll do for now. What’s your name?” Renée asked as she searched for the sugar packet.

“April, April Scarlett. You?”

“Renée Balaire, nice to meet you.”

“Well, here’s your packet of sugar,” Renée said as she shook hands with April and handed her the sugar.

“Thanks so much Renée, the soup wouldn’t be as great without it,” April replied joyfully.

Renée’s eyebrows raised in confusion. Last time she checked, salt was added to soup… not sugar.

“Anyways, I must be disturbing you. I’ll see you around Renée,” April said as she patted Renée’s arm and left the house.

“Yes… bye,” Renée called after her as she felt goosebumps raise on her arms, especially the one April patted. “Maybe I”ll take a shower…”

The hot water felt nice on Renée’s skin as she thought about how her life would be different starting from now on. No need to worry about the consequences of jilting her fiancée at the altar, no need to worry about her past in Green Valley.

Ding dong… ding dong…

The doorbell was ringing once again and Renée was compelled to ignore it, but she turned off the taps and toweled herself dry and hastily put on her clothing again.

“Coming!” she called as she exited the bathroom.

“Devonny?” she asked uncertainly as she opened the door.

“It’s been a while Renée.” Devonny replied as a small smile graced her lips.

“Devonny! It’s so good to see you!” Renée greeted happily as she stepped outside.

“How have you been?”

“I’ve been.. good. I have a son and daughter now Renée.” Devonny replied, her voice a bit strained.

“That’s such joyful news! I mean with your fragile body, it’s a miracle!” Renée said clapping her hands in delight.

“Well, enough about me. How was your move in?”

“It went very smoothly. You have all my thanks in finding such a nice place for me.”

“There is a matter that I wanted you to help me with,” Devonny began.

“I’ll do my best to help you if it is within my power.” Renée said her tone changing immediately to one of cold indifference.

“Rest assured it is within your power. It’s just a matter if you want to exercise it or not.”

Renée’s mouth tightened into a line. “Is that so,”

“I’m not forcing you into anything Renée, just requesting a favour from a dear friend.” Devonny exclaimed, raising her hands up to show she bore no malice. But Renée wasn’t stupid by any means. This “request” was merely a friendly way of exercising the power Devonny had over her.

“It’s starting to get dark. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about this later?” Renée asked.

“No, it’s fine. My husband won’t be coming back home till very late tonight.”

“As you wish.” Renée said. “So what is this little favour you want me to help you with?”

“It involves some of your old friends. You still hold some control over them no?” Devonny replied.

Renée sighed. “Devonny, you are asking a great deal from me. I have not contacted them ever since I defected.”

“But there are those who still believe you will return soon to marry him and with that belief, will do anything you ask of them.”

“You must understand, the more strings I pull, the larger the consequences for me to face.” Renée protested as she rubbed the back of her head in frustration.

“That’s an excuse and you know it. The power you hold over him is enough to get you out of any trouble that might happen afterwards.”

Renée didn’t say anything. It was true, everything Devonny said. She would get off with little to no repercussions if she followed through. What bothered her was her own conscience.

“You don’t have to Renée, I know it must be hard to ask you of this,” Devonny replied as she walked away form Renée and stared out into the night.

“Devonny-”

“But I have no other option.”

Renée contemplated it quietly. She didn’t even know all the details of the favour Devonny was asking her.

“Don’t forget who helped you out of there in the first place Renée.” Devonny said quietly so it was barely audible to others.

“You should come inside. It’s getting cold. It will be more comfortable to talk inside.” Renée said as she gestured for Devonny to enter.

Smiling inwardly, Devonny knew she had won Renée over. But didn’t let it show on her face as she accepted the invitation and entered.

“I don’t see why we had to bring the conversation inside Renée.” Devonny remarked as she walked over to the window.

“There’s nobody out there for miles, ” she said.

“I’ve learned not to take chances Devonny. You of all people should know that.” Renée replied tersely as she approached the window.

“Now if you will please, lets take a seat on the couch and pretend we are discussing something less… dangerous.” Renée said as she grabbed Devonny’s wrist and tried to drag her to the couch.

“You’re the only one here overreacting Renée,” Devonny shot back as she wrenched her arm out of Renée’s grasp. “Nothing has even been said yet!”

“I’m assuming something will be said from your earlier words. I’m not stupid enough to not know you were talking in code Devonny.” Renée ground out. Any remnants of the friendly facade from earlier, were gone. “If you don’t believe me, look out the window! There is someone hiding in the shadows!”

Devonny peered outside the window and as she did she caught a flash of brow just as it disappeared into the shadows.

“Do you understand the importance of a facade now Devonny?” Renée hissed. “Now if you don’t play along, I’ll have to bodily remove you from my house in an act of self-preservation!”

Devonny’s demeanour changed immediately to one who hasn’t seen a long lost friend. “Of course Renée, it was wrong to have doubted you.”

Renée breathed out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “You are my dear friend Devonny, but you must trust me on these matters. Now tell me, what is troubling you so much that you have to request this from me?”

Devonny hesitated. Renée was technically indebted to her, but after this explanation, even the sway Devonny held over Renée would not be enough. But she had to try.

“Well, have you met April Scarlett yet?” Devonny began.

“Yes, she arrived to greet me this morning with something about not having any sugar. What about her?” Renée questioned.

“Well, the thing is she’s having an affair with Lex.”

Renée’s mouth opened into the shape of an “o” as she digested the information. “I’m assuming you want me to remove her from the picture?”

“Yes.. and no. I just wish for her to stay away from my husband, I merely request for you to provide some assistance in this.”

Renée raised a shapely eyebrow. “How? I cannot ask them to stalk her every minute of the day making she she doesn’t plan a rendez-vous with your husband.”

“I was merely thinking of relocating her to another part of the town and keeping her there through surveillance or blackmail.”

“That is hard to do Devonny. Restraining somebody without force?”

Devonny’s mouth twisted in annoyance. “It is possible if you make it Renée!” Devonny gritted the words out.

“I am not all powerful Devonny! There are limits to my influence over them as well!” Renée spat out.

“She has two children. Melissie and Christine. Christine will be hard to sway but Melissie is vulnerable. If we can use this against her-”

“This is going to far Devonny! Just for a mere affair? You’re better off divorcing Lex!” Renée exclaimed as her face shifted to one that was of friendly disposition, wary of their position right by the window.

“I refuse to raise my children in a broken home Renée! ” Devonny hissed between her teeth as she smiled forcefully back at Renée.

Renée sighed and led Devonny towards the door. “As your friend, I will do my best but you will have to help me out a bit first.”

Devonny hesitated at this. “What will I have to do?”

Renée’s lips twisted in anxiety as she leaned towards Devonny’s ear. Devonny strained to hear what Renée was saying and leaned in closer to hear.

“Do you understand?” Renée said as she withdrew from Devonny.

Devonny paused, but replied shakily, “I do.”

Renée suddenly grasped Devonny and pulled her into a hug. The action was friendly, but the words spoken were of utter importance.

“We’re still being observed so play along.”

“Then I will see you later to catch up on old times!” Renée said in fake joyfulness as she opened the door and ushered Devonny out of her house.

“Bye,” Devonny replied as she left, her insides churning with nervousness.

———

“What? You cannot be serious!”

“That’s the price to pay. He will want compensation.”

“But with your influence it should be-”

“With my influence the price has already been knocked down! He will not even consider this if it is someone else who is asking him! And if they did, he’d ask for both of them!”

” …I will do it.”

“Think it over carefully Devonny! I don’t think this is worth it, the cons outweigh the pros-”

“This is my decision to make!”

“…then I will anxiously await your decision.”

“Yes, I will give you one soon.”

“Remember Devonny, if you even breath a word, not even I can help you.”