Picture Perfect: *Chapter Five- A Rocky Visit

Marissa looked out the window at the dying sun. The sky was a mosaic of pinks, oranges and yellows. The window of her room sparkled in the dying light as she looked upon the fields sprawled out below. Sighing, she turned away from the window and began to change. From her suitcase, she pulled a knee-length black suit, a lavender cami and a black jacket. On her feet she pulled on a pair of black heels. A knock sounded as she finished.

"Come in," she called. Aiden walked through the door, looking more depressed than she had ever seen him. Marissa's heart lept and her thoughts immediately went to Tara. Had something happened before she got a chance to see her, to apologize? She couldn't bear the thought. "Aiden, what's happened?"

"Karen... she...left. I found this note in my room. It says that she can't stand being here anymore and that Melinda is making her life miserable. She said some other woman could take care if her. She says she's never coming back..."

"Oh Aiden... I am so sorry."

"The thing is, she left all of her stuff. None of her clothes are gone. She said, since you'll be staying here, you can have them."

"She doesn't think I'm staying here forever does she? I intend to return to Chicago when business here is settled."

"I don't know what she thinks. I can't believe she would do this to us. It was her idea to stay here because of Melinda. I told her we would be fine, that I could take care of my daughter myself and not have to worry. But she insisted. Now look, she runs out on us like I forced her to stay!"

"Aiden..."

"Now we may loose the house..."

"Aiden?"

"Oh don't play dumb. I know Jeff told you all about my financial issues, he can't ignore a pretty face. The bank wants to forclose. They're giving me 3 months to get together a lot of money that I don't have. I asked for more time, business is picking up, but they just won't let me. Said they've given me more than enough time."

"I'm sorry, Aiden. Maybe I can help, lend you something..."

"No. I don't want charity, Issa. I don't need it. This house is just too big for two people. I'm already looking for a smaller place."

"Aiden, this house has been in your family for generations, you can't just give up."

"What else can I do? I can't raise that much in 3 months!"

"Let me help you..."

"NO!"

"Aiden..."

"I'm sorry, Issa. I just... am so overwhelmed. Tara's sick, Karen's gone, you're going out with Jeff... and the bakery will probably never open again. Plus, there aren't any disputes in town so they have no need of lawyers, so my firm is slowly shutting down."

"Oh no--"

"Let's just go see Tara... that's not what you're wearing on your date tonight is it?" he said, just noticing her attire.

"Well, I... I mean, I have nothing else."

"Go through Karen's stuff. Trust me, she'll have something in there."

Aiden led her down the hall to Karen's room. He opened the door and pointed to the closet. Marissa nodded and he went down the stairs. She walked over to the closet and opened it up. Hanging up were at least 2 dozen dresses, all designer, all her size. She went through them and chose a simple black halter dress, short, just above the knee. She changed into it quickly and looked into the closet again. She noticed a pair of black strappy sandals that looked better with the dress than the heels she wore. Luckily, her and Karen were the exact same size.

"Marissa! Let's go, I told Jeff to met you at the hospital so you could go straight from your visit."

"I'm coming," she called.

Marissa ran back to her room and grabbed a brush and her make-up to apply it in the car. She met Aiden and Melinda in the living room. Melinda smiled when she walked in, Aiden merely gaped.

"Are we going?" she asked, laughing.

"Yeah Daddy, let's go see Tara. I want to show her the picture I drawed today. Did you see it Marissa? I don't think I showed you. It's of that little mouse we let go today. See, he's smiling because we didn't kill him, and that's the show box and a jar of peanut butter, and that's his family, we didn't see them, but I still drawed them," she said, showing her a picture.

"Drew, Sweetie. You drew the picture," Aiden smiled," and a beautiful picture it is."

"I agree with your father, a work of art."

"O.K. Let's go."

The three of them drove in silence to the hospital. When they got there, they met Jeff in the lobby. He was smiling.

"Good news, Jeff?" Aiden asked.

"Well, the doctor said she's improved a bit since yesterday. She claims there isn't as much pain in her chest and that breathing doesn't hurt anymore. They say that might be good, but they have to see how long it lasts."

"So there's hope?" Marissa whispered, she thought to herself.

Jeff put an arm around her. "There's always hope," he whispered back.

They all walked silently up to Tara's room. She was sitting up, her brown hair pulled back in a french braid. Marissa noticed that around her neck hung a locket that she had given her for her 13th birthday. Tara smiled at Aiden, Jeff and Melinda. That smile faded when her eyes landed on Marissa.

"Hello there little angel," Tara said to Melinda.

"Hi hi! Look, I have a picture I drawed... I mean, drew, today. See, it's a little mouse that me and Marissa saved today. He was in the living room, and we let him go outside."

"Well, it's absoloutely beautiful."

"It's for you. Are you gonna hang it up?"

"Why don't you, baby, I'm not feeling too good, plus I know you'll pick a better spot than I ever could. There's tape in the drawer there."

Melinda bounced over the drawer and proceeded to find the perfect spot to hang her picture. The others looked on silently, as if speaking would interupt her action. Tara broke the silence.

"I remember when you used to draw and pain Aiden. You had some beautiful pictures..."

"That wasn't me Tara. That was Marissa, remember?"

"Oh. Right..." Tara said, turning away from them. Marissa glanced over at her and frowned.

"Hey Jeff, Melinda and I haven't eaten yet, why don't you escort us down stairs."

Tara glanced over sharply at him. Jeff merely smiled knowingly and nodded his head. Marissa looked on in horror as the people she felt so comfortable with walked out of the room, leaving her with the one person she was afraid of talking to the most. Tara watched as the three walked out of the room and in stony silence turned her gaze to her old best friend.

"Tara..." Marissa whispered.

"Please, don't say anything. I don't need the symapthy of someone who forgets who she is, where she came from. I really don't need it, nor do I want it. So please, don't even try."

"Listen..."

"No. Please, I need to rest. Please go."

Marissa looked into her brown eyes sadly, and left the room. She met the others as they were coming out of the elevator. She merely told them that Tara had wanted to sleep and that she would come back another day. Aiden looked into her eyes, and wasn't convinced, but let her to her emotions. He watched as Jeff took her hand and led her from the hospital. A lone tear rolled down his cheek as she was led away.