Call me Duchess

Wine + Gun

We arrive at Rhaz's home. It's a large place, very clean with open spaces and secluded. I always feel safe in her home. Rhaz likes her privacy and is really particular about the people she lets inside. We enter and place our bags down. Denise stands and looks around in awe of this mansion.

"Wow, this is nice" she says finally removing her disguise. there are those eyes I think to myself. Rhaz shrugged and went to the kitchen and opened a bottle of wine.

"Issy take her stuff up to your room, then we have much to discuss" Rhaz says as she begins pouring glasses. I grab my things and Denise's and go up the stairs to my usual room.

The large California bed is draped in silk sheets with a fluffy cotton comforter. Denise sneaks up a few steps behind me, most likely to get away from Rhaz avoiding an awkward moment.

"You've got many names" She whisper from behind me. I let out a soft laugh as I place out bags down then turn to face her.

"You don't have to whisper this house is huge." I respond ignoring her comment. She doesn't say much as she closes the gap between us. She blinks up at me and kisses my cheek before turning to leave. I grab her wrist and pull back into me.

"This isn't vacation, things are far more complicated than I'd imagined, and we could both be in serious danger." I stress this to her, while holding her close. We stand breast to breast, and I resist the urge to kiss her.

"You haven't told me anything, nor your friend downstairs. I think it's time you explain." She's saying as if she's giving an order. She turns to leave and this time I can't catch her. I sigh and run a hand through my hair then follow after her.

"Alright ladies sit, let's talk." Rhaz says as we come back downstairs. She slides us both a glass of wine, then spreads her hands out across the counter and leans against it. They both then look directly at me waiting for me to begin. I open my mouth to speak then I'm immediately cut off by me dear friend Rhaz.

"Elle resemble a ta mere" she says in French giving a coy smile. I turn my face up at her and shake my head then look at Denise. My secret lover stands with her mouth agape and eyes wide.

"You speak French?" she's says surprised and confused. As I stand and look at her, I find myself perplexed. Oh god she does looks like my mother. I glare back at Rhaz who is still looking at me and waiting for my response.

"Don't be rude, speak English." I clear my throat and ignore her as I sip my wine. Rhaz cracks up as she knows I've just noticed the resemblance between Denise and my mother.

Denise looks at me completely out of the loop and I cannot look her in the eye at the moment. I simply drink my wine and wait for the moment to pass. Rhaz finally switches her focus to Denise and the pressure if off for now. This wine rubbing me in all the right places, and I decide to have another glass.

"Denise, what's your story?" Rhaz asks sipping her wine and giving me sly side eye. "Uhhh well I'm an artist. Painting is my medium, my first love and my everything." She replies with a smile. As I'm listening, I'm realizing that I don't know this woman at all. Rhaz looked to me then back at Denise impressed. "Wow, Izzy this one paints, let me guess you two met at an art gallery and Izzy asked you to paint her like one your French models?" she jokes referencing an old film. Denise then looked at me and tilts her head. "No, my nephew goes to Izzy's school." As she admits that out loud, I can feel Rhaz starring daggers into my face. I avoid her gaze and gulp my wine.

"Excuse me" Rhaz snaps at me. "I specifically remember that being a huge no-no. and I'm assuming this little affair is what's gotten crazy white boy all psychos?" Rhaz never liked Michael, nor did he like her. She was right, the last thing I should be doing is seeing a student's guardian let alone actively cheating on him. and after recalling what happened to Jared, I let out a sigh and finish my second glass.

"Okay, yes, I fucked up. However, we're here now and we have bigger problems." I respond, keeping my voice low attempting to keep Rhaz from making this situation worse by saying something Denise doesn't need to know. "My mother is French, I don't speak it very well, but I know it by ear." I say responding to Denise's question and changing the subject.

"Such a mystery..." She says as she finishes her glass. "I need a shower." Denise exclaims looking to Rhaz. Rhaz only shrugs and rolls her eyes, unapproving of Denise. I shake my head and glance in Denise's direction as she heads up the stairs. Once she's out of ear shot, I lean in and speak with my dear friend.

"You don't have to be rude, Rhaz." I cross my arms and glare at her. "You're so wrong for this. Not only are you in violation of your agreement, but you've gone a step further and ran away with this bitch!" Rhaz's words cut through me like a knife. She right. "And I'm not sure how I can get you out of this one." She continues in a calmer tone, and I get a glimpse of what her true issue.

"Rhaz, I didn't intend to put you in a tough spot for me legally, I haven't thought this entire thing out yet. But I do think you should know something else..." I say in a quieter tone and continue. "You remember when I told you about Jared? The first third we'd ever had?" she thinks for a moment then nods, yes. "Well, he turned up at my office a few days later looking for me, but Bloomy sent him away. She said he looked "off" and when he left nobody had ever heard from him again. Well, I had drinks with a detective who says she's looking for someone. She has that same English accent, but they look nothing alike. I think she thinks I had something to do with his disappearance." As I was about to continue, we heard a loud bump from upstairs. Rhaz and I make eye contact then look around waiting to hear anything else. The faint sound of a shower rings from upstairs. My stomach ties into a knot as I wait in silence.

Suddenly my phone vibrates breaking the silence but adding to the eeriness in the room. Rhaz looks at my phone then goes toward a drawer in her living room and pulls out a gun. When the fuck did, she get a gun? I watch her creep up the stairs, then look down at my phone. It's a message from Michael and my heart sinks to the soul of my feet. I swipe the message down and read it.

Text, Michael: Hey, did you make it there safely, haven't heard from you...

I had forgotten to let him know I made it. Just as I place my phone down without opening or responding I hear Denise screaming from the bathroom.

"AHHHHHH!" her high-pitched squeal sent a chill down my spine as I ran up the stairs. I look down the hallway and find Rhaz standing in the doorway holding her gun as if she were expecting Denise to be an armed bugler. "Rhaz what the fuck are you doing?" Denise yells to Rhaz as she turns the shower off.

"You didn't hear that noise? I came to make sure you were okay!" Rhaz barks back. My heart is pounding out of my chest and the swear the lights flicker. Panic attack. Take some breaths, keep your head. I listen to my inner voice and lean my back against the wall. Denise and Rhaz continue back and forth for what seems like hours.

The tension finally calms and the two have finally stopped bickering. I speak with Denise before addressing Rhaz. "Are you okay?" my voice was breathy and tired. She nods and brushes past me. she's mad at me now? I clench my jaw and let her go. Rhaz opened another bottle and replaced the gun. I make my way down the stairs to her and speak with her. "When did you get a gun?" I ask. She looks at me as if that was a dumb question. Instead of answering it, she asks me a question. "When did you start cheating on your husband, lying to your best friend and being so damn reckless with people's feelings?" she forced each of her words into my chest and felt tears swelling up in my eyes. I'm not sure what to say. "Izzy this is so fucked. I—I can't do this tonight. I'll do some research and reach out to some people about alternatives and shit." She pauses and lets out a deep sigh. "All of this and your dad is in the hospital. I don't understand how your self sabotage so much even now..." with those final words my eyes let loose a stream of tears. I turn and retire to bed without a word.