Unrequited

Compassion - 1995

In early 1995, Arianna, as well as the rest of the world, began seeing pictures of John's wife, Amanda, out and about with the actor Keanu Reeves. The headline with these pictures usually read 'Amanda deCadenet, estranged wife of Duran Duran bassist John Taylor.' John's marriage had barely lasted three years, and Arianna couldn't help but feel triumphant. Maybe he was finally learning what it felt like to have the person you loved cheating on you. And John was having the added pleasure of seeing it in the tabloids. At least she had been spared that kind of pain all those years before.

That fall, Arianna was out shopping with her kids and was having a hard go of it. She had severely sprained her ankle earlier in the week after stepping on one of the kids' toys and was hobbling about on crutches. The kids were simply not listening and were running amuck as two and three-year-olds are apt to do. Trying to corral them with their endless energy while on crutches had been an exercise in futility, and she was frustrated beyond belief.

As they exited a store, the two kids took off running for the car, which was parked at the curb along Venice Main Street. She screeched their names, trying to get them to stop before they ran into the street. Just then, a tall man with shoulder-length dark hair stepped in front of the kids and prevented them from going any further. He knelt down and talked to them as Arianna quickly hobbled up, scolding the kids as she approached.

"You two have got to stop running away from Mommy. I'm not that fast on these things, and... oh fuck it. You're not listening anyway," she said in exasperation as the tall man stood up. "Thanks so very much for catching them. I really appreciate it," she said, digging in her purse for her car keys and not even looking at the guy. 

"You're welcome, Arianna," she heard and froze.

Oh no. She knew that voice. It couldn't be. She looked up, and it was confirmed. The man who had saved her children was none other than John. He smiled that huge smile of his, and she coughed, stunned by how well - and handsome - he looked.

"Oh my gosh! John!" she exclaimed and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.

Her crutches clattered to the sidewalk around them, and he chuckled at her enthusiasm. He was still smiling as they broke the embrace, and he stooped over to get her crutches. She blushed, quietly thanking him as he handed them back to her.

"You look really fantastic," she told him, and he blushed slightly.

"Just over a year clean and sober," he told her, and she smiled.

"Really? That's so great," she said, reaching out and touching his arm to emphasize her feelings. She was proud of him for finally straightening himself out.

"Yeah, one day at a time. It's been a struggle, but it's been worth it. How about you? You are still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he told her, smiling at her, and she scoffed, blushing.

"Still the charmer, yea?" she teased, and he nodded, giving her his sexy smirk and cocking his eyebrow at her. That look had always slain her.

Just then, her kids started squabbling over a toy, and Arianna had to separate them. She looked up at John with a sigh and shrugged her shoulders. She was so glad to see him, but the timing was bad. Maybe she'd see him again.

"Let me get these hooligans home for their nap. It was so good to see you, John. Take care of yourself," she said as she opened the back door of her BMW station wagon, allowing the kids to climb in.

She buckled each of them into their car seats, and as she closed their door, she saw John step up and open the driver's door for her. She smiled and thanked him, putting her crutches into the car and then slipping into the driver's seat. He shut the door, and she looked up at him, smiling as he leaned on the window ledge.