A Pair of Brown Eyes: Chapter 25

Williams' music school was the last place where Andrew expected to see Claire. What could she possibly be doing in this part of town? He sighed, debating whether he should approach her and greet her. And to think that, but until a few days before, he would never have hesitated!

In any case, acknowledging her presence seemed like the proper thing to do, so he finally decided to walk towards her, even against his will. "Claire? I mean— Mrs. Parker." It had been his own idea to call her back by her last name: why was it so hard? "You're far from your home. May I ask what has brought you to this neighbourhood?"

"I– I'm come to– I've come–", she stuttered in her usual way, which was by turns endearing and exasperating. But it was the shock on her face at looking at him that almost undid Andrew. He should stop letting this woman affect him in so many ways!

He was wondering if he would ever get Claire to finish one of her sentences when Williams himself made his appearance across the street, distracting Andrew from the conversation at hand. His greatest surprise came when his friend approached them and addressed Claire directly. "Ah, you're right on time, Mrs. Parker."

"'On time?'" Andrew was dumbfounded. "Did you two have an appointment?"

"Why, yes, I thought you knew. This charming woman," Williams said, while giving Claire's hand a gentle stroke, "has given me the great honour of accepting my job offer."

"Is that so?" Andrew wrapped his arms across his chest, and turned to Claire, meaning to speak. Presently, however, he was at a loss for words.

"Come on, Stuart," Williams chimed in. "Don't look so surprised. You surely wouldn't want such talent to be wasted on bandages and stitches forever, would you? Look, I've had an idea. Why don't you join us to tea, so we can talk the matter over and come up with an arrangement that's suitable for the three of us? If the lady agrees to it, of course."

Angry as he was, Andrew couldn't offer any sound objection to that proposition, and seeing that... the charming woman herself had given none of her own, consented to it in the end.

Williams led them to the interior of the building, and asked them to wait for him while he went to see about making the tea ready.

"Why, Claire, why?" Andrew snapped at her as soon as they were left alone. "Damn it, you're so difficult to understand. So unpalatable is your present situation now, Mrs. Parker, that you want to leave it? And you weren't even going to tell me, as usual."

"It's not that. I like my job," she said in as flat a voice as Andrew had ever heard.

"Then it's because of me that you're quitting, isn't it? Because you have decided you won't have me and therefore you can't even tolerate to be in my company? Is that so? And why won't you have me, anyway? Is it because I'm too old for you? Too far beneath you?"

"What?" Claire raised his eyes at him; the paleness of her face didn't prepare Andrew for the composed yet angry tone in which she spoke next. "Your manly pride is not the only thing at stake here! First you push me away, making both of us uncomfortable, and now you get shocked that I can't bear the situation any longer!?"

"I? *I* have pushed *you* away?" Andrew tried not to think of how gorgeous she looked, heaving in anger, a noticeable sparkle enhancing the intensity of her sight. "I'm not the one who said she could never love me! And most particularly after having kissed me so warmly the minute before!"

She looked away. And when she talked again, her tone was considerably subdued. "I've been confusing you–," her voice trembled. "–haven't I?" Was that a question? Andrew had the feeling she was no longer talking to him.

He didn't bother to find out; he was growing tired of this conversation. As if she was the only one who could leave the other talking to thin air. Turning on his heels, he aimed for the exit, not minding his manners. His friend would excuse him, he was sure of it –neither he nor Claire seemed to be in any need of his presence, anyway. And at present, Andrew was done with human society.

The things Claire had accused him of! And that after having failed at offering any satisfactory explanation of her refusal a few days before...

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What was about this woman that made him so crazy? How was it he could not get her out of his mind even when she had rejected him so coldly? I could never love you... That was the only explanation he was to get? After all they had shared together? She could never love him? What did that mean, anyway? He grabbed his coat and ventured outdoors. For once, he did not mind the rain, since it would appease his anger and deception.

But Andrew only went as far as the outer gates of his home. His wandering thoughts prevented him from going any farther. He could think of nothing but her, and at one point he found himself remembering how they had met... How he had thought that employing a woman in his service was the craziest thing to do. And how she had changed his mind so quickly. How she had captured his attention from the very beginning by her alluring eyes, and her quiet charm, and her varied talents, and that compelling mystery that surrounded her...

Compelling mystery! He sneered. Claire remained a mystery to him, indeed, but that had ceased to entice him a long while ago. Her evasiveness –which he had mistakenly thought to have conquered– had become a nuisance, one more proof of how little trust she bestowed upon him. Why, oh why did he have to be so utterly in love with someone who wouldn't share any important matters with him?

He had overcome one breakup before; he was not sure he could do it this time. Claire meant much more for him than Olivia ever did, but she... She could never love him!

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His pride! That was all she could think of? She had spoken as if she imagined him to be the kind of man who would value a woman as a prize to be won over, or would treat her as his possession! Surely his pride had been hurt –and he was by no means the first jilted man in history– but that wasn't the reason why he felt so miserable. Oh, no! So many more things tormented his soul. Why couldn't the woman understand it? Why couldn't Claire understand that if she would just let him pour out his feelings for her, perhaps then she would be willing to give him a chance? Why couldn't she understand that without her, life was meaningless?

His pride? His former fiancée accused him of not having enough pride and ambition, and now this! He had never thought Olivia and Claire were at all alike but perhaps they were, even in their antagonism; perhaps he had been deluding himself into believing the contrary. Perhaps all women were alike, after all, always ready to chastise men and make them act like fools!

No! It couldn't be that! Claire's refusal simply made no sense! That's what was bothering him! He couldn't have been so blind as to imagine an emotional attachment on her part where there was none. She must feel something for him! He had seen it in the way she looked at him of late. And her kisses... She gave them too keenly for them to have been fake.

Claire, oh Claire! He couldn't deny the strong feelings she elicited in him, even if she had so blatantly refused him. What was he going to do?

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Author's note.- Soooo, we're moving forward... at long last! Phew! I thought I'd never get up to this point... I hope this chapter wasn't too confusing as to what is present and what is past, but since Andrew's train of thought is like a continuum, I guess time really doesn't matter much... 

Oh, and one more thing... In case you don't completely hate me yet, I'm telling you now you are not going to– like– next chapter. There! Don't say you haven't been warned! :-P ;-).