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Now he has you oozing compliments.”

“Did I just see the green eyed monster in you Grant? Wow, you have got it bad. Who would have thought Mallaby would one day be jealous of a man almost twice his age, and for someone like Tizzy.” Becky winked at Roger

“Oh leave him alone, Becky, Grant doesn’t feel that way about Tizzy. I know she is your friend but she is plain, and ...” Roger began and when he hesitated pretending to seek a terrible word to describe Tizzy.

“Roger don’t. Sorry mate but I don’t want to hear anything against her. Even if she was as plain as she pretends to be, I would still not have liked anything said that was derogatory” Grant was not rude, just firm.

“What do you mean, ‘pretends to be?” Becky asked

“Becky have you ever seen her with her hair loose and without those hideous glasses. She has the most beautiful eyes that I have ever seen. There should be a law against people with such eyes hiding them behind glasses.” Grant was once again seeing the blueness of them.

“And when may I ask, did you see all this?” Becky asked. One week away and a lifetime of events had already happened.

“The night I stayed at her place..” Grant began

“You what! Why didn’t Tizzy tell me any of this? That little devil! She has left out all the interesting bits.” Becky was smiling as she cursed Tizzy.

“Look it was all innocent. We worked late, I offered to take her out for dinner, she had leftovers, we ate, I was exhausted and fell asleep, ‘on the lounge” Grant said emphasizing the last three words. “Then in the middle of the night she woke up screaming. I went in. She was absolutely traumatized. I had to scream her name and mine to get her out of the trance. That’s when I really

saw her. Not harsh and uptight as she makes herself look, but soft, vulnerable and so utterly beautiful. I guess that’s when I realized that, I had fallen in love with her.” it was out

“In love? You in love with Tizzy! Grant if that is true, what are you doing getting engaged to Trisha?” Roger asked

“Engaged to Trisha? What gave you that idea? Branson brought up her name as well.” Grant was curious now.

“Well she has been the only person we know that you have been seeing on a regular basis. For the past three years the rumor has been that you have been in love with the model.” Roger put in

“I was never in love with Trisha. Trisha and I consoled each other after Tom’s death. I thought it was common knowledge, that Trisha was Tom’s fiancé. She too had as hard a time getting over his loss, as I did. In fact just last week, we had dinner together and she announced that she was engaged to a friend of ours. She feared I would think that she was being disloyal to Tom’s memory. We were never an item. She could not get over Tom. And I wanted to concentrate on the business. Actually, she is coming down next weekend. I’ll bring her over to meet you both. She is bringing Mike with her. That’s the man she is marrying.” Grant was glad he had sorted that out

“I am sure we will like her. Tizzy liked her. Said, she was stunning.” Becky said

“I suppose Trisha is. It’s funny how different they both are. Trisha dresses up to look stunning, Tizzy goes out of her way to make herself look unattractive.” Grant said making the comparison.

“She has her reasons Grant. Her unattractiveness is her security.” Becky said

“I am sorry, I don’t understand.” Grant began

“Grant this is in total confidence. If you had not acknowledged your love for her, I would not have said anything even now. But the time has come for Tizzy to come out of her cocoon and I think you are the person to bring her out.” Becky started

“Becky, tell me all that I need to know.” Grant saw a ray of hope in Becky’s words.

“Tizzy was born illegitimate. Her mother fell in love with a man she did not know was married. By the time she found that out, she was pregnant with Tizzy. Twenty-eight years ago, it was hard for single mothers, even harder if you were unmarried. Her family asked her to choose between

an abortion or marriage to the father of the child. She could do neither, so she ran away. Becky then related all that Branson had told her and ended with ‘the two men involved were killed as their car crashed into an oncoming truck as they tried to escape. Six months later when Tizzy was released from hospital, she turned to her mother for support. By now her mother had gone deeper into depression and guilt. I guess in her guilt and frustration, her mother blamed the incident on Tizzy. The clothes she wore, and the hours she kept. Tizzy left town, taking with her all the money she personally possessed. She left behind everything else from her clothes, make up, high heels, and even her jewellery. She has never worn any of them since.”

Grant could not believe what he was hearing. He could feel the pain she must have suffered. Understand the humiliation at her mother’s words. No wonder she was plagued with the nightmares. He remembered the slash he had seen on her arm.

“Tizzy said her eyes hurt in the light. I had not believed her when she said that. Were her eyes hurt in the attack as well?” he asked Becky

“There is nothing wrong with them, thank God. When she asked the men, why had they picked her, one of them had growled, “It’s those blue eyes. We chose you because of those gorgeous blue babies.’ She has kept them hidden from public view and once outside her home her horrible glasses are her constant companion. You and I are the only ones to have seen her without her shades.” Becky related.

“It took her over two years to build up enough courage to even speak to a man again.” She continued “That’s why she hates meetings and presentations. That’s why she won’t trust herself with a man alone.”

“Becky darling, I think that is no longer true. She let Grant into her home. And now she is sitting with Branson. Don’t stare, but” Roger did not go further, for Grant was already glaring in that direction. The atmosphere was suddenly charged. Since Becky and Roger knew Tizzy had been there all along, it was Grant who was responsible for the change.

“Roger, so it is. No wonder she did not accept our invitation for tonight. Well, well, well, this is interesting.” Becky pushed the subject further.

Just then Grant rose. “Where are you going? I hope you are not going to fight with Branson?” Becky for the first time that evening was scared. Grant had always been such a level headed person, that she had not anticipated this angry reaction.

“No Becky, much as I dislike seeing that man anywhere near Tizzy, I would not do that to her now. Not after knowing what she has been through. I would be no different from those two vile creatures before.” he said, putting a reassuring hand over her shoulder.

“You won’t argue either.” she asked

“That would equal verbal mauling. I don’t ever want Tizzy to see a violent act or hear an angry word again. No, I am just going over to talk. If I don’t talk to Tizzy now, I think it will be too late. There is a lot that needs sorting out. There are too many misconceptions to be cleared.”

“Grant just one more thing. Be kind to Branson. In his own way, he really does love her too.” Becky added

“I don’t mind if the entire world loves her, as long as she is in love, with only me.”

Grant was suddenly very determined that Tizzy was his. Only his!

“What if she does not return your feeling, what then mate?” Roger put in

Grant looked at them, then at Branson and Tizzy.

“Love has been known to blossom after marriage. Look at so many people who have had arranged marriage. Their love for each other is no less real, than those that have love marriages. I am prepared to wait for her to feel the same way about me, as I do about her. A lifetime if need be.” Grant put in

“You are going to ask her to marry you?” Becky was thrilled but still concerned.

“I am going to ask her alright, and if she does not listen to my reason, you our dear friends are going to play cupids and convince her.” With a wink, he was walking towards Tizzy.

Becky clasped her hand over Rogers. And the lady seated at the table next to them wiped away her tears.

Tizzy saw the last of the interactions. When he stood up, she thought she was hallucinating. Then she blinked her eyes. They were still there and Grant was looking in her direction. What were they doing here? Becky had invited him for dinner. Of the many restaurants to choose from, how on earth did they manage to end up in the same restaurant twice?

“Peter may we leave?” Tizzy’s hands were shaking.

“Tizzy, I said once before, never hide from battle and never run from love. I have known for a long time that you were in love with him. And despite his pig headed behavior with me the other day, Grant is everything I would like your husband to be.” Branson knew he had only a few seconds more before Grant was within hearing range.

“Peter, you don’t know what you are saying. He is not in love with me, he is marrying Trisha, and please don’t say anything to Grant. I will disappear forever if you do that.” Tizzy feared the worst.

“And what if I say you are wrong on all three counts.” Grant was by her side.

Tizzy could hear her heart thumping against the ribcage again. She should have been used to this feeling by now, she had felt it for over a week, but the thumps seemed to be getting stronger almost deafening. Grant had heard their conversation, how was she going to face him now? She would have to go away, to some other city, maybe Perth. And in future she would remember never to give a lift to any man.

As if fearing she might bolt, Grant rested one arm against the back of her chair.

“Peter, would you mind if we exchange tables. You already know Becky and Roger and I need to talk to Tizzy, alone” Branson shook hands, and left saying,

“I’ll be at that table if you need me.”

“She won’t.” Grant was abrupt

Branson turned and walked away, giving the impression of a man controlling his anger. But as he looked at Becky and Roger, he was beaming from ear to ear. His eyes said, “It worked.” Then instead of heading towards Becky and Roger, Peter stopped at the table beside them, where the

solitary lady looked at him.

“Did you see her Betty? That is your granddaughter.” The next minute, he was holding his sobbing wife.

Chapter 13

“Tizzy, what if I say, you are wrong on all three counts.” he repeated himself “ I am in not marrying Trisha, I am not going to let you leave, and yes I am in love with you.”

Tizzy could feel the room spinning. She was sure her eyes were playing tricks on her and that her ears were being deceived. Then she felt his