FIFTEEN

The Bendix Diamond

Thegianttoweringredwoodswereamarvel,somethemost beautiful and majestic beings ever to grace the earth. Allegra remembered when they were planted, at the dawn of the universe, and once in every few cycles she strove to visit them, to smell the air that was the closest earth came to Paradise.

Hence the Redwood Room was one of her favorite bars in San Francisco. She was happy to find it was still the same, still a soaring space with that long, enormous bar. Legend said that it was made from the trunk of one redwood tree. The bar had been through many different owners, but since it was now housed in the hip Clift hotel, it was considered young and trendy enough that Charles would never think to step inside.

Her twin was a staunch traditionalist, and loathed such things as Louis Quatorze furniture rendered in plastic, which could be found at the Redwood Room in great abundance.

Allegra found Ben sitting at a back table, and she slipped into the banquette, feeling sheepish. Twice now she had run from him, and twice now she had returned. “I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to leave so abruptly,” she said.

“I seem to bring that out in you,” Ben said, sounding amused. He appeared to have recovered from his earlier embarrassment. The preppie façade was back in place, along with his lopsided grin. “What are you having?” he asked.

“Martini.”

“Old-school.” He smiled and motioned to the waitress, then placed their orders.

They looked at each other across the table, a heavy silence hanging between them until Allegra could bear it no longer.

“Ben…”

“Legs, hold on. Before you say anything, let me explain. I wanted you to see the paintings because they were of you. But I did those years ago, right when you left me.” He leaned over and was about to say more, when a girl joined their table. It was the pretty brunette from the gallery.

“Hi sweetie,” she said, kissing Ben on the lips. She smiled at Allegra.

“Allegra, this is Renny. Renny, you’ve met Allegra,” Ben said, raising his eyebrows.

“Renny and Benny!” Renny giggled. “Nice to see you again. Ben said we were meeting you here. You should have told me you were his old friend when you bought the painting.” The girl beamed at her and put a possessive hand on Ben’s shoulder.

Allegra kept smiling and nodding, speechless for a moment, and she was relieved when Renny excused herself to chat with some friends she’d spotted across the room.

They watched her go, and Ben turned back to Allegra. “I didn’t want to give you the wrong impression. Renny hasn’t seen those other paintings of you. mother wanted me to put them away years ago, but I wanted you to see them. I needed you to see them. But like I said, they were the work I did right after Endicott, after you disappeared.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine….” He waved off her apology. “I know you changed me. I could feel it. Sometimes I would wake up and just… need you so much. But then I started painting, and it got better, little by little.”

“And you’re okay,” she said brightly.

“Yes.” He studied her. “I didn’t want you to go back to New York worrying about me. I wanted you to know that I went through hell—but it’s all right, I survived.” He blushed.

“Sorry to be so melodramatic, but it’s why I invited you to the studio. I just wanted you to see them.”

Allegra gave him a brilliant smile. “I’m so glad. She seems like a wonderful girl.”

“She is. Smart. She keeps me grounded.” Ben cleared his throat. “We’re getting married in the spring.”

Allegra nodded and took a sip from her martini glass, forcing the cold liquid down her throat. She could not begrudge him a wedding, especially since she herself was getting bonded to Charles soon.

“I figured, why wait, right? When you’ve met the person you’re going to spend the rest of your life with, why wait at all.” Ben sighed. “Renny’s good for me.”

“And your family?” Allegra had to ask. Do they like her?

Does your mother wish it was me?

Ben smirked. “Mother isn’t terribly pleased. She thinks I should wait.”

Allegra tried not to show that she agreed with mrs. Chase.

It did feel as if Ben was rushing into this—and what was the reason for it?

“But I don’t want to.”

“Good for you.” Allegra finished the rest of her drink. “I’m so happy for you. I’m happy for you both.”

Renny made her way back to the table and sat next to Ben. “What did I miss?”

“Congratulations. Ben told me the good news.” Allegra smiled as Ben kissed his fiancée’s hand. She could not help but notice the diamond the size of a meteor on the girl’s finger. Renny laughed and waved her hand, sending waves of light across the room. “I know it’s a bit much, isn’t it?” she asked Allegra in a conspiratorial tone. “I told Ben I didn’t need a ring, but he insisted. It’s the Bendix diamond. It was designed for his great-grandmother by Alfred Van Cleef himself.”

“It’s beautiful.” Allegra called to the cocktail waitress. “A bottle of your finest champagne, please. We’re celebrating.”

Ben looked pleased and abashed at the same time, while Renny beamed. The waitress set a magnum of champagne in a silver bucket in the center of the table, and Ben did the honors, popping the cork and pouring three glasses of the frothy, bubbly liquid. The champagne was perfect: bracingly cold, tart and smoky. Allegra did not know how she was able to keep a smile plastered on her face for the entire evening, but she managed, ordering up bottle after bottle of champagne, her vampire blood immune to the alcohol content. It gave her a small dark satisfaction to hear Renny complaining of room spin after a few rounds.

As the happy couple nuzzled at the table, Allegra decided she would call the service first thing tomorrow morning.

Charles was right, as usual. She didn’t know why it had taken her five years to figure it out, but it was time to move on. Ben had.