The Twelve Tables Ch. 28

Andie and Peri walked into the exclusive city arcade and the lingerie shop while Gerrard and Phillipe stood uncomfortably outside. They had the run of the shop and hearing what has happening aboard the boat that Charles was on with his nephews, Andie decided to try on outfits with Peri. As always Andie had an eye for putting outfits together and got creative with some billowing short nightgowns and highly decorated corsets, scarves for bandanas and fishnet stockings. Peri had to admit these were some sexy pirate outfits.

They took photos with each other's phones and took one together. Andie dragged her out to stand with the stoic dark-suited security men who steadfastly refused to pose with her. They sent pictures to their respective lovers aboard the ship.

"What happened to the busty wench that was going to swoon excessively upon our return?" Josh replied to one picture.

"Are you still pouting?" She asked.

"Yes Dante got a better picture than me," came the text making her laugh.

"Holy fuck! That's my new screen background." was the reply she got from Dante.

"Don't you dare!" she replied

"Oh, I dare. Believe me, I dare!" Dante sent punctuated by several emoticons.

"They left the shop in disarray sometime later after finding a suitable swooning outfit for Peri who insisted on buying the corset Andie had fallen in love with and several new bras. Josh had said she could shop, so shop she did. She felt guilty about the exorbitant amount of money she spent in one boutique, but he had insisted she get used to the fact she could get whatever she wanted and not worry about it, so she tried not to think about how much she had just put on her credit card.

They walked out of the small arcade still laughing about the men's reactions to their impromptu photo shoot and not paying attention when Peri walked into the path of another woman and stumbled almost falling except for the fact that Gerrard had reached out and grabbed her with his long arms hauling her back towards him. The other woman did fall and got up apologising immediately.

"Sorry, I don't know where my head was just then, I didn't even see you," she said without looking up as she dusted off her knees and began picking up the bags she had dropped.

"Sabrina?" Peri asked shaking off Gerrard's hands and standing straighter.

"Do I know you?" Sabrina got to her feet and finally looked at who she had crashed into. "My God, Peri! You look amazing! I would never have recognised you. At least you know I didn't do it on purpose this time," she gave a sad smile.

"I never thanked you for testifying against Nik," Peri said her voice barely above a whisper. She was stunned to come face to face with someone who had treated her so badly so long ago.

"It was the least I could do. I was such a bitch to you. I was a bitch to everyone back then but mostly to you. I really am sorry, Peri," Sabrina said. "I know you probably don't want to see me, let alone talk to me, but I would very much like to buy you a coffee if you have time, and your mother, and umm the men in black?" She surveyed Phillipe and Gerard as she spoke.

"Ignore them," Peri sighed. "I think it turns them on when beautiful women ignore them." She gave a crooked smile.

The corners of Phillipe's mouth quirked up into a smile for a second before he regained his composure. Which made Peri laugh. She knew she owed Sabrina nothing but what happened, in the end, had nothing to do with Sabrina and yet she still came to help put Nik away at the trial. Her mother had told her why she had been there and why her testimony at trial was necessary. She had gone to see Nik in prison to bait her into confessing, and Nik had been cruel and dismissed the friendship between them as a waste of her time and energy. Nik had not held back in the way she had taunted the woman about how easily she had used Sabrina's gullibility, that she would never be good enough for Josh.

"How's your business Andie, I wish I could afford your services, but good jobs are hard to find when your living down a reputation like mine," Sabrina turned to Andie after Peri didn't accept or refuse her invitation.

"It's wonderful. I'm so busy I'm thinking of taking on a partner," she smiled. "Who would have thought I could make a living just by shopping. I think I'm in heaven."

"That's great, so coffee?" Sabrina invited again.

"As long as you can bear the men in black scrutinising our every move," Peri accepted unsure why she had agreed as soon as she said it.

"I can ignore them as easily as any other guy who looks my way," she laughed and looked up at the tall men. "Don't get too excited now, gentlemen." Gerard smiled at the joke and Peri gasped.

"My God he does have teeth I've been wondering about that for weeks now," she said incredulously. Phillipe cleared his throat in an effort not to laugh, and Peri fixed her eyes on him. "Is there anywhere close by that you approve of or will we just take pot luck?"

"Follow me, Mrs. Donati, Ladies," Phillipe nodded and walked toward the end of the mall and led them into an Italian bakery that had tables and chairs. The smell was divine and it made Peri aware that she had skipped lunch totally.

"Do you mind if I grab something to eat as well, I skipped lunch, and I'm suddenly starving," Peri said.

"Sounds good to me," Andie agreed easily.

"Please guys have some lunch, you can sit between me and the door, there is only one way in or out of this place. We'll be just as fine if you are sitting as when you're standing."

"Thank you, Mrs. Donati," Gerard said seriously. "We'll blend in better if we sit."

"Yeah like that's ever gonna happen," she murmured under her breath feeling the restrictions of her life as Mrs. Donati chafe.

"You married Josh after everything that happened. Congratulations!" Sabrina said sincerely. "I'm really happy that it all worked out, I felt so bad when I heard you'd stopped seeing him during the trial." She looked into Peri's eyes and took on a serious expression. "I was vain and arrogant and dumb. I never want to be that person again. I don't want friends like that, and I certainly don't want a life like that anymore. I saw the worst of it in that courtroom, and it scared me. I don't want to be that person, not ever again."

Peri was taken aback by Sabrina's honesty and sincerity. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had dismissed her as a frumpy, shy woman who would never amount to anything let alone gain Joshua Donati's attention. A waitress came to take their order, and they talked about the changes in their lives over the last year over a late lunch. Sabrina was astounded to hear that she'd had triplets.

"Look, here's my card," Sabrina said at the end of the lunch. "I'd like for us to be friends. Real friends are hard to come by, and I think the world of how you have handled everything that was thrown your way last year. I'm not sure I would have been as gracious as you have been today if the roles were reversed."

"Thanks," Peri took the card not offering her number or anything. She still wasn't sure how she felt about the woman and wanted to think about it a bit more. "I'll call you soon and then you'll have my number."

"No pressure," Sabrina said. "I better get going. Thanks for not brushing me off. I appreciate that more than you know." She turned and walked out before Peri could reply.

"That was unexpected," Andie said.

"Joshua is heading into the marina now," Phillipe informed them. "Perhaps if you plan to be ready to swoon we should leave now," he suggested.

"Thanks for coming in Mum, I'm sure you had better things to do on a Sunday afternoon," Peri said as they reached her car and waiting security man.

"Nothing is so important that I wouldn't come when you need me," Andie hugged her tightly. "Like Sabrina, I don't ever want to be the woman who let you down and hurt you ever again." She kissed her cheek and got into the car. "I love you, baby."

Peri brooded over both Sabrina and Andie's words about the changes they had made in their lives. She had seen the dramatic changes in her mother over the last year. Could Sabrina have changed that much as well?

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