Dionne-
I had to get out of that house, it stunk of lies and deception, and I couldn't look at Brien II without becoming sick with fear, love, rejection, and a feeling much like hate. Where was the last place he would look for me? That anyone would expect me to be? Well, I couldn't go to Lacey's, Brians, Sheri's, Faulkner's, or even Arizona's. I couldn't go anywhere it seemed, and so I just left. I found myself in a restuarant, totally underdressed. The maitre' de told me that I would need to change, and then I was welcome to return...even though I had no reservation. I left to my car, and dug through my things, I had absolutely nothing nice to wear, that didn't have HIS scent on it. I would have to go shopping. It seemed to take forever, I told the lady it had to be nice, sexy, not shiny, not short, and no lace either. Finally she found something that worked for me.

I returned to the restuarant, and asked for a seat that was more secluded than the others. I sat alone, and tried to eat. Everything on the menu reminded me of either Ransom, or Brien; and I put my head on the table, unable to stop the tears. Where would I go? I finished eating what I could, and left. I went to the hotel, and got a room, the bell boy took my things up to my room, and I followed. I cleaned myself up, and put on some make-up; the whole world didn't need to know how miserable I was. I found my way to the hotel bar, sat on a stool and ordered a whiskey on the rocks. Now, no I'm not a big drinker, but I needed to think, and Dad always used to say that when he needed to think, Jack Daniels was there to help. I kept thinking, but I still had no clue what to do, or where to go and not be found by Brien.

I took off my rings, I had never taken either of them off, not Ransoms, and not Briens.... until now. Memories came flooding back, the first time I had kissed Ransom, the day we got married, the day Lacey was born. Then the memories of Brien. He had taken such good care of me and Lacey, and he would look at me sometimes, as though I meant the world to him. I was stupid, I remembered the day Brian was born, it hadn't been an unhappy marriage.
(If this is wrong let me know mom, you were at work, sO I just went ahead and did it anyways.)
Ransom's ring, I put on my necklace chain, and Briens, well I just kept staring at it. Even worse, I started talking to it as though it were Brien himself! I sat there like an idiot and asked my wedding ring where the last place was that he Brien King would look for me. I didn't notice Russell Chandler sitting nearby, listening and watching me do this... at least until he answered me. He said "The last place he'll look for you is at my house." I looked at him like he was insane, what on earth would make him propose such an idea? He told me that if we didn't want to, that we wouldn't even have to see each other, and besides, he was hardly ever there.
For some reason I agreed with him, and the next night, I was in the Chandler home. Evidence of Brien looking for me was adding up, since I hadn't told anyone where to reach me, he wasn't having much luck. At the dance studio, I dodged him.
There was a custody trial over Elijah, it turned out that Brien II went to jail for rape. I went home with Lacey and Stephanie that day, my heart aching.

I got my divorce, and on the day that our divorce was final, I brought a bottle of champagne over to share with Russell, even though I knew that the likelyhood of him being around was slim to none. So, I waited a while, and started my own candlelit dinner, a celebration of being on my own, without someone taking care of me every step of the way. I could say that, because Russ had really only given me a place to hide from Brien. He had hardly been there at all. I had set up in one of the more shared areas of the house, there was enough for two, but I hadn't set anything up for him, just me. I drank champagne, danced with myself around the room, and spun right into Russell, who had a curious look on his face. I laughed at myself, and backing up a bit, I explained what I was doing. I said I should be out of his hair quite shortly, since I no longer felt the need to hide from Brien, I would be getting my own place again. Russ hesitated, telling me that I was welcome to stay there, with him. I was dancing again, and when I came close to him, he reached out and took my hand; so I danced with him. I celebrated until I felt I couldn't celebrate any longer, and then I went to my own bed, alone, and went to sleep.

I think the affair officially started about a year or so after that. It wasn't anything serious. I started to warm up to him, decided that he had been very generous, and to thank him for letting me stay, I would make dinner for those nights when he would return from a trip. Yea, it's true, I learned a lot from Brien, how to cook anyhow. Most of the stuff I cooked for Russell, I learned from the Food Network though. I had intended just to leave it there for him, but he caught me on my way out- he had gotten home early. I had been backing out, making sure that it would look perfect for him, and I backed into him, his hands on my waist, I turned to face him; suddenly shy about it, and told him welcome home. He leaned over and kissed me, and thus our affair began.