Interview with Love (15 page)

“Impossible. Your beauty will never fade. You did have me a little nervous, though.” Vaughn admitted. “Are you hungry or thirsty? Is there anything I can get you?”

“No. I just need to take it easy for a while. I'll be my usual self in no time.”

“By the way, your father called.”

“Did he threaten to storm the place?”

“Nope. He called to see if I wanted him to relieve me of duty. I told him we were just fine.”

Sienna's expression turned guarded. “I don't think that's entirely true.”

Concern etched his features. “Do you want me to call your doctor or something?”

“No, I'm going to be fine soon. My headaches don't usually last that long, although, I may be nauseous until I regain my strength, but that's not what I meant.”

An odd look crossed his face. “Sienna.”

“I know I owe you an explanation.”

Vaughn shook his head. “We aren't going to do this now.”

“We have to talk about all this.”

“And we will, just not right now.”

“There must be a lot of questions running through your mind,” she pressed.

A loud sigh escaped his lips. “You're right. I do have a lot of questions, and I had a lot of time to think about this whole scenario last night,” he said, with irritation. “I've tried to think about this rationally, to come at this from different angles and to try and understand your circumstances, but I just can't. The only logical reason I could come up with for why you weren't open with me is that you don't trust me.”

Sienna's eyes swept over his face. “Vaughn, that's not true. I trust you—completely.”

Vaughn bounded off the bed. “How can you say that? You neglected to tell me you had a sister, Sienna. We're not talking about a shoe fetish, or you being a shopaholic. Sasha is a member of your family. Regardless of whether you two are on speaking terms, she is your twin sister. You also didn't think it pertinent to tell me you suffer from severe headaches?”

“You didn't tell me that you had another brother right away, either,” Sienna argued.

Vaughn's eyes widened. “I don't have a blood feud going on with my brother, Sienna. This is hardly the same thing. I just didn't get around to telling you about Chase, but that wasn't because we aren't on speaking terms, or because of some master plan to deceive you.”

“That wasn't what I was trying to do, Vaughn.”

“Putting that aside for a minute, if it wasn't for your sister I wouldn't have known how to help you, Sienna. You can't see how upset that makes me feel? Did you think I enjoyed watching you in excruciating pain?”

“Of course not,” she interjected.

“Then why did you keep something like that from me?” he demanded. “Those are two pretty big topics not to discuss with someone that's supposed to mean something to you, don't you think?”

“You mean a great deal to me, Vaughn. Please don't ever doubt that.”

“That's just it, Doc. You've given me no reason not to disbelieve what you say. You say you trust me implicitly, and that I shouldn't doubt you. My question to you is why? I need a reason, Sienna.”

When she remained silent he shook his head and turned away.

“Vaughn, wait,” she cried, jumping out of the bed and running toward him. She paused for a second and placed her hand on her head. Reaching him, she placed an arm on his shoulder. “Please…please don't leave. Not like this. I'm sorry. I should've said something and I didn't. I didn't tell you about the migraines because I don't get them that often. Just under extreme stress and—”

“And I still should've known. If you get them every damn week, once a month, or every five years, you still should have told me.”

“I realize that now and I truly am sorry for upsetting you. As for my sister, she and I don't get along. Everyone assumes that twins are inseparable and share everything, but that's not the case for us. We're always rubbing each other the wrong way. We had that big blow up a long time ago and we've been barely civil to each other ever since.”

“That's not telling me why you lied to me.”

“I didn't lie Vaughn. It's not like I told you I had a sister and you found out I didn't.”

“No,” he shot back. “You didn't
say
anything. That's worse.”

When he went to walk away she ran around and got in front of him. “What was I supposed to say? That I'm a psychologist that can't even sustain a healthy, meaningful relationship with her own sister, and a twin sister at that? How do you think that makes me feel? It's the one thing in my life that isn't orderly, that I can't control. I'm very good at what I do, Vaughn. I strive to be the archetype for my profession. I work with all types of people from every walk of life, yet I'm crazed when I'm around
her
. The only thing we see eye-to-eye on is that we can barely tolerate each other. Do you know how that makes me look?”

“Human?”

“This isn't a joke,” she snapped. “Do you know that you are the longest lasting relationship I've ever had? Most of them implode before they even reach the two month mark, and somewhere in the back of my mind I'm always worrying that Sasha will show up and ruin everything just to get back at me. A psychologist that's paranoid.” She ran her hand over eyes. “That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.”

“No, Sienna it isn't. You can't control everything—or everybody. Life isn't perfect. It just
is
. You're going to have to deal with Sasha one way or another.”

“I am dealing with it.”

“No, you're avoiding it,” he countered. Flicking a hand over the hair coiled at the nape of her neck he studied her for a few seconds. He let out a long sigh. “At least I finally understand why you wear it. That bun and glasses are nothing more than camouflage. You say you and your sister aren't close, but I disagree. She's been in your head for years telling you that you weren't worthy of winning that crown. That it was only because of her that you achieved success, that you weren't beautiful in your own right. That you had nothing of your own to offer—and deep down you believed her, didn't you? You told her you won on your own merits, yet you discount them every time you hide behind props, Sienna. Every time you get crazed over having to deal with her. Every time a relationship comes along and you don't trust it,” he said, with remorse.

Tears slid down Sienna's face of their own accord. “I'm sorry I kept this from you. You can't imagine how much I regret that decision. Please believe me; I do trust you, Vaughn.”

He rubbed his thumb along her cheek. “I hope you're right, Doc, because without it we're dead in the water.”

Gordon and Cassandra sat at the dinner table chatting about the upcoming recital at her studio. He glanced across the table eyeing his silent daughters speculatively. “You two are supposed to be working on your relationship.”

“Dad, we're sitting at the same table. We aren't arguing, nor are we fighting. I'd call that progress,” Sasha reasoned.

Sienna stared at her food.

“Still bummed out over Vaughn?” Sasha inquired.

“What of it?” Sienna snapped.

“Don't bite my head off I was only asking. It's been three days and you still haven't spoken to him or seen him?”

“And your point is?”

“My point,” Sasha stressed, “is that I think you need to step up your quest to win him back.”

“All of a sudden you're giving me dating advice?”

“She may have a point, sweetheart,” her father chimed in. “Have you spoken to Vaughn since he went out of town on business?”

Sienna shoved her fork around on her plate. “No.”

“Did you call him?”

“No, Dad I haven't called. He clearly doesn't want to talk to me.”

“Coward,” Sasha said, under her breath.

Sienna fixed her with a cold stare. “What do you know about it?”

“I know you messed up by not being truthful with him about me, I know I should be pissed at your for implying I don't exist. I know you have this hang up about relationships that looms over your head like a damn rain cloud. I know that ridiculous bun you're wearing would drive any man to drink, and I know that you are trying to pretend his desertion doesn't bother you, but you're scared as hell and crying on the inside.”

She stared at Sasha several shocked seconds before bolting out of her chair. “Tell me something, Sasha. Whose fault is it that I have relationship problems? Did you ever bother to ask yourself that?” She looked at her sister in disgust. “No, I bet you didn't.” Grabbing her purse she said a curt goodbye to her parents and headed out the front door. Cassandra was fast on her heels.

Gordon turned a reproachful eye toward his daughter. “It's amazing. Neither one of you have to work at being hurtful. It just seems to come naturally, doesn't it? If your mother were still alive this animosity you two have would have broken her heart.”

For the first time since Sasha arrived, her expression was one of genuine sadness.

 

At home later, Sienna dabbed furiously at her running nose and tear drenched eyes with a wad of tissues. She had been there less than an hour and had already gone through half a box of Kleenex. The accusations her sister hurled at her were painful, but true. She eyed the cordless phone on her ottoman.
Vaughn.
A pang of regret at how things ended between them made her stomach churn.
Had things really ended, or was this their first argument?
she wondered.

On the way back to her house she'd called Vivian to get another perspective. Her ears were still throbbing from the quadraphonic tongue lashing she'd received from her best friend. “It would appear everyone thinks I've lost my mind,” she cried, aloud.

“Not everyone,” a woman's voice sounded from across the room.

Sienna gasped loudly and jumped to her feet. Her hand went to her heart. “Don't ever scare me like that again. How did you even get in here?” she asked, breathlessly.

Sasha shook the house key that was in her hand.

Sienna watched her sister swing the chain from her finger. “How many times do I have to ask for that back?”

“Beats me,” Sasha shrugged. Coming into the room, she sat across from the couch like she'd done with Vaughn.

“So, what brings you by?” Sienna inquired. “Here to twist the knife a little deeper?”

Sasha shook her head. “Not this time. I wanted to…apologize, for what I said earlier. I was wrong.”

Sienna shrugged. “No, you weren't,” she sniffed. “I handled things badly with Vaughn. It's my fault he hightailed it out of town.”

“It was work related,” Sasha said, optimistically.

He's been on location before and he's called me every night, but not this time. I think I've lost him. Rule number twenty: quit kicking a dead camel.”

“I think that's horse,” Sasha remarked.

She blew her nose loudly. “These are my rules. I'll make up whatever I want.”

Sasha took a breath. “Sienna, I…I owe you an apology. About what happened with Vaughn, about what I said earlier,” she looked at her sister. “Most importantly, about what happened at the Beauty Pageant.” Sasha looked remorseful. “I've done many things in my life that I am not proud of, Sienna, most of them to you. I want you to know that it's haunted me—my not being there when you needed me. Not taking up for you with that poor excuse for a human being. It was my darkest hour, Sienna. I'm ashamed of myself and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could take it back, that I could have made him pay for what he did to you,” she brushed tears from her eyes, “to us. I am not asking you to ever forget what happened. I just hope that you are able to forgive me. I miss being your sister, Sienna, and I'd give anything to have that back.” Sasha's voice shook with emotion. She took one final look at her sister and then got up to leave.

“Wait.”

Sasha turned around.

“I'm sorry for what I said earlier, too.”

“No, you had every right.”

“You aren't to blame for me having relationship problems. He was. I'm trying not to let him continue to have that power over me. I realize that if there's ever going to be a change it has to start with me.”

Sienna got up and walked toward her sister. “Thanks again for last night.”

Sasha met her in the middle. “You're welcome.”

Awkwardly they hugged. After a few tears and more hugs Sasha pulled back. “Okay, enough with the pity party. Get off your butt; get showered, dressed and go find your man.”

She pushed Sienna toward the steps.

“I can't. I don't know where he is.” Sienna protested.

“Think, Dr. Lambert. You interview people for a living, don't you? Yes, you do,” Sasha answered for her. “Then go interview people until your find your boyfriend.”

 

By the time Sienna had returned from her shower Sasha had rifled through her closet and dresser drawers as well as located an overnight bag. Thanks to her sister, Sienna was completely packed and ready to go.

“I don't—”

“Sienna, don't even think about starting that sentence with something negative. Get dressed and start making calls. I'm sure you know someone who can tell you Vaughn's whereabouts.”

Realizing her sister was right Sienna sat on the edge of the bed and started calling. Ten minutes later, after hanging up the phone Sienna exclaimed, “Success. Carlton was in the shower, but Angella told me Vaughn's flying in tonight from a business meeting. His plane gets in around nine thirty.”

Flipping her wrist, Sasha took a peek at her watch. “Okay, that doesn't give us much time.”

Sienna glanced up. “Us?”

“Yes, us.” Sasha informed her. “We may still have a lot of issues, but there's no way you can pull this off by yourself. You'd go over there with that damned jacked up hairdo and it would be over before it began.”

Sienna eyed her sister suspiciously. “Have you been talking to Vivian?”

Sasha had the temerity to chuckle. “Actually, she did call while you were in the shower. We've planned the perfect seduction. It's guaranteed to work.”

“I don't need a seduction; I need a sure-fire way to get him to forgive me and—ow.” Sienna yelled when Sasha yanked her hair out of a pony tail and dragged her to the bathroom.

“That was from Vivian,” Sasha informed her. “Look maid Marion, this isn't Sherwood forest. Don't go over Vaughn's house and talk him to death. You want to flash the panties and get him to forgive you for being stupid.”

Sienna stared at their reflection in the mirror. “Why are you helping me?”

Sasha shrugged. “It's about time one of us is happy and in a relationship, and…I owe you.”

“You and I will take some work. Things between us aren't going to change overnight. No matter what Mom and Dad want, I'm still mad at you,” Sienna clarified.

Her sister met her gaze head on. “I know, but this is worth a momentary cease fire, wouldn't you agree? Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad at you, too. We'll deal with our issues after you make up with Mr. Fantastic.”

Sienna's eyes widened. “Good grief, you
have
been talking to Vivian.”

 

Vaughn was driving home when his cell phone rang. He looked at the display and then at the time. He answered it without a prelude. “Isn't it a bit late for you to be calling me? Aren't you supposed to be otherwise engaged by now?”

“No can do,” Pierce replied. “I'm flying out in the morning to tape a show for the shopping network. I've got to be at the top of my game tomorrow.”

“So, no honeys before the money?”

“Hey, that's a good one. Do you mind if I use it?”

“Not at all little brother.” Vaughn tried to stifle a yawn.

“Tough week?”

“Yes. Murphy's law in effect at the photo shoot. Two sick models, on average five hours of sleep a night, six botched props, and one irate client.”

“Sounds like my kind of fun,” Pierce joked. “Seriously though, have you talked to Sienna since you've been gone?”

His expression darkened. “No.”

“Granted monogamy isn't my bag, but you've got to fix this. You and Sienna are good together.”

Vaughn sighed. “I know. I'm home, now. Have fun and call me after the show.”

“Will do. Later man, and remember what I said.”

Vaughn watched the line disconnect. He checked for messages. There were none.
What did you expect? She hasn't called you all week. Why would she now?
his inner voice reasoned. Vaughn threw his cell phone on the passenger seat. The past week had been pure hell for him. Work had sucked, and it was the longest he'd gone without speaking to Sienna since they'd gotten together. He wondered at their status now. They hadn't exactly parted on the best terms.
This is insane.
Granted, he was still a bit annoyed at the whole situation, but enough was enough. If she didn't call him by tomorrow he'd call her.

Vaughn felt better now that he had settled on a course of action. He drove his car down the long driveway to his house. As he got closer, he noticed a car parked in front of his garage. He pulled in behind it and parked. He pressed the garage door opener before he turned off the motor and got out.

“Sienna,” he replied with surprise.

Flooded in light, she walked slowly toward him. Even in the dark the first thing he noticed was that her hair was down and curled to riotously frame her face. The second was that she was wearing a short, form-fitting dress and high heels.

“Hello Vaughn,” she replied.

Suitcase forgotten, he stared down at her. His eyes traveled across every square inch of her. “What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you. Do you mind if I come in?”

“Sure,” he walked toward the garage.

She followed him into the house. He bypassed the kitchen and went to the family room instead. Striding over to the table, Vaughn flipped on a lamp. When he got a good look at Sienna he almost dropped into the chair behind him. Her dress was not only short; it was red leather and it fit her body like C
ling Wrap
. His mouth went dry.

“I guess you're wondering why I'm here.”

It doesn't matter when you're in a dress like that
, his inner voice fairly shouted.

“I'd have to say to talk?”

She nodded. “There's something we need to discuss. Actually I need to discuss, you need to listen.”

Vaughn lowered himself into the chair while Sienna went over to sit on the couch on the other side of the room. She placed her hands in her lap and began.

“You told me I didn't trust you. That wasn't entirely true. It's me I didn't trust. You know about the pageant and that I traded places with Sasha because she injured herself, but did you hear all of our argument that night?”

“No. I was texting Carlton on the phone right before you collapsed,” Vaughn admitted.

She nodded. “Well, what you don't know is that something else happened that night; something a lot more detrimental than Sasha being angry with me for taking her crown.” Distraught, she looked up at him.

Their eyes met across the room. When he got up to close the distance between them she stopped him.

“No…I won't finish if you…I need you to stay where you are.”

“Okay,” he said quickly.

She clasped her hands in her lap.

“Hey,” Vaughn said softly. “You can tell me anything, Doc.” he assured her.

She looked over at him and began. “Sasha had a boyfriend. They had been going out for over a year. He was at the pageant as well. He never missed one. He loved boasting about his girlfriend, the beauty queen. When it was over, he told me that we were going to celebrate. Sasha and I switched places all the time. We never told anyone when we did it. This time was no different. I wanted to go home and told him as much, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. I thought we'd just go out to eat or something and be done with it. I couldn't have been more wrong. He'd been drinking and the type of party he had in mind was a lot different.”

A frown immediately creased Vaughn's forehead. “Sienna—”

She held her hand up. “I need to finish. He pulled me into a vacant room. I tried to tell him who I was, that I wasn't Sasha, but he didn't believe me. I tried to reason with him but it didn't help. He was fixated. He kept repeating how he was going to love making it with his Beauty Queen, his own personal Beauty Queen. He tried to rape me, Vaughn. He would have if someone hadn't come in and discovered us. I ran and didn't look back. When I got home I told Sasha what happened—everything”