The Governess - Chapter 12/?
A/N: Well, let me tell you, this chapter would not write itself. Blood out of a freaking stone. I hope it’s somewhat enjoyable nevertheless. :-/
Chapter 12
Callie slips out of her father’s bedroom, having received yet another speech about how inappropriate her new lifestyle is and how the children are being brainwashed.
A tear slides over her cheekbone as she literally runs into her mother.
“Calliope, are you okay, darling?”
“Just a terrible conversation with Father. It’s nothing.”
“It’s obviously not nothing. I don’t understand why you two have been fighting so much since we arrived?” Lucia rests her hand on Callie’s shoulder and runs her thumb soothingly across the coarse material she finds there.
“I don’t think you understand what is going on, Mother.”
“I think I might.”
“What has Father told you?”
“That he disagrees with the way you are choosing to live your life. M’ija, I don’t…”
“Why aren’t you more upset, then? You shouldn’t agree with this either.”
“You want me to be upset with you,” Lucia states, dropping her hand from Callie’s shoulder.
“No, but I don’t think you’re really understanding what’s going on here.”
Her mother gives a knowing smile. “Why don’t you explain it?”
“Arianna and I…we’re…we’re just like Mark and me or you and Father.”
“I thought as much.”
“And you’re just…fine with that?” Callie asks flatly, unable to comprehend her mother’s acceptance.
“Calliope, my darling girl, my purpose on this earth is not to judge. That is God’s purpose, and when the time comes, he will judge you. You are a beautiful and good person and I think that says more of your character. I will not judge any of His creations.”
Callie goes to say something but finds her mother is not finished.
“That said, do I wish it were different? Yes. I do not understand either of your desires, and I don’t wish to speak about it further. But I will not judge you.”
“Mother…” Callie starts, her voice breaking.
“Calliope, this conversation is over. I like Arianna, I love you, and I love your father. I will not try to change his mind, but I will support you.”
“Thank you,” Callie whispers.
“Now, why don’t we try to find Arianna and those lovely children of yours?”
o0o0o
“The children are in town with my mother, and my father is taking his afternoon nap,” Callie says in a low voice, as she slides in behind Arianna.
“Callie…” Ari chides. “I’m slicing vegetables. You could have made me drop the knife.”
“I have that much effect on you, hmm?” Callie asks while brushing Arianna’s hair away from her neck and placing chaste, open-mouthed kisses on the flesh.
“You know the effect you have on me,” Ari whispers.
“Come to bed with me.”
“Supper won’t make itself,” Arianna protests.
“We’ll have time later. I want you to come with me now,” Callie says, her tongue jutting out to swipe the shell of Arianna’s ear.
“Okay,” she breathes. Arianna places the knife carefully on the counter and leans back into Callie’s embrace.
“I knew you’d cave to my every whim,” Callie murmurs into Ari’s hair.
“You did, did you?”
Arianna turns so that she can kiss Callie, but jolts back almost immediately. Callie peers over her shoulder to see what has frightened her.
“Mr. Torres, sir,” Arianna says with a curt nod.
“Miss Robbins,” he replies.
“I, um…I have to…pansies. I have to water the pansies.”
Before Callie can remind her that they have no pansies and that it is definitely not the season for them, she flits out of the room, a blush creeping over her neck and face.
“Father…” Callie starts.
“It is inappropriate, Calliope. It is inappropriate and unhealthy and…and…and it’s an abomination!”
“Father, please,” Callie tries.
“But apparently I cannot get through to you. So I will stop lecturing you, but what I will not stand for is this behavior going on in my presence, right under my nose! I had to stand here and watch your disgusting behavior, because the two of you cannot control yourselves! It is disrespectful, and I will not stand to be disrespected!”
Carlos’s voice becomes more and more frenzied as he continues his rant and suddenly it becomes too much. He gasps for breath and clutches his stomach, falling back against the chair behind him. Callie hurries to his side, slipping her arm around his shoulders and lowering him gently into the chair.
“You have to be careful, Father,” Callie chides softly. “This isn’t good for your health.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Carlos bites back, his breathing shallow.
Callie walks to the hearth where there is a teapot keeping warm and pours her father a cup of tea. She slides it across the table and Carlos lifts it to his lips, taking a hesitant but appreciated sip.
“Thank you,” he says softly.
Callie sits in the chair next to him, playing with a loose thread on her dress.
“She makes me happy, Father,” she starts.
“I don’t want to talk about that woman anymore, Calliope. As you so astutely noted, it’s bad for my health.”
“But she’s not going anywhere. And neither are you. So you will have to learn to live with it.”
“I cannot believe you are disrespecting your father this way, Calliope. You are not the daughter I knew and loved.”
“Yes, I am, Father. It’s me. I just…I love a woman and that woman, Arianna Robbins, makes me unbelievably happy despite the fact that I lost a child this year. I once thought all there was to love was comfort, but she makes me more than comfortable. She makes me happy,” Callie says, tears threatening to spill over the bottom lids of her eyes. “And we aren’t hurting anyone.”
“Except your children,” Carlos interrupts.
“Do they seem hurt to you? They are happy and carefree, because they are children, and they deserve to have a somewhat normal life, and if it weren’t for Arianna, I wouldn’t be able to look after them, not after losing my husband and my son.”
“I’m finished talking to you about this now, Calliope. Will you send Miss Robbins in?”
“Arianna? You want to speak to Arianna?”
“Yes, Calliope. I want to speak to the woman who has made you like this.”
Callie swallows a thick lump in her throat, but acquiesces to his wishes. Predictably, she finds Ari standing just outside the door, listening to their every word.
“I’m sorry,” Callie murmurs.
“Don’t be. What you said…” Arianna’s voice falters and she shakes her head, trying to fight her tears.
Callie leans in swiftly and places a chaste kiss on her lips. “His bark is bigger than his bite,” Callie assures her.
Arianna snorts her disagreement, but nods and slips through the door. Callie resumes Ari’s eavesdropping position.
“Miss Robbins,” Carlos greets.
“Mr. Torres, I don’t know…”
“I will do the talking, Miss Robbins. Sit down.”
Arianna does as she is told and sits in the chair next to his at the kitchen table.
“You corrupted her. You came here and you infiltrated her thoughts with your disease. And worse, Miss Robbins, worse than that is that you corrupted her children.”
“I love her, Mr. Torres…”
“I said I would do the talking!”
“No!” Arianna shouts. “No, sir,” she adds. “I need you to listen to me. I don’t care if you hate me. I can handle that, but I will not allow you to say that I corrupted your daughter or her children. I love her, sir. And I love her children with all that I am.”
Arianna stops to gauge Carlos’s reaction. When he says nothing, she continues. “Ever since I learned that I felt this way toward women.” Carlos cringes, but she ignores him. “Ever since I learned that, I have been lost. I have not belonged anywhere or to anyone. I joined a convent, but that did not suit me. From day one, your daughter has treated me with nothing but respect and acceptance. With her, and with her family, I feel like I belong. I feel that I have finally found my purpose on this earth, and that purpose is to love her and to love her children.”
Carlos once again says nothing. He simply stares at his tea and runs a finger over the handle of the cup, listening intently.
“I love your daughter. And I protect the things I love, not that I need to. She doesn’t need it. She’s strong and caring and honorable. And she’s who you raised her to be.”
Carlos lifts his cup once more to his lips and takes a long gulp in an attempt to hide his reaction to Arianna’s speech.
“I need to rest now. Would you please take me to my room, Arianna?”
Arianna nods immediately and helps Carlos out of his chair. The older man smiles gratefully and lets her lead him to his room.