“Okay, Mom,” I said over my shoulder. “So?” I glanced back at Samuel. “Are you up for it?”
“Of course.” He blinked. “It’s a lot of information to absorb. I’m going to need details. Why are Turpis involved?”
“It’s a long story,” Galilea said. “We don’t have time right now. We can meet later.”
“Or he can come to the estate,” I said. “It’s safer to speak there. Plus, I have to get back to David.”
“What do you say, Samuel? You ready to visit the in-laws?” Galilea asked.
“I suppose. Who are David’s parents?” Samuel asked.
“You might know of them,” Galilea said. “Alezzander and Nyx Chios?”
His face turned hard. “You didn’t tell me this when I last saw you.”
“I didn’t trust you.” Galilea shrugged. “Why would I?”
“But now that you need me, you trust me?” Samuel cocked an eyebrow.
“Eh…” Galilea tilted her head from side to side. “You’re getting there.”
“It was a rhetorical question,” he said. “I don’t really care.” He tapped the arm of the sofa. “It’s been sometime since I last to spoke to Alezzander of Chios and Nyx of Delphi. Does Alezzander still serve on the Council?”
“I’m not sure if he’s considered part of the Council anymore.” Galilea’s forehead creased. “He’s on a forced leave of absence. After their trial in Caelum—you know, where I found you hiding way in the back under that very obvious cloak, Samuel? Well, when Starr commanded the Council to release Alezzander and his sons, his position was relegated. However, Samuel refused to step down, and after holding an audience, the Council conceded. But… they made him take leave until they saw fit. The Council is suspicion of his family, regardless of Starr’s appearance at the trial.”
“I didn’t know,” I said. “David told me about rumors concerning his family, but I didn’t know the extent of it.”
“Well, I myself didn’t know. I didn’t find out about it until last week. Eryx told me. I would’ve told you, but you were busy ignoring me.” She turned to Samuel. “It’s not in Alezzander’s interest to turn you over to the Council, if you’re worried about it. His family is at stake. And now that Isis and David are married, it makes you family, too.”
“It’s ready!” Claire yelled from the kitchen. “And before you come in here, turn the television off. It’s giving me a headache.”
“Okay!” I hollered back.
“You should’ve told me what was happening when we met in Greece.” Samuel stared at me, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t have left the way you did.”
“I had another agenda then,” I said.
“Oh, and we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff.” Galilea stood up. “You just wait.”
“You should come to the estate with us,” I told him. “After breakfast.”
“Wait for us at the gas station—the new, large one on Ocean Boulevard,” Galilea instructed him. “You can follow us from there.”
Samuel nodded his agreement.
“Is anyone listening to me?” Claire called again.
Samuel’s stare shifted to the kitchen. “We shouldn’t keep her waiting. It’s rude.”
***
The kitchen table was set with porcelain plates, once belonging to my grandmother, Lucille, Claire’s mom. Normally, we used paper plates on lazy Sundays, but today, Claire was pulling out all the showpieces, including a breakfast buffet. A tower of pancakes, eggs, a bowl of diced melon, and syrup sat in the middle of the table.
Samuel pulled out a chair for Claire, and then one for me. He drew a third chair out and turned to Galilea, who was idling by the stove.
“Are you joining us?” he asked Galilea.
“Um…” Galilea tapped her chin. “You know, it’s such a nice day out. I’m going to have breakfast on the porch.”
“In the blazing heat?” I asked her.
“It’s not so bad. Plus, Claire has that no-smoking-in-the-house rule.” She grabbed a plate and helped herself to the food. “Enjoy.” She smiled at us, picked up a glass of orange juice, and left.
“It all looks very appetizing. Thank you,” Samuel said. “Pancakes are my favorite.” He glanced at me. “Good choice.”
“How about that?” Claire grinned. “They’re Isis’s favorite, too.”
“Just one of the things we have in common. I see she’s got my eyes, as well,” Samuel said.
“I have my own eyes,” I mumbled.
“And your smile,” Claire added.
“But her personality is definitely yours.” Samuel poured honey on his pancakes. “She has a spunk about her.”
I ignored their comments like they were ignoring my presence and stuffed a piece of melon in my mouth.
“I can’t argue with that,” Claire said. “She’s her momma’s daughter, after all.”
“That’s my favorite part about her,” Samuel said. He cleared his throat, his face reddening. “You did a good job with her, Claire. I’m sorry I wasn’t present to see her grow up.”
“Oh, Samuel…” Claire waved him off. “Do you think I blame you? I might’ve been eighteen, but I wasn’t naïve. I knew what I was doing. I’ve never held any resentment toward you. We were young, crazy kids.” She pierced a piece of melon with her fork. “We got horny.”
Samuel choked on his juice. I stood up, bumping my stomach on the edge of the table as I did. I wasn’t used to the new dimensions of my body.
“Oh. My. Gawd. Seriously, Mother?” I felt bile rising in my throat.
“What?” she asked.
“I can’t believe you just said what you did. I’m… I’m disgusted. I can’t eat here.” I picked up my plate. “The mental images…” I flinched. “I’m scarred for life. Thanks a lot. I’m eating outside with Galilea.” I set the plate down. “On second thought… No. I’ve lost my appetite.”
“For heaven’s sake, Isis, come back here,” Claire called after me. “She’s so hormonal with this pregnancy.”
“I heard that!” I said as the front the door snapped shut behind me.
I was fuming, like the scrolls of smoke flowing out from the corner of Galilea’s mouth. One of her legs was dangling off the side of the porch, the other curled up against her chest. She wet the tips of her thumb and forefinger and put out the cigarette as soon as she saw me. She’d made it a point not to smoke around me since she found out I was pregnant—a considerate gesture, I thought. I plopped my belly and the rest of me down on a rocking chair.
“What’s going on in there?” she asked.
“Ugh. It’s nauseating. I don’t care to repeat any of it.”
“Okay.” She twisted her face. “Can I ask you a question—without you getting your panties in a bunch?”
“That’s impossible. I’m not wearing any.”
“Pardon?” Galilea blinked.
“Nothing fits,” I said. “Not even my underwear.”
Galilea snorted.
“It’s not funny.”
“No, it’s not.” Galilea’s eyes watered with humor. “You’re right. It’s not funny at all.”
“Then why are you laughing?”
“I’m not.” She tried to subdue her mirth. “This is the way I cry,” she snorted, “when I feel really sorry for people whose underwear don’t fit.”
“Oh, shut up.” I smiled.
CHAPTER 22
The screen door opened. Claire peeked her head out.
“Come back in here, Isis. You didn’t eat a bite,” she scolded me. “That’s not good for—”
“The baby.” I nodded. “Yes, I know. You’ve only told me about four million times.”
Claire stepped out to the porch. “Why are you so angry with me?”
“I’m not angry.”
“Isis, I’m your mother. I know you better than anyone. Do you think I can’t notice it on your face?”
I rocked the chair back and forth without answering.
“Is it be
cause of what I said in the kitchen?” she asked.
I shook my head.
“So what is it?”
“Why do you look at Samuel like that?” I asked.
Claire’s forehead creased, confusion on her face. “You didn’t have a problem when I started dating Christopher.”
“I don’t care about Judge Daniels, Mom. I care that you never looked at Dad that way. And then Samuel comes waltzing in, and you’re melting over him in half a second. Feeding him breakfast?” My jaw tensed. “He knew you were pregnant, and he left. He admitted it. How can it not bother you? How can you…not care he didn’t give a damn about what we had to go through?”
“Oh.” Claire pursed her lips. “So you’re angry with Samuel, as well.”
“Not as angry as I am with you for not loving Dad like I did.”
Claire’s eyes reddened. I lowered my head and looked away from her. I knew hearing my words hurt her as much as saying them hurt me. Galilea rose to her feet and walked into the house, leaving Claire and me alone on the porch.
“There are different kinds of love you experience in life,” Claire told me. “Loving someone differently doesn’t mean loving a person less than you love someone else. Love is love.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “When you’re ready to come inside, I’ll heat up your food.”
Claire walked away. I sat in silence, replaying her words in my head. To a degree, I understood what she was saying. I’d only truly ever been in love once—with David. She had years of life experience over me. Maybe in the eighteen years of raising me, she’d come to terms that this was her life. Maybe she’d had enough time to get over the darker moments she’d lived through. And maybe it was what I had to do, too. Just get over it and tread on with the same courage I’d seen in her all these years. Maybe it was time for me to grow up. Once and for all.
***
Samuel sat at the table, hunched over a notepad when I entered the room. I wondered what Claire and he had talked about for the past half hour. I watched curiously as he set the pen down and slid the pad across the kitchen table to Claire.
“My email and phone number,” Samuel said. “It’s an international number, but I’ll contract a local one as soon as I can.”
Claire nodded as she tore the paper off the notepad.
“Where’s Galilea?” I asked.
Startled, Claire glanced up at me. “Upstairs. You okay now?”
“Yeah,” I said. “You?” I gave her an apologetic stare.
“It’s fine.” Claire gestured me to go nearer. She took my hands. “I know you’re going through a rough patch. I understand how overwhelmed you must feel.”
I nodded, forcing the tears back. She pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered into her ear.
“It’s fine,” she repeated.
Pulling away, I let out a sigh of relief. I turned to Samuel and said, “Sorry you had to see that—outburst. I haven’t been myself lately.”
“So I’ve been told,” Samuel said. “I’m amazed you’ve kept yourself together this long. And in your condition…” He widened his eyes. “You need to take better care of yourself.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s just—my head hasn’t been in the right place in the last two months.”
“If you’ll allow me to, I’d like to help in any way I can. I don’t plan on disappearing.” He glanced between Claire and me. “I hope I’ve made that clear today.”
The sincerity in Samuel’s voice alleviated something inside my chest, lifted a fragment of the world from my shoulders. I hadn’t felt a sense of security since my dad, Hector, was laid to rest.
“I’m glad. It’s good to hear,” I said, and to my surprise, I meant it.
The trace of a smile flashed over Samuel’s face. Could he sense the truth in my words?
“Anyhow,” he said as he rose from his seat. “I have to get going. There’s a matter I have to take care of and a new phone line to contract.” He pushed his chair in. “I’ll be in touch. Thank you again for breakfast, Claire. Your hospitality is a lot more than I expected.”
“Don’t mention it,” Claire said. “I’ll walk you out.”
Samuel and I starred at each other. He seemed unsure of what to say. I hoped he wasn’t expecting a daddy-daughter hug.
“See you around,” I said, drowning the awkward silence.
“Count on it,” Samuel replied.
Claire led Samuel to the door. From where I lingered at the kitchen entrance, I watched them. Claire held out her hand to shake his, but Samuel leaned in and kissed both her cheeks. She stood at the door until Samuel drove off.
“This sure turned out to be an interesting morning,” I said, standing cross-armed in the center of the living room. “That was indubitably the most unexpected company we’ve ever had, huh?”
She spun on her heel, turning to view me, her hands crossed at her chest like mine. “As if my fainting wasn’t evidence enough?” she said, walking to the sofa. I sat next to her. “What do you think of him?”
“His nose is too pointy. Considering his line of work, one would think he’d dress better.”
“I didn’t find anything wrong with the way he was dressed. I was referring to what you thought of him as a person. What was your overall impression?”
“He’s okay, I guess. I didn’t talk to him enough to form a solid opinion. You were the one who chatted him up all morning. What do you think of him?”
“He’s…” She stopped to think. “Just like I remember—nice, talkative…”
“Dreadfully handsome,” Galilea said, entering the room with her backpack. “Right, Claire?”
Claire suppressed a smile.
“Eww!” I shot Galilea a disgusted look. “He’s my father, Galilea.”
“I was just finishing Claire’s thought for her,” Galilea said.
I glanced at Claire. Was that really what she was thinking? The dreamy look on her face was more than enough to answer my question.
“No comment,” Claire said.
“No comment needed,” I said. “Changing the subject, we have to get going, Mom. Dr. Gunn was supposed to run some tests on David early this morning. I’m sure he has the results by now. I’m eager to see if there’s improvement on his brain activity.”
“Are you talking to him aloud, like I suggested?” Claire asked.
I nodded.
“It’s supposed to help. At least it’s what the articles I’ve read say. Let me know if there’s any change.” She squeezed my hand. “I’ll try to stop by tomorrow after work. I’ll call before, as usual.”
“Okay,” I said. “Are you’re going to be okay after this morning’s craziness?”
“It’s you I’m worried about,” Claire said. “Galilea, make sure she eats.”
“Mom, I do eat, okay?”
“Lies.” Galilea grabbed her bag from the floor. “The last time I tried to feed her, she threw a tantrum.”
Claire pursed her lips and cocked her brow at me.
“I’ll make sure she eats,” Galilea said. “You ready, Isis?”
“Since five minutes ago,” I said, and then turned to Claire. “I’ll talk to you later?”
She nodded. “Take care of yourself, honey. I worry.”
***
The gas station’s parking lot was filled with cars—beachgoers, pumping gas and loaded up on Styrofoam ice chests and drinks. A few kids whose faces I recognized from my graduating class were packed into a Jeep, smiles on their lips and excitement in their eyes. I couldn’t say I didn’t envy them just a little. Parked off to the side of the gasoline station was Samuel in a small, red car.
Galilea signaled him, and he set the car into motion, following us out of the gas station. We headed west on Ocean Boulevard.
“What were you going to ask me back on the porch?” I asked Galilea, remembering the unfinished conversation. “When you told me not to get my panties in a bunch.”
“I was going to ask why you were so
upset Samuel and your mom were into each other.”
“Oh gawd.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry I asked.”
“Claire is a looker, Isis. I’m not gonna lie—if I were into females, Claire would be my woman crush. No joke. As a matter of fact, she makes me feel a bit sexually confused at times.”
“You’re making me feel so uncomfortable right now.”
“Focus on the conversation, please?” She gave me a pointed stare, and then directed her attention back at the road. “As I was saying, Claire is a babe. And those curves of hers…” She let out a whistle. “It’s no wonder even Eryx has a thing for her.”
I gawked at her. “What?”
“But that’s beside the point. What I’m trying to tell you is it’s normal for people who’ve—well, you know—done the deed, to have an attraction for one another. It’s animalistic, human nature.”
“Whoa.” I raised my hand. “Just stop. Right there. Please.”
I closed my eyes and tried to shake the thoughts of Samuel and my mom doing anything other than talking.
“Would ya let me finish?” she asked, irate.
“I’m listening.” I opened my eyes.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is don’t make Claire feel guilty for something she doesn’t regret. Like having you.” She gauged my reaction. “Sometimes we can’t help who we love. It just happens.”
“I know,” I agreed. “I was harsh with her today.”
“You made her cry,” she reminded me.
“And I feel horrible about it.” I tugged at the seatbelt on my pregnant belly. It was too tight, like my leggings. “Does Eryx really have a crush on my mom?”
She grinned. “You didn’t hear it from me.”
Galilea clicked on the radio and sang along to an 80’s pop hit. I rested my head back on the seat. Through the side mirror, I watched Samuel’s red car following close behind.
Samuel didn’t have to send checks to my mom and me. He didn’t have to show up at our door. He didn’t have to agree to help protect me. But he did it anyway. That had to count for something. If he cared enough to do all those things, maybe he wasn’t as bad as I’d made him out be in my head.
“They’re not expecting him,” Galilea said. I hadn’t noticed we’d arrived at the estate. “I thought it would be better this way.”