,
“You’re doing what ?”
Oh, Emile the almighty voice of reason
Emile was flabbergasted as we walked out of the airport terminal. After his exclamation he barley seemed able to form words. I felt terrible springing this news on Emile so quickly, but I wanted his opinion.
“Do I really need to repeat myself”, I said walking towards a coffee shop close to the airport terminal
“You said yes ?”, he asked noticing I was wearing a ring.
“Why are you so surprised ?”
“Are you sure this is what you want Clara. What if this is just about your father’s murder to him“
“It’s not”
It is and Clara knows this
“Clara”, he maneuvered his luggage to a corner table, “You’ve both changed. I feel like it would be irresponsible for me not to say anything.”
Right, because they haven’t really spent more than a month together in 4 years. Preach Emile.
“I know but I do care for him I know his heart has been mangled in the past and to trust anyone. . . me of all people means a lot. If anything, the one that stands at getting hurt the most is him.”
So, this makes it sound like Clara isn’t invested enough to get hurt.
“And what about my goddaughter?
Aw, Emile is her Godfather.
She told me that if it meant she and I would get to stay together then she would be happy.
“I don’t think she understands”, I said looking Emile in the eyes.
“You know" he said, "Fierro has told me the story of him and Lucie countless times. Sometimes I wonder if their failed marriage had something more to do with him. I think he may have wanted to much from her.”
I had briefly considered that but I always refused to give to much thought to it. I had accepted that he would always be in love with her. However dealing with it though was another story.
“It doesn’t matter Emile. Mr. Fierro has a point we should be able to at least protect each other.”
“What if you’re protecting the man who killed your father?”
“So you’ve made you decision, then.”
“No”, he was defensive, “Not yet. Now I’m just confused.”
“Emile, I just need you on my side. Besides I wanted you to marry us. You’re the only one who really knows us it would mean a lot to me.”
I have no idea why Emile can marry them but he has the power. I guess he got ordained or something.
“Clara”, he realized what I was doing
“Please, it’s what you’ve always wanted, and if it all goes to hell you can say ‘I told you so’.”
Future!Emile : I TOLD YOU SO
He exhaled frustrated and defeated. I smiled knowing I had gotten my way.
“Great, how am I supposed to say no to the bride.”
“Now for the hard part.”, I said getting on the interstate
“Finding a dress ?”, he teased
“Telling my family.”
+1+
It was taunting me.
That empty seat at the end of the dinner table that my father’s figure used to fill every night. Dinner always started approximately at 6:45 except on days when my mother cooked, it could be well into the night before she got a recipe right.
Oh Clara, you and your WASPY family fun.
I watched from my side of the dinner table as my dear brother-in-law Derek kept one hand on his fork and the other on his Blackberry. Claudia was looking over his shoulder, taking a sip of her wine whenever he smiled at something. Underneath the table I could see she had taken off her shoes and began pointing and flexing her foot in frustration.
Claudia used to be a ballerina. Also I thought using a Blackberry instead of an iPhone would make Derek look like a jerk.
Next to them, making a mess of her dinner, was Claudia’s daughter, Alma. She was almost three and would have no real memories of her grandfather. Audrey and baby Carrie-Grant were across from her followed by Colin who kept his eyes down and Clarice who smiled nervously. Because smiling seemed to be all she could do nowadays.
Okay so we have Audrey (7) who is adopted and (technically) the oldest grandchild followed by Alma and then Carrie-Grant. All girls. So Audrey should get the inheritance, right ? But no Martin wants a blood clause so only blood realtives get the money. . . which means Claudia’s kids. THIS GIVES CLAUDIA MOTIVE ! However by having a blood clause this means that if Rose were to pop up she would get the money. THIS GIVES MR. FIERRO MOTIVE.
Looking at them I realized they had both given up a lot to be full time mothers and wives. I couldn’t remember the last time Claudia danced since she injured her knee or Clarice. . . well ,she was never talented.
Clara : Yeah, maybe this mother/wife thing is a little overrated.
My eyes lingered on my mother. Her arms where on the table and she was trying to physically support herself. The housekeeper had to constantly say her name so she would not fall-out at the table during dinner. Strands of her dark hair was falling out of its neat chignon, getting caught in her shiny pearls.
So, I was concerned people would pick up on Clair’s strange behavior.
“Mother”, I whispered over my empty chardonnay glass
She didn’t respond at first, I wondered if she was crying and trying to hide it from the grandchildren.
“Yes, Clara ?”
“I have an announcement.”
“Not now Clara”, she said looking down again
“Um, Mother. . . I’m getting married.”
My sisters look towards me shocked and Clarice’s false smile faulted for a second. Even Derek seemed to be listening. Colin simply shook his head slowly in disapproval
“Married ?”, Mother repeated, “Clara. . . why? Who ? I don’t understand. You are doing fine on your own.”
Looks like someone doesn’t like the idea of marriage
“I think it’s a great idea”, Claudia said, “There aren’t many men who will marry you considering.”, she suggestively ran her finger over her face indicating my scars.
So, Claudia knows what Mr. F is up to and this is her way of encouraging him. OMG, WHY LILE So, since I’m working on Bellum I have no idea why I keep giving characters facial scars. I did it with Paris because I needed him to be recognizable. I had totally forgotten I did it in this serial , so Mr. F would would want to kill himself because he physically (although accidentally) hurt Clara. . .man that’s dark.
“I don’t like this, Clara”, Mother continued, “who is this person ? I mean all you do is go to work . When did you have time to meet someone ?”
“Uh well, you might remember … his name is Addison Fierro.”, It actually felt nice to be honest, although it may have been the glasses of wine.
“Who ?”, mother asked softly
. She opened her eyes coming up with nothing when Claudia suddenly seemed to realize something.
I know I know. Mrs. DeLune and Mr. F talk for like an entire chapter and she calls him in HOF, but she doesn’t remember at that moment. Also it was 4 years ago. . .so yeah.
“You must remember, Mother”, Claudia said pouring another glass of wine, “He is the one with the four year old daughter.” Claudia finished, cutting her eyes at me seemingly putting two and two together.
Claudia knows more than you think. Because she and Mr. F are planning to get Clara to marry him so she won’t testify against them. This is revealed later.
“Claudia I haven’t the faintest idea who you are talking abou—“, Mother stopped mid-sentence as her eyes fell on me and suddenly she realized what Claudia was referring to, “Oh, yes that’s right. Isn’t it Clara.”
So, remember that Delune school of denial I talked about in DSI, this is a good demonstration.
I looked between the two of them realizing what they wanted me to say.
“Do I have your blessing, Mother”, I asked flicking the charm on my glass
“I think you should wait—“
“Please Mother,I want to get married before Christmas, that way we won’t associate this time of year with father’s passing.”, I tried to sound hopeful
Mother sat up and for the first time since the funeral she seemed to be completely there.
“Clara are you being difficult on purpose ? We don't need this right now.”
“Do I have your blessing ?”, I asked again speaking quickly,"We can be married as soon as possible and put the matter behind us. Please Mother. I’m doing this for all of us. It could be a small intimate affair”
Because deep down inside Clara does want a wedding. Awww ):
"I suppose you have my blessing, not that you really need it.", Mother said carefully
I looked up as she made her way out the dining room
"Mother where are you going."
"I have a reception to plan don't I ? It's the least we could do In what--"
"two weeks", I said without thinking
"Well", she picked up father's old address book, "if I was able to plan a funeral in four days."
Ugh, guys sometimes I wish I hadn’t written in them getting married and sometimes I like it. I just needed some other stuff to happen.
+2+
Time for filler fluff !
“What about this one, Ms. DeLune ?”
I studied the blurred lines on the warm colored impressionist painting, even without a frame it was huge. It reminded me of a structured Monet but it was an original. The smell of paint was getting to me and I simply shrugged.
Sofia : Really ? Art is my thing.
“It’s nice, I suppose.”
Mr. Fierro tighten his grip on my hand and lead me over to the next painting. Without realizing it I was running my thumb over the strange ring on his finger. I downed the rest of the champagne in my glass listening as the artist explained what off-the wall modernist method he’d used to create the ugliest painting I’d even seen.
So, yeah they are basically on a date. This is new. Okay I’m getting the Clierro vibe.
Surprisingly we had made it through most of a Sunday afternoon in downtown Rochester, a week before our apparent wedding no less, without brining up my father’s murder.
I really did enjoy going to the art exhibition with himm but my mind was somewhere else .Not to mention I had a headache from dinner yesterday.
That headache is from Clara drinking.
I tentatively flipped over the 50,000 price tag on the modern painting as the artist continued to talk, but I wasn’t really listening. With some effort I unhinged my hand from Mr. Fierro’s walking back around the gallery before turning to a server for another glass of champagne.
So, I’m not rich but I bet expensive paintings don’t have price tags.
I surveyed the crowd filling the refurbished warehouse gallery noting that the youngest person here was at least 2 times my age.
“Should I take you home ?”, Mr. Fierro asked me
“No, I just have a lot on my mind.”
“To much on your mind to pick yourself a present for your room?”
I surveyed the paintings from my spot in the center of the gallery.
“They’re all so. . . shapeless”, I said, ”When I see something I like to know exalcty what is going on, I like to see the whole picture like a nice Renoir.”, I said trying to sound interested but as always I was distracted.
“You have expensive taste”
“You sound like my. . .”, I stopped realizing I was about to say father, “um Maybe I should take a second look around-“
Clara : I swear if you bring up that Electra Complex B.S one more time
LiLe : . . .
“No, we need to leave”, he said quickly
“What why-“
“Clara !”, a chipper voice called to me from the other end.
I turned to see my friend Eleanor calling to me from the other side of the gallery
Hey you were in HOF. This was originally in one of my novellas for August before I decided to just write a sequel.
“Clara, where have you been hiding?”, she asked, “ I hardly ever see you”
“I’ve just been busy with work”, I said
Being kidnapped and posses by my GhostMother, having a soulless baby, getting arrested. . . you know
“Listen I really miss spending time with you”, I knew that translated to ‘I’m sorry about your father”
“Me too, I’ve been to distant”, I said really thinking about how I had quarantined myself in the past few years.
“What are you doing here ?”, she asked
“Oh, I was with my. . . fiancé”, I said turning around to realize he was no where in sight.
“Wow, I didn’t know you were getting married.”
“It’s a recent development. What brings you here ?”, I asked realizing the age minority we were in .
“Nana and I are Christmas shopping. Mom is totally into art now.”
“I’d almost forgotten it was the Christmas season”, I said honestly
“Hey, If you’re not with anyone you can join us for lunch.”
I honestly couldn’t think of a reason no to and I was starting to think she didn’t believe my “fiancé” story.
She nodded enthusiastically and waited while I took the converted elevator to the bottom floor and walked around the corner. The streets were empty and it had begun to snow again.
I walked back around the corner when I was gently pulled into a small side street.
“You scared me.”, I said catching my breath
“Don’t you know who that was”, Mr. Fierro said getting straight to the point while lighting a cigarette.
Smoking will kill you. The more you know
“Of course Eleanor was my college roommate, we’ve been friends forever.”
“Why is that ?”
“I don’t know. . . I mean our grandmothers were best friends. . . growing up”, I placed my hand on my head feeling like an idiot, “Oh, of course I didn’t realize you had known Mrs. Caldwell.”
“After 50 years you begin to hope everyone you knew is dead.”
Mr. F is getting a little humorous.
“Did you know Mrs. Caldwell well ? She never mentioned you and she loves to talk about the ‘old days’”
“She was better acquainted with Lucie.”
“How acquainted was she with you ?”
I could tell by his expression that he had no intention of answering the question which made me want to know the answer that much more.
“Did you date her ?”, I asked suddenly filled with curiosity
“Never”
You, know cause she wasn’t Lucie and Mr. F has a one (well two) track mind.
“Did you. . .“
I noticed he looked away form me anxiously anticipating whatever else I had to say.
“Well”, I said awkwardly trying to decide if this was a problem or not, “I-I suppose that is not a problem.”
“Yes, it is a problem Ms. DeLune”
“I really don’t care if you slept with a woman 50 years ago.”
“sixty-four years ago”, he corrected me, “and that was not what I was referring to. This is why it is best that there is no wedding.”
Okay I might have explained this before but as a way to show how controlling Lucie was back in the day she didn’t want Mr. F to be “inexperienced” when they were together for the first time. So she convinced him to “learn” from one of her friends. I had it in August to show how desperate Mr. F was to get Lucie to love him. I’m sure all she did though was make fun of him afterwards. Lucie isn’t a nice person.
“I get it, you don’t like questions, you don’t like talking about your past and you don’t like the truth.”
Despite my best intentions I had started talking about my father again but he ignored it.
Clara : What ? Okay seriously I can’t tell if I’m talking about my father or my fiancé. Is that that Electra complex thing again ? LiLe : This was so not intentional.
“Ms. DeLune you aren’t exactly like them anymore. The more people you let into your life the more people you have to leave.”
“Is this why you insist on keeping Rosalie locked away with no friends ? So she can never miss anyone like you do ?”
“And what exactly was your excuse.”
I could have easily defended myself but I didn’t have a reason. I was just doing what my father told me. I had made Rosalie feel like a burden when, for the most part, she wasn't.
“ It doesn’t matter”, I said not wanting to fight, “I’m going out to lunch with the Caldwells .”
“There is no reason to be petty, Ms. DeLune”
I tried not to cough as he blew smoke on me.
Okay, seriously Mr. F why did he take a level in jerk ?
“I’m not being petty and did you ever think that maybe I wanted to have a wedding. I know it’s ridiculous and pointless, but I just do. I know most of your reasons for proposing were less than honorable but something about this feels different than when I was with Peter. Different in a good way.”
Mr. F : Right, about Peter . . . Clara is this close to saying I Love You. Also I like the part above even though once again it makes Mr. F out to be a jerk for not realizing Clara might just want a wedding
I pulled my scarf between my finger and wrapped it around my neck making my way out to the street.
+++
I should loosen up
Rainer told herself over and over again, realizing her little pit stop would make her late to the station but it was worth it to write a parking ticket.
She slid the ticket on the windshield of the silver Vanquish, the car was cool to the touch and she knew an expensive car when she saw one.Either way it was still a loading zone even if it was a Sunday.
So, this is Mr. F’s car parked outside the gallery that she is ticketing
Rainer stuffed her hands back into her coat pocket and made her way to the police station
The tox screens had come back positive for poison via the chemical naturally found in oleander. Rainer spent time trying to figure out how something could be so inherently dangerous and beautiful at the same time.
She had memorized the crime photos of Martin DeLune. In her mind she could see herself taking the walk up to the top floor of the DeLune academy office. Martin's office was at the end of the hall behind a set of double doors where the cleaning service had found him.
There was no doubt that his death had not been peaceful.
The thought made her concentrate more on the case but so far she had no leads. The letters that had been sent had turned up nothing useful even though they were short and handwritten she had nothing to compare them to.
She stared at the two unidentified portraits that Juliet had drawn but she couldn't match the names to the faces.
"You'll get it"
Rainer saw Juliet was in the corner of the room, her schoolbag at her feet.
"Get what ?"
"One of them will confess. . . soon.", she nodded towards the wall of suspects
It's Ella who confesses. The DeLune's nanny
"How can they confess I don't even know the last two"
"All of the suspects will come toppling down soon enough. Then there will only be one.",, the girl smiled at the prospect
Rainer liked Juliet's new found enthusiasm about the case, she was more professional than usual, she had been since touching Clara. Something about the case seem to suddenly interest her.
"Do you know who it is ?", Rainer asked
"No", Juliet answered.
"Want to take bets, we can get the whole station involved."
Juliet stood by Rainer and surveyed the board and smiled.
"I know exactly who I want to bet on."
#5b0e73