The Master Class

by Louisa Bacio

  Lucy’s eyes grew wide. “Johnny and Sam. Why didn’t I think to call them?”

  “We don’t know anything now,” Reed said, “but it sounds like a good start. They were both students here when she was one, and bonds of friendship form among classmates. Plus, she probably wouldn’t have to worry about them making a pass at her. Do you have their number?”

  Lucy picked up her cell and sorted through her contacts. After getting the number from her, Reed called Sam and got him on the phone. Mario waited, anticipating the outcome. If anything, it would be good to know she was all right. After saying who he was, Reed gave some instructions.

  “First, if you’re not alone, can you go somewhere private where you can speak freely?” he said.

  Good point. They didn’t want to blurt out that Lucy and Mario knew where Clarissa was. It might cause her to run.

  “Thanks for taking the call,” Reed said. “I’m working with Ms. Lucy. Clarissa took off, and she’s worried sick. Can I put you on speaker phone?”

  With permission received, Reed propped the phone in the center of the table. In the background on the other end, Mario could hear light jazz.

  “Hello, Ms. Lucy,” Sam said. “Sorry I haven’t called you, but I wanted to give Clarissa some space before pushing her too much.”

  “So she’s there?” Lucy asked.

  “Yes, she came last night. She was a wreck and crashed pretty hard. She’s been crying most of the day. What the hell happened? She won’t talk about it much, but I know her ex has been hanging out at the school. That much, Johnny filled me in on.”

  The relief Mario felt at knowing Clarissa was safe dissipated at the mention of the “ex,” i.e. him.

  “The ex is here and can hear you,” Mario said.

  “Oh. Hey, buddy. Sorry to meet you like this,” he said. “It’s a bit awkward.”

  He bit back a response. “No problem. We appreciate any help you could give.”

  The rest of the conversation dealt with more specifics on how Clarissa was holding up and if she’d mentioned returning home at all. At the end, Reed picked up the phone and walked into the other room. Mario guessed there were some things Reed didn’t want them to hear.

  Lucy reached across the table and held his hand. “Not as good as actually talking to her…” she said.

  “But it did make me feel better,” Mario replied. “We know she’s safe. Now we need to find out what we can do to get her back.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dark clouds hung low, ominous and menacing. It looked like a low ceiling with too many people in the room beneath. Clarissa flicked her eyes toward the sky and gathered her jacket tighter around her body.

  “Looks like it’s going to be a lovely day,” she said.

  “How do you figure?” Johnny’s tone held more than a bit of incredulity. “The weatherman give you hope?”

  They strolled through the mist on the wharfs in Downtown San Francisco. The sound of their footsteps against the wooden planks echoed amid the barking of sea lions.

  Stepping to the railing, she gazed out into the unknown. Beside her, Johnny’s warmth and friendship offered soothing companionship. He had a good thing with Sam, and she hoped he would be able to stay in this country and not have to go back to India.

  Moisture settled on her skin, and she lifted her face, letting it wash her fears away. “You see the light out there on the horizon?” she asked. “The slightest glimmer of sunshine?”

  Johnny followed her pointing finger. “Sorry, hon, but I don’t see it.”

  “Weather is transitory. What we have now, will change. The winds are blowing, and soon this cloud cover will pass and the sky will lighten.”

  He placed a hand on her arm. “Are you talking about the weather or your relationship?”

  “Maybe a little a bit of both,” she said, “but sometimes there is only so much control we have.”

  Laughter sounded behind them, and they turned to watch a school bus filled with children let out. Giggling, the kids skipped down the pier, excited for the adventure.

  With a shrug, Johnny said, “Maybe we can’t control it, but we do get to make decisions. We can wear a jacket or bring an umbrella. We can protect ourselves. We don’t have to be controlled by the weather, or the people we love.”

  Clarissa felt the smile on her lips but not in her heart. She didn’t want to think about the loves she’d had and lost. She’d made her life complicated, and she possessed the power to uncomplicate it—but only so much.

  “Easy for you to say. You have a great relationship with Sam.”

  “Now, but it hasn’t always been like that, and we still have our moments. Some days… well, let’s just say that some days are like a hurricane watch. I’m on edge about what’s going to happen. Plus, I’m not the one involved with two people. You made things extra hard.”

  A blanket of pain engulfed her heart and squeezed. Every time she paused what she was doing and thought about them, and let herself feel, it hurt. “Ready to move on?” she asked. “I need to get a glass of wine.”

  He took her hand, the dark brown of his Indian skin contrasting with her Italian olive tone. What would people on the street think of them as a couple? Or him with the huge farm boy Sam? Or if she managed to work things out with Lucy and Mario. Even in a big city like San Francisco, polyamorous relationships weren’t common. In a traditional Italian family like hers, the idea wasn’t even thought about.

  “Sure, sounds good to me,” he said.

  On the street, they hailed a cab, and Johnny directed them to Union Square. Clarissa leaned her head against the window, watching the tall buildings pass. Outside the cab, she turned in a circle, taking it all in.

  “It’s amazing down here.”

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t explored it after all your time in the area?”

  A flush spread up her face. “Well, I didn’t really come for the sightseeing experiences.”

  He shook his head. “Come on, we’ve got a few blocks to walk.”

  They kept up a brisk pace, following Powell Street and its tourist shops down to where it intersected with Market. “Are we going shopping?” she asked, taking in the mall.

  “Just wait. You’ll be amazed at the view at the top of the department store. It’s one of my favorite spots, and not only because of the shopping,” he teased.

  The escalators went up in a semicircle. On one curve, Clarissa dared to look down and became dizzy. A few times, Johnny consulted his phone, replying to a text, but after the time they’d spent together today, she figured he had to catch up.

  Ahead, she caught a glimpse of a man who looked like Sam standing at the hostess’s stand of the restaurant, and she saw Johnny smile. When she turned back, she realized Sam wasn’t alone. He stood with Mario and Lucy.

  “You set me up,” she said, putting on the brakes.

  Johnny laid his palm on her back and gently pushed her forward. “Nothing you didn’t want. You’re miserable. Talk to them. Work it out,” he said. “If it’s hopeless, you’re always welcome to stay with us, but something’s telling me the winds are going to change.”

  She stifled a laugh. “Don’t use my own words against me.”

  He kissed the side of her cheek. “But it was such good advice, and if you look out through the skylights, I see the sun. You were right.”

  “Don’t try to butter me up now. I’m mad at you.”

  While her words were tough, seeing Lucy and Mario made the binds around her heart lift. It was as if even subconsciously, she knew it would be all right.

  Both of them looked tired, as though the past few days had worn on them too. What had she expected? For them not to notice she’d gone? To move on with their lives without her?

  Lucy stepped forward, arms halfway extended. Then she dropped them and glanced up at Mario.

  “We’re glad you came,” he said.

  “Well, someone didn’t leave me a choice.” She threw a glare at Johnny.

 
; Sam stepped between them and kissed her cheek before taking Johnny’s hand. “Let’s go find a quiet table alone and let them talk,” he said. “If you need us, Clarissa, we won’t be far away. We’re not going to desert you here.”

  “Thank you. Although don't think I’m letting you off the hook, either.”

  “I wouldn’t think of it, but I also hope that, if needed, you’d do the same thing for me.” He gave her a wink before requesting a table.

  In the middle of a major shopping mall, in one of the biggest cities in America, Clarissa felt so alone.

  And yet the two people she needed most in this world stood only a few feet away.

  “We’ve missed you,” Mario said.

  * * *

  The woman standing in front of him looked so familiar, like his long-time lover, and yet so different at the same time. He wanted to hurry to her, wrap her in his arms and make her promise never to run again. Twice now he’d been in this precarious position, and he couldn’t bear the thought of a third time.

  Mario took a few cautionary steps forward, afraid he’d scare her off if he moved too quickly. When she didn’t bolt, he slid his arm around her lower back. Even through her jacket, she was cold to the touch.

  “Let’s go grab a seat,” he said, guiding her forward.

  As they entered the restaurant, she sought out Johnny and Sam’s table with her eyes.

  “Making sure you have an escape route?” he asked.

  “Something like that,” she replied.

  More timid than he’d seen her in the past, Ms. Lucy followed them. The hostess presented a corner booth, overlooking the great expanse of the city. The sun was dipping, and lights smattered the various buildings.

  Clarissa sucked in a breath. “It’s spectacular.”

  “Not as much as you are,” Mario whispered in her ear. Beneath his palm, her body trembled. He hoped it was in a good way.

  They ordered wine, and when the waiter came with their glasses, Clarissa held the chilled glass of white wine against her face as if cooling off, and she continued to look out the window.

  “Quarter for your thoughts,” Lucy said. “Clarissa?”

  “Quarter? I thought the going price was a penny?” She tilted her head, evaluating them, and then took a sip.

  “Let’s say you’re worth more than that,” Lucy said.

  “Hmmm. I guess you both want to know why I left,” Clarissa said. “Right?”

  Mario wasn’t quite sure of his role in this conversation. While his relationship with Clarissa came first, this time she’d left the home she shared with Lucy. They had a more immediate need that needed to be addressed. He let the dry red wine rest on his tongue and waited for her response. After waiting so long, now was merely a blip in time.

  When did he get so laid-back and let the anxiety go? Back home, he was all about “go-go-go” and “tell-me-now.” Now, he was content to wait and see. He took the time to study his table companions. Both were visually stunning women, but they also were incredibly strong. The combination made them even more compelling. People were drawn to them. He was.

  “That might be a good place to start,” Lucy said, nudging Clarissa forward. Under the table, she kicked Mario’s foot, and when they made eye contact, she raised her eyebrows at him. Someone else wasn’t into being overly patient.

  The idea amused him.

  “What if I said I didn’t know?”

  Lucy huffed—obviously not enthused with that answer. “You don’t pack up all your belongings and run away for no reason at all.”

  The waiter reappeared beside their table. “May I interest you in any appetizers?”

  “Bruschetta and calamari,” Ms. Lucy ordered, “and another round of drinks for all of us.”

  Mario looked at his glass and blinked—they’d all almost finished their first drink. If all went according to plan this evening, they wouldn’t be going back to the campus. All they had to do was walk to the hotel.

  “What if I wanted something else?” Clarissa asked. “Do you automatically know what I want at all times?”

  Beneath her makeup, Ms. Lucy’s face blanched. Ah, so his little Italian vixen was coming out of her submissive role. Perhaps that could be one of the issues on the table.

  “I-I’m sorry,” Lucy said. “I just wanted to place an order fast and get him out of here. If you want something else, I can call him back.” She looked around the dining room.

  With a sigh, Clarissa called her off. “What you ordered will be fine. I don’t want to be a problem. But sometimes you need to think beyond your desires, or assumptions, and ask what others want. If we’re in a relationship, then I want a partnership. Not someone who dictates my every move and even what I eat.”

  “But I didn’t realize. Up until this point…” Lucy stammered and then glanced at Mario for help.

  He shrugged. It was tough when you were with someone who didn’t quite know what she wanted.

  “You have to understand,” Mario broached the subject, “growing up in a close-knit Italian family, things were always assumed. The family did what was ‘best’ for the individual, not necessarily what they wanted.”

  Clarissa reached over and squeezed his hand again. “I appreciate you understanding. That’s one thing that’s special between us, the shared background. I don’t always have to explain myself to you. You just get it.”

  “But I want to understand too,” Lucy said. “I’m willing to make adjustments. Don’t shut me out.”

  Drawing back into herself, Clarissa closed her eyes and seemed to go somewhere else for a few beats. Lucy opened her mouth, and Mario shook his head. Better to let her talk at her own pace.

  Finally, she addressed them both. “You two mean the world to me. Living with both of you at the school, and attending classes, well, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” she said. “Lurking in the background, though, was this ‘choice’ I had to make between the two of you. If one of you did something special, I leaned toward that way. And then the next day I was back in the other’s court.

  “Ultimately, choosing was impossible.”

  “Hon, but you don’t—” Mario started.

  She held up her hand, palm facing toward him. “Let me finish. It took me this long to get started. Don’t make me stop and lose my rant.” She gave him a weak smile. “That’s how I felt. I had to choose between the two of you. Sure, at the beginning, both of you threw it out there. After a while, even unsaid, the feeling persisted. The thing is, I couldn’t choose. I didn’t want one of you or the other. I didn’t love one of you or the other. I love both of you.”

  At the present tense of the verb, his heart and brain stuttered. Love. She “loves” him, not “loved” him. That little d meant all the difference in the world.

  “So I left. It’s not fair for me to keep pushing both of you and making you wait. Maybe if I can’t choose between the two of you, I don’t deserve either of you.”

  “What if you could have both of us?” Ms. Lucy asked. “Would that make a difference?”

  “What do you mean? Sharing time? One week with you, and one week with Mario? I don’t see that working. Eventually, jealousy will take over, and it’ll ruin all of us.”

  His heart pounded. They hadn’t really discussed this option, but after the past few days alone, he knew where Lucy was headed.

  Lucy smiled, as if she was handing out the very best toys from the store. “That’s not what I meant at all. These past few days, Mario and I have been alone a lot, and we did a lot of talking, among other things.”

  “What other things?” Clarissa said.

  Mario actually felt a blush crawl up his face. What she didn’t know…

  “You mean like have sex, alone, without me?” her voice spiked at the end, and the patrons at two tables near them turned to see who was talking.

  Keep listening. He was sure the conversation was going to get even better.

  “Something like that,” Lucy said. “You’d given both of us permissi
on, basically, to do what we wanted. And then you left us, which gave even more freedom.”

  “Yeah.” She leaned over the table and dropped her voice. “But that didn’t give my two partners permission to go fuck among themselves.”

  Mario cringed and struggled to find something to say.

  “It’s not like you left us with any instructions—aside from ‘you’re better off without me,’” Lucy said. “We were two lost souls finding our way, and you know what? I like the trail I discovered.”

  This time, Lucy reached across the table and grasped Mario’s hand. She took the contact one step further and kissed him, full force on the mouth, and turned back to Clarissa. “And I like being with him very much. How about you? Miss us?”

  “Ugh. You make this so impossible. How am I supposed to choose between you two?”

  Lucy leaned over the table and took Clarissa’s chin in her hand. “You are not listening to us. You don’t have to choose. You can have both of us, together. We won’t complain, and we won’t turn you away. The only thing you’ll need to compromise on is sharing your lovers.”

  “People do that?” she asked, looking from one of them to the other. “I mean, I have a hard time imagining beyond a bigger bed.”

  Lucy chuckled. “Polyamorous relationships can work, as long as those involved agree on the parameters. I might be willing to share you with Mario, but that doesn’t mean I want you to jump into bed with just anyone on the street.”

  “Forget about that,” Clarissa said. “I have a hard time keeping this one straight.”

  Although they happened, it wasn’t as though threesome relationships were commonly accepted. “I’m sure you followed the wave of same-sex marriages,” Mario said. Anyone who knew him from his former life wouldn’t believe he was talking about gay marriages in such a way. “More than half the United States now allows it. Well, there isn’t a provision for marrying more than one person. Although I’ve done my research, some people are talking about it.

  “Those that fear the ‘slippery slope’ would plummet right on down in shock. There are those who want the legal parameters to marry who they choose, and how many they choose.” He’d definitely thought about it. “Our family wouldn’t love the idea, but at the same time they might not be ready for you and Lucy either, to be honest.”