Celia's Knight

by Samantha Lovern

  “She’s tougher than she looks, but I’ll be here.”

  “Great, and I know this isn’t my place, but make yourself at home. Martin wouldn’t want you going hungry.”

  “Are you sure? He didn’t seem to care about Sis. And, what’s she doing here? Did I read things wrong? I was sure when I left that the two of them were no longer an item.”

  Mike didn’t want to talk about Celia behind her back. He hesitated then set down. He had about twenty minutes before he had to go. “I suppose you know you should ask her about this?”

  “I know, but I’d rather not bother her or bring it up. I just want the basics. Are they an item? Why is she here?”

  Mike considered this, and it would be best if Celia didn’t have to talk about Martin, or Randi, or anything along those lines. He nodded. “Don’t dare tell her I told you, but she’s here because Martin is a stand up guy and he knew she needed a place to mend. He was out of line during the party and regrets it, but, no, they are not an ‘item’.”

  “And, you? Why are you here?”

  Mike shrugged. “Celia and I are flipping a house together. I thought it would be handy if I was close to work and to her.” He knew this sounded lame, but it was all he could think of.

  Roger nodded and moved his attention back to the paper. “Do you need any help with the house? I’m pretty good with a hammer.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind, but for now, it would be best for you to be here.”

  “Well, yeah, but maybe I could get away for a few hours so just keep it in mind. I’ll work for free just to get out of the house. If I know my sister, I’ll be begging you to let me help - just to get away for a while.”

  Mike laughed. He could see that being a very true statement. “I’ll keep that in mind. What do you do, or have you worked long enough to have a career plan?”

  “Not really. Not unless you know a way I can make money fishing?”

  Again, Mike laughed. “I haven’t figured that one out yet. I know there are tournaments, and they pay, but I never looked into it.”

  “I think that would take all the fun out of it. Though I must say, I’ve never tried it. It might be something to think about, but then again, I’m really not good at catching fish, just sitting and waiting for them to bite.”

  Around lunchtime, Mike was taking a break from working on a car. He was about to take a bite of his sandwich when his phone rang. It was Martin. “Hey there. What’s up?”

  “Just checking in. I wanted to know if you were ready to send Celia back to the hospital. If I need to, I can get a nurse.”

  “That might be handy but her mother is with her and her brother is here now, so I think among the three of us, we can handle her.”

  “Roger? He and Celia always did seem close. She talked about him more than she did anyone besides her mother. I hope he does more than lay around the pool.”

  “I think she’ll see to it that he does, and that reminds me, I need to pick up a bell for Celia.”

  “Glutton for punishment?” Martin asked, laughingly.

  “It’s for her and Roger, something about payback from years ago when he was the one sitting on the couch. I don’t plan on being the one to answer the bell.”

  “Sure. Let me know how that works out.”

  “Okay, oh, wise one. Is that why you called?”

  “No. I wanted to see if you need anything - maybe someone to do some shopping or get some medical supplies.”

  “A walker would be nice. For right now, I think she’ll be stuck in the wheelchair, or the bed. But I’ll keep that in mind. I can pick up a few things, too, since I’ll be staying.”

  “So, you made up your mind?”

  “I think it will be best. That way, if I have questions or if anyone needs help, I’ll be there from time to time.”

  “Good. How is she doing? Is she in a lot of pain?”

  “She’s in pain, but mostly she’s okay. Nothing that time won’t heal.” Mike thought about telling him how she hated having to be in the same room that Randi stayed in but decided it wasn’t necessary. Besides, if Celia found out she wouldn’t like that he was talking to Martin about her.

  He also didn’t bother to mention that she wanted to start working at the dealership selling cars so she could buy the house. He did, on the other hand, ask about Randi. “How about the two of you? Is the dating still going okay?”

  “It’s going real good. I’m supposed to see Randi tomorrow. We were planning to go to the Actor’s Guild Awards but since the accident and Celia being hurt, Bill thinks it’s best I keep a low profile. Randi’s been really supportive about all of this so I’m hoping she won’t be too disappointed.”

  “It doesn’t sound like something she’d be crazy about, but who knows with women?”

  “I know. I’m going to see about renting a car and going down to the apartment to get my bike. I know it’s not like getting all dressed up and going out, but right now it’s best for my career.”

  “I don’t think she’ll care. Mom always said it was best to test the relationship beforehand, so consider this a test.”

  Martin replied, remorsefully, “I really think I’ve tested Randi quite enough with this whole Celia ordeal.”

  “I suppose you’re right, and if I didn’t say it, I think it was good of you to allow her to stay at your house. She’s in a bad spot. I guess you know she has no money and no real way to make any at this point.”

  “I was afraid of that, but wasn’t sure how to find out without asking. If she needs anything let me know. I don’t want her hurting or doing without.”

  “Thanks. I won’t let her know you said that because I think it’s best. But, if she needs anything, I’ll see you get the message.”

  Chapter 36

  A Mother’s Confession

  “I’m hungry,” Celia’s mother said as she looked up from the evening paper. “Would you like me to find something for us to eat?”

  “I don’t know if you can. Martin and I never ate here. We either went out or had something delivered.”

  “I’ll bet if I look I’ll find something.”

  “You can look and if you don’t find anything, we can get Roger to pick up some things while he’s out. He said he would check in before he came home.”

  “I’ll look around. I’m sure Martin wouldn’t mind or he would have never invited you to stay.”

  “I’m still not sure why he did. I can only guess he had a guilty conscience.”

  “Regardless,” her mother said, “I’m grateful.”

  “I know. I’m still pouting.”

  Her mother laughed. “I can understand. I’ll check the ‘best-by-date’ on anything I find. You don’t need any more problems.”

  “No, I don’t, but I wasn’t kidding. I could count the times we ate here on one hand.”

  “That, my dear, was a lot of wasted money. I understand some of the changes you’ve made, and I don’t mean to knock you when you’re down, but I didn’t raise you to waste money.”

  Celia didn’t answer as her mother walked out of the room. She knew her mother was right. Eating at home was cheaper. She leaned back and mentally looked over her relationship with Martin. She knew deep down, as he had said, she didn’t love him. But still, she had planned on making a life with him.

  It could have been a nice life - an enjoyable life - but they didn’t love each other. Early in the relationship, there had been an attraction, but it had faded. Their sex life, when they even bothered, had turned into something they did because they were lonely or bored. Was she better off? Would she have regretted marrying Martin?

  She sat thinking and mulling over how she had changed since she’d left home. It had been a slow change, and her mother was right, she’d been very wasteful.

  When she had lived at home, she’d watched her mother working hard to take care of her dad and the family. She had told herself she was not going to live like that. She wouldn’t wear her body down cooking and cleaning for a ma
n who didn’t appreciate anything she did.

  “Here we go,” her mother said, coming into the room carrying a tray. “There’s food in the cabinets and I could cook something later with the addition of some eggs, hamburger and milk.”

  “You don’t have to cook. You’ve done enough cooking for a lifetime,” Celia said, moving and wincing as she looked over the tray. “Is that tuna salad?”

  “Chicken salad. There were several cans and they had good dates. We’ll also need to get some bread. There was only half a loaf in the cabinet. And, as far as cooking, I don’t mind. It’s a part of what mothers do.”

  “Maybe that’s why I don’t want to be a mother.” The words were out before she knew it and she could see the hurt in her mother’s eyes. “I’m sorry. My emotions are all over the place, but I’ve watched you cook and clean for years. Dad never appreciated your efforts and I know we kids didn’t. I’m sorry for that. You worked hard and it’s time for you to relax.”

  Her mother moved to sit by her side and was lost in thought for a moment. Celia was sure she was about to get a lecture. She respected her mother and would take whatever she wanted to dish out. Celia took a sip of her soda and turned when her mother reached over and rested her hand on her arm.

  “I can see I’ve done you a great disservice. If you think that cleaning house and cooking for your family is a chore or a labor that is in vain, then I’ve done something wrong.”

  She moved her hand and reached to pick up her sandwich. She started to take a bite, but then met Celia’s gaze. “I didn’t always enjoy being a wife, and I’ll be honest, it’s because your dad was not the love of my life. He was not the man that I should have married, but I never wanted that to show. I never wanted to give you the idea that I didn’t enjoy being your mother.”

  Celia was in shock and she wanted to cry. “Then why did you marry Dad? What happened?”

  “Life happened. Your dad was good to me. He’s been a good provider. There were a lot of times he was irritable and cruel in what he said, but in his defense, he knew I didn’t love him like he loved me.”

  “This is a lot to take in,” Celia said.

  “I know, and I’m sorry, but I think it’s time that we talk about this. I don’t want you living your life hating or dreading being a wife or a mother because of something I did. I enjoyed cooking and cleaning for my children. And, most of the time, I didn’t mind caring for your dad. I never loved him like I should have and I’ve tried to do better over the last few years.”

  “You mean all these years you didn’t love Dad?”

  “I loved him, but I wasn’t in love with him. There is a difference and he could sense it early on. I’ve thought about leaving him, but I don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t mean for that to sound dreadful or be distressing, it’s just the truth.”

  “You could come and stay with me.” Celia laughed. “At least you can when I get on my feet again.”

  “I know, and that’s sweet, but I want to make this work. I want to love him as I should. I’m not quite sure how I’m going to do that, but I’m trying.”

  “If you knew all of this, then why were you trying to get me to hold on to Martin?”

  Her mother raised her eyes quickly and tilted her head. “I assumed you loved him. I didn’t want to see you lose him, if he was your true love. I know what that’s like, and I would never wish that on anyone.”

  Celia nodded and shrugged.

  “Do you? Love him?” her mother asked.

  “I thought I did. Now, I’m not sure. I do know that I don’t want to have children with him. I don’t want to cook and clean for him. I didn’t even want to do things that would make him happy. To be honest, at times, I was spiteful. He would ask me to do things or go places and I wouldn’t because I felt like he really didn’t want me to – like he was just asking because he felt he should.”

  “Then what I hear is, ‘no’.”

  Celia nodded that her mother was right. Once again her mother reached out, but this time, took her by the hand.

  “This may sound harsh, but someday I think you’ll be grateful that Randi came along when she did. You don’t want to follow in my footsteps. You do not want to settle for someone who will just ‘take care’ of you. And if something I did when you were growing up led you to this point in your life, I’d like to say I am so sorry.”

  “I don’t know what brought me here. I just know I want things to change.”

  “They can.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “Don’t give up on love. Don’t give up on being swept off your feet. You may never want children, and I’m fine with that, but you should enjoy being with the man you love. You should want to be by his side to help him, please him, and in general, grow old with him.”

  Chapter 37

  Tears and Clarity

  After finishing her morning cleaning, Randi drove by the house and picked up the pups to take them to the park for a walk. She managed to get in and out without having to speak to her mother, and for that she was thankful.

  It was a beautiful day and the pups enjoyed their romp, but she felt numb. When the pups lay down in the sun to take a nap, she sat on the grass and let her mind wander over the choices she was going to have to make.

  She would have to find somewhere to stay, and though she didn’t want to move in with Martin, she would, if she had to. She was not going to stop seeing him.

  In all of the years she had dated, not once had her mother been against any of the guys she had brought home. Then again, she hadn’t brought that many guys home to meet her parents. She wasn’t sure what bothered her more, her mother not trusting her to make a good choice, or that she was making such harsh demands.

  Either wasn’t good. She sighed, thinking that if only her mother could just be patient. She hadn’t even met Martin and she was judging him - wrongly.

  Martin was nice and sweet - none of the things her mother thought he was. If she would only have an open mind maybe she could see him for the man he was. Randi could feel the tears welling up. If she kept thinking it over and over, she was going to cry.

  She squinted her eyes and looked up at the sun that was peeping in and out behind some fluffy white clouds. Feeling the warmth on her face, she began to smile. Martin made her feel this warm. He brightened her days and made her feel whole. She assumed that was what your mate for life should do.

  Laughing, she looked down at the pups. “I’m walking us down the aisle before he’s even asked.” Bandit raised his head up and yawned, slowly stood to his feet, shook, walked over to Lady and gave her a nudge.

  “I’m ready too, guys. I finally know what I need to do. It won’t be pretty and it might create a stalemate for me and Mom, but we might not be homeless just yet.”

  As if he understood what she was saying, Bandit barked and walked toward a big tree. Lady followed not too far behind. Randi glanced at her watch and decided they had time for a longer walk.

  There weren’t too many people in the area so Randi took out her phone and dialed Martin. She guessed he would be staying at Mike’s, and with the first thought of Celia today, her brow furrowed.

  “Hey, beautiful.” The second the words were out of his mouth, the thoughts of Celia were gone, and that silly smile was playing on her lips.

  “Thanks, and you’re not too bad yourself. I hope you aren’t too busy to talk.”

  “Never, not for you. Talk away.”

  Randi knew she wasn’t ready to talk to Martin about her troubles with her mother so her mind raced to think of something to say. Finally, she blurted out, “I didn’t have anything particular in mind, just checking in. I finished a job this morning and have the pups out for a walk.”

  “It’s a great day for that, or a bike ride, or many other things, and I’m stuck inside reading.”

  “The same script we looked at before the accident?”

  “That’s it. I read for it in a few days and I really want this part. Not that I’m broke or anything, but I do need to wo
rk now and then.”

  “Low on cash? I could loan you a few bucks.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not destitute, yet.”

  “That’s good to know. Then maybe… you could afford to take your new girlfriend out? That is, if you can tear yourself away from your script long enough.”

  “I think I could manage as long as I don’t stay out too late. I do need to run over the scenes again until I’ve got them down.”

  “Works for me.” Randi smiled, and as she had hoped, talking with Martin had taken her mind off her worries. “I’ve got a gig with Pitt in the AM. It seems his house is in need of a good cleaning.” Randi waited for the response.

  “Watch yourself. I can be the jealous type. And, I think I told you, Pitt is off limits.”

  “You did, and of course, I’m teasing. It would be a hard one to turn down, but I’d do it for you.”

  “Good to know. I don’t need any more bad publicity. I can see it now. ‘Martin Taylor takes down Pitt at nearby restaurant. Film at eleven.’”

  “I’d tune in to see that.” Randi laughed. “But I’ll try to do my part to keep your name out of the gutter.”

  “Thanks. It seems I’m pretty good at getting into trouble without any help.”

  “Nothing new I hope?”

  “No, but I worry what will happen if the press gets wind of Celia living at the house. It could bring everything back into the news.”

  “I suppose, but could it really hurt? I mean, isn’t some publicity better than none at all?”

  “Now you sound like my agent.”

  Randi laughed. “I’m not telling you to call the paper, I’m just saying don’t worry about it. If they find out, we’ll deal with it.”

  “I like the sounds of that,” Martin said, and the tone in his voice made Randi wish she was with him. He would be pulling her close for a kiss, and she could use a kiss right about now.

  “The sounds of what?” she asked, trying not to sound like a giddy teenage girl.