Past Sins Revisited

by Mary Goldberger

  Edric noticed her right away almost thirty minutes later when he walked out of the elevators at the lobby with Sophia and Matt, and he stopped for a second as Matt’s words rang through his mind after Calida left them upstairs.

  “What in the hell are you thinking, Ric, getting involved with the sister of the bastard who did that to Adela,” Matt had stormed at him.

  “I told him,” Sophia had stated shaking her head unshed tears in her eyes.

  “I know what I’m doing,” he had argued giving them both a dark stare.

  Matt glared at him before he said, “I hope you do because I don’t want to have to find you in some excluded place as we did Adela.”

  Matt’s eyes grew thoughtful as he said slowly, “I remember you talking about a chance to get revenge on the man who hurt Adela especially when we learned who she had been secretly seeing at the time. Are you using Calida to get to her brother?”

  Edric didn’t answer right away but both Sophia and Matt took his silence as confirmation, and he told them abruptly, “I’m in the process of buying all the shares of Reseda Electronics and Calida owns twenty percent of those shares.”

  “Oh,” Sophia said a smile picking up the corner of her lips although Matt stared at him with sharp eyes but he didn’t comment as he changed the subject.

  “Lida has confirmed that Jeremy definitely knew she was in the house and in fact, he was the one who broke her arm,” Matt told them in a hard voice before he clammed up as he had revealed a little too much to civilians that could jeopardize the case even though they were friends.

  All of that came back to him as he watched Calida who sat in one of the visitor’s chairs staring out the window her body so still that Edric frowned and stepped forward to make sure that she was okay when Sophia called his name, “Ric.”

  He glanced over at her as she grabbed his arm unaware of Calida turning in their direction and seeing Sophia stepping close to him.

  “We are still going to do business tomorrow at nine, right,” she asked making sure to step closer, and Matt shook his head as his cell rung and he answered it after giving them a brief salute which Edric answered.

  “I promised to help you, Sophia so we will meet at nine as arranged,” Edric told her. “Unfortunately, I have to leave town tomorrow afternoon for an emergency business meeting so I hope we can wrap everything up before I go.”

  “We will,” Sophia told him with a sultry smile, and Edric nodded his head patting her hand before he turned in Calida’s direction again.

  Calida had turned away as they were talking and staring back out the window when suddenly a ball came rolling in front of her. A little girl about five years old came over as Calida reached forward to stop the ball and raised hazel eyes as the little girl smiled at her.

  “Hi, is this yours,” Calida asked in a quiet voice her hazel eyes smiling as she held out the ball.

  The little girl nodded her head as a woman walked over to her with a harassed look on her face although the look softened as they landed on the little girl.

  “You shouldn’t be playing ball in the hospital,” she told the little girl as Calida handed the ball to her. She glanced at Calida with an apologetic smile as she said, “Sorry about that.”

  “No harm done,” Calida commented with a smile as she stood up. “She is beautiful.”

  The woman smiled and nodded her head as the little girl leaned against her side. “Thank you,” she said with pride in her voice.

  “We need to get going sweetheart as grandma is waiting for us,” she reminded the little girl and with a wave for Calida, they walked away.

  Calida smiled watching them as her hand settled on her own stomach wondering if she would ever get that lucky before she sighed and the hand dropped away.

  She was unaware of Edric’s sharp gaze on her as she turned back to the windows to stare out as Sophia said a little loud, “We are ready to go.”

  Calida turned to them and with a smile which Edric noted was forced as she walked over to them reaching them when Edric asked, “Are you all right?”

  “Of course,” she answered back in surprise. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Edric ignored the faint alarm that went through him as he took her arm and with Sophia on his other side they walked out of the hospital.

  Chapter 16

  Edric rolled over in the night and reached out for Calida only to be awakened when he encountered emptiness next to him and he sat up glancing around the room. He frowned as he saw her standing in front of the window arms wrapped around her midsection staring out in the darkening sky.

  “Calida,” he said quietly sliding out of the bed and at the sound of her name, she turned her head to stare at him.

  He felt something in his chest tighten at that look as he walked over to her to stand behind her wrapping his arms around her.

  “Couldn’t sleep, baby,” he asked in a soft voice.

  “Not really,” she murmured leaning back against him as he settled his chin on top of her head.

  “Would you like to talk about it,” he offered quietly wondering if she would finally tell him about the nightmares that have been plaguing her lately.

  She shook her head as she confided, “No, not right now, Edric. Maybe someday I will tell you all about it.”

  Edric hid his disappointment as he kissed her temple and told her, “Okay, but right now how about we go back to bed?”

  Calida nodded her head as they turned away from the window to climb back in bed and Edric nestled Calida against him again letting sleep claim him unaware that Calida stayed awake her eyes open and staring at the wall.

  The next morning Edric got dressed a frown on his face because when he woke up Calida had been gone.

  He headed downstairs meeting Ms. Welsh as he started down the stairs.

  “Ms. Welsh, I will be going out of town for at least a week,” he said putting on his suit jacket as Ms. Welsh nodded her head.

  “Would you like me to pack a bag for you, or ask Calida,” she stated with a twinkle in her eye. “Calida is in the kitchen making breakfast if you want to ask her.”

  Edric nodded his head as he headed in that direction ignoring Ms. Welsh’s chuckle as she continued upstairs.

  Edric stopped in the doorway of the kitchen as he watched Calida hover near the stove as she cooked eggs and bacon occasionally grabbing a coffee cup to take a sip.

  “You weren’t in bed when I got up,” he said getting her attention and Calida turned to look at him giving him a smile.

  Edric wasn’t fooled by the smile as he could see the shadows underneath her eyes and there was a wary look in her eyes that he didn’t care to see.

  “Would you like something to eat, Edric,” Calida asked as he walked over giving her a light kiss on the lips before going over to pour himself a cup of coffee.

  “It smells good so please,” he accepted leaning back against the counter sipping the coffee.

  Calida fixed him a plate and set it at the table before walking back to the stove to finish up the last little bit before sitting down opposite him to eat.

  “Is that all you are going to eat,” he asked settling down next to her seeing what little she put on her plate.

  “It will be enough until lunch time,” she told him taking a forkful of eggs.

  Edric watched her for a few seconds before he began to eat and while they ate, he said, “I have to go out of town for at least a week so I was wondering if you would pack for me.”

  “Anything particular you want me to pack,” Calida asked pushing the rest of the eggs around on her plate before she reached for her coffee.

  “It is for business so…” Edric told her picking up his own coffee watching her over the rim.

  “Got it,” Calida told him as she pushed her plate away and gripped her cup with both hands.

  “Calida,” he said in a soft tone that held a hint of tension catching Calida’s attention as she glanced up at him a frown on her face. “While I’m gone, why do
n’t you go ahead and get things ready for our wedding?”

  Calida’s eyes widened before she smiled and asked, “Are you sure you want me to do that? We haven’t even settled on date yet.”

  Edric only laughed as he said, “How about a month from now on the 24th?”

  Calida started to giggle as she said between bouts of laughter, “You are merely pulling dates out of your head, Edric.”

  He winked at her as he said, “I am but it sounds good to me so how about it?”

  Calida shook her head but a smile was lingering on her lips although Edric observed that he couldn’t see her eyes as she had shielded her pretty orbs from his view.

  “Okay, I will have everything ready when you return,” she told him with a soft smile.

  Edric’s phone rung at that moment and he glanced at his watch before he grimaced telling her, “I have to get going, Calida. I promised Sophia that I would help her with a business venture that she was interested in.”

  Calida nodded her head as she stood up grabbing both of their plates and taking them to the sink before going back to grab their cups.

  Edric hung up his cell and pulled Calida onto his lap where he kissed her softly enjoying the moment as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “I will be leaving this afternoon so I won’t see you before I depart,” he told her as the kiss ended.

  “Call me when you get to the airport and when you arrive at your destination,” Calida told him as she ran her fingers through his black hair.

  Edric couldn’t help the laughter that came out at these words although he nodded his head in agreement and Calida merely winced as she said, “Never mind you don’t have to call me. Just be careful.”

  She gave him a light kiss before she slipped off his lap and continued clearing the table as Edric stood up watching her.

  Once her hands were free, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly as he chided her, “Take care while I’m gone.”

  “Without a doubt,” she told him with a brief smile and he kissed her again just as gently as before. He pulled back and smiled stroking a hand down her face telling her, “Tomas will pick up my bag as he is coming with me.”

  Calida nodded her head as he stared out her for a few more minutes until his cell rung again and with a scowl, he dropped another light kiss on her lips before he turned and walked out of the kitchen.

  Calida heard him calling Ms. Welsh as he was leaving and she smiled hearing them joke around before he walked out a second later the sound of car a driving away.

  Calida bit her lip as she turned back to the sink and finished washing up before she wiped down the counters, stove and table. Ms. Welsh entered the kitchen as Calida was folding the dishtowel and placing it back where it was kept while she said, “I’m going to go pack Edric’s case for his business trip and then if you don’t mind, Ms. Welsh, I will spend the next few days with Wilma and the others if that’s okay.”

  Ms. Welsh smiled revealing, “Go ahead, sweetie, because Edric gave me a few days to go visit with my sister.”

  “Then it works out for the both of us,” Calida said with a chuckle as Ms. Welsh winked at her. “I’m going upstairs to get Edric’s things ready for his trip.”

  Ms. Welsh waved her off and Calida was still laughing as she entered their room a few minutes later, but as she closed the door behind her the laughter disappeared from her face.

  “Damn,” she muttered leaning back against the door squeezing her eyes closed before she sighed heavily and then got to work.

  She had Edric’s case packed not too long after that including a small bag with his personal items he would need. As she zipped up his case, Calida hoped that she had packed everything he would need before she rolled her eyes realizing if she didn’t then she was sure he wouldn’t go without for too long.

  After packing her things up, Calida put them off to the side and went back downstairs to see if Ms. Welsh needed help cleaning up before she left to visit her sister.

  It was almost two hours later when the phone rang as Calida walked back into the hallway after Tomas left packing his own bag and picking up Edric’s for their trip. She picked it up just as Ms. Welsh came out of the kitchen and Calida waved at her as she said, “Hello, Walwyn residence.”

  There was silence before Sophia said her tone slightly mocking, “Ric wanted me to call to make sure that you knew he would be leaving in a few hours. Of course, he spent the morning with me so….”

  Calida wasn’t stupid enough to fall for her intended exaggeration as she revealed, “Yes, I know as Edric told me he was helping with a business venture and I hope that he was able to help you. Tell Edric that his bag is packed and Tomas already picked it up so he should be arriving at the office any time now. Was there anything else, Sophia, you wanted to relay from Edric?””

  On the other end of the phone, Sophia gritted her teeth as she snapped out, “No, that was all he wanted me to tell you.”

  She hung up after those words were spoken and she scowled down at it as Edric walked in the office after talking with his secretary.

  “Is everything okay, Sophia, did you get a hold of your friend,” he asked as he flipped through a file he held in his hands.

  “Yes,” Sophia told him with a brief smile as she opened his bottom drawer seeing the jewelry case. Her eyes flashed with delight as she pulled it out and said, “What is this, Ric? Did you buy me a gift?”

  Sophia opened the case as Edric walked around the desk and she stared at the necklace with a look of astonishment before she glanced up asking, “What is this, Ric?”

  “A necklace for my fiancée,” Edric told her as he put down the folder and grabbed the box from her closing it before putting it in his briefcase after a brief hesitation.

  Sophia’s eyes flared with anger before she shielded them and smiled at him as he turned to her.

  “Anything else we need to go over before I leave,” Edric asked her glancing at his wristwatch before he lifted his eyes to stare at her.

  “Thank you, Ric, for helping me today,” she told him taking a few steps toward him and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Are you sure I can’t entice you for a little fun before you leave?”

  She ran the tip of her tongue over his lips and Edric smiled as he leaned forward to give her a brief peck on the lips.

  “You are a good friend, Sophia so let’s not do anything that either one of us would regret,” he told her sincerely as he reached up to unloosen her interlocked hands from around his neck as a knock sounded on his door.

  “Come in,” he called out without hesitation as he gripped Sophia’s hands.

  Mariah walked in a small frown crossing her face as Edric turned to her and said, “Tomas will be returning a few days before I do, but I will be calling daily to check on things.”

  Mariah nodded her head as she walked over to the desk seeing Sophia throw her a smirk as Edric released her hands to grab his briefcase from the desk after making sure it was closed.

  “Is there anything else I need to look over before I leave,” he asked walking around his desk a second before Mariah handed him a file, and he chuckled as he handed her the briefcase in exchange for the file.

  He scanned the file with a thoroughness that made him a good businessman although he was pressed for time and needed to get going.

  He was just handing it back with a few notes for Mariah when another knock sounded at the office door and Tomas stuck his head inside eyes noting Sophia standing silently with a narrowed look on her face.

  “Hi Sophia,” he called getting her attention as she turned to him and he saw the maliciousness that she normally hid when around Edric.

  “Tomas,” she said with a smile her face becoming a charming mask as Edric shifted a look at her, and Tomas wondered if Sophia knew that she hadn’t been able to fool either one of them since they’ve known her.

  He shook his head not going to worry about it although he admitted that a hint of unease flickered throug
h him as he said, “We need to get going, Ric. I’ve already picked up your case from home.”

  Edric turned thoughtful green eyes to him and Tomas couldn’t help adding, “Calida told me to tell you to have a pleasant journey even if it was for business.”

  Edric laughed as Tomas shook his head remembering Calida giving him a shrewd look before she asked about Mariah.

  Tomas turned his eyes to her now as she finished talking with Edric before she turned to him a slight blush starting to redden her cheeks as she walked to him.

  “So I will call you tonight,” he told her as he stepped aside so she could leave the office.

  “You better,” she told him with a touch of sternness in her voice.

  He laughed as Edric and Sophia came out of the office a thoughtful look on Edric’s face as he asked offhandedly, “Sophia, are you going to walk us to the car?”

  Sophia slid her arm into Edric’s as she cooed in a soft voice, “Of course.”

  Tomas shook his head as Mariah glared at her before giving Tomas a light kiss on the cheek and she watched them leave together.

  She sighed as the elevator doors shut on them seeing Sophia laugh up at something Edric said while Tomas smiled sliding one hand in the coat of his suit.

  The phone rang a few seconds later and she cleared her mind as she answered because she still had a job to do.

  Calida glanced at the clock one last time and Ms. Welsh knocked on the door before opening it.

  “I’m about to leave, Calida. Make sure to lock the doors behind you when you leave,” she told her with a smile. “I’ve already checked the windows and backdoor, but please do a double check before you leave and also make sure to set the alarm.”

  “Have a good time with your sister, Ms. Welsh,” Calida told her with a smile as she followed her down the stairs to the front door where a taxi waited.