“You too,” Ms. Welsh responded with a wave as she slid in the taxi before he took off.
Calida watched her leave and with a soft sigh, she closed the door behind her leaning against the doorframe as she glanced around the house. She decided to tour the house since no one was home since she hadn’t really looked around from the time she moved in.
The first floor consisted of Edric’s office, a small room that she realized was used as merely a small storage room, the decent size living room, a dining room which they had rarely used, and the kitchen that Calida loved without question. As she explored each room, she smiled making small changes in her head although it wasn’t going to happen and the last room she explored on the first floor was Edric’s office.
She hesitated at the door before she opened it and looked around shaking her head at the disarray knowing he must have been in a rush because he normally kept things organized. Leaving the door open, she started straightening and was almost done when she noticed the file with her mother’s name on it. She frowned as she opened it and her eyes narrowed slightly at the information that it revealed before she snapped it closed.
“He could’ve just asked,” she muttered anger rolling through her but she left it on the desk with the others as she continued straightening. She opened the top drawer just to place his pens inside that he had scattered around the desk when suddenly her whole body froze as she stared down at the picture that sat in the middle of the drawer.
“Why is Matt…” she asked aloud as with a shaky hand she picked up the picture recognizing Edric, Tomas, Matt although it was last person in the photo that captured her attention. The young woman was laughing her head resting on Matt’s shoulder while one hand rested on Edric’s arm, and Calida’s eyes filled with tears as she slowly turned it over.
Adela’s 18th birthday with Matt and Tomas
Calida reached out one hand to grip the desk as her legs almost gave out underneath her and she whispered in the silence of the room, “So this is my punishment, huh, Adela? I guess it is fitting.”
She stared down at the picture a little longer before she placed it gently back in the drawer and closed it.
She glanced around the office one last time before she walked out closing the door behind her and she gave up touring the rest of the house as she rechecked the windows and doors. The room she shared with Edric was the last room as she grabbed her things glancing around the room making sure to take the few things she had bought with her including the few things that Edric had bought her although she had the in a separate case that once at home, she would put them away.
With those thoughts on her mind, she started down the stairs and walked out of the house just as Jake pulled up to the house.
“Are you ready, Calida,” he asked quietly seeing the lifeless hazel eyes.
Calida nodded her head as she handed him her cases saying, “Let me set the alarm and then we can go.”
Jake nodded his head as he headed for the car and Calida set the alarm before closing the door behind her locking it with her key which she stared at for a second.
She stuck it in her pocket as she walked down to the car and with another brief glance at the house she climbed in shutting the door.
Jake shifted the car from park and drove away glancing at Calida periodically the farther they drove away from Edric’s house.
“Calida,” he began only to be stopped as Calida turned to him her face a mask.
“Did we hear anything about Jeremy,” she asked her voice calm and devoid of emotion.
Jake flinched as he refocused on the road and told her, “He called Wilma’s cell about helping with bail but we told him that you had gone out of town for a few days.”
Calida shrugged her shoulders as she told him, “He probably already knew where I was staying but wanted to see what you would say.”
Jake figured as much as did Marti and Wilma, but they decided to play along with him trying to learn what he was planning.
“Calida, we think you should be careful,” Jake warned her as they pulled up to the house. “He can find out who helped the police to get all that information on him.”
“It won’t take him long at all,” Calida said as she opened the passenger door as Jake turned off the car. “I plan on telling him in person who gave them the information.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open as Calida shut the door after sliding out of the car before walking around to the trunk where she waited patiently for Jake to pop open for her.
Once he did, she grabbed her cases and slammed the trunk shut before heading for the house as Marti and Wilma came out of the house.
She gave them each a smile but didn’t stop as she headed inside to her room with her cases and she saw the file the moment she opened the door. After putting the cases down and closing her door, she grabbed the file from the desk and settled down on her bed one hand over the top of it before she drew in a deep breath to steady herself and then she opened the file reading what she already learned over the last few days.
“She plans on telling him,” Jake muttered as they walked in the house shocked to see no surprise or startle looks on the two women’s face.
“We figured she probably would,” Marti said on a sigh as they walked into the living room. “Calida would tell Jeffrey as a way to show that she wasn’t scared anymore especially of him.”
Jake sunk down onto the only armchair in the room as he asked, “What do you think Jeremy will do when he learns the truth?”
Wilma glanced at Marti who put her head down and whispered, “That’s what scares us the most, Jake.”
Chapter 17
Calida sat up the rest of the night looking out her window as she waited hoping that Edric would call, but as the sun began to come up a grim smile came over her face.
“I guess he was too busy to call,” she told herself as she got off the bed and headed for the bathroom to take a shower.
Walking into the kitchen an hour later, Calida poured herself a cup of coffee as she said casually, “Wilma, help me make some calls for the wedding.”
Everyone froze as Calida sipped her coffee and Marti, “Calida, why…?”
“Edric asked me to prepare for a wedding while he was gone so that’s what I’m going to do minus the wedding dress,” Calida said sipping her coffee staring at them with sad eyes. “Also I will pay for everything so that way when it gets cancelled, everything will fall on me.”
“That’s stupid, Calida,” Jake growled in frustration. “He is the one who will cancel the wedding so let him take care of the bills.”
Calida merely shrugged her shoulders as she said, “Isn’t normally the responsibility of the bride’s parents to take care of the wedding? All the groom has to do is get the rings and show up.”
“Yes, but…” Jake began only to stop as Marti put a hand on his arm.
“Okay, Calida, if that’s what you want to do,” Wilma told her quietly and Calida smiled slightly as she walked over giving her a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered before moving back to lean against the counter. “So what should we do about decorations?”
They looked at each other before they started throwing ideas out at each other knowing that Calida already had something in mind but she wanted their opinion. They sat around as Calida grabbed a notebook and started making a list as Wilma said, “We can make the food, Calida, especially the baking we will leave to you.”
Calida protested as she said, “But it’s my wedding.”
“And yet everyone rather it eat your cake then anyone else’s,” Marti proclaimed. “I know I would.”
Calida grumbled under her voice as the others teased her but Wilma could see the lurking sadness in her hazel eyes and later that night, she knocked on Calida’s door opening it when she called out ‘come in’.
Calida smiled from the bed where she was making list of things she needed to do and Wilma noticed that the wedding plans wasn’t what she was working on.
“Calida, did he call you,” she asked in a soft voice only to watch Calida still before she continued writing.
“Wilma, he went there for business so he probably is busier than he thought he would be and hasn’t had time to call me,” she suggested throwing her a smile.
Wilma walked over and glanced over the list for the wedding that Calida worked on during the day before she said, “You talked to Mariah?”
Calida hesitated briefly before she nodded her head because Mariah had called during lunch to tell Calida that her niece loved the cake and that sister was wondering if she wouldn’t mind making something for her own birthday in about four months. Calida laughed and teased that she didn’t take reservation out of her home but call her again when the day nears closer. Mariah had laughed and then mentioned how tired Tomas was when he called her the night before, but Calida didn’t tell Wilma that as she glanced up at her.
“You are setting yourself up for heartache, Calida, and you are doing it willingly without anyone twisting your arm,” Wilma warned her as she sat on the edge of the bed.
Calida put down the paper she had been writing on as she said softly, “I know everyone thinks I’m stupid for doing this especially knowing that the engagement is nothing more than a façade for what Edric really wants, but I…” she hesitated briefly thinking about the picture she found in Edric’s office desk. “I think it is my punishment for not saving Adela although I was right there and saw it all, but I was too scared to do anything.”
“You were also shocked, Calida,” Wilma confirmed getting a wary glance from Calida at those words. “You had been trying to keep the image of Jeremy as your big brother in your head for so long that you ignored all of the warnings, and anyone who told you about him, so when you saw it with your own eyes it left you defenseless and fear took over.”
Calida chucked although there was no humor in it as she said wearily, “Did you ever think about being a psychologist, Wilma, instead of looking after brats like me?”
Wilma laughed as she leaned forward brushing hair out of Calida’s face. “I wouldn’t trade it for a moment,” she told her without doubt.
Calida felt tears fill her eyes as she said, “Thank you, Wilma.”
Wilma sighed and got up off the bed telling her, “Get some sleep, Calida, because according to what we planned you will have a busy day tomorrow.”
Calida made a face but she nodded her head in agreement as she began to gather the papers on her bed. As the door closed behind Wilma, Calida stopped what she was doing and stared down at the engagement ring on her finger.
Tears slid down her face when suddenly her cell went off and she frowned as she picked it up glancing over at the clock on her night stand wondering who was calling at one in the morning.
“Hello,” she answered without checking the caller id which caused her to sigh although the sigh got cut off when the person responded on the after end.
“Hello, Calida, I’m sorry that my call is late.”
Edric stretched as he glanced over at the clock and he swore slightly under his breath seeing how late it was when Tomas poked his head in the doorway.
“I’m going to bed after I call Mariah,” he told Edric catching a frown cross his face. “Have you called Calida at all?”
Edric scowled as he said, “I was planning on calling her when we arrived but Sophia called first about some problem and then we were immediately beset with business that I didn’t have time.”
Tomas was quiet for a few minutes before he told Edric, “I called Mariah around the same time last night and although she was asleep, I think she enjoyed hearing from me. I think Calida would feel the same way, Edric.”
Edric didn’t hear Tomas say ‘good night’ as he thought about what Tomas said and then he frowned as he remembered Calida being awake that last night before he left.
He immediately reached for the phone and dialed her number sitting back in his chair as her heard voice saying ‘hello’ her voice sounding fully awake.
He stopped himself from sighing aloud as he told her in a gruff voice, “Hello, Calida, I’m sorry that my call is late.”
The double meaning wasn’t lost on either one of them as she said softly, “Bette late than never, Edric. At least now I know that you are okay and hard at work.”
The last sentence was said teasingly and Edric felt the tension that had built up inside him since they arrived yesterday began to disappear as he sat back in his seat.
“Calida, I was planning on calling you yesterday when we arrived, but…” he started but Calida interrupted him.
“Edric, you don’t have to call and tell me your every move but at least a text to let me know that you arrived all right would’ve been nice,” she told him and he could hear the smile in her voice.
Edric sighed heavily which caught Calida’s attention so she asked, “Having problems, Edric?”
He chuckled as he explained what had been going on since his arrival yesterday and they talked for an hour before Calida said, “You should get some sleep, Edric, because from what you said tomorrow is going to be hectic for you.”
Edric agree silently as he said, “Will you be able to get some sleep, baby?”
Calida didn’t think so but told him, “Now that I know you are okay, sleep should come a little easier.”
Edric didn’t believe that for one minute but he let her get away with the lie this time as they said ‘good night’, and after they hung up Edric frowned as he had forgotten to ask her how the wedding preparations were coming along. He would ask her tomorrow, he decided as he stood stretching before stripping off his clothes and sliding into bed although he laid there staring at the ceiling feeling a little lonely in the big bed.
Calida never went back to sleep after her call ended with Edric so she continued working as the sun came up and the others began to wake up.
She yawned as she got up from the bed and stretched before going to take a quick shower. After getting out and dressed, she gathered up the papers before going out to breakfast which Marti and Wilma had already finished making.
“You didn’t get any sleep, did you,” Marti stated with a glare.
“I also heard your cell go off around one,” Jake added coming into the room with a newspaper.
Calida put the notebook down that she placed her papers before going over to the coffee pot and pouring a cup as she told them, “Edric called last night.”
Three pairs of eyes shifted to her in surprise as Calida sat down at the table opening the notebook sipping her coffee before going on, “I think a trip to a florist is first on the list.”
Wilma nodded her head as Marti sighed heavily and Jake scowled not happy with what Calida was planning as he stared at her.
Once Wilma and Calida left in the car, Jake said harshly, “Why is she putting herself through this knowing what is going to happen?”
Marti turned away shaking her head as she said to him, “She said it yesterday didn’t she, Jake, that she believes it is her punishment for not helping Edric’s sister ten years ago.”
“So what does that mean, Calida is going to let Edric use her and then toss her away,” Jake asked with a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Yes,” Marti admitted glancing at him with hooded eyes. “That is exactly what Calida is going to do and she isn’t going to hold it against Edric when he does so either.”
“It isn’t fair,” Jake muttered as he headed out of the room. “Her brother is the one who killed his sister and yet Calida is part of the revenge too.”
He continued muttering under his breath as he exited the room and Marti stared after him knowing exactly how he felt thinking about what was going through Calida’s mind during this time.
Shaking her head, Marti started for the rooms to straighten them before going to clean the kitchen and then she would go out to work in the garden that she started. It would take her mind off what was going on and how Calida was putting up a façade for everyone while she died inside.
“It wasn’t this bad when Jake and I got married twenty years ago,” Wilma said fanning herself with her hand as their server came over with their drinks before taking their orders.
“It could be worse, Wilma, I could be one of those bridezillas from that reality TV show you like to watch,” Calida teased with a slight grimace before sipping her drink as she studied Wilma.
“I’m not as young as I once was either,” Wilma told her in a stern voice getting a chuckle from Calida as their server returned with their food a few minutes later.
As they ate, they chatted and Wilma watched the emotions that flickered in Calida’s eyes as they sat there. She sniffed as tears welled in her own eyes and when she thought she couldn’t control them, she stood up getting a startled look from Calida.
“I have to use the restroom,” she spoke quietly.
Calida stood up after taking a last swallow of her drink before she said, “I will pay and meet you at the car, okay?”
Wilma nodded her head and walked toward the restrooms unaware of Calida watching her with a soft smile and understanding eyes before she turned toward the counter to pay for their meal.
She paid for the meal and was turning to walk out when she came face to face with Sophia who had just walked in.
“Calida, what a surprise,” Sophia said as she turned to her companion and spoke a few words before she moved away to sit down. “My friend and I came here to get something to eat before we head out for a shopping spree.”
Calida smiled and nodded her head as she stepped forward saying politely, “I hope that you have a good time.”
Sophia’s eyes glinted with malice as she asked, “So how is the wedding preparations coming along?”
At Calida’s look of surprise, she laughed before remarking, “I’ve talked to Ric every day since he left and he mentioned it in passing although I must admit he doesn’t seem too excited about it though.”
Past Sins Revisited Page 21