Chapter 15
1171 Words
Vicente
Ines’ lavender smell enveloped me completely.
Her large brown eyes watched me in wonder and utter shock at my words.
It broke my heart to see that she was so surprised at my confession; yet I also had been a fool to have been blind to her for so many years.
“I’m so sorry it took me so long,” I said, caressing her cheek.
Her eyes welled with tears. “It’s always been you,” she said softly. “It’s only ever been you.”
Her words sent my heart a flutter and I couldn’t help but smile like a child.
She wanted me. Only me.
“What happens now?” She asked me.
I wiped some tears from her eyes and kissed her hand. “Now, I think we take it day by day.”
Her eyes darkened for a moment, and I knew she was doubting my feelings for her. No gentleman would declare himself to a young lady and then desire to spend time away from her.
“I am to leave for Portugal in two days, and my trip is an entire month. But when I return, I will make sure it seems as if we were not apart for an instant.”
I saw undeniable doubt in Ines’ eyes, and although I tried not to take offense in her doubt in me, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
Were my feelings not clear enough for her?
I reached for her other hand and gave her the most reassuring smile I could. “I need you to trust me Ines. Can you do that?”
She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a deep voice behind us.
“Vicente, get away from my daughter.”
We both immediately turned and Señor Hector was standing there, a stern look on his face and Benita stood next to him, eyes wide with shock.
Ines and I weren’t in a compromising position, but it was definitely not in a way that we had interacted before.
“Ma, nothing happened, I promise!” Ines said, scrambling to her feet and rushing to her mom.
“Get inside,” Benita said, her dark eyes darting between me and her daughter.
“Ma you have to believe me!”
“GET INSIDE,” Señor Hector repeated in a booming voice that even made me jump.
Ines looked at him with shock, surprised that he had spoken to her like that, and she turned to me, eyes wide and filling with tears.
“Señor Hector, nothing untoward occurred. I would never disrespect Ines or your family like that,” I said, taking a small step forward.
Ines was terrified and I would not let her suffer her father’s wrath alone.
“Your daughter has only been treated with the respect she deserves, nothing less. I promise.”
Benita grabbed Ines by the arm and dragged her inside the house.
“Ma!” Ines exclaimed, trying to stay with me.
“No. You must leave him.” Was all Benita said before locking the door behind them.
I stood outside under the dimming sun with Señor Hector, terrified by his gaze that pinned me down. We both stood in silence for what seemed to be half an hour until I spoke.
“Señor Hector, I promise you, I have no intentions of disrespecting your daughter. You know me well enough to know I’m not like that.”
“I know you’re older than her.” He spat. “And I know you have had your fun around town and in the city with your high class friends.”
I grimaced but didn’t argue. “I don’t deny my activities, but believe when I tell you that those are not the activities I have in mind with Ines.”
“Then what are they?”
“I’m courting her,” I said without thinking twice. “And when I return from my trip overseas I intend to marry her.”
Señor Hector flinched in surprise but didn’t change his facial expression.
“Señor Hector I intend to marry your daughter, and I mean that. You know I’m an honest man.”
He looked me up and down. “And why now?”
I laughed at myself. “Because I’ve been a fool for years.”
“My daughter has loved you since before she could understand what love was. You never noticed her before. So tell me why you’re deciding to notice her now.”
I wanted to have a good answer. I too wanted to know why I hadn’t noticed the beauty and perfection that was in front of me for years.
“I was a boy.” I said finally, not being able to find another answer. “I don’t know why, and I will never forgive myself for having been blind to her affection. But Señor Hector, you must believe me when I tell you that my feelings for her are true.”
I could see Ines’ father hesitating. He had known me my whole life and he knew me to be a good and honest man. He knew I was hardworking and dedicated to living a good life; I could give Ines a good life. He knew that.
After a minute or so he walked up to me, a newfound aggression in his eyes. “And you know that being with my little girl means you will have to be twice the man you are now?”
“What do you mean?”
He glared at me. “You’ve heard what some say of my family. Of their skin color and where they’re from; you know the ignorance some people have.”
“I have never seen your daughter or wife as less than. Neither has my family, there would be no reason to. Especially not because of color.”
“But there are those who do. So I’m asking you now boy, man to man.. do you have the strength it takes to love my daughter the way she deserves?”
Señor Hector’s face was grave and intense. “Do you have it in you to protect her and stand against those who would want to hurt her in any way?”
I looked him straight in the eyes. “Yes.”
“Are you sure? Because the moment you don’t.. the moment you fail to love my daughter the way she deserves..I will k*ll you myself.”
His words should have scared me. Another man would have hesitated or doubted himself; but I was no such man.
I knew what I wanted; I wanted Ines. I wanted a life with her, I was sure of it.
So I stood up straight and never broke eye contact as I said my final words.
“I will never fail Ines, you have my word. And if I ever do, I would want nothing more than for you to take my life for having hurt her.”
- Writer
