Chapter 11
1267 Words
Vicente
The evening was beautiful and cheerful.
The Díaz family was a kind and loving one, I had always admired that about them.
Señor Hector was loyal to his wife and daughter; he protected them both physically and emotionally from the hatred and ignorance around them. Señora Benita was so in love with her husband that it lit up the room and enveloped you.
And Ines, she was the perfect combination of both. She was kind, loyal, loving and surprisingly witty. She was usually soft spoken but the more time I spent with her the more I caught on to her constant eye rolls, sarcastic comments and unique facial expressions.
As we had gardened, I couldn’t help but count the amount of times she rolled her eyes at me or raised her eyebrows and scrunched her nose.
8, 10 and 7.
There were times when I was in shock that I had seen her grow up; I wasn’t too much older than her but enough to remember her as a kid. She had always been a sweet girl, adventurous and bright, but now that had enhanced with age.
It had enhanced beautifully; blossomed really.
“Would you like more?” Señor Hector asked, gesturing towards a plate of pastries.
“Thank you but no! I ate far too much, you and your wife are splendid hosts!” I said, rubbing my stomach for exaggeration.
Benita laughed and hugged her husband’s shoulders. “We’re happy to have you here Vicente, you’re always welcome. Isn’t that right Ines?”
I looked to my right where Ines had been sitting, only to make direct eye contact with her large dark eyes.
It must have shocked her that I turned because she looked away quickly and I saw her take in a deep breath.
“Yes. Of course.” Was all she replied.
The conversation and laughter continued until Ines began to yawn.
“I suppose I’ve been here far too late, I must go,” I said smiling. I stood and put on my jacket as Señora Benita rushed to me with a cup of tea.
“No! Stay, it’s early!”
I laughed as I gestured outside the dining room windows; the moon was in the sky, stars were shining bright and there was a small breeze coming from the sea.
“Nature says otherwise. I should go, you all need your rest.”
I glanced over at Ines who clenching her jaw to hold back a yawn.
“I’m not tired,” she said through her teeth.
“Yes you are.” I said.
“No I’m not.”
She clenched her jaw again, fighting back yet another yawn.
I bit my lip to not laugh; who would have known she was so stubborn?
“Well if you must go, take some food with you! Ines why won’t you walk him to his horse?” Señor Hector said with a grin as he helped clear the table.
It was unheard of for men to help clean, but Señor Hector was one of a kind.
“It’s alright!” I said opening the door. “It’s late and rather cold, no need for Ines to step out.”
“Nonsense,” Benita said, putting a basket of food in Ines’s arms. “She’ll be happy to walk you out.”
Ines looked at her mother and father in horror as they pushed her my way.
She probably wanted to sleep and they were forcing her to walk me out. But neither her or I complained when her mother gave us a stern face.
“We are hosts, we will behave as such.”
And with that, Ines and both silently walked outside.
We walked in silence and didn’t say anything as I readied my horse. Ines stood silent and still next to me but she was facing the opposite direction.
She was facing the sea.
“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” I asked.
“What is?”
“The ocean.”
“Oh,” Ines said smiling. “Yes it is.”
“Out in the open it’s even more breathtaking. When there is nothing around it; no rocks, no hills, no shores or ports. It’s majestic.”
“I can only imagine,” she said finally turning to me. “I’ve only ever admired it from land.”
“You’ve never been on a ship?”
She shook her head.
“Why?”
“There’s no need. Plus, I think if I ever wanted to it would break my parent’s hearts.”
“Why?” I asked again.
Ines gave me a small smile. “They had a horrendous journey on board to get here. Ma’s pregnancy was terrifying. And both of them get so sad when Pa has to leave for work. Seeing me board a ship would only hurt them more.”
I nodded.
I had heard of their journey; and while the open sea meant adventure and business to me, it meant sadness and fear to others.
“Don’t get me wrong, they love the sea. They see it as the reason they fell in love. Pa crossed it and found Ma, and they crossed it together to be with eachother and start a life.”
“So it’s just ships they fear?”
Ines nodded. “A ship is a method of separation, and it’s what they hate most.”
“So, you love the sea, but hate the idea of being on it. You’d rather appreciate it from afar?”
“It’s safer that way.”
“But why not risk it? Why not try it for yourself and see if you’re wrong. What if you end up loving it more than you expected?”
Ines took in a small breath and she looked up at me, her dark large eyes shining in the starlight.
“Because I already know I love it. I’ve loved it all my life, and I know..I know it can hurt me. It has the power to do so, it’s safer for me to love it from afar.”
I felt a chill run up my spine.
The breeze had picked up, her dark curls were all over her face and I could smell her soap mixed with the ocean salt. Her brown skin glowed under the moon and the way she looked at me made me feel exposed; open completely.
“I’ve loved it so much for years, but I have to be careful. It’s beautiful, strong and unstoppable. If I’m not too careful.. it’ll sweep me away.”
And at that moment, I couldn’t explain what it was. If it was her innocent eyes, her full lips, the way her voice entangled itself with the wind or if it was the warmth I felt from being so close to her.. but all I saw was her.
I felt like I was falling.
Like I was the one being swept off my feet.
Like looking into her eyes was as enchanting as looking into the clear sea.
As if being near her was just as exciting as playing in the waves.
It all crashed on me, it was all heavy as I looked at the girl in front of me.
The one I had watched grow up, the girl I looked after and played with.
She was a woman now.
And the way she looking at me, made me feel like a man.
She was the sea.
My sea.
New, beautiful, alluring and strong.
And she was right.
If I wasn’t careful, she’d sweep me away completely.
- Writer
