Chapter 18
987 Words
Vicente
When I woke up I felt a huge weight on my chest.
The entire night I tossed and turned, unable to let myself rest.
I had said terrible things about Ines, things I did not believe but Alvaro was set on finding her. He had a terrifying glint in his eyes when he spoke of her, and I feared that any praise I offered Ines would only peak his interest even more.
Alvaro would find her and he’d hurt her; he’d hurt her in the way men like him hurt women. I could not let that happen.
After bathing and finishing packing I went to my parent’s home. I had to go over final details with my father before sailing out the next day.
When I arrived they were eating their lunch and chatting. Father held Mother’s hand and smiled at her as they ate. They were so in love.
I finally understood the adoration in his eyes.
“Vicente you look tired!” Mother said standing immediately. “Whatever is wrong?”
“You look sick son,” Father added. “What happened?”
I grimaced as I sat with them. “It was a long night, that’s all.”
“Well, let me go to Alba next door, I believe she has a perfect blend of tea to help you relax.” Mother said, putting a light jacket on. “She gives it to her husband when he had those terrible nightmares.”
Mother shuddered. Señora Alba’s husband had been a soldier, he had been a different man when he returned.
“It’s ok, I’m just fine.” I said, but it was too late.
She had already left.
I sat in silence and rubbed my temples.
“So what is actually going on?” Father asked me. “What happened last night?”
He looked at me with his eyebrows raised and head to the side.
“Nothing.”
“That’s a lie.”
I sighed and caved. “Have you ever done something bad? But for a good reason?”
Father looked at me confused.
“I mean, have you ever done something you were ashamed of but you did it to protect someone you cared for?”
My father’s eyes clouded for a moment and his expression turned grim. There was a flash of regret and pain in his eyes but it was gone in a second.
“Why are you asking Vicente?”
I took a deep breath and looked at my hands. “Because I did something terrible, I said horrible things about someone I care about. But I only did it to protect them.”
“Is this about Ines?”
My eyes quickly snapped up at him and he smiled. “It was about time you realized your feelings for her.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’ve been keeping them hidden for so long. It was getting exhausting watching the girl fawn over you and you be so clueless.”
I shook my head. “I never felt that way about Ines, not until recently.”
Father rolled his eyes. “Vicente I saw it in you when you were 10 years old.”
“How?”
He shrugged and smiled. “You protected her, played with her and made her laugh.”
“I was like that with everyone! I always have been!”
“Maybe. But you looked at her differently, like she was too precious, too important. I will say though, you had your mother and I questioning ourselves when you began to court Rachel.”
I grimaced, remembering the very complicated situation I had found myself in with Rachel; Enrique’s wife and the now Viscountess Cortez.
I had been smitten by her; she was bright and witty, and beautiful. I had actually been able to picture a future for us, but that quickly ended.
“Do you remember what you told me when I asked you why you stepped away from courting her?”
I shook my head.
“You said it was because the love between her and Enrique was undeniable. You could see it so plainly even if they couldn’t, and you wouldn’t stand in their way.”
I nodded and laughed, remembering how foolish they had both looked dancing around their feelings. “It was entertaining to watch, and then it was just flat out exhausting.”
Father smiled and patted my back. “It’s been the same watching you and Ines. You’ve been drawn to her since you were both kids. But you convinced yourself it was out of friendship and obligation to protect her.. you didn’t know you loved her all this time.”
I rubbed my eyes again and then stood. “So I’ve been denying myself the love I feel now for so many years?”
Father nodded. “It was exhausting to watch.”
I began to pace and panic.
Memories of Ines and I growing up and playing, talking, laughing and interacting politely with one another flooded me. Ines had loved me for years and I had been blind to not only her feelings but also mine.
“So what are you going to do now?” Father asked. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, the way he used to when I was a kid and he was giving me the opportunity to fix a mistake.
“What are you going to do Vicente?”
I stopped pacing and nodded, more to myself than to him.
“I’m going to see her. I’m not going to wait anymore.”
Father smiled.
“I’ve waited too long, wasted too much time.”
“That you have.”
I grabbed my jacket and strode to the door.
“I’m not waiting until I get back from Portugal, I’m going to ask her to marry me today.”
- Writer
