With the Wind | A Short Novel

by Judith Cropola

  His body reacted. Now he moaned.

  After they finished, they did not separate.

  They kissed and touched and Daniel did not move from his position on top of her.

  “I am sorry, my love. I could not wait …”

  “Shh,” Misty said, touching his face. “You were perfect.”

  “But I did not wait for you.”

  “Yes, you did. You waited your whole life for me.”

  For the next fourteen hours they did not leave their bed in Grandmere’s room.

  Daniel learned how to wait, to restrain his passion.

  Misty learned what sex really was.

  It is a bond, an intimacy beyond words to describe.

  When you are with your soul mate.

  When morning came, they did not want to go.

  But they knew they must.

  They had to tell her father.

  Tell him that they were leaving that day to become husband and wife.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  “How bad is it Anthony, really,” Wilson asked.

  “Over forty million bad. Without your family’s cash infusion I will lose the winery.”

  “How in the world did you lose forty million dollars?”

  “You’ve heard of Bernie Madoff?”

  “You lost the money to Ma…”

  “No, to someone just like him who lived in Portland.”

  “Spencer Whist? You were one of his victims?”

  “Yes. I’d rather not discuss it further.”

  “Why not just go out and get a commercial loan? The winery is easily worth twice that amount.”

  “I mortgaged the winery to invest with Whist.”

  “Good Lord.”

  “So, I solve your father’s problem and he solves mine.”

  “Please don’t refer to me as a ‘problem’, Anthony.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yes I know what you mean.”

  “When are you going to tell my daughter?”

  “I thought the wedding night might be an opportune moment.”

  “I wish there was another way. She deserves better.”

  “What? I’m not suitable husband material?”

  “Now that gay marriage is legal in Oregon, I suppose you are.”

  “Thank you. Don’t forget that I am sacrificing too. I’ll have to live my life under a false pretense, just like her.”

  “She could have had Daniel Novikov any time she wanted him.”

  “Don’t be a fool, Anthony. That boy is head over heels in love with her. Sex is a by-product of their relationship, not the reason for it.”

  “That’s why he must go.”

  “Exactly. How certain are you that your plan will succeed?”

  “As close to one hundred percent as I can be.”

  “So, we just sit here and wait?”

  “I know my daughter. She will come to us.”

  “What if they run off to Vegas and elope?”

  “Do you think I don’t know exactly where they are?”

  “Why Anthony, you scoundrel.”

  “I had them followed.”

  “Do share.”

  “Daniel Novikov has been making love with your wife to be all night in a little B&B at Multnomah Falls.”

  “I do hope they enjoy themselves.”

  “You feel nothing for Misty? Nothing at all?”

  “I do like her and I do appreciate that she is a very beautiful woman.”

  “I want grandchildren.”

  “You shall have them.”

  “What makes you so certain?”

  “Misty will soon realize that she can have it all – a fortune and her freedom. She may carry on with whomever she chooses, but she can never get a divorce and she must keep up appearances. It’s little to ask, really.”

  “How does that translate into grandchildren?”

  “Doctors, Anthony.”

  “I love my daughter. Never forget that, Wilson.”

  “And I love my father’s money. Don’t ever forget that, Anthony.”

  “Forty million. That must seem like a small sum to you.”

  “At current stock prices it’s less than five percent of my father’s net worth.”

  “And you will inherit it all, provided you keep your sexual orientation a secret.”

  “Not a secret, just low profile. No public scandals. A marriage and children, those are a must.”

  “Just a rich Catholic guy living the dream.”

  “Something like that. Father even expects me to take Communion at the ceremony.”

  “Sometimes I can’t believe that I’m doing this, but there simply is no other way.”

  “So when shall we ex…”

  The phone rang. Anthony answered, listened and said “I understand.”

  “Well?”

  “Misty is on her way here right now.”

  “With Mr. Novikov, I assume?”

  “Yes.”

  “Please go and get Jose and Eva.”

  “Where are they?”

  “Probably still crying somewhere near the bunk house.”

  “Crying? Why are they cr…”

  “Wilson, go get them. You’ll soon understand why.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  “Misty, are you frightened?” Daniel asked.

  “No. I thought I would be, but I’m not.”

  “I am sorry it has to be this way, this is not wh..”

  Misty interrupted Daniel with a kiss.

  “Don’t ever say you’re sorry for loving me.”

  “I will not let them, or anyone, ever hurt you. Be certain of that, my love.”

  “Let’s go. I don’t want to be here any longer than we have to.”

  They climbed out of the jeep and walked into the house.

  Misty called out and heard her father answer from the library.

  She and Daniel entered, arm in arm.

  “Misty, honey, I was so worried about you. Thank God you’re alright.”

  “Daddy, we need to talk.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  “Hello love.”

  “Don’t call me that, Wilson. I’m not your ‘love’.”

  “Thank you for seeing that no harm came to my daughter, Mr. Novikov.” “Misty must speak with you,” Daniel answered.

  “Please ask them to leave, Daddy,” Misty said, pointing toward the opposite side of the room. “Jose and Eva don’t need to hear this.”

  “I’m afraid they have to stay, darling.”

  “They have to stay…” Misty regrouped. “Fine. Daniel and I are going to collect my things and leave. We are driving somewhere and getting married.”

  “Honey, wait a minute now, please do…”

  “There is nothing to discuss. I love Daniel, Dad. Hopefully someday you will come to your senses and we can be a family again.”

  “You do not want to marry Mr. Novikov,” Anthony told his daughter.

  “I love him with all my heart.”

  “He’s a monster, Misty,” Anthony warned.

  “Unbelievable. Daniel was right, we should have just left. Goodbye.”

  Misty put her arm around Daniel’s waist and they turned to leave.

  “You will burn in hell!” Jose screamed.

  Jose rose from his chair. He was enraged.

  “Mr. Buffett said that I could not kill you or you would be dead you piece of garbage!”

  “What are you talking about?” Daniel asked. “Jose, we are friends. This does not …”

  “You are a sick bastard. My little Eva is ruined because of you.”

  Eva sat in her chair, tears streaming down her face. She was pale and shaking and she would not take her eyes off of the floor.

  Misty walked over to Jose. “What’s this all about?”

  “Daniel, he…he.” Jose was so upset he almost could not speak. “He do terrible things to Eva. He make her touch him, he take her purity.”

  “Liar!” Daniel yelled. He m
oved toward Jose, but Misty intervened.

  “Jose, there has been a terrible mistake. Daniel would never do such a thing.”

  “I wish it were not true, Miss Misty. I no want to hurt you.”

  Eva looked up at Misty with her huge brown eyes. She still had not said a word.

  Misty kneeled down beside the little girl.

  “Eva, honey, tell me what happened. Did Daniel touch you where he shouldn’t have?”

  “I am afraid.”

  “Honey, tell me what happened.”

  “Daniel, he promised. He told me that he loved me.”

  “Of course he loves you, honey. We both do.”

  “He said he would marry me.”

  “Daniel was just…it was words, honey. You misunderstood.”

  “He make me touch the part between his legs with my mouth. He said if I did that he would marry me.”

  “Eva! Who told you to speak such lies!” Daniel shouted.

  “Daniel, you’re scaring her,” Misty said. “Calm down. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

  “I’m sorry. I did not want to say anything. My father made me.”

  “Eva, tell me what you think Daniel did to you.”

  “Behind the barn before dinner. He would make me put my mouth in his pants until this stuff came out. I always spit it out.”

  “Eva, my God.” Misty was in a state of shock.

  “This is all lies! You did this, you golubaya bl’yad. I know what you are, Wilson. Why you want to marry Misty that is what I do not understand.”

  “Mr. Novikov, do not try anything foolish,” Anthony said.

  Daniel looked over at Anthony.

  He was holding a nine millimeter revolver.

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Daniel was standing alone now, facing his accusers.

  Misty sat down.

  She looked at Eva, who was crying and shaking. Jose was doing his best to console her.

  “Mr. Novikov, I’m going to do something I shouldn’t. I’m doing this for the sake of my daughter, not for you.”

  Anthony Buffett picked up the revolver and held it by his side.

  “I’m giving you a choice. Go back to Russia, right now. Never contact Misty again. If you do that, I will not call the police.”

  “Mr. Buffett. I never touch the girl. Never.”

  “I’m not interested in what you have to say on the matter. I made you an offer. Are you leaving or am I dialing the authorities?”

  “Misty, I am not a zhopa. You must believe me, my love.”

  Misty did not know what to think. Why would Eva make up such a story? What reason did she have to lie?

  Only moments ago she would have gladly died for Daniel. She loved him, he was hers now.

  Have I been deceived? Daniel couldn’t have done this, she told herself.

  Nothing made sense.

  “Daniel, I…” Misty broke down and started to cry.

  Wilson moved by her side and put his hand on her shoulder.

  “Your time is up, Mr. Novikov. Decide,” Anthony said as he picked up his cell phone.

  “I love you, Misty, always and forever. This does not change my heart.”

  Misty said nothing; she just cried and stared out the window.

  “I go, but I have no money to return to Russia.”

  “I will pay for your plane ticket home. Look outside.”

  Two burly men were standing by a car.

  “Those gentlemen will escort you to the airport and put you on the next flight to Moscow. Your possessions have already been packed.”

  “Misty, my love. Never give up hope. I am yours always.”

  Then Daniel turned and faced Wilson.

  “See to it that she does no harm to herself. You owe her that, at least.”

  “Daniel, wait…I…don’t.” Misty rose to move toward Daniel.

  Wilson held her.

  She did not fight his restraint.

  “We will always be together my love, even though we are apart.”

  Daniel turned and walked away.

  “No!” Misty shouted. She rose to go after Daniel, but her father stopped her.

  “My God, honey. I am so sorry. I wanted to spare you this horror. My God.”

  Misty collapsed in her father’s arms.

  Daniel got in the car and drove away.

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  “I’m glad you like them.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, Wilson. They’re beautiful. I’ll put them in some water.”

  “I’m trying, Misty. I really am.”

  “I know. Give me some time.”

  “Take all the time you need, love.”

  Misty did not tell Wilson not to call her love. But it still didn’t sound right.

  Nothing was right, not anymore.

  Things were right once. Just for an instant.

  A brief bright flash of right burst into her life and then…it was gone.

  It had been five months now. Five months since Daniel left.

  She was reading his latest e-mail. She knew that she shouldn’t, but she was compelled.

  Compelled by her heart.

  He had written her long, wonderful letters.

  As she read them she ached to be with him. Not Daniel the pervert, but Daniel the man she adored.

  Daniel the man she loved was writing to her.

  He swore that he would return to her someday, that she would find out, somehow, some way, that he was telling the truth.

  Every part of her wanted to believe him.

  But why would Eva lie?

  She was a sweet, innocent child.

  After that horrible day Misty had sat down alone with her.

  Eva repeated the same story, word for word.

  Daniel made her…Misty could not bear to think about it.

  Now he was back in Russia. He had a camera again. He was working on a new project for Russian Life.

  At least his dreams as an artist were coming true.

  But she could tell, she could hear his voice speaking to her through the words on the page.

  He was heartbroken, lonely, devastated. Empty inside.

  She felt the same way.

  I need to grow up, Misty told herself.

  My father loves me and wants what’s best for me.

  He saved me from marrying someone who would have ruined my life.

  It’s time to do the right thing.

  “Wilson?” she called out, thinking he might still be in the next room.

  “Yes, love?” He had been waiting for her.

  Over the past five months he had become a new man.

  He sent her flowers every day.

  He opened doors for her, spoke kindly to her, loved on her.

  He helped her grieve the loss of another man.

  That was an act of selfless devotion.

  It did not go unnoticed.

  Although she still felt no passion for Wilson, she considered what her passion had brought her.

  Misery. Nearly death.

  Maybe passion is overrated, she argued with herself.

  Understanding that life is more than passion, perhaps that is what it means to grow up.

  “I will. The answer is yes.”

  “Oh Misty,” Wilson said.

  He kissed her. It was a very good kiss. Not dry or quick or without intent.

  She felt nothing, but she did not expect to feel anything.

  “Can we wait a few months? Say around Christmas time?”

  “Whatever you want, honey.”

  Wilson had never called her honey before. Only Daniel used that term of endearment with her.

  “This time I won’t do anything silly or stupid, Wilson. I promise.”

  “I completely forgive you for what happened, darling.”

  She believed him. He had forgiven her.

  She would not have forgiven him if he was the one who broke their engagement to run away with another woman.

  Wilson loved her.
She was convinced of that now.

  Before she did not believe it, but now she did.

  She hoped that someday she would stop loving Daniel Novikov.

  Every night, in her dreams, they were together.

  But dreams are not real, they are dreams.

  It was time to live in the real world.

  It was time to grow up.

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  Saturday, December twenty third, 2004. At two in the afternoon on this day Misty Anne Buffett would become Mrs. Wilson James Rubie.

  That’s what all the invitations said.

  The wedding was to be held at St. Madeleine’s Catholic Church in Forest Hills.

  It was the social event of the year.

  The reception would be held at the winery.

  Over five hundred were expected to come to the reception and wish the happy couple long lives with many children.

  The Sunday before the wedding was to take place another event was held in St. Madeleine’s Church.

  Eva Rodriquez, age thirteen, was anointed with oil and blessed with the Holy Spirit in the Rite of Confirmation. She received First Holy Communion.

  Eva went to confession for the first time.

  A visiting priest, Father Anthony, was filling in for Father Mike.

  What he heard shocked him, but he was powerless to act.

  Father Anthony was not powerless to give Eva her penance.

  He told her that she must confess her sin to those she wronged.

  If she did not, her confession to him meant nothing.

  Her confession to God meant nothing.

  Her soul was in peril of hell fire.

  Misty sat in her room and looked at her wedding dress.

  It wasn’t beautiful, it was perfect.

  It cost nearly as much as a new car, yet she would only wear it once.

  Soon she would be married and she and Wilson would move into the house her father was building for them at Martin’s Pond.

  On the very spot where she and Daniel used to sit on a blanket and talk for hours.

  It had been a full year now since she had seen him, but she knew right where he was.

  Daniel was in Thailand, taking pictures for Russian Life.

  He had sent her e-mails and letters almost daily since he left.

  He had not given up hope…not hope, belief.

  Belief that someday all would be made right and they would be together.

  She had not responded to any of his communications.