“These are great,” Sydney said, looking awed, her eyes taking in the captures.
“I know, I rock. I think I’m going to be a photographer—maybe even a photojournalist. I like people, I like taking pictures, and I like taking pictures of people.” She smiled. “I think everything’s falling into place.”
It wasn’t quite the whole truth, but Maria felt no guilt about not telling Sydney all of it.
After she and Sydney parted ways, she went back to thinking about her and Eddie. The two of them hadn’t sorted out what they were going to do about their relationship just yet, and he was about to graduate and leave the state. She wanted to make sure they were on the same page; after all, she still had a year left—they would have to have a long-distance relationship for a year. And then what?
She had tried to get Eddie to talk about it before but he was so adept at avoiding the subject. She didn’t assume he was deliberately avoiding talking about it—he was just really busy at this point, preparing and confirming his plans as he got ready to move on.
It seemed Lady Luck was on her side because as she was strolling about, thinking about him, she spotted Eddie leaving one of the classroom buildings.
She rushed up to him.
“So we haven’t really talked about what we’re going to do when you graduate,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
He sounded distracted.
“What do you mean what do I mean? How often are we going to see each other, do we plan to even still date each other?” She smiled, half-joking.
“Oh, yeah. Right. Would you mind if we talk about this later?”
Maria’s shoulders slumped.
“You keep saying that! Do you want to wait until you’re gone?”
“Look Maria, please don’t pressure me about this now. I said we’ll discuss it later, so we’ll discuss it later. Stop nagging me about it.”
“Nagging you?” she replied, halting her steps. She shook her head in frustration and quickly walked away in the opposite direction.
***
Edward didn’t know what to do. He knew he had angered Maria, but he also didn’t want to face the decision he had made. As much as he wanted to keep seeing Maria it was best—safer—not to.
He had turned away, but now he was watching Maria without making it obvious. He saw her head toward the art building, her head down, and felt his heart warming. She looked so dejected, but even in her sadness she was beautiful. He thought about her myriad talents and his heart swelled further. She was also wearing his favorite shorts.
He felt an almost irresistible urge to go to her and apologize, allowing them to talk about what she so desperately wanted to talk about, but just as his legs started to propel him toward her before he even realized it, he saw her beeline toward the art building halted as some random guy stopped her.
Edward watched her grin up at him, flipping her hair over her shoulder, smiling at him as if he were her favorite person in the world. She tapped his arm as their conversation ended, then turned away. Then he saw the bastard look back and take a look at her ass as she entered the building, oblivious, and he knew what he had to do.
Edward headed back home where he met Nicholas studying as he walked in.
“Whoa—miracles do happen I see,” he said to Nicholas, fighting against the last remnants of his anger.
His mood improved when he saw Nicholas scowl at his joke.
“Whatever Ed. I figured since I won’t be in the family business, I better make sure I know something by the time I get outta here.”
“Yeah sure—you’re just trying to impress Sydney I bet. Hey, speaking of family, we’re going home this summer then?”
Nicholas appeared to think about it for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Edward smiled.
“Aw, my little Nicky is growing up! I’m proud of you man.” He paused. “So you’ve forgiven mom?”
Nicholas looked up at him as if he had announced he was pregnant.
“Who said anything about forgiving her? Eddie, I don’t think I can ever forgive her for what she did to us.”
Eddie sighed.
“Nicholas, it’s not that serious...”
“Are you kidding me? Maybe it meant nothing to you but to me, it meant the world.”
Edward stayed silent for a moment, taking in his brother’s words. He didn’t mean to belittle his brother’s feelings but he really didn’t want to place more significance on their experience than was productive.
“All right Nicholas, whatever. And speaking of something that means the world to you, are sure you wanna go on with this Sydney thing?”
Nicholas’s eyebrows came together.
“What do you mean?”
Edward thought carefully about his next words.
“I mean, I’m sure she was a nice distraction and all, but is this the one you want to take home to mother?”
“Of course she is! Why not? What, you think because she’s black...”
“I’m just saying, Nicholas. Mother won’t approve, you know that. And if pops was around, I’m sure he wouldn’t either. Just be careful is all I’m saying.”
“Look, Sydney and I have enough pressure from the outside. You’re giving us shit too?”
“Nick, I’m always on your side, don’t ever doubt it. I just want you to think carefully about this, think about what’s at stake.”
“And what could possibly be more at stake Ed? I’d lose more if I lost her—she’s everything to me right now.”
“Are you sure? Because you better be. Don’t expect your relationship with Sydney to be intact once mother gets done with her.”
“Eddie, I think Sydney’s the one, so I’m not gonna let anything you or Evelyn has to say get in the way of that.”
Nicholas grabbed his books and looked like he was about to head upstairs.
“For your sake, I hope so bro,” Edward said.
Suddenly, Nicholas turned back around. Some of the anger appeared to have leaked out of him.
“Well what about you and Maria? She’s not exactly the Duchess of Cambridge either.”
Edward just looked at him. He figured his expression must have tipped Nicholas off because Nicholas turned fully toward him and looked like he was about to put his book back down. His voice was also more gentle as he spoke.
“Is something wrong Ed? You and Maria having problems?”
Edward looked away for a moment, then back at his brother whose eyebrows had come together in speculation.
“Something like that,” he replied.
***
Sydney picked up the ringing phone.
“Hi babe—is Maria around?” Nicholas asked.
Sydney looked at Maria who was busy crocheting on her bed.
“Yeah, she’s right here,” Sydney said into the phone. Maria looked up at her then, her fingers still working the needles.
“Leave the room. I have something to tell you.”
Nicholas’s words confused her, but she followed his instructions anyway, hoping that Maria interpreted it as courtesy, being spared the noise of a one-sided conversation.
“Okay, the coast is clear. What’s with the secrecy?” she asked.
“Well, we’re having a little get-together at our place for Eddie to celebrate his graduation. I’ll be there obviously—will you come with me?”
“Of course! What time should we show up?”
“Oh, we’ll get there early, probably at seven. I’ll come pick you up and...”
“Maria can ride with us too right?”
Nicholas didn’t answer immediately. Then he said:
“I’m not sure if Maria wants to...”
“Of course she’ll want to—she’s his girlfriend!”
Her chuckle was followed by a long pause.
Amusement left her.
“No, I meant...I don’t know if he’d want her there,” Nicholas said.
“What do you mean? Of course he woul
d—even if they’ve been fighting. Why wouldn’t he?”
Nicholas cleared his throat.
“Well, Sydney...God I don’t know how to tell you this but...”
Sydney felt the beginnings of anger.
“Is he cheating on her?”
“No, I wouldn’t say cheating, but he has, kind of, moved on.”
Sydney processed the news for a few seconds.
“Does Maria know this?” she asked.
Nicholas cleared his throat again.
“Not really,” he said.
Sydney stayed silent.
“Come on Sydney. You’re not mad at me are you? What was I supposed to do?”
“You could have...!” she began in a burst but ended in short, heavy breaths. Then her breathing slowly returned to normal.
“This isn’t fair to her Nicholas—this isn’t right.”
“I know Syd, I’m sorry. My brother’s a jerk. I just didn’t know what to do, you know? He’s my brother, I couldn’t rat him out. He was all I had growing up.”
She sighed.
“Poor Maria,” she said.
“Yeah, I know.”
Sydney reentered her dorm and looked right into Maria’s questioning eyes.
Sydney knew she had to tell her what was going down, and Maria reacted just as she expected her to.
“That son-of-a-bitch is not going to get away with this,” Maria hissed. “How dare he? Who does that?”
Sydney looked away.
“I’m sorry Maria.”
She could see Maria looking pointedly at her from the corner of her eye.
“Do you have to go to this?” Maria asked.
“Come on—you know I do. For Nicholas.”
“Yeah I know,” Maria replied, folding her arms. “I’m sorry I asked, that wasn’t fair.” She shook her head. “God how could he do this to me?”
“I don’t understand it either M.”
Sydney watched Maria look off into space, then could practically see the wheels turning.
“No Maria, whatever you’re thinking.”
Maria’s eyes shifted to her.
“I’m serious Maria, no.”
“No what? I’m not doing anything,” she said.
“Okay, what are you thinking about then?”
Maria took a few seconds to answer.
“I’m going to that party,” she said.
Sydney shook her head.
“Not a good idea Maria...”
“Don’t worry, I won’t go with you guys. I’ll show up later.”
Her smile was plastered on.
***
Sydney tried to ignore Edward and his bimbo.
She had never seen the girl before and was sorry she had to see her now.
When she first entered the apartment, she congratulated Edward politely, and his eyes had shifted to the side as he introduced the blond girl to Sydney.
Sydney didn’t offer her hand, giving her a light smile instead. Then she tried to concentrate only on Nicholas.
Things went well until Maria entered just as the blond reached up and whispered something in Edward’s ear, causing him to smile widely.
Maria made her way over to them.
“Hello Edward,” Maria said in a voice of feigned casualness once she had reached them.
The blond looked at her in disdain.
“Hey Maria,” he replied, as if nothing was wrong with the picture, but his eyes told a different story, reflecting a slight guilt at what was obviously hurt in Maria’s eyes.
“Oh, hello bitch,” the blond said sweetly, breaking into a disingenuous grin. “I don’t believe we’ve met—I’m Edward’s girlfriend, Cindy, and have been for the past two years. I believe you are...another of his conquests?” Her smile remained plastered on her face. “I think I might have glimpsed you at the Halloween party last year. As you can see darling, my Eddie always comes home to roost.” She dismissed Maria with a goodbye wave and a “nice to meet you!”
Maria turned away.
Sydney could see the beginning of tears in her eyes.
Sydney watched her friend storm out, then went after her, Nicholas on her heels.
Maria had clearly gotten more than she had bargained for.
As Sydney reached outside, she grabbed Maria’s arm.
Maria turned to her, her flushed face reflecting the broken paths of tear streaks.
Sydney held out her arms and Maria went into them.
“Aw, Mary, it’s okay,” Sydney said.
“Mary?” Nicholas repeated, looking confused.
Sydney and Maria turned and studied Nicholas’s perplexed face.
“Yeah—you’ve never heard me call her that?” Sydney asked. Then she remembered that she hardly called Maria by that name anymore at her request; the name hadn’t slipped from her lips in years.
Meanwhile, Nicholas looked as if he had seen a ghost.
“Nicholas, what’s wrong?”
Even Maria had snapped out of her state as she saw Nicholas’s face.
“I...had a dream...” He stopped and shook his head. “It’s nothing,” he said. “Nothing.”
Sydney watched Nicholas’s face for a few more seconds before returning to her friend.
She gave him a look, indicating for him to leave her and Maria alone for the time being.
Once he was gone, she asked:
“Are you okay?”
“Of course not Sydney—I can’t believe he’d do this to me. I know he loves me—why is he going against himself like this?”
“What do you mean, M?”
Sydney also wanted to ask what possessed her to show up in the first place, but she decided to leave that until later.
All Maria said was:
“I hope Nicholas is nothing like that creep.” Then she let out a burst of air. “God, he is so going to regret this Sydney, he will.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Utah - Summer
Maria watched her mom dry the last of the dishes.
“How are Sydney and Nicholas?” she asked with a conspiratorial smile.
“Oh they’re fine mama.” Maria sighed. “Just fine.”
Her mom frowned.
“You don’t sound too happy about that hijita.”
“No, it’s not that—I’m happy for her, really. It’s just that I can’t help being sad too, for myself. I miss her. I used to have her all to myself but now...Yes I know mama, it’s her turn. Hey have you heard from Hector?”
Her mother’s face brightened.
“Yes! He called just the other day. He’s so excited about the baby—she’ll be here in a few weeks. They plan on naming her Sofia, after me.” She beamed.
“Don’t remind me,” Maria mumbled to herself. She hated feeling jealous about her niece’s pending debut. “But where was I?” she said out loud. “How come I didn’t get to speak to him?”
“You were in the shower. He said he’ll call back, don’t worry. As for Alejandro, his family—they’re fine too. He wrote me recently.”
“He wrote you?” Maria laughed.
“Come now Maria, you know your brother is very busy; his job is very demanding. And then there’s his wife, los dos ninos...what is it sweetie?”
Maria sighed.
“Mama, why do people consciously give up something that makes them happy? That doesn’t make any sense to me. As far as I’m concerned, life shoves enough unpleasant things in our faces. Why, when you have the choice, would you bring unpleasantness on yourself?”
Her mother’s dark, aging eyes looked at her with a hint of sorrow.
“Hijita, sometimes it’s a choice between one thing that brings joy and another. Desafortunatamente, we’re not always the best judges of the degree—for our own choices, and for those others make.”
“Pero mama, I don’t understand what can bring him more happiness than me,” she said to herself, or so she thought. Her mother’s knowing eyes seemed to indicate otherwise.
“Come now sweethe
art. We must all make our own mistakes...and let others make theirs. In the meantime, we must make the best of our situations. Like now: you have more time on your hands than usual—I’m sure you can find a way to use it.”
Maria smiled at her mom. As usual, she was right; even if she didn’t realize to what extent.
Maria decided then and there to go full-steam ahead on her plan to find out the identity of the threesome who violated her best friend, her schoolmate and herself.
***
Maria began her research by locating the newspaper articles about Sarah who had gone public with her report. She found them quickly in the library, already knowing the range of dates to look for. She perused them for clues.
June 22nd 2005
POLICE SEARCHING FOR RAPE SUSPECT
A sixteen-year-old high school student was kidnapped and raped yesterday evening.
The victim told police she had been out jogging when she was attacked. It is believed the attacker used chloroform to knock the victim out cold.
She awoke to being raped but had been bound, gagged and blindfolded, and could neither fight off, nor see her attacker or location.
The kidnapper-rapist stripped her of all her clothing and later dropped her off on the side of a road.
She was later discovered by a fifty-eight-year-old man driving through the area who noticed her meandering on the roadside.
Police Chief Henry Smith said he was saddened by the incident.
“This was a cruel man,” he said. “My sympathies go out to her (the victim) and her family.”
Smith said the department was using all its available resources to find and arrest a suspect in the case, optimistic that they will track down the perpetrator, despite not having any leads.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact the local police.
August 28th 2005
RAPE VICTIM PREGNANT
It has been discovered that last month’s sixteen-year-old rape victim is pregnant.
Although there has been speculation about whether or not she will go through with the pregnancy, she has vehemently stated that she will. Police have still found no clues as to the identity of the rapist, but are optimistic about the DNA evidence possible by this new development.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact the local police department.
Chrysalis (Dangerous Secrets) Page 15
