Pauper's Desire

by Kitt Lee

"George!" Preston laughed, feeling extremely happy.

  "It's good to see this kind of romance again," George said softly.

  Caleb quickly diverted his face towards George and found him smiling brightly, dressed in a blue designers' suit which was stuck to his wonderful body like it was his second skin. Both men were looking really handsome with Preston in a black designer's suit.

  From that smile on his face, Caleb could tell that at least George was not mad. He was happy to see them in that situation.

  "Hey, Caleb," George greeted with a smile.

  "Hi!" Caleb smiled.

  "I hope you're okay now?"

  Caleb looked at Preston and nodded. George smiled and Caleb got ecstatic.

  "Sorry to interrupt," George said with a teasing smile. "But we really have to go."

  "You are such a kill joy," Preston said accompanied by a chuckle.

  "Disadvantage of being a famous business man," George laughed.

  Preston laughed and he began staring at Caleb again. He didn't want to leave him especially after literally being such an ass to him. But it was work and he had to respond. He just promised to spend time with him the next day since it was gonna be a weekend.

  "Don't wait up," Preston said softly.

  "I won't," Caleb smiled.

  "I love you!"

  "I love you too!" Caleb whispered.

  Preston cupped Caleb's cheeks in his hands and kissed him for quite some time. It was a wonderful kiss and he later said goodbye and left with George though his face was staring at Caleb.

  Caleb chuckled and waved at Preston. It was really sweet how his day had turned out to be after all. It was one of the best days in his life and he was gonna remember it for the rest of his life. He had woken up not expecting to reconcile with Preston but it happened and he was more than happy with the outcome.

  He remembered every incident that had happened as he watched Preston leaving. He remembered the apology, the slow passionate love making and the romantic moment in the Jacuzzi. He couldn't wait for weekend to come. He was ready to spend more time with his husband.

  Once Preston left, Caleb's mind slipped and it went into finding out the truth. He knew where he was gonna start with, the kitchen.

  Caleb rubbed his hands and headed for the kitchen.

  ****

  Caleb slowly entered the kitchen just in time to see the maid cleaning it probably after cooking. He went behind her, crossed his arms and stared at her for long. He wanted to know why she had set him or who had set him up.

  "Hey," Caleb called, putting on a serious face.

  The maid quickly turned and gasped. It was now clear to Caleb that she was scared of him and he knew the reason why. She dropped her head, couldn't even make eye contact with him. She was shaking really badly and bowed from time to time.

  "Sir," She said in a trembling voice.

  "Why are you scared?" Caleb said confidently, following her from side to side.

  "Well, I'm...I'm not scared." The maid stuttered.

  "Really," Caleb said, going nearer. "Then look at me while I talk to you."

  The maid quickly looked at him and then away. It was really clear that she couldn't make eye contact with him.

  "So who told you to frame me?" Caleb said in a demanding tone.

  "I'm sorry, sir," She said softly. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  Caleb went near her and stood right in front of her, staring at her confidently.

  "You said I poisoned mother." Caleb said, feeling angry. "Tell me, when did you see me putting that poison in the soup?"

  "I told you I was passing by, sir." She exclaimed, shaking.

  "Well, I don't remember ever putting anything in that soup." Caleb yelled, furious at the fact that a mere maid had chosen to lie against him. "So who told you to say that?"

  What happened next made Caleb really surprised. All of a sudden the maid raised her face confidently and looked at him. There was no fear in her anymore and she just stood there looking at him as if she had no respect for him at all.

  "I'm sorry, sir," She said, her eyes locked with him. "I said what I saw. I have been serving ma'am Janice for a long time and...I couldn't just watch as they accused others. You know..."

  "Are you trying to tell me that I don't know what I did that night?" Caleb snapped, raising his hand to slap the maid. He withdrew.

  "I'm really..."

  "Don't you dare apologize," Caleb yelled.

  He was fuming. Because of that maid and whoever was planning against him if not Janice, had caused his relationship with his husband to be unstable and now she even had the guts to talk to him confidently and try to convince him otherwise.

  "Are you trying to tell me that you know me better than I know myself?" Caleb bellowed. He was literally killing that maid with his eyes.

  "Please, I only..."

  "And I said I didn't do such a thing," Caleb said, pointing his finger angrily at her. "For some reason you're here trying to tell me that I did it. But guess what I'm not as stupid as you think I am. You told the family members that I had put something in that soup and it magically appeared in the dustbin.

  Surely you know something and I want you to tell me exactly what you know. I can take people doing stuff to me but not to my relationship with my husband.

  Because of you and whoever you are helping my husband blamed me for it. The entire family doesn't speak to me and mother was in danger. Now tell me who the fuck instructed you to poison my soup."

  Caleb was fuming. His hands were shaking terribly and his voice was high. He didn't care whether anyone heard him. All he wanted were answers and he needed them soon.

  "Sir, I only did what..." She paused and took a nervous breath. "I mean I only said...."

  "Wait!" Caleb said angrily, pointing his finger at her. "Did you just say you only did? What did you do?"

  "I'm sorry I said..."

  "I'm not foolish," Caleb yelled. "I heard you clearly and perfectly. Who made you do that? Was it William?"

  She was quiet and she was really pissing Caleb. He wanted to slap her and make her talk but on the other hand he needed her to talk to him clearly.

  "Are you foolish or what?" Caleb snapped, moving his hands angrily from side to side. "Didn't you hear me? I asked who..."

  "What's going on here?" Caleb heard Janice's voice.

  He quickly turned and saw her on the kitchen door way and from the looks of it she was really pissed but Caleb didn't care at all. She was well but he was receiving a cold shoulder from everyone in the house.

  Yes, he had just reconciled with his husband but the truth was that he still needed to show him some form of evidence to make Preston trust him completely without any doubt and most importantly he needed the family's love and trust again.

  "Didn't any of you here my question?" Janice asked, walking towards Caleb.

  "I need answers." Caleb said confidently, staring at her with no sense of fear at all.

  "Answers for what," She asked as if she was irritated.

  Caleb took a deep breath and crossed his arms on his chest.

  "I need to prove that I didn't poison you."

  "Really," Janice asked angrily. "You really are shameless."

  "I'm not shameless," Caleb said, rolling his eyes. "I just want everyone else to find out the truth. I know I did not poison you because that's not the kind of man that I am."

  Victoria laughed as she came near him. That laugh was really irritating Caleb for real. He felt his head hurting and his heart pounding in his chest. Had she not been his mother in law he'd have told her to shut up and let him do the investigation.

  "This maid is lying to everyone," Caleb said, eyeing the maid in an irritating way.

  "Look, you and I both know that you hate me," Janice said with a complete serious face.

  "I don't hate you." Caleb argued. "I'm not in the mood for this, mother. Please, just leave me alone and let me do this on my own. I don't want any trouble."

&n
bsp; "Trouble," Janice laughed. "You are the one who is trouble. You poisoned my soup and I survived because of William and I heard you asking her whether William did it or not. Don't you dare frame him for your own mistake? William is a good son and he'd never hurt me. You poisoned that food and you have the...."

  "With all due respect mother,"

  "I'm not your mother," Janice snapped. "If I was really your mother you wouldn't have poisoned me. A son in law should care about his mother in law."

  Caleb got closer and he put his hands together.

  "I know you hate me," Caleb said softly, looking away. "I know that you never wanted me for your son and you'd believe that I poisoned you because I made the soup. Just give me..."

  "So that you can poison me again," Janice snapped, yelling in his face.

  "No," Caleb mumbled.

  "Then what," Janice said, literally yelling.

  "I just want you to get a chance to know me," Caleb begged. "I'm married to your son."

  "Yes, but you almost killed his mother."

  Caleb sighed deeply after a moment's reflection. How else would he make the woman understand when she hates him so much?

  "Please," Caleb begged. "Just leave me alone so that I can talk to her. I want her to tell me who really did this."

  "Oh, I see," Janice chuckled teasingly, eyeing him from head to tall. "I know what you are trying to do here. Don't think I'm stupid because I can..."

  "What am I trying to do?"

  "You are trying to bribe her so that she could tell the rest of the family members that you are innocent." Janice yelled, pointing her angry finger at him.

  "What?" Caleb gasped. "No!" He muttered. "I'd never do such a thing."

  "Of course," Janice argued, angrily at what the boy was trying to do. "And I wonder who you want to pin this on. William!"

  "No," Caleb said, wondering why she was acting like that. "I'd never do that. If he did it...."

  "Don't you dare," Janice said, angry eyes literally killing Caleb. "William is not to be blamed for that. It was all because of you and very soon everyone will know your true colors."

  Why was Janice acting like she had something against him, Caleb thought. He was suspecting something fishy. Something was definitely going on but what?

  Caleb figured he wouldn't be able to ask her about what she meant. It was like something else was coming his way. It got him worried and he wondered what they were really planning against him. He needed to find out because he was getting worried with each passing second.

  "Mother, the person who tried to poison you is still out there," He muttered, slightly closing his eyes. "Let me help you..."

  "You were the one who had tried to kill me," Janice warned. "Stop all this madness because I'll not allow you to fool me or frame anyone in this house. Maybe I should have sent you to jail for poisoning me. I should have allowed Johnny to send you to prison but because of my son I allowed you to stay here. That doesn't mean that I like you.

  I just want my son to realize what kind of mistake he made."

  "I'm sorry," Caleb mumbled, dropping his head.

  "I'll never forgive you for trying to kill me," Janice yelled. "And Johnny warned you never to come near me so..." She paused and pointed to the door angrily. "...I want you to get out of this kitchen before you poison someone again. Only God knows what your motive is but guess what, I'm alive and well. I'll not allow you to poison someone again."

  "Well..."

  "I said, get out," Janice pointed angrily towards the door.

  Caleb was angry. He was sweating and he was angry. Janice was just too much. Why would she poke her nose in his business? He didn't like it at all. It was like she was trying to hide something that she didn't want him to find out.

  Caleb quickly stormed out of the kitchen but he didn't completely leave. He had his ears on that door to listen to whatever Janice would say to the maid.

  "And you," Janice snapped at the maid. "Go back to doing you work. Don't let him manipulate or bribe you. What you did was right."

  "Thank you ma," The maid said.

  Caleb removed the ear and he began walking away. Now he was really confused. Janice seemed like she didn't know anything at all. Maybe his enemy was really hidden and it made him start to wonder if at all Janice and William were the only enemies that he had in the house. He had to be careful.

  Caleb took a deep breath and gathered himself. He had to remain calm.

  He came into the living room and found all the family members on the couches and they were laughing like one big happy family. He looked in their direction and all of them seemed not to see him or at least they pretended.

  He stared at granny and she gave him a cute smile. He looked at Caroline and she too smiled faintly. Those two at least talked to him. Others had suddenly become his enemies.

  Oh, how he missed talking with them like that. It was fun being around them and laughing with them. Now he was like stranger to them and they hated him a lot. They had probably heard the commotion in the kitchen but he didn't care. His mind was set on finding out who had framed him for the poisoning of Janice.

  That person had taken away some of the best moments from him and he promised to make that person pay once he finds out who that person is. It was really painful seeing everyone avoiding him like that. He was totally alone and he wanted to find some evidence soon.

  Caleb smiled faintly and headed outside the house. He went straight to the pool and sat at the edge with his legs in the water, thinking about how his life had taken a turn because of a grave lie. He was thinking and trying to put things together. He came up with some points of his own.

  First there was Janice who hated him simply because he was married to her son. She was a woman who even tried everything to make them break. But why would she poison herself just to achieve that. And considering that the poison was really deadly she wouldn't have done that.

  Then there was William who would want to separate Preston from him. But why would he poison his accomplice? It all just didn't add up.

  And then there was the maid who told everyone that she saw him putting a bottle in the dustbin. Sure, she was lying but she wasn't talking. She was the only one who would lead him to the real person who did all that and frame him.

  Sure, Caleb was suspecting William's involvement in the poisoning. But he needed some form of evidence and he wondered how he would get that evidence. Man, maybe if he had taken the food himself none of the poisoning would have happened

  Caleb figured he was running out of time. He had to find the evidence quickly.

  He removed all that from his mind and concentrated on what had happened in the morning. It was so sweet, intense and extremely ecstatic. He was suddenly missing his husband. He wanted him in the pool, holding him and kissing him. Man that was really beautiful.

  Caleb found himself smiling and chuckling to himself. He was so drawn into it that he lost his touch with reality. He was day dreaming again.

  Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he gasped, almost falling into the pool. His heart was pounding in his chest and he held out his hand and touched his chest. He looked across his shoulder,

  "Granny," He gasped.

  "Sorry," Granny apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you."

  "Its fine," Caleb said, taking small deep breaths. "I'm really fine, don't worry."

  He said that and he was smiling again. He couldn't even help but blush a little.

  "You seem happy," Granny smiled, holding his hands softly. "Are you and Preston okay now?"

  Caleb blushed brightly and nodded.

  "Yes," He smiled sheepishly, looking away from granny. "He apologized to me this morning."

  "Well then that's great," Granny said, smiling. "I knew he'd do that."

  "How did you know?"

  "What are grannies for?" she chuckled. "I told him my own piece when he came to my room last night,"

  "Wait!" Caleb exclaimed, looking at granny with a confused face. "Preston ca
me to your room last night?"

  Granny chuckled and tapped on his shoulder.

  "He was feeling bad about what he had said to you," Granny sighed. "He spent an hour crying on my lap."

  Caleb quickly got up, stood up straight and hugged her tightly.

  "Thanks, granny," he gushed, tightening his grip on the hug. "You've really helped me a lot and I..."