Author's Note: If you're reading this Thank You for the taking the time to give my story a chance. I've been studying portugês for the about a year now and I'm just trying to get back in the swing of writing and written language practice with some pairings I really like. I don't own anything besides the plot. If you've never seen the Clarina storyline of Em familia I highly encouraged watching it, it's a real gem.
*All translations/interpretations of dialogue(not in English) will be included at the end of the section*
**Story rating subject to change**
CAP 1
(January 03, 2016, Studio, 8:30pm)
Ivan's POV
There's times when ma gets these business calls from her friend, Olivia, who lives in the United States; I know when it's her friend because mãe won't stop pacing. Back and forth. When she's worried she always paces, and well… she has a knack for hovering. I only know this because I can never not watch her. She doesn't stop pacing until the calls end, and even then ma always takes extra time to calm her down.
I still can't figure out why the calls make her so worried, but the bad feeling I have in my stomach while I'm watch them right now doesn't make me think it's anything good.
*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*
3rd POV
Marina re-adjusted the phone against her ear as she cradled their daughter between her side and the arm of the chair she was reclined in; she shot a pleading glaze to the woman pacing on her side. "Eiii, meu amor, calma."
"Não Marina." Clara shot back, sending a look that caused a small tremor to run through her wife. She took a deep breath, collecting herself, "Você terminará em breve?" the shorter woman asked, her anxiousness evident in her tone.
"Sim, meu amor logo que possível." She responded quietly, trying her hardest to gauge her wife's mood, but Clara refused to meet her eye.
She walked back toward the chair Marina and Maitê occupied; gathering the infant into her arms she turned in the direction of Ivan who was swiveling in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the room.
"Ei, filho. " she called gathering Ivan's attention, "É hora de dormir, vamos."
Ivan sucked his teeth letting out a long sigh, "Mas mããããe" he whined softly while pointing in the direction of Marina, "Eu não falo com ma o dia todo, nem mesmo esta manhã. "
Clara's heart lurched at her son's words. She moved her fingers through his hair as she bent down to press a kiss against his forehead, "Eu sei meu amor, mas hoje tem sido muito ocupado, pra você e Marina." She reminded him gently, making sure to look him in his eyes for her next words, "Eu prometo que Mamãe dará a você a sua inteira atenção de manhã. Te juro, filho. "
She brought him toward her a and cast a longing glance over her shoulder one final time, all the while missing their son doing the same.
*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*8*
Marina caught Clara's eyes briefly before she turned and retreated to the back, she watched her wife usher their children off to bed. She shook her head a tiny smile itching at the corners of her lips, sighing as the feminine voice came back over the other end of line. That look screamed of a late night talk, and she was already so damn tired.
"I just don't know Olivia, I can't just up and leave my family, even though I know what you're proposing could set us up for life. We just got our daughter…" she trailed off, her signiture soft smile gracing her lips, easing the mild annoyance that followed her exhaustion; she let her eyes follow the path her family had just taken again.
"Wow kid, first marriage, now a whole new family? " melodic laughter bubbled over from the voice. "I never would of the thought that little Mari would grow up enough for family life. "she added.
Marina took the ribbing in good fun because even she was amazed at the turn her life had taken so quickly.
"I can't either honestly" she replied, unable to stop the wonderment from entering her voice as she thought back. "But it's amazing, and I wouldn't change it for anything, ever. I love them so much."
Olivia pulled the phone from her ear and was glad Marina wasn't around to see the smile that she had. She had an image to maintain after all. "Kid I'm so happy for you, honestly. I owe my wife 50 bucks because of you, but I couldn't be happier that you have the family you always wanted and needed." Her voice turned serious. "You deserve this. You fought hard for this. Remember that."
Marina's eyes watered at her words. She deserved this. "I know I do."
Olivia scoffed hearing the doubt lacing her voice. Now, the older brunette was a lot of things to a lot of different people but one thing that no one would ever consider her was stupid or naive. She wasn't blind to the fact that her protégé sometimes thought of herself, for lack of a better words, as a homewrecker. And she knew that Marina wasn't completely innocent in the entire situation but she'd be damned if she allowed that to show through her words. Sometimes things just happen and given how she came into her happy ending with Natalia...what position was she in to cast judgements?
So she tried to restrain the irritation that seeped into her words, "Damnit Marina, for as confident as you are in your art I should hope it's not asking too much for you to have more belief in your own happiness. You're better than that sweetheart. We both know it. "
Wiping the stray tears that had fallen Marina paused before responding. "Disculpa. I'm trying Olivia, I really am, but it's still so hard sometimes." She hated herself for not being able to stop the quiver in her speech. "I just look at them sometimes and I know that I never did anything to deserve this type of happiness," she paused, "and I still feel guilty in a way for everything."
Her heart broke at her protégé's words.
"We can help you." The fleeting thought passed through her mind before she began to speak, "Look sweetie, talk to your wife and explain the situation to her. We— I, I really need you here, and I don't want to force you but you are still under contract." Olivia paused, she really hadn't wanted to use that last bit of leverage, but she needed Marina to get the ball rolling. She knows how the younger woman operates, she'll drag her feet until the last minute and that cannot happen with this.
"Honey, we'd be more than happy for all of you to come for the year. I've been dying to meet your family, and I know that wife of yours is curious about your extended American family. " She added, a playful grin masking her face.
It was Marina's turn to offer a disbelieving scoff as she thought about how much of impossibility that was. "I can almost guarantee that Cadu would fight us tooth and nail if we even thought about trying to take Ivan out of the country for a year. And I don't know how happy Clara would be in a whole new country where she doesn't understand or speak the language well enough to communicate thoroughly for year. She's never been out of Brasil, really none of them have."
"But I thought you said everything was okay now? I thought he was the godfather to your daughter?" Olivia questioned, a deep frown setting into her brow. She continued, "And that just means neither she nor Ivan nor Maitê have had a chance to experience something you already know is worthwhile."
Marina nodded her head instinctively before her mouth caught up, "Well yes, all of that is true and while things are better now than before…I…I know how much it would hurt him to be away from Ivan for so long… because I know it's going to kill me to be away for a year. "
She smiled a watery smile at her own naivety as the realization of the proposal set in. "Give me a few weeks Olivia, I can't just spring this on them, least of all my Clarinha. I already know I'm in trouble once we hang up as it is."
"I can only give 'til the end of the month Mari, I have to have an answer because we have to start preparing the venue for the event by the 1st of the Februray."
"You'll have your answer by the 31st Livia, obrigada. I'll call you." Marina couldn't stop the yawn that followed. Olivia chuckled good naturedly at the younger woman, "Still the same old Mari, get some rest kid, I expect to hear from you sooner rather than later. Te amo."
"Te amo." Quietly left her lips as she ended the call. Dropping the phone on the end table beside the chair Marina slunk down further into the plush recliner bringing her hands over her eyes.
What the hell am I going to do? I already know Clara is going to be so upset with me for the next week about this, but the money is unreal. Ivan and Maitê would be completely set for any college they want to attend. But I just can't… I can't leave for year, a whole year without my wife, my daughter, and my son...without my family…
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"Amor…" Clara called softly to Marina from the doorway, her voice holding none of the her previous frustration. "Você já terminou?"
A small groan escaped from her lips as she moved to stand from the chair, "Sim, querida" she gathered her cell and lazily met Clara in the doorway, her hands easily moving to wrap around Clara's slender waist. "Conversamos de manhã amor, estou tão cansado." She placed a kiss on the forehead and lips of Clara.
A raised eyebrow in response from Clara earned a tired sigh from Marina, "Por favor, Clarinha, não esta noite."
Clara stepped back from the embrace with disappointment laced through her expression, and her frustration back in full, "Amanhã de manhã é reservado para o SEU filho," she emphasized, her finger prodding not so gently into the chest of Marina.
"Querida, por favor, fale comigo agora." Clara's expression softened, her voice pleading gently.
Marina broke the gaze, nodding her head as she moved them down the corridor toward their bedroom, "Na cama, tenho a sensação de que você vai precisar estar sentado." Her heart felt like it was beating a mile a minute.
Clara's face dimmed instantly. She tried to pull her hand from Marina's grasp causing the taller woman to turn and face her wife, but still the brunette held on firmly. "O que é isso?" Clara questioned, a fearful expression painting her soft features.
"Clara, calma meu am—"
"Calma não!" Clara whispered-yelled, her voice catching.
Marina cupped the fiery woman's face gently, but firmly, peering directly into her eyes, "Querida, por favor, confie em mim." She whispered, placing a long, slow kiss on the fearful woman's lips before continuing to lead them to their bedroom.
The photographer's insides felt as if they were full of lead, she was desperately trying to control the singing she felt behind her eyes. If telling her wife that she's going to be leaving for year doesn't kill her, then she's almost positive that actually leaving will.
CAP 1
Translations
1 . Eiii, meu amor, calma.- Hey, love, calm down.
2 . Não Marina.- No, Marina.
3 . Você terminará em breve? - Are you going to be done soon?
4 . Sim, meu amor logo que possível.- Yes, love, as soon as possible.
5 . Ei, filho. - Hey, son.
6 . É hora de dormir, vamos.- It's bedtime, let's go.
7 . Mas mããããe - But moooom
8 . Eu não falo com ma o dia todo, nem mesmo esta manhã.- I haven't talked to ma all day, not even this morning.
9 . Eu sei meu amor, mas hoje tem sido muito ocupado, pra você e Marina.- I know love, but today's been really busy, for you and Marina.
10 . Eu prometo que Mamãe dará a você a sua inteira atenção de manhã. Te juro, filho.- I promise that Ma will give you her undivided attention tomorrow morning. I swear son.
11 . Te amo. - I love you.
12 . Amor… - Love...
13 . Você já terminou? - Are you done yet?
14 . Sim, querida - Yes, sweetheart.
15 . Conversamos de manhã amor, estou tão cansado.- We'll talk in the morning love, I'm so tired.
16 . Por favor, Clarinha, não esta noite. - Please Clara, not tonight.
17 . Amanhã de manhã é reservado para o SEU filho,- Tomorrow is reserved for your son,
18 . Querida, por favor, fale comigo agora.- Baby, please, talk to me now.
19 . Na cama, tenho a sensação de que você vai precisar estar sentado. - In bed, I have a feeling you're going to need to be sitting down.
20 . O que é isso? - What is it?
21 . Clara, calma meu am— - Clara, calm down lo-
22 . Calma não - - I'm not going to calm down.
23 . Querida, por favor, confie em mim. - Baby, please, trust me.
FEEDBACK IS WELCOMED . IF ANY NATIVE SPEAKERS OR OTHER LANGUAGE STUDENTS SEE ANY GRAMMATICAL ERRORS DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW, PLEASE .