Thanks for the tips and words of encouragement everyone! They are much appreciated! Keep 'em comin'! FYI my Spanish is rough, I've only had about three years of schooling so if I slaughter it let me know!
Both Eric and Calleigh threw themselves into their respective cases for the rest of the day. Each of them pretending they weren't falling to pieces on the inside.
After Natalia and Calleigh had successfully put their suspect in hand cuffs, they made their way to the locker room together.
"Did you want to grab a drink?" Natalia asked Calleigh as she threw her ID into her locker.
"I'd better not Nat; I really need to get some rest." Calleigh told her truthfully. A hot shower and a cup of warm coffee had never sounded so good. Natalia nodded her response; she pulled her purse from her locker and went to stand near Calleigh, waiting to walk out together. Calleigh smiled at her desire to make sure she was okay.
"Listen Calleigh…he told me," Natalia confessed "if it means anything, he didn't make excuses; he took it like a man." She threw out there. Calleigh nodded her head, not trusting her voice in front of Natalia. When the locker room door opened and Eric entered, Natalia suddenly had more important places to be and made her way out.
"Calleigh, I know this isn't the place but if we keep avoiding this, it's just going to get worse." He told her coming to stand near her locker. Calleigh clicked it shut and sat on the bench, her hands fidgeting with her car keys. She didn't respond but again let him take the lead. "Please Calleigh, I know that I hurt you, and I'm so sorry. I want to make this right. I've told you before; I can't imagine living my life without you. Please, what do I have to do?" He all but begged, while moving to straddle the bench, facing her.
"Eric, I know that you're sorry. I believe you when you say you never meant to cheat on me, but I don't think there is anything you can do to make it up to me. I don't trust you; I don't know how I could. Right now all I really need is time, and space Eric. Time to figure out if I can ever trust you again," She said, sadness in her voice. For some reason she wasn't angry, she was hurt but not angry. She'd been angry at first and angry when he'd avoided telling her he loved her, but now, looking at the sadness in his eyes, she knew that he was sincerely sorry, and for that she was unable to stay angry. *Typical Eric, I can never stay mad* Calleigh thought sadly to herself, normally it made her smile, but not this time, this time it broke her heart.
"Calleigh, I'll give you time and space, as much as you need, but please promise me something…."Eric started, but was cut off by his cell phone ringing. He glanced from his phone to Calleigh, she gestured slightly to the phone, knowing he had to take it. Eric bowed his head and spoke quickly in Spanish to the person on the other end. Although Calleigh was fluent in the language, she was unable to make out what was going on. "Cal, I have to go." He told her as soon as he shut his phone. Worry filling his facial expressions.
"What's wrong?" She asked, concern filling her voice, her own pain forgotten for a minute.
"My mom…" Eric choked over the words, "she had a heart attack, and I need to get to the hospital." He blurted out, standing up from the bench.
"Call if you need me," Calleigh told him, standing and placing a gentle hand on his arm. Eric looked at her blankly before muttering a 'thank you' and rushing out. Calleigh watched as he jogged passed the elevator and opted for the stairs.
As Calleigh slowly made her way to the elevator, she paid little attention the dark haired woman who was speaking to the receptionist. "It's fine I'll try back tomorrow, thanks" The young lady stated, before turning and joining Calleigh in her wait for the elevator.
Calleigh had turned the volume up on her cell phone when she got in the shower, to make sure she heard it if Eric called, but it remained silent the rest of the evening. Calleigh debated on calling him. She adored his mother, and she knew how close they were, but she also knew that she wasn't family, and right now Eric needed family. Calleigh slid her phone under her pillow and fell into exhausted sleep. Her phone vibrating under her pillow, she shot awake and answered it in two rings.
"Duquesne." She stated, not getting the chance to look at the caller ID. Calleigh glanced at the clock, it's large read numbers showed eleven o'clock exactly.
"Calleigh," Eric's voice was thick with emotion, barely his.
"Eric, what's wrong?" She asked, worried about him.
"They don't think she'll make it through the night, but she wants to see you." He choked into the phone. Calleigh was out of bed and pulling on a pair of pants before, he finished his sentence.
"I'll be there in ten minutes." She told him, digging to find a sweatshirt. Finding a large grey one hanging in the closet she pulled it over her head. Calleigh jumped into her car and sped off toward the hospital, hoping she wasn't too late.
When she got there, all of Eric's family circled her bed, two beautiful daughters, all bearing striking resemblance to Marisol, and Eric's step-father. Calleigh stopped in the doorway, and waited, not wanting to interrupt. Eric spotted her after a minute, and made his way to her. When they were both in the hallway out of earshot from the room, Calleigh closed the distance between them and pulled him to her. Eric tightly wrapped his arms around her small waist, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
"Calleigh, she was asking for you, she wants to see you. Please don't say anything to her about… if she thought we were…" he dropped off the end of the sentence, not knowing how to put "broken up" into gentler words.
"I wouldn't do that Eric." Calleigh defended, pulling away and shaking her head at him. Eric nodded; he knew he didn't have to ask. Calleigh would be the perfect girlfriend, just like she always was, she never "played" the part before, and she wouldn't have to this time.
They entered to room side by side, and for a minute Calleigh felt afraid, she was never one to say the right thing. Eric sensed her fear and held out his hand to her. Although he knew that things were far from better, he couldn't help but feel hope when she slid her hand into his. Calleigh neared the edge of the bed, and found Eric's moms in a mess of tubes and machines. She smiled weakly up at Calleigh.
"Ahh, mi Hermosa Calleigh!" She breathed, Calleigh smiled at the compliment. "Gracias Calleigh." She said after swallowing hard.
"For what?" Calleigh questioned softly, tears beginning to line her eyes. She felt Eric let go of her hand and slip an arm around her waist.
"For making my Eric a happy man. Usted es su canción de corazón." She finished in Spanish. Calleigh didn't understand the meaning and turned to Eric quickly.
"She says you are my heart song." Eric translated. Calleigh stared at Eric for a moment, before turning back to see Carmelita nodding.
"Your son makes me very happy as well," Calleigh told her, although by recent events she was lying, Eric did make her happy. Carmelita nodded softly before dissolving into coughing fits. Eric let go of Calleigh to grab the Styrofoam cup off of the table and bring the straw to his mother's lips. Eric's sisters had slipped into the hallway while Carmelita spoke with Calleigh. Eric's step-father remained in the corner praying over his faded bible. Calleigh then turned back to Eric's mother, who held a silver cross in her hands. Eric followed her gaze, but offered no explanation. It was obviously the same one Calleigh had given him.
"What is wrong with Abuela?" Eric's niece asked in perfect Spanglish, from the chair behind Calleigh.
"Abuela's sick, the doctors are trying to make her better," Eric softly explained, scooping her up and placing her in his lap. Calleigh moved someone's coat and sat in the chair next to them, when she did Eva-Maria stretched her arms out to her. Calleigh accepted the girls embrace as she awkwardly switched laps.
"Tio Eric, said you may not be coming, I'm glad you decided to come." She stated playing with Calleigh's hair. Eva-Maria was all of 5, with a dark completion, and curly thick hair and full lips, like Eric's. After a while Eva-Maria got bored with Calleigh's hair and asked to use the rest room. Calleigh offered to take her for a walk, and the two left hand in hand. They wandered the halls in silence. Eva-Maria took in all the sights, and asked few questions. When they returned to the room, they found everyone huddled over Carmelita's bed, sobbing. Calleigh knew that Eva-Maria had no reason to remember her grandmother that way. She had seen enough dead bodies to know that the image never comes out of your mind. Calleigh quietly scooped up the young girl and placed in a wheel chair in the hall way, kneeling between the wheels Calleigh softly explained everything.
"Eva-Maria, do you remember Tia Marisol?" Calleigh asked. Eva nodded, not understanding why Calleigh was acting funny. "Tia Marisol lives in heaven now doesn't she?" Calleigh asked.
"Yes and someday I will get to see her again, but Mama says it will be a long time," Eva-Maria answered.
"You're right Eva, it will be a long time, but right now the doctors couldn't make Abuela better, so you know what?" Eva-Maria shook her head side to side, her curls bouncing with the movement. "Abuela decided to go and keep Tia Marisol company." She concluded.
"What about Abuelo?" Eva asked, tears gathering in her eyes. "Who will keep grandpa company if Abuela is in heaven with Tia Marisol?" She asked panicking a little. Calleigh couldn't help but notice the ease with which she switched from Spanish to English.
"We will keep Abuelo company Sobrina," Eric answered from behind Calleigh, who jumped at the sound of his voice. "You and Me and your mother, and your Tia, we will all keep Abuelo company." Eric concluded, scooping up the little girl and holding her close. Calleigh untangled her legs from the floor, and watched as Eric held tightly to his niece. Daniela made her way to her daughter after a moment and pulled her from Eric's arms. She turned to Calleigh then, her face streaked with tears. Calleigh felt fear for a moment that she overstepped the line of girlfriend and family. Daniela however, reached out with her free arm and pulled Calleigh close to her.
"Thank you Calleigh." Daniela whispered. Calleigh nodded softly in response, unsure of what to say. She turned to Eric then, his eyes focusing on the floor, his shoulder facing her. Softly she placed a hand on his arm and turned him to face her. She stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding his body close to hers. Instantly Eric dissolved into soft sobs, through which Calleigh held on tight. His recent actions, the farthest thing from her mind.