Down – Chapter Nine

"Daddy?" Carter couldn't hide anymore.

Mr. Mason cleared his throat and hid the picture. "You're back, Carter!"

"Why are you crying?" she asked. She actually knows what is happening with her father, but tries to not show it to him.

"I'm just… remembering some things. That's all," he answered while wiping his tears.

Carter sat next to her father and started looking at him directly to his eyes. "Don't lie to me, daddy. I know how do you feel," she said while taking out the picture he was about to hide. "You love her, don't you?" she continued saying.

"She is the love of my life. I've always been her most dedicated servant. But now that you messed up her daughter's life, I lost her forever," he said avoiding Carter's glare.

"Me? How can you say that? You know what happened between Rosie and me," replied Carter very angry.

"I know you very well, Carter. I raised you. I've been with you 24/7. You have your tricks. You're the master of funny businesses. I'm pretty sure everything that you told about Rosie is not completely true. I love you honey, but let's face it. It's not the first time you do things like that," said Mr. Mason kind of lectured her.

Carter just looked down. She is trying to hide her shame but failed. Her father is watching her and noticed she is about to cry. "Don't cry sweetheart. I know you didn't mean to hurt her so much. You are just in love with a celebrity and turned out he became your best friend's boyfriend," he simply ended.

Mr. Mason stood up from the dining room table. He is about to go upstairs but then he turned around to face Carter and said: "You have your chance, Carter. Get all this fixed."

Next Day

I couldn't sleep thinking about what happened yesterday. Joe is back on track and I don't know how to react about that. I'm totally nuts for him. I've never been so in love before. I can't believe Carter got him apart from me for so long. I thought he did not want me, he did not love me. It turned out it was a misunderstanding. Now, I'm afraid of my mother's reaction. It is obvious she doesn't like Joe. Right away, she is at a convention in Singapore but she will be back by tomorrow. I do not know how to tell her without getting her lecturing me. It's going to be so complicated. She actually thinks I did all those things to Carter because of Joe. I don't know why she can't believe me. I am her daughter for Pete's sake! I did not hurt Carter in any way. But she rather believes Mr. Mason and Carter more than me. For now, I'm enjoying this moment. Joe called me again last night and we spent like three hours on the phone. He was cute. He even sent me a picture of him in Malaysia carrying a poster that said I LOVE YOU ROSIE! He is back soon. He is staying with his best friend, David, in New Jersey. He will be visiting me because traveling from New Jersey to D.C is not that long. Well, I guess. I travel with my mother in helicopter, so for me, it's not that long.

"Good morning, Miss Rosalinda" Mrs. Tina arrived to my room.

"Good morning, Mrs. Tina" I greeted back.

"I'm on a hurry, let's start quickly, please?" she asked.

"Sure. I don't mind," I answered.

"Good. We are starting with Spanish…" the maid entered my room and interrupted.

"Miss Rosalinda, someone wants to talk to you. That person is waiting for you in the main yard," she said.

"Told that person I'm busy right now, maybe later"

"You don't understand, miss. It's something serious. She seems completely desperate," the maid replied.

"Well… It's a she. How serious would it be?" I asked to myself. "Okay, tell that girl I meet her in a minute."

"Okay," she turned around and left.

"Sorry Mrs. Tina. I need to know who she is and what does she want," I told Mrs. Tina.

"Do not worry, girl. I guess today is our free day. I am back tomorrow. Please read and summarize chapter 12, 13 and 14 from your Spanish text book," she said while standing up and walking away.

"Okay, I'll do it" I replied while I saw her leaving. I stood up from the desk and went downstairs to meet that mysterious girl.

At the main yard

I arrived to the yard and there was a girl that looked like an orphan. I can't identify her from the distance. You know, the yard is really big. While I was approaching, I could notice her more. She was so skinny, that her shoulders seem to be out of place. Her dress seems taken from a trash can but her shoes were perfectly nice. I thought that she was one of those persons who come to the White House asking for money. I was getting closer when the naked true met me face to face.

"Carter? What are you doing here? What happened to you?" I asked in disbelief.