Chapter 11
"Daddy!" Sara ran to her father as he walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, sweetie!" He lifted her into his arms, gave her a kiss and put her down. "What's for lunch?"
"Tuna fish with chopped apples and lettuce sandwiches," Marcella said.
"And carrot sticks and potato chips! Fae-Fae's favorite. Is she my surprise?"
"No, sweetie. What gave you the idea that she was your surprise?"
"You said I'd get a surprise."
"The little princess wanted Elphaba's favorite food just in case," Marcella said, placing the sandwiches on the kitchen table.
"Your surprise is that I got you that pony you wanted at the stable. After lunch we'll go out and you can ride her. Won't that be fun?"
Sara shook her head. "I want Fae-Fae."
"Don't you want to ride your pony?"
"You ride it."
Marcella laughed.
"What are laughing at?"
"You on that pony."
"I should get rid of you right now."
"What would you do without me?"
Sara looked up at her father, and tugged his shirt. "Is Nana going away, too? Like Fae-Fae?" She ran to Marcella. "You leaving me?"
Marcella glared at Fiyero.
"I was kidding, Sara. Nana Marcella's not going anywhere. I promise."
"Alright, you two. I'm not leaving. Now sit down and have some lunch."
xxxxx
Elphaba stood at the front entrance of the castle. Two guards bowed to her.
"Welcome back, Miss Elphaba."
"Welcome home, Miss Elphaba."
"I'm not back. I came here to...I don't know why I'm here."
The guards gave her a puzzled look.
"I guess I'm here to visit. Can I go in? And please don't announce me. I know my way around."
"Yes, miss."
Entering through the door, Elphaba stood at a standstill. Her eyes slowly scanned the castle. How she missed the place, but mostly she missed Fiyero and Sara. And of course, Marcella who was more of a mother than hired help.
Why did she listen to Glinda? Maybe if she snuck out the back door no one would notice her. What was she thinking of? Too late she told herself as Marcella walked into the foyer.
"Elphaba, my dear! You're back!" Marcella rushed up to her, and embraced her. "How have you been? It's not the same since you left. We've missed you."
Elphaba returned her embrace. "I've missed all of you."
"I knew you'd be back. The prince and little princess are out for the day. They're at the stable. He bought a pony for Sara as if that would replace you."
"The guards welcomed me back...welcomed me home. But I'm not back. Maybe I should go. It was wrong of me to have come. I don't belong here."
"Yes, you do. Then why are you here?"
"I don't know. I was driving to clear my head and found my way here."
Marcella smiled. "Your subconscious knows where you belong. Have you eaten?"
"I'm not very hungry. Thank you."
"You've got to eat. It's your favorite. Tuna apple sandwiches. Sarah was so sure her daddy was bringing you home. She wanted me to make them for your homecoming. He's such a fool at times. Never promise a child something unless you know for sure you can get it. Fiyero said he'll have a surprise for her. And since you didn't come home with him, he goes and buy her a pony. She told her daddy he could ride it."
Elphaba chuckled.
"It's okay to laugh. I did. Follow me," Marcella said, leading her into the kitchen.
Elphaba obediently followed her.
"Okay, sit while I get your food and a drink."
"Thank you, Marcella. I don't quite remember my mother. But I'd like to think she was like you. You're very motherly."
"Tell that to my daughter. She thinks I smother her."
"Fiyero mentioned that she's a couple of years older than he is. And that she's like a big sister to him. More than his own sister."
"They're still pretty close. I had her very young. When I came to work for the King and Queen to care for Fiyero, I already had Rada. They would play and fight with each other like siblings. After college, she moved away. She wanted to be on her own. Of course, Fiyero tried to talk her out of it. The King and Queen set up a trust fund for her when she was little. So, at the age of twenty-two, she was financially well off. I'm not doing so bad myself. Comes home for Lurlinemas. She has an art degree and works in a gallery. You'll get to meet her during the holidays."
"That's very generous of the King and Queen. What makes you think I'm going to meet her?"
"Just hoping you'll change your mind and come back. You didn't come to drop off your keys, did you?"
Elphaba took a bite of her sandwich, then took a sip of water. "I don't know why I'm here."
"It's because of that letter Fiyero wrote to you. Don't know what it said, but must have something to do about his undying love for you. That boy is a such romantic...well, with you he is. They both love you."
"Why?"
"Don't ever put yourself down. You're a beautiful young lady."
"Thank you, Marcella. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong mirror? I don't see what you see."
"Stop that. You've got to learn to love yourself. You're beautiful on the inside and out. You have this prince and his daughter who loves you, what more do you want?"
"But I'm green."
"And that little girl wanted to be green like you."
Elphaba smiled.
"Fiyero sees no color, he sees you. Talk to him."
"Alright, I will."
"Speaking of the two, what's taking them so long? How long does it take to ride a pony? I worry about them like they're my own. They left right after lunch. It's almost four now. The least he could do is call."
At that very instant, the telephone rang. "Finish your sandwich while I get that."
xxxxx
"Marcella! We're home!" Carrying Sara, Fiyero's voice echoed throughout the castle. Her left arm was placed in a sling, along with a bruised cheek.
Marcella held out her arms. "Come here, baby."
"Nana, daddy didn't catch me. I fell off my pony."
"Get rid of that pony! Where were you when she fell? Did you call your parents?"
"Daddy said jump, and I fell. Grandpapa and grandmama scolded daddy."
"It happened so fast. She slipped through my arms. Dad and mom came to the hospital. Wanted to take Sara home with them. I said no, I can take care of my own daughter. And the fact that you're here to give her comfort, they knew Sara would be well taken care of."
"It's a good thing she didn't break an arm or leg or worse! What were you thinking of?"
"My folks already scolded me. Doctor said she'll be fine. No broken bones."
Marcella smoothed away strands of hair from Sara's face. "Are you okay?"
"I cried, nana."
"I'll bet you did."
"A lot," Fiyero said.
"Let me clean you up. You'll feel a lot better. And you," she pointed to Fiyero, "have a visitor in the library."
"Who is it? You know I don't meet with anyone without an appointment. I've had a long day."
"Then you get rid of your visitor."
"Who is it?"
"Go and find out!"
He ran his hands through his hair. "I'm a mess. I'll take a quick shower first."
xxxxx
Elphaba heard his footsteps, and looked around. Even if she wanted to, she had no where to run.
Shaking excess water out of his hair, Fiyero entered the library. He stopped in the middle of the room, surprised that Elphaba was the unexpected visitor.
"Hello, Fiyero. Is Sara alright? I was here when you called Marcella."
He circled around her. "She'll be fine. What are you doing here?"
"That's good. I was worried. How are you?"
"How am I? What do you think? Did you even read my letter?"
She nodded. "That's why I'm here. I..."
"I waited and you didn't come out. Not even to tell me to get the hell out of there! And you show up here? For what?"
"I..."
"I wasted my time. I thought for sure you felt the same way about me."
"Fiyero..."
"I went out to get a pony just so I wouldn't come home empty handed. And she falls off that stupid horse and got hurt!"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"I'm sorry she got hurt. I'm glad she'll be fine."
"It's my fault she fell! I had to get her something so she wouldn't be as broken-hearted when I came home alone...without you!"
"So you go out and buy her a pony. She could have broken an arm, leg or worse."
"Now you sound like Marcella! I'm outnumbered here! What has she been telling you about me?"
"Just things. Nothing bad."
The room fell silent. Fiyero took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. "Are you here to get the rest of your things?"
"I came by because..."
"Better yet, I'll have Marcella pack them and someone will drop it off to you."
"I didn't come here to..."
"That way you won't be bumping into Sara upstairs. I don't want her getting the wrong idea that you're back. She's already hurting. Don't play with my daughter's heart. Stay away from her."
"You're not giving me a chance to tell you why I'm here. You're very angry and upset."
"Yes, I'm angry and very much upset! I'm not as brainless as you think I am! My daughter and I will be just fine without you!"
"The way you're acting, nothing matters anymore. I'd better leave." Elphaba held in her tears, searching through her bag.
"What are you looking for?"
She threw her house keys at him. "Catch!"
He caught it in mid-air.
"Good catch," she said, walking out of the library.
TBC - Chapter 12
