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Enjoy today's chapter.. Tomorrow's will contain a huge surprise.. :)
Chapter 25 "A new adventure… part 6"
Marina stared at her laptop with an instant smile on her face. She still felt amazed by yesterday's conversation with Clara. Her mood had completely switched from sad to extremely happy. Clara was about to divorce Cadu and she still couldn't believe it. Clara's strength amazed her. After all those months of pushing away her feelings and desires, she completely turned things around. She now pursued her happiness fearlessly. And the realization that they would share their futures together made her body shiver. "You're in a good mood today.." Maaike broke her thoughts. Marina watched her startled for a moment, before her lips formed a smile again. "Yes, I am!" she giggled. Maaike raised her eyebrow and watched her curiously. "Anything I should know?" Marina shook her head. "No, I'm just happy.." Maaike gazed at her for a moment and started to type again. Marina frowned as she noticed the scratch on Maaike's neck. She hesitated for a second, before she asked "What happened to you?" Maaike's body froze as she watched Marina startled. "Why?" she whispered. Marina raised her hand and pointed towards her neck. Maaike's cheeks turned red as she understood what Marina meant. She softly brushed over the soar skin and her eyes turned insecure. "It's nothing.." she mumbled. Marina nodded and sat up straight. "It doesn't look like nothing.. But it's oke, you don't need to tell me.." She paused for a moment, before she added "But I'm here if you need me.."
They had gathered all the images they needed and faced eachother excited. "They're going to love it!" Maaike said with a huge smile on her face. Marina raised her hands as she cried out "God, we did it!" They hugged eachother for a moment, before Marina unconsciously glanced at her scratch again. Maaike noticed her look and her smile instantly faded. "Sorry, I…" Marina stumbled. "It's oke…" Maaike quickly said before Marina could finish her sentence. "I broke up with my boyfriend.. And things got a little ugly.." she explained while she sat down. "Did he do this to you?" Marina asked and faced her upset. "No.. No, he didn't. It was an accident.." Marina immediately recalled Clara's words after her fight with Cadu. "Are you sure?" she whispered and watched her closely. Maaike faced her with teary eyes. "Yes, really… It was an accident.. It's my own fault, I should have done this a long time ago.." She somehow convinced Marina with her expression that it indeed had been an accident. She sat down next to Maaike and lay her hand on her back. "Are you oke?" Marina softly asked. "Yes, I am.." She smiled through her tears and thanked Marina silently with her eyes. "Dinner tonight?"
Chica, Clara and Ivan went out shopping. As they entered the toy store, Ivan ran towards the computer games. Clara grabbed Chica's arm and stopped walking. Chica faced her with questioning eyes. "I've told Cadu that I want to divorce him.." Chica gasped for air as she glanced at Ivan. "Ooh Clara… You're not wasting any time.." she whispered. "No, not anymore.. I've waited too long already… I'm done running away from my feelings.." Chica forced a smile on her lips, but Clara could see how upset she was. "Mom, this may sound weird to you.. But this is a good thing! I'm finally moving forward.." Chica stared at her but remained silent, as she picked Clara's hand. She opened her mouth but swallowed back the words she wanted to say, when she noticed Ivan next to her. "Are you oke, grandma?" Chica looked startled in Clara's eyes and her expression turned warm when she faced Ivan. "Ofcourse, honey! Did you find something?" Ivan's face lightened up when he pulled her towards the games.
"How is Marina, mom?" Ivan asked at lunch. Chica and Clara exchanged a startled look. "She's fine, son. She's having a great time in Amsterdam.." He smiled and glanced at her for a moment. "When will she be back?" Clara took a bite of her cake, before she said "In three weeks.." He lay down his hand on her arm and seemed to gather his thoughts. "It will be over soon.. And then you can see her again.." he whispered. She almost choked on a piece of cake and faced him moved, while she caressed his cheek. Chica watched their interaction curiously and Ivan's compassion affected her. Her grandson seemed to feel his mother's emotions, almost as if he realized Marina was more than just a friend. And he spoke about her in such a natural way, that she wished she could be more open minded. "Do you like Marina, grandma?" Chica faced him surprised by his question as she said "Why do you ask that?" Ivan glanced at the table for a moment. "Because my father doesn't like her.. But she's important to my mom.. So I wanted to know if you like her.." He looked straight into her eyes, as if he tried to find the answers in there. "Well, yes, I like her. She seems like a wonderful person.." Clara exhaled as she realized she was holding her breath. Ivan watched her with a huge smile on his face, before he faced Chica again. "She is! She's so cool!" he cried out. Chica laughed due to his enthusiasm. "So you like her, right?" she asked although she already knew his answer. "Yes, very much! And she makes mom smile, so she has to be nice!" Chica grabbed his hands and brushed over his fingers. "You are right, she must be.." Ivan's smile slowly faded and his eyes turned worried. "I just.. don't understand why dad doesn't like her.." he whispered. "Your father has his reasons for that.." Chica said while Clara faced her startled. "What reasons?" he softly asked and watched her confused. They both remained quiet and desperately sought for an answer to his question. Clara blamed her mother with her eyes for this awkward moment. Before they could answer Ivan asked "Is it because mom likes her so much?" Clara's heart skipped a beat while she entered the conversation. "Yes.." she whispered and watched him closely. Ivan shook his head. "But what's wrong with that? She's so nice! I understand why you like her!" Clara smiled by his words and wished it was easy like that. "I'll explain it to you later, oke?" she said and pushed his new computer game towards him. Her attempt to avoid the subject succeeded, as he got distracted by his new toy.
Marina glanced at her watch and startled. "Ooh God, I have to go!" she cried out. "Why?" Maaike said while she faced her disappointed. "I need to call Clara.. I'm already late, it's way past midnight in Rio!" She had completely forgot the time and hurried to grab her coat. "Please stay.." Maaike softly said while she walked towards her. She stopped in front of Marina and looked straight into her eyes. Marina raised her eyebrow and faced her confused. She felt her head spin due to the alcohol and started to giggle. "I think you've drunk too much.." she softly said and touched her shoulder for a moment. Maaike grabbed her arm and before she could respond, Maaike pressed her lips on the corner of her mouth. Marina was perplexed and inhaled deeply when Maaike slowly pulled back. "You definitely drunk too much…" Marina stated and waived her goodbye.
"Hi love.." Clara whispered with a raspy voice. "Ooh sorry, Clarinha.. I didn't want to wake you up, but I needed to hear your voice.." Clara noticed by her tone that Marina was tipsy. "It's alright, I'm glad to hear your voice aswell.." she softly said as she teased "Although you sound kind of drunk.." Marina giggled and tilted her head. "You know me too well, Clarinha.. I think I might have drunk one too many.." Clara laughed and stretched out her muscles. "Did you have a great time with Maaike?" she asked while she yawned. "Yes, it was nice!" Marina hesitated for a moment how literally she had to take their honesty. Maaike hadn't tried to kiss her, although she couldn't deny her intentions. But she didn't want to upset Clara by something that had never happened. And would never happen. So she didn't mention Maaike's approach towards her. "Good to hear.." Clara whispered and Marina could hear how exhausted she was. "I'll let you sleep for now, my love.." she whispered and remained silent for a moment, before she added with a husky voice "But Skype tomorrow?" Clara grinned and felt a shiver down her spine. "Deal!" she whispered while she closed her eyes.
"Wow! You look… Terrible!" Marina laughed when Maaike entered the office. Her eyes were puffy and her face looked pale. She hung up her coat and sat down with a soft smile on her lips. "Thank you for cheering me up yesterday.." Maaike said while she watched Marina insecure for a moment. "I hope I didn't do anything to embarrass myself?" Marina smiled and shook her head. She decided to drop the subject, since she didn't seem to remember it. "My head kills me.. I hate hangovers.." Maaike mumbled while she grabbed her head. Marina laughed and pushed a cup of coffee towards her. "Here… Drink up, we've got a long day ahead.." She felt how her face enlightened when her mind inevitably thought about tonight.