Back at the mansion, Maru was arguing over the phone with Arthur.
"And you think that excuse is going to make it right. Besides, things like that don't even happen on TV any more the last time I saw a novela with that in it was El Privilegio de Amar, and that was years and years ago."
"Well, why can't he be telling the truth."
"That's just an excuse to try and make himself look good."
"Even if it was, well, don't you think maybe he deserves a chance. You could forgive him, you know."
"No! And it's not because of what people say. You know a lot of people have always treated me like garbage, and let's face it, I am garbage. I'm 'ilegitima'. I don't even know this man."
"I guess you could say that has a solution. Besides, what would el Padre Juan say if he found out about your attitude? The Madre Superiora? The monjitas? They would be pretty upset and they'd tell you to forgive him, wouldn't they/ Besides, isn't that what you used to ask for in your prayers? When you were younger?"
"When I was younger, but I'm much, much more mature now then I was then. Besides, who are you to be judging me? I suppose you are perfect?"she asked coldly.
"I'm not perfect. But neither are you, and why do you judge people?"
Arthur sighed. The ten X's were right. This was getting nowhere. It was much harder than he thought it would be.
"I'll come by later to watch Mujer de Madera and Mariana de la Noche. The ten Ma.s want me to come. So I'll see you then. Bye."
"Good- bye."
Ma.Eugenia sat looking at the phone. Really, why was Arthur meddling in what was none of his business? Then she realized guiltily that she also did the same thing. Whenever she could. But she certainly didn't judge people about their errors. She looked at her hands.
Arthur did have a point. She had always been a very curious person. She had always wanted to meet her father. And now that she did, she did her best to stay away from him. It was not that she liked it. It was just that she worried what would happen if she ever did say she forgave him. She wanted to go home to San Pedro. She wished none of this had ever happened.
But then there was the fact that maybe she wouldn't be a good daughter. She didn't know what kind of daughter her father would want. He didn't seem to like her as she was. He never treated her the way her godfather treated his daughter. Her godfather always loved to hear his daughters sing, to have them sit on his knee, and he especially loved to watch the dectuplets water their plants, watch them and their sister bathe in the river, go riding with them, and take them on long walks through the jungle, mountains, across the beaches, and tell them about nature.
She picked up her fan and walked out of the room. Really, how could people spend their time in such dreary places. There was nothing to do. No one to talk to, except the dectulets, and they were not here. They would not return except around three. She walked down the hall, maybe she could talk to Meche. Meche always saw things her way. She never said she was wrong, but then Meche would never say anything Ma.Eugenia said or did was wrong.
Sometimes, she thought that perhaps she should just forget about the decuplets, and getting Lance together with Kitty, and just keep him for herself. He might not be exactly what she wanted, but in a way, he was. He was more like herself, and less like these puzzling strangers. She shook her head and smiled to herself. She shouldn't do that. She had promised her friends something, and she should keep that promise. Besides, he liked Kitty, not her.
She looked for Sissy. Sissy might not be very responsive, because she spend most of her time asleep. I wish I could sleep most of the morning, she thought bitterly, then time would go by much, much quicker. She turned a corner, went down the stairs, and found Ms.Munroe watering plants.
Wow, I wish I could water them like that. She watched how the small cloud travelled around the plants. This was not new to her, as the dectuplets watered their plants much in the same fashion. They had the most beatiful plants in the whole region. Nobody's flowers looked as pretty as theirs. They spend most of their time singing to them, and to their animals. Ms.Munroe noticed her.
"Hello, Ma.Eugenia."
"Hello."she wished Ms.Munroe hadn't noticed. You never knew what these unusual stranger might do. She instinctively knew how the people in San Pedro would act, but not these stranger who kept away from you, as though you were dangerous.
"Did you need something?"
"No, I was just giving myself a tour of this place."she looked around. She turned to leave. She stopped. "How long have you known Mr.Xavier,"she asked.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Arthur called me this morning. He seems to think I'm wrong, I think he judges me. I am bad person, after all, I guess you could say that. It has been a very long, long time since I have confessed my sins."
Ororo was just about to say that that didn't make her a bad person, but then remembered that that might insult Ma.Eugenia.
"The dectuplets also kept a lot of plants at Piedras Grandes. It was also close to the jungle, so we always saw a lot of them. My godfather loved plants, and animals, too."
"You always talk about your godfather."
"My godfather was a very good person. I don't see why he had to die. I loved him very much. I know I shouldn't love him as much as I do, because we were never bonded by blood, and it is disrespectful."she hung her head. "It was him and my godmother who took care of me most of my life. But I don't really do anything disrespectful, I honor my father." I just sin through my thoughts, which is even worse, she thought to herself.
"It's not bad that you love your godfather, if he took care of you, however, I'm sure it will make your father very happy if you loved him like you did your godfather."
"What's he like?"she asked. She hoped Ms.Munroe would tell her. She didn't really feel comfortable talking to him herself.
"He's a good person. You should find out for yourself."
"I can't. I was never taught how to behave or how to speak to him. I was taught how to speak to strangers, to people I don't know, to whom I am not related. But not to another relative. Since I have no other relatives, since my mother died."
She sighed, shrugged, and left.
Back at school. The dectuplets had decided to ditch class while they gathered in the restroom to talk about that dream.
"You don't suppose Sissy knew it would happen do you?"asked Ma.Xaviera.
"Sissy w ould've told us."answered Ma.Xulia. "Maybe she just found out this morning and did her best so that no one would find out. You know, it could probably have caused an uproar, and well, a big mess."
"Yes. You're right. Anyway, I don't really feel like going to class. What phase of the moon is it?"
"Full."said Ma.Xulia.
"Makes sense, that must be why I'm craving something chocolate. I could use a triple scoop sundae, and a chocolate milkshake. Let's go."
They left the school without anyone noticing and went to the ice cream shop at the corner.
Lance saw Kitty during chemistry, like always.
"Are you planning to go watch television with the dectuplets and Ma.Eugenia?" she asked him.
"I always do, because I want to find out what happens with Mariza. What's going to happen now that her father is back. Why does it bother you."
"Yes. I don't like you around Ma.Eugenia. Besides how would she react if she found out?"
"Maru wouldn't do anything. She would just say we don't have good morals. She very moralistic, very puritan."
"I suppose that would mean you will break up with her. You can't possibly keep on going out with after this, can you? You just said yourself that she would go out with you anymore."
"Well, only if you will go out with me, instead of her."
"I will."she said automatically.
Kitty didn't care what everyone would say. She had almost let a stupid girl like Ma.Eugenia take her man from her, and that would never happen again. Lance smiled to himself. Wow, the dectuplets were right, with theirs and Maru's help he had achieved what he wanted. Finally Kitty would go out with him! He blessed those weird girls, and the fact that one of their favorite novelas came on at such a late hour and they invited him to join them.