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Chapter Twenty-nine
"Even when you're working you're beautiful." Holmes said from the doorway of Marita's classroom.
Marita looked up from the papers on her desk, startled by Holmes' voice, but not in the least surprised to see him. Though he'd kept away, she hadn't seen him since their encounter at the Fall Festival, Holmes was not the kind of man who gave up so easily. Hence Marita knew that he'd again pay her a visit, during which time she'd have to put a stop to his calls for good.
"I'm glad you're here." she eventually stated.
"Really?" the man responded with delight. Then slowly entered the room.
"Well…we need to talk." Marita corrected solemnly, failing to return his smile.
Perceiving her tone, the smile faded from Holmes' face. "Is something wrong?" He asked, now coming to stand in front of her desk.
"Yes." Marita uttered. "Please, have a seat."
Holmes took a seat in the chair positioned in front of Marita's desk and waited for her to speak, but she didn't begin right away, because her mind was still pondering other things. In a few days, she would be meeting with Mrs. Prichard and Mrs. Stokes perhaps to learn if she'd keep her job. She was worried, concern with how their decision would affect her and Sean. But she couldn't think of that now, she had to deal with Holmes she deemed. She was still not sure how to say what needed to be said, and she was irritated with herself for not handling this sooner. She'd been irresponsible in allowing him to call on her in the first place, knowing that she wasn't over Sean and that David was very fond of her. Then she'd failed to end their "courtship", if that's what their two outings would be called, which had ultimately led to Holmes challenging Sean. She should've straightened this out weeks ago, but now weeks ago had gone by and it was time, today, to make things right.
"I want to apologize." Marita finally began
"For what?" Holmes immediately questioned
"For being unfair to you." She stated seriously "I accepted your calls, even though I knew that my heart was some place else."
"Well you told me from the beginning that you weren't looking for a suitor…"
"But I still shouldn't have accepted your calls." Marita interjected "I knew that you were fond of me and therefore should've known that you may… develop feelings that I couldn't …reciprocate."
Holmes lowered his gaze, appearing to ponder what she'd said. Then he lifted his eyes and spoke. "You want me to stop coming by don't you?"
Silence –
"Yes." Marita uttered solemnly, hating to hurt the man in this way, but knowing that she had no other choice.
Silence –
"Has Mr. Logan asked you to marry him?" Holmes asked bluntly; openly confirming what she suspected he already knew. That Sean was the man in her heart.
Silence –
"Yes." Marita answered honestly. Her heart aching with joy and longing as she remembered Sean's proposal; conflicting with the sorrow she now felt towards Holmes.
For a moment Holmes held her gaze, the hurt and dejection apparent in his eyes. "Forgive me if I am overstepping my bounds…" he said "But do you really believe that you belong with Sean Logan? That you can have a future…with a white man?" he ended frankly.
"I do." Marita responded staunchly.
Holmes sighed in frustration, not ready to accept her answer or to give up. "What kind of life do you think you'll have being tied to this man? You'll be forever fighting prejudice and will therefore never be happy. You deserve so much better." he argued passionately as he moved to clasp her hands. "I can give you better."
"No David you can't." She said uneasily as she moved her hands away.
"Why not?" the man persisted.
"Because Sean is the man for me. He makes me happy." Marita stated earnestly "And I want a life with him. I love him, which is not going to change…"
The man closed his eyes and slightly lowered his head. "David you are a good man." she continued "And you deserve someone special to share your life with, but that someone is not me." Marita ended seriously.
"You sound so sure." David countered, his eyes now open again fixed upon her.
"David I am sure." She said
Holmes held Marita's stare until he saw that she was steady in her response, and he then couldn't take it anymore. He looked away, across the room at an adjacent wall, staring at an invisible spot.
"Are you okay?" Marita tentatively asked.
Silence –
"No..." the man uttered honestly as he returned his eyes to her face. "But with time…I guess… I'll be okay."
"I hope so." Marita genuinely replied.
Silence –
"I should…I should go." Holmes said as he slowly stood from his chair. Then moved to leave, but stopped and turned back to face her. "I really hope that it works out for you… and that Mr. Logan …can keep you safe."
"It will, and he will." Marita assured him.
The man stood there a moment looking as if he wanted to say more, then he reluctantly turned away and exited the classroom.
-
Vivian entered the building that housed the Office of Regional Affairs, feeling a sense of déjà vu, which caused her to remember the last time she was there, and just like today, on her way to the Deputy Director's office. It had been several months ago, and she'd been planning to pay a call on Sean to apologize for the argument they'd had and to perhaps make an attempt to reconcile once more. But instead she'd come across Pete Dixon and had almost immediately become distracted from Sean, giving few thoughts, over the past several months, to reconciling with him. Pete was special in that way, giving a girl hope after being heartbroken. Hence he was the reason why she was here now she thought. She wanted to be sure that he was okay. Her father had been livid when he'd caught them together before, and since then Pete hadn't tried to contact her. She wanted to make sure her father hadn't threatened him in anyway. Let him know that despite everything she wanted to remain friends and perhaps keep in touch while she was away. Vivian continued down the hall now thinking how risky it was for her to try and see Pete at Sean's office, but that's why she'd come during lunch, because if Sean was keeping to his normal schedule, which before they broke up was lunch away from the office, then Pete would probably be there alone, since he always said he stuck around the office during lunch. Vivian then turned the corner and immediately saw that the door to Sean's office was ajar. He's here she thought with relief and joy; then headed for the office door…
As soon as Vivian walked into the room she nearly gasped when she saw Sean. And she was even more stunned by the tender feelings that rose within her for him.
"Vivian!" Sean said with surprise as he quickly obscured the item he'd been holding in his hand, putting it away in a pouch.
"Sean." She said nervously "What do you have there?" she resumed, trying to calm herself by focusing her attention on the sac he had in his hand.
"It's nothing." Sean lied, as he put the velvet pouch in his desk drawer. "Just something for Alice."
"If you're rethinking your choice maybe I can help." Vivian unsteadily offered, as she walked into the room.
"No." Sean asserted promptly "I'm happy with my choice." He said, thinking of Marita and how the jewelry Vivian had nearly caught him with was a ring for his future bride. How would Vivian take such news he briefly wondered, thankful that he would never know. For after he speaks with Isaac, and then inform his family of his plans, he and Marita intended to quietly marry, hoping a low-key ceremony would help them avoid any hostility. Then they'd immediately leave town. Vivian wouldn't know of his marriage until well after he was gone.
"So, what… brings you by?" Sean asked cautiously, now thinking of the ugly argument he and Vivian had had the last time they'd spoken. "It's been months…." He added.
Vivian didn't answer. For she was thinking of her "involvement" with Pete and how she was there to see him, instead of Sean, but she couldn't say it. She couldn't tell her former fiancé that she was there for another gentleman because it would imply that she'd moved on, which was something that she was no longer sure of, she thought with confusion.
"Vivian?" Sean uttered, concerned that she'd failed to answer his question.
"I'm sorry..." She said, her mind returning to the moment at hand. Then she paused before continuing. "I …came here to see you." She finally stated when she spoke, and became disheartened when uneasiness instantly showed in Sean's stance. "Don't worry I'm not here to argue…" she quickly declared, forcing a laugh, hiding the hurt inside. "I came by to say congratulations…and goodbye." She finished, thinking how this was not what she'd come there to do, but that it was still the truth. She did want to congratulate him on his success and say goodbye before she left for Europe. She just didn't know that was what she wanted to do until she'd seen him.
"Congratulations and goodbye?" Sean questioned. His face now etched with bewilderment.
"I heard that you'll be honored at the Assemblyman's Dinner for your work on the hospital project, and I wanted to say congratulations." She clarified.
"Thank you, but that still doesn't explain your goodbye." Sean said
Silence –
"I'm saying goodbye because I'm …leaving town." Vivian confessed
It took a second for the statement to soak in before Sean finally responded with authentic surprise. "When? Where are you going?" he queried.
"Europe, to visit with Mother…and William." She answered, studying him closely, hoping for a hint of displeasure in his eyes, but was disappointed when she saw none. "I'll be leaving in a few days." She said.
"I don't know what to say." Sean replied still reeling from the shock as Vivian thought to herself how nice it would be if he told her he would miss her and even better if he told her that he didn't want her to go. "How long will you be gone?" he asked.
"I don't know, a few months…maybe a year." she stated, yet hoping that he would say the words she wanted to hear, but at the same time reproaching herself for having such feelings.
"Well however long you're gone, you'll be missed…." Sean said "Especially by Wilhelmina and your father." He abruptly added, not wanting to give Vivian the wrong impression.
"Perhaps by Wilhelmina." Vivian said lightly, covering her dejection at his response. "But I doubt father will miss me at all. Considering he's the one that's sending me away."
"What? Why?" Sean asked, again baffled.
"It's a long story…" Vivian answered. "…Anyway I should go. I still have a lot to do to prepare for my trip." She ended shakily. Then quickly turned to leave, needing to get away before she broke down in tears.
"Vivian wait." Sean asserted.
Vivian stopped, suppressing her tears before she turned back to face him. "I'm sorry for the way things ended between us." Sean conveyed with sincerity "I never wanted to hurt you."
"I know." She responded softly, holding his stare.
Silence –
"You should probably get going." Sean suddenly suggested as he averted his eyes, now uncomfortable with Vivian's gaze.
"You're probably right." She reluctantly agreed. "I guess this is …goodbye then."
"I guess it is." Sean uttered impassively, attempting to undue anything that might've been misconstrued. "Have a safe trip."
"Thank you." Vivian expressed quietly, as she stared at Sean a moment longer, futilely hoping for a look deeper than the blankness his eyes were emitting, before finally turning and leaving the room, now unsure if she could leave town still caring for him the way she did.
-
Pete nervously knocked on the door to Asa's office, wondering why the man wanted to see him after he'd given him everything he'd had on Sean. Maybe the man was still after him, still wanting to take him down over his friendship with Vivian, but that didn't make sense he reasoned. Asa would never call a meeting with him to tell him he was going to destroy him, he would just do it. Pete thought, then rapped on the door again.
"Come in." he heard Asa say from inside the room. Pete then slowly opened the door and entered the office.
"Sit down." Asa commanded
Pete hesitated a moment, then sat down. "What's this all about?" he asked. "I gave you everything I had on Logan."
"That may be." Asa said tightly, as he thought of Sean's revolting letter. "But your work isn't finished." He continued.
"What do you mean my work isn't finished?" Pete asserted, perplexed with Asa's statement.
"You're going to help me finish Sean Logan for good."
"How so?" Pete asked, confused and a bit fearful of what the man might say.
"The Assemblyman's Dinner is coming up soon, and as I understand it Sean will be honored for his work on the hospital project. This would be the perfect forum to 'highlight' his licentious deeds."
"And what does that have to do with me?" Pete asked
"You're going to be the one to expose him for what he is." The man ordered strongly
"And what are you going to be doing?"
Asa gazed at Pete with the utmost contempt. Then answered. "I'm going to sit back and watch his world crumble."
Pete sighed. Thinking how this whole plot for revenge was insane, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to capitalize off of it. If Asa wanted him apart of his execution in taking down Sean, the man would have to pay. "You know this is going to cost you." Pete stated calmly.
"Don't push me." Asa retorted sharply "You should be thanking me for sparing you after I caught you consorting with my daughter."
"Hey I was about to skip town until you came up with this brilliant plan to included me in your take down of Logan. Now you either pay me or you do this on your own." Pete countered firmly
Asa held Pete's stare, wishing he could be rid of this man once and for all, but needing now for him to help carry out his vengeance against Sean. "All right." He uttered heatedly. "How much do you want?"
"The usual." Pete sternly answered "Now what is it you want me to do."