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Chapter 12: The Truth is Out
Ava sat on the couch watching reruns of "I Love Lucy" and eating corn chips. She was sulking over the loss of Simon and Johnnie. She sank down lower in the couch. It wasn't like Ava to be sad and depressed but as much as she fought it, she knew she lost a big part of herself for loosing the only two men she had really ever loved. She was done fighting her contented side. It was her turn to have the problems without dealing with them.
Claire came through the double doors of her house with Bradin's tailing behind. They were laughing and talking pleasantly. Bradin was whispering something in Claire's ear when she spotted Ava on the couch. She looked at the woman awkwardly. She told Bradin that she was going upstairs and that he was to talk to her. He nodded and headed to his aunt.
"Aunt Ava?" Bradin asked, making sure that she wasn't sleeping or just not willing to talk to him. She sat straight up and looked at her nephew. She gave him a weak smile and motioned her hand for him to sit with her. He did as instructed and sat down next to her. "Hey."
"Hi. How was your day?" she asked him. He gave an awkward look.
"School was a blow, as always. But then I remember that Claire is right there with me, going through the same thing I am and knowing that she's gonna be there no matter what happens. So then after school we went down to the cove and hung out and ate and then came here," he explained in a summery. He just left out minor details of what they did in between that he didn't think his aunt would care to hear. She nodded in approval of the boy's day.
"You know, I always thought that my life would be with Callie when I was with her. And even though I loved her, she…she doesn't really compare to how I feel about Claire. I thought I loved Callie. I guess thinking isn't always what's in your heart. Because my heart, no matter who I'm with or what I'm doing, is always with her. I guess loosing Callie made me realize that. I just can't wait to tell Claire now. Do you mind if I take your car tonight? I have a plan…I just hope that it works," he finished and gave her his famous importunate eyes that gleamed his green color. She smiled.
"Of coarse. I see how you two look at each. Just be careful…very careful," she sent him a chary glare. He smiled at her, knowing what her assumption was.
"When have I ever not been? But now, since I just spilled my guts to my aunt, I want to know what is wrong with the happy-go-lucky aunt I once knew?" Bradin asked her. She sighed.
"I'm just a little sick of being so happy. Especially when there isn't much to be happy about. I just don't know what I'd do without my favorite nephews and niece. I just decided to give up on a relationship. I'll handle my life just fine without anyone," Ava saw Bradin's disgusted face.
"This is coming from the same woman who told me that for every girl I'm with, there is one more out there to look for? I don't believe you. There are plenty of people out there that would be happy with you and that you could be happy with," Bradin felt like the adult at that moment.
"Since when did you become the adult? And who would you suggest I go out with?" she asked.
"What about Claire's Uncle Eugene? I think he's worthy of my beautiful aunt," Not really, Bradin thought to himself. But maybe he could pick her back up off her feet. Who knows, they might actually have something in common.
"I think you're going to grow up just fine. Now go plan your master strategy. Claire deserves it," she hugged him, grabbed her keys out of her pocket, and handed them to Bradin. He smiled brightly and ran up to Claire's room.
"Knock, knock. Are you decent?" he asked through the door. She cracked the door and stuck her head out. She smiled vibrantly.
"So what if I was? Would you care?" Claire asked smoothly. Bradin was taken aback. He swallowed as she opened the door. He walked in and sat on her bed. She walked to the mirror and pinned her gleaming red hair up in a clip. He walked over and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Do you have any plans tonight?" he asked, just trying to make a conversation. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course I do. Me and Lucky have a meeting every Friday, remember?" he laughed slightly. "I thought I told you."
"Oh yeah. I'm sorry I forgot. Maybe you can re-schedule withLucky and maybe come with me?" Claire smiled.
"Well, you know he's going to be very upset but…for you? I can make an exception," she turned around to meet his green eyes and kissed him. Once the kiss was over, she plopped on her bed.
"Great. Wear your bathing suit under your clothes and I'll pick you up in 2 hours. Be ready," he kissed her lightly before running out of room. She didn't get to say anything before he was down the staircase and out the big doors. She laughed at him as she ran over to her closet for something to wear. After throwing most of her clothes on the floor, she finally decided to take a break.
Nikki, walking past her room, saw that Claire had torn her room to resemble a trash dump. She came in and sat down next her. "Demons in the closet?"
"Nope. Just me, again, not knowing what to wear. Bradin said to get ready for a date but not to dress up. So now I'm not sure what to wear," Claire sighed and looked at the rummage of clothes. Nikki laughed at her troubles and leaped off the bed and sat down on a big pile of clothes. She picked up a midnight blue mini skirt and a white lanky halter-top. She went into the closet and pulled out a pair of thick, white, flip-flops, much like high heels.
"Put this on over a white bathing suit and you'll be fine. I really don't think Bradin cares anyway. He really likes you, you know," Nikki said wryly. Claire nodded.
"I know, but I wish I knew if he liked me more than that," Claire looked at a picture of Bradin on her bed. Nikki wanted clarification.
"You mean if he loves you?" Claire nodded again, this time becoming more curious, wondering. "Because…you love him?"
"I…yeah."
Bradin had gone to the registry, bought the candles, picked up the food, set the blanket, warmed the water, and cleaned the car. Now the only thing left was to pick Claire up. He grabbed the keys out of his pocket and turned the key in the ignition, started the car. Pulling out, he drove about five minutes before stalling at the gate.
"Hey Toni, I'm gonna leave the car here and I'll be back down in a sec after I grab Claire. Can you keep an eye out for robbers and murderers?" he joked with the security guard. The guard just nodded, trying to read his daily news. Bradin went through the gate door and ran up to the house. Inside, he found Claire rushing in a panic. He stopped her.
"I take it your not ready?" she shook her head.
"I just need to find my purse. I can't find the damn thing anywhere!" Claire said, frustrated. Ava heard.
"LANGUAGE!" she shouted from the other room. Claire cringed.
"SORRY!" she yelled back. Bradin caught her arm.
"You won't need it. Let's go. Your wasting time," Claire sighed, knowing Bradin was right. She grabbed his arm and walked out the door with him.
They hopped in the car and headed to the destination. The drive wasn't long but it seemed like forever for he couple. As Bradin stopped the car, Claire didn't notice the place they had come to. Bradin opened his door, got out, closed it, and walked over and helped Claire out.
"I almost forgot," Bradin said reaching in his pocket and grabbing a handkerchief. "Turn around."
"No! You are not putting that on me! I refuse to wear something that has 'DANGER' all over it! Nope," Claire stated. Bradin moved closer to her, encasing her lips with a kiss.
"Please," he said in between kisses. "It won't be long. I just wanna surprise you. Is that a crime? And I don't want you saying about this being too cheesy too soon. I'll wait 'til later for that. Just put it on. But strip down to your bathing suit first. I think it'd be hard to do blindfolded."
Claire did as told. She took her skirt and shirt off and turned around for Bradin to tie the blindfold around her eyes. He grabbed her hand and led her out farther. After about ten minutes of asking Bradin where they were going, Claire felt Bradin pull her into warm water. She shuttered, wondering the whole time what was going on.
"What are you doing?" Claire asked, becoming nervous. Bradin laughed.
"I told you to wear a bathing suit. Good thing you listened. Here we are," he said, twisting her into a dark cave. They were still wadding in the water as they entered. He gently removed her blindfold to let her see what was in front of her. She gasped at the sight of the setting. She turned around in the water and looked at Bradin. She jumped out of the water slightly, giving Bradin a hug. He smiled, hugging her back.
"This is amazing!" she said on the verge of tears. She looked around the cave again. It was small with low walls. The cave had been fixed up nicely. Short stub candles outlined wherever there was a landing to put one on and the water rose up onto a small island. There was a blanket placed down on the island with roses scattered around it, opposing with the fresh smell of apple cinnamon rising from the candles. It was a sweet scent. The light was dim and the walls of the cave were also damp, water dripping from the walls into the water, making an eerie echo throughout the cave.
"I know it's a cornball idea but I figured that maybe you would want to get away from the house…even for only one night. But we can always come back," Bradin said. Claire thought a moment.
"Who owns this area?" Claire said. "I don't wanna trespass on someone's property."
Bradin smiled. His smile and eyes glowed brilliantly in the dimness of the candlelight. "Well…it's really hard to trespass on your own property," he whispered in her ear. She looked at him stupefied. He just smiled.
"What are you talking about?" she asked the boy curiously.
"I went to the California registry a few hours ago to see any area with a cave un-owned and they told me that I could buy this. I just had to find a name. I told them just to name it…" he spoke softly. "Claire"
"You named a cave after me?"
"Well, it is your cave now. Come here," he said and grabbed her hand, leading her onto the small land and over to the cave wall. He grabbed a lit candle and made sure the light shone to the wall. Writing appeared before Claire's eyes. This time a tear slipped down her cheek.
"I know it's really…" Bradin stopped after getting another hug.
"I love you Bradin Westerly," she said in his ear. He embraced her in an even tighter hug.
"I love you too," he said lifting her head. He moved her lips to his and kissed her fervently. They continued kissing and slowly made their way to the blanket. Bradin got up for a minute and blew out some of the candles. He had lain back down next to Claire, stroking her hair. He gently moved his hands down her back to where her bikini was tied.
The night went slow, the candles burned eternally. The last candle to go out shone over the engraving on the wall. In bold it read 'Loving means a lifetime, for us it's an eternity. ALWAYS, Claire + Bradin 3'
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