A/N: As I visited another country for a seminar for two days, so could not update sooner. Right now, I'm at the airport waiting for my flight. After the last chapter, so far, 13 readers messaged me… so I got more PMs than reviews… but, I love any form of feedback. Let them keep coming. BUT, I didn't understand whether you liked it or disliked!
"One step closer
I have died every day, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more"
Chapter 20
"Hey, Mike, I'm here." I call out seeing our chuffer at the arrival lounge at Toronto Airport.
"Welcome back Ms. Torres." He takes my bags from my hand. This treatment is so embarrassing when I'm with other people. I even don't tell people that I always has a chuffer while growing up.
"How is mom?" I ask while walking after him.
"She has got back from ICU two hours back…"
Once I'm at the hospital, my dad directly takes me to my mom instead of saying anything.
"Ma!" I just call her softly.
My mom slowly opens her eyes and smiles a little finding me in front of her. "Calliope… I'm so happy to see you."
"Me too, ma." I cannot control my tears anymore. "I was so worried for you… I thought…"
"I'm going to live 50 years more to raise your kids too…" Mom closes her eyes tiredly still plastered the small smile on her face.
"I think, we should let her take rest." Aria says from behind, "and you should take rest too." Aria rubs my shoulder softly. "Don't worry. Doctors said that she is good to take home maybe after 2 days, if things are stable.
I too need a shower and some rest. As I move towards the exit, the head of finance of our company runs after me, "Ms. Torres, I know that you are tired but I need you to sign few stuffs."
"Why me?"
"You know that Ms. Lucia Torres has named the power of attorney on your name. So, now you have to sign on behalf of her till the point she is not stable." I knew this before, even though I never supported. I want to teach at university rather doing all these complicated stuffs. I give myself a mental check to talk to ma about this.
"Can I do this tomorrow? I'm tired." I request him exhausted.
"Sure. I will remind you…" once I start walking, he again calls me from back, "Ms. Torres, reporters are waiting at the gate."
"Oh no! What will I tell them?"
"Nothing actually. Mr. George has kindly agreed to deal with them on behalf of all of us."
"Why is this a big deal now?" I'm not in a mood to talk to the reporters, let alone doing that with that stupid George. Bloody attention seeker.
"Because you may not know that we are having some recent issues about our shareholders. We worry that because of Ms. Lucia Torres's health issue the share price might get down and you know how much face value she has in the market." I know that how my mom is the one who has been handling the business since last few years, once dad started expanding his business worldwide and started travelling a lot.
I annoyingly start walking towards the gate. This is the reason that I never have liked my lavish life here. It's always about face, money and status.
I see few reporters rushing towards me, as I step outside of the glass door.
"Finally, we get to meet you." One of them exclaims. "So, how is Ms. Lucia Torres?" someone else asks. Before I answer, someone else asks, "so, are you going to join the family business now?" I feel kind of lost in the sea of questions. George comes up and wraps my shoulders, "Heyyy! Give her some time to get the shock pass down and I have answered all your questions." George answers smiling wrapping me tighter in his arms. I half smilingly look at him while reporters start taking out pictures. A midst of all these, at least they got something juicy. Then one young reporter asks George, "so, is there any marriage plan once Ms. Lucia Torres get well?" Gorge again snatches the answer from my mouth, "maybe… I guess sooner, isn't it Callie?" such an attention seeker. I somehow get into the private parking place to get into my car.
All of a sudden, I realize that I need to call Arizona. Remembering her, my body relaxes quite a bit. I try to touch the back of my shoulder, where Arizona laid her cheek few hours back. I sigh happily that finally, I could crack the hard nut.
I have come to Torres Palace almost after half a year. It really feels good. This place always gives me kind of comfort and peace which I never feel anywhere else. The care taker greets me at the door, "welcome home, Ms. Torres. Would you like to have something?" the old lady asks me politely.
"Hanah! Come on call me only Callie- I told you thousands times." She only smiles at my words and I know that she would never do that. "and thanks, I'm really hungry. Could you please send my dinner to my room?" I have no energy to come back and I'm sleepy like hell. It's almost 5 in the morning in France. So, technically I didn't sleep the whole night. I start climbing the stairs realizing that there is no way that I should call Arizona now- she must be sleeping. Thinking about her brings a huge smile on my face. I still cannot believe that she really did that. She really told me about her feelings. I try to feel her hug closing my eyes under the shower- it feels really warm.
"sleepy head?" someone gives a terrible shake. "How long will you sleep?"
"Adi…!" I somehow crack my eyes.
"Oh…I am so lucky that you still remember me." Adi makes a dramatic face.
"Yes, you are lucky!" I start stretching my arms, "do you know how is mom?"
"I guess, you work as her medicine… doctors are gonna release her tomorrow." Addison gives me an assuring smile.
"I just hope she is okay."
"She is okay… no worries…umm, then what about her?"
"Who?" I ask her back while getting down from the bed.
"Stop pretending…"
"She loves me." I simply state and I guess I can smile all goofily now- I deserve that. But, Adi gives me a "best friend should know everything" glare. So, I start telling her what happened.
"You know, your story is more dramatic than those of Shonda's drama."
"It seems so… but would you excuse me for a while? I need to call her."
"NO."
"What no?"
"I will be sitting here- you call her."
"Adi, what kind of kidding is that?"
"Now kidding? Did you ever let me to talk with any of my boyfriends on my own?" then she sits beside me with a determined face. I get that she will not stop messing up with me if I don't do what she wants me to do.
"Okay…fiiiiinnneeee." I start calling Arizona.
"Why is this taking so much of time?"
"She is not picking up the phone." I reply little tensed.
"Leave a voice mail."
"I think so.."
So, when she does not receive the call after the 7th time also, I leave a message giving her my skype ID, so that she can call me.
"Hey, she will call."
"Hopefully." I say flopping back on the couch. Addision lies beside me.
"You still seem to have insecurities…" it's more like a statement.
"Adi, I know her. Although she said that she loved me, she might go back to her cocoon again and not reply me ever… she is unpredictable."
"Cal, so far I have heard from you, she is one of those who does not wear her heart in her sleeves… you are the one for her."
"Maybe… let me get ready. I need to see ma."
"And one more thing…" Addison gets up, "most of the major dailies have published your and George's expected marriage."
"Ugghh… I wish, I could kick his ass off… does not matter. Ma knows and I will tell dad too about this. So, let that stupid enjoy this little flavor of fame."
"Ma, they are going to release you tomorrow." I inform her while combing her hair softly. She only smiles a bit, tiredly. Suddenly, my phone starts ringing- oh! It's Arizona. I feel a little confusion if I should receive the call in front of mom. Then, mom rubs arms and gives me an okay sign to get the call. I receive the call turning on the video.
Once the image turns on, I turn the camera to mom's direction so that Arizona can see both of us. Her image comes on screen and I see a very shy face on my mobile screen. Arizona gives a nervous smile looking at both of us.
"Arizona, this is my ma."
"Hello! Ms. Torres." Arizona greets tensely.
"So, this is the girl, who derived my Calliope mad?" Mom teases looking at the screen.
"Ma…you are in the hospital, but you will never stop doing this…" I too tease mom a little. However, on the screen, I see that Arizona seems to be little loosen up at my mom's joke.
"But, tell me Arizona… are you ready to tolerate her tantrums?" This time, mom seems to be little serious. When I look at the screen, I see that Arizona too has a solemn face, "I thought, it's the other way around! She is the one who tolerates my tantrums." Then, she looks at me- both of us stare at each other for new few seconds. There are so many things, we want to tell each other, but it is not possible now.
"Mom… now you take a little nap… I need to talk to her. Say bye to her."
I can see that mom is not willing to say goodbye this early, but she agrees anyways, "Arizona, I'm eager to meet you."
"Get well soon, Ms. Torres."
"You should call me what Calliope calls me…" Hearing this, quickly I move the screen to me, "ma, I will come back after five minutes."
Coming to the next attached room, I say looking at the screen, "I hope, you didn't mind."
"For what?" she smiles softly.
"Umm…I mean, the way my ma talked with you."
"Should I complain about that?" Arizona directly looks at me. I can sense her piercing eyes through the screen too. "I would love not to call her Ms. Torres." She adds.
On this, I too look at her intently, trying to understand if she is serious. Just two days back also, she was not interested in any kind of commitment and now she is all into this. I guess, I have been quite for a while, as she asks uncertainly, "do you miss me?"
"Ha?" I guess, I'm little lost in her.
"You heard me…"
"So, the question was, do I miss you? Nah!" I come back to myself, "why would I miss you?"
"Oh! You don't?" Arizona gets me and smiles goofily, "But, here somebody is missing you badly."
"Who?" I ask eagerly.
"Your Eliza… she has been asking about you."
"Please convey my love to her." I reply grinning.
"Love… to her?"
"I mean, if there is any other kid type girl, I don't mind sending some to her too."
"I will try…" then Arizona makes a serious face, "don't forget people from France when you are home."
"I will not remember anything else, trust me." I reply in all sincerity. "Arizona, I need to go to mom…I might not be able to call you regularly, but please call me whenever you want…I will get back to you soon…"
"Callie? I need to ask something…"
"Yes…anything kiddo…" but, then she backtracks, "umm…I can ask later also…"
"Okay." I decide not to muddle with her at this moment.
After dropping the phone, I come back to mom and find that she is not sleeping, "ma, why aren't you sleeping?"
"I'm tired of sleeping!" mom pouts.
"You have become a teenager…"
"I thought you like teenagers…" She makes a ridiculous face.
"Not anymore, dear ma." I start combing her hair trying to put her sleep.
"But, she makes you happy, doesn't she?" Mom asks holding my hands.
"Yes, ma. She does… now don't talk."
"She is very beautiful…" Mom takes turn to go to sleep.
"Yes, she is! She is the most beautiful woman, I have ever seen in my life."
A/N: sorry, there is so less Calzona interaction. I needed to build up this transitions. Moreover, I was very uncertain about their not face to face conversation especially last chapter. I think, if it would be a real-life scene, they would behave a little stiff not knowing what should be the next move. BUT, PLEASE SHOOT THE REVIEW…
At the seminar, I became friends with a beautiful woman. As we were staying at the same hotel, she came to my room last night and after sometime, she told me how she liked me. I was like dumbfounded. Until few days, I could not have one girl, now a real pretty bombshell tells me that she likes me. Looking at my face, she asked, "are you straight?" I nodded my head in positive to escape the situation. Ha ha… but, I'm sure that she didn't believe in me.