Chapter 35:
(Caleb POV)
- 2 weeks ago -
I made my way back to the shipyard after gathering everything from the market. I saw my boss and he pulled me to the side, "So your Grandma talked to me." I tilted my head to the side, "I'm so sorry about that..." He held his hand up, "She is exactly how I remember her from your Papa. So she told me that you needed 2 weeks off and that you were going to be 'stupid and not ask for it.' I am quoting her on that by the way." I shrugged, "Not surprised." He nodded his head, "So who is the woman?" I rolled my eyes, "Your Grandma only interferes when there is a woman."
I let out a breath, "She is someone I met who helped me out a lot while I was still away. It's her birthday, her family invited me to go to her party and the trip to her village takes 5-7 days." He nodded his head, "Have you been to this village before?" I nodded my head, "Yeah I lived there for a couple of months." He nodded his head again, "Wha did they do there?" I shrugged, "They had a lot of livestock and farmland. They are for the most part self-sufficient." "Do they have a lot of trade?" He asked now looking down at some papers. I shook my head, "No. They were actually a secluded village until about 10 years ago and even then they don't really travel much." He nodded his head, "And do you think they would be open to trade now?" I cocked my brow, "They've never really talked about it."
He placed down his papers and looked over at me, "I have been looking for more trading posts. I primarily deal with the transportation of goods across the ocean but, I could use more goods from across here." I looked at him, "So you want to see if Encanto would be willing to trade with you?" He stood up, "Actually I want you to see if they would be willing to trade or even just sell goods to us."
I pointed to myself slightly confused, "Me, I've barely worked for you a month." He nodded his head, "You seem to be my most well-connected hire here in Colombia. Due to all the men that were taken being in different villages you can probably encourage trade with them and if this secluded town has the goods that you were describing it can be a very lucrative business deal." He sat on the front of his desk, "This would involve a lot of travel on your part but, if you wanted you could divide your time between Santa Marta and this Encanto place. That is what I do with my men in England. That is if you could find a place to stay in both places."
(Caleb POV)
I finished explaining this to Isabella and she seemed surprised. "I kinda was just talking to your family about it. They are going to have a town meeting about it..." I started but I let my voice teeter out. I looked around the shack, "I guess I might actually need to invest in a couch for here." I laughed a little but my voice teetered off again. "I'm really going to need you to say something Isabella," I looked over at her as she was just staring at her knees. I let out a breath, "Isabella, what do you want to do?" She looked at me, "I-I don't know."
I nodded my head, "Well, I am going to be traveling back and forth between here and Santa Marta a lot and if you want to, I'd love for you to come with me, but if you aren't interested in that or you think that it might be too soon then I'm going to be here at least for 3 weeks every other month or something like that, still figuring out the details." I smiled at her, "I know that when we talked we said that if things ever changed and we weren't both needed in different places we would see where this thing goes and I'm ready to give it a try if you are." I stood up and held out a hand, "Can I walk you home?" She took my hand and I walked her to Casita before heading back to the shack.
(Isabella POV)
When I walked into Casita everyone was already in bed so I was able to slip into my room unnoticed. I laid on bed and started thinking about everything. Encanto was potentially opening itself up to the world, Caleb was going to be living here and in Santa Marta, my family was ok with me leaving, did I want to leave, my thoughts were becoming more overwhelming as I saw all the plants in the room begin to stir and grow.
I didn't get any sleep as I sat awake in my bed. I knew that my family had all walked past my door at one point or another but, none actually came in to see me which I was grateful for. When I finally came out of my room all the adults were figuring out who was going to the town meeting and who was going to stay with the kids. I just let out a breath and poured myself a cup of coffee, "I'll stay at Casita." They all looked at me, "You guys will be gone for an hour or two max and I already know what this is about so..." They all nodded in agreement.
I watched as they all left leaving me alone with Daniela, Laura and Pedro. Daniela and Laura both asked me to do there hair and Pedro was playing with the stairs/slide in Casita so I was able to keep an eye on all of them at the same time. I finished Daniela's hair first and was moving onto Laura's. Daniela then asked me, "So what is going on with you and Caleb?" I looked at her, "What do you mean?" She shrugged, "I saw him talking to all the adults last night. A Dinning Room Talk. We all know those are reserved for something big." I rolled my eyes, "You are too smart for your own good."
Laura and Daniela turned to look at me, "So what is going on?" I smiled at them, "That is a question for your parents, I am just your cool honorary tía, prima, or whatever we are going with these days." They both huffed as Laura turned around and I continued to do her hair. "Are you leaving Tía Isabella?" Pedro asked looking at me. "What do you mean Pedro?" I said hoping he didn't also listen in on the adults last night. He looked at me, "Well last time Caleb was here you left with him without telling anyone. Are you going to leave again?" I swallowed a lump in my throat. I honestly didn't know the answer. I looked at his face and maybe I did. "I'll tell you what, I promise I won't leave again without telling everyone, ok?" I asked. He nodded his head, "Ok. Thank you."
I watched as all the adults and Caleb made their way through the doors. The kids ran to their parents and I saw Caleb wave towards me. I nodded my head and excused myself from everyone. I went outside with Caleb, "So everyone in town agreed and I'm going to start making this a regular trade post. I'm talking with a few other towns on my way back thanks to some of the other soldiers but, I'm going to be a tradesman." I smiled, "Like your Papa?" He nodded his head, "Like my Papa." He was now smiling at me before he paused looking at me, "So I'm leaving tonight." I nodded my head, "Alright." I held out my hand, "Want to walk and talk?" He nodded his head and took mine as we started to talk. It was all inconsequential but, honestly I just enjoyed his company.
(Caleb POV)
I knew that there was one more thing we had to talk about before she made her decision but, I wanted to avoid it for as long as possible. We made our way out into the fields and found a place to sit down. We were talking about things that didn't really matter when I stopped her, "Isabella there is one thing that we do have to talk about, before you make any decisions." She looked at me, "What is it?" I let out a breath, "So I know that our relationship is complicated but it is kind of about the future."
She nodded her head, "Ok. You are starting to scare me, what is it?" I bit my bottom lip, "I can't... I can't... I can't have kids." She stopped and looked at me and before she could say anything else I continued, "It was in the medical reports from the General. He apparently did something to all of us." She opened her mouth to say something but I continued, "I know that you come from a big family and that this might be a deal breaker and I get it or if you need more time..." Isabella pulled me in closer and placed a kiss on my lips, "Are you done?" She said as we separated. I looked at her and nodded my head. She held my hand sympathetically, "How do you feel about that?" I shrugged, "I don't know. I never really thought about it before. I mean I loved my parents but, I grew up pretty much only around them until I was taken into an army. I was barely comfortable interacting with the kids in Encanto. So I guess it isn't the worst news in the world."
She nodded her head, "Well I have thought about it before and there is something that you should know." I looked at her as she said, "I don't want kids. I never really have." I watched her closely to see if she was lying, "You don't." She nodded her head, "Um so, growing up it was kind of expected that I was going to have a lot of kids and that I probably should've already had a lot by now, but I never wanted them." I let out a breath and we sat in silence for a while. "Well this was a heavy conversation," she said which made me laugh slightly. "We can never take the easy way can we?" I asked and she shook her head, "No we don't. I think that we are handling all of this though as normally as possible."
I nodded my head, "So. I am leaving tonight." She started laughing, "Another difficult conversation, can we not catch a break." I shook my head, "No need to. I am going to pack up tonight and some of the farmers, and merchants in town are giving me samples so that we know what we can order in the future. I am going to be leaving tonight at 8. If you want to come with me meet me at the shack, if not then I will see you the next time I'm in Encanto." She nodded her head and I left.
- later that night -
I had my cart all packed up and was ready to leave. I was doing a once over of the shack and was all set to go. Isabella still hadn't come by and I was pretty sure she wasn't coming with me. I made my way outside and sat up on my cart when I looked ahead at the path and saw Isabella standing there with a bag over her shoulders, "Room for one more?" I nodded my head, "Yeah always, but are you sure. I mean if you aren't ready I'll be back in a month or two." She smiled at me and nodded her head, "I'm sure and I already told my family so if I break the news to my little nieces and nephews and not go there parents will not forgive me." I smiled at her, "Let's go."