Chapter 8
"Victor don't look so scary around Timmy" Constance started saying that after Timothy Thorndike started hanging around, I hated it as much as I hated having to watch her with the boy. After that night, he wasn't just a one-time occurrence, but he was around. And he wouldn't leave. It was especially hard watching her with him. Wanting to be the one sitting with her and not hiding how he felt, but I knew that could never be the longer I watched over her. It was a hard reality especially when he made her laugh.
"I never thought I'd get upset by the sound of her laughter" I thought as I watched the two-sit side by side, hearing Constance as the boy made her laugh throughout the afternoon. It wasn't the laughing of that I knew, but it was the boy. The way she seemed to be so drawn to him. Her laughter had once been a balm as I watched her, but now, the sound was almost bittersweet now. I didn't like the way she looked at the boy, her eyes alight. It wasn't like that night at the party, it was like she saw him in a new light now because where before she looked anywhere, but at him. Now, she couldn't look away from the handsome Mr. Thorndike. Not with boredom or contempt or annoyance.
Constance didn't look reluctant around the boy anymore. It was like he was a new person altogether and she was just meeting him. All she ever talked about was Thorndike. She spent all her time with Timmy. Worst of all though, she looked like there was no other place she'd rather be. That made my blood boil because now, I didn't have her to myself anymore. She was stuck to that boy's side. It wasn't just that they were together all the time though, it was the way she acted when they were. She acted the same way she used to act when it was just the two of us. It made me realize that what we had shared wasn't that special. Especially when she seemed to let Timothy Thorndike see every part of herself. All her walls seemed to go down in a way they never had when we were together. With us, some walls just wouldn't fall. I wondered if they ever would as I watched her with that boy more and more. I thought it would pass, maybe that's why I didn't see it coming when Don Falcone called me to his office.
"You wanted to see me" I said it in my usual tone even as my guard went up when I found Constance there already looking guilty as she wrung her hands an uncertain look in her eyes.
"Yes, Victor, I have something I need to ask of you. We both do" whispered Don Falcone, closing the door as I entered before nodding for me to sit down in the chair next to Constance, who tried to smile at me, but I didn't sit, I stayed standing until the Don stared at me silently telling me to accept his hospitality.
When I did, Constance wouldn't look at me.
"Mr. Thorndike has asked my daughter out on a date, Victor, and in doing so he's asked me to speak to you about letting him take her out without your accompaniment. I have considered it and spoken with Constance who is agreeable to the idea, so I have decided to grant it. So, tomorrow, you can have the night off, and I'll be letting Constance go on her own with this boy" exclaimed Don Falcone, his eyes suddenly going from me to his daughter. His eyes stayed on her, looking intently as if deciding if this was a mistake or not. When he looked at me again, I couldn't gauge his decision even as I had already made up my own. When I nodded my acceptance, the Don looked at Constance again his words becoming stern, and I knew whatever he said was not to be taken lightly. These words were not for me. They were for her. For her to relay to the Thorndike boy though I doubted that she would as I watched the interaction between father and daughter. It reminded me why so many feared this man. For yes, he could be gentle, but also vicious when he chose.
"I'm trusting you, Constance, but if this boy steps out of line, you let me know immediately. I'll have Victor make him a distant memory" said Don Falcone, Constance immediately nodded. After a moment, she smiled, and standing, she leaned over the desk to kiss her father's cheek.
"Thank you, daddy" whispered Constance, looking at me a moment before leaving the room. When she was out of earshot, Don Falcone looked at me again. His demeanor changed now, he looked as serious as I had ever seen him.
"Victor, I will not leave my daughter unprotected. I'm sorry, but you will still be watching her tomorrow. Keep your distance, but make sure that boy is nothing if not a gentleman" whispered Don Falcone, not looking at me now. I somehow sensed he thought he was betraying his daughter, but I knew different. Where Constance didn't think he loved her I saw different now. This was how he showed his love and that would always be true even if he faltered in other ways. I had never planned not to follow her, so I didn't say anything. I only nodded and stood. My thoughts drifted immediately to Constance as I did. I wondered if she somehow suspected that I would be there looking after her anyway. I didn't say anything about that though as I left the room.
I didn't need to, he knew I would do it, but he didn't know I had my own reasons. She was more then his daughter to protect now, she was someone important to me, and I would protect her even if he hadn't given the order. I didn't say that though, I only nodded as I left the room.