Author Topic: Re: stepping into the light (Julieta, Reyhan, Vincent, Rosa, ? ?) (Read 284 times)

Julieta · « **Reply #30 on:** March 14, 2023, 03:21:34 PM »

She absorbed what he said as if she were a sponge and liquid was pouring down on her.

"Tio said you lived in New Orleans but left...but .." with a shrug. It was hard to get things out of him at times. When he wanted to talk, he did. When he didn't? Fort Knox wasn't as secure as he was.

"Mags...your wife?" She glanced back to the door. "Do they get along well with her?" for they seemed to get along with their dad. You could tell a lot about a person by how others related to them and they to others. Especially blood relatives. She'd learned that the hard way.

"Over the moon?" she repeated softly. "She was really happy...about me? I wasn't unwanted?" Of course, she could have had an abortion but that didn't necessarily men she was really wanted.

Her eyes took on an unfocused gaze as if she were lost in interior thoughts and something more. "How..." clearing her throat briefly. She'd heard Tio's version, but she wanted his. "How did she die? Was it an accident? Did she suffer? Do you think she might have had time to think of me?"

It was becoming evident that thought she had her Uncle and he'd made sure she was cared for and sent to the best schools; she believed she'd been missing out on something important and her mother was the link to what it was.

Vincent · « **Reply #31 on:** March 14, 2023, 03:45:54 PM »

"We did leave, yes..." he stood then as the sharp pain in his temple jolted before ebbing off a little. "We left. That's right. She did visit me in New Orleans when Mags was pregnant. But it was here in Arizona, that last time..She was here.." Vince looked out towards the rose bushes that Julieta had just visited. "She helped Manuela plant a row of those..Rosa was with her, toddling along like Mia was in there," he chuckled at that.."I remember now, she said 'roses for a rosa' and that made the little girl laugh..."

It was obvious that digging up these old memories was taxing. While he laughed and smiled through most of it, there were gaps and painful parts too..

"She was...my.." he looked back at Julieta as if he'd lost the thread. "Who? No, that's not right...Julieta, that was it..." he turned and stepped over to the rail of the porch, clasping it and letting it steady him. "I'm sorry..."

"That was a busy time, when we first moved out here. So much was happening. Elise said she'd consider coming out, after she'd had you. She said that no child of hers would be born outside the state of Texas if she could help it. I was planning to come out to see you. Rico was making arrangements when I called him, told him to wait..I'd just gotten the call from Tio. Complications, he'd said. Which surprised everyone because the delivery went perfectly and you were in good health."

Vince returned to his seat and sat, leaning in closer to speak in a softer voice. "I haven't thought of this in some time. I was shaken and don't remember a lot, and then.." he waved out as if indicating the property. "We lost it all.."

He cleared his throat as he gathered his thoughts, then looked directly into her eyes. "Julieta, I never abandoned you. I know this is hard to believe, but I was coming for you. The night before...she'd told me that if anything ever happened, she'd want me to. Want us to raise you out here with Reyhan and Rosa. I did see you, when we went home for the funeral."

Vince absently reached to his shirt pocket as he settled back in the rocker, but found nothing there..."What did Tio tell you, about me disappearing? That's not fair; he really wouldn't have known or understood it himself."

Julieta · « **Reply #32 on:** March 14, 2023, 04:03:08 PM »

Had she not been watching him carefully, she would have missed the instinctive gesture to his temple as if a migraine had begun. Her mouth opened slightly as if to ask if he were ok when he continued.

She had to smile, "roses for Rosa.." somehow that did not fit the impression she had of the woman, but no one was the same as an adult as they were as children. Lord knew that was true.

The smile faded as he stepped from the porch, seeming a bit out of it. "Wait.." as she stood to step over and to him, her arm resting against his back. "Are you alright...you seem..." looking up at him, the first time they were within real touching distance...aside from the handshake earlier.

"are you...?" with his question she shook it off but instead said, "come sit back down." guiding him to the seat that he readily went to. She had the impression he was about to have a stroke or something. Clearly something was oddly off.

When his voice steadied, somewhat with a clearer voice though his gesture to the house seemed a bit ....exaggerated. Lost it all?

"Why don't we talk about this later?" concern for him growing. It was as if he wanted her to believe his words. He was to have watched over her? Not Tio? But Tio never said anything like that. But why would he? Flashes of what she'd been told, little enough though it was came to her mind.

"Very little. He didn't understand why you would leave. Why you never called or wrote...anything. It was if you just vanished in thin air. He never understood why. I never understood why. Mama was ...he said...you two were nearly inseparable when you were younger, but something happened,..he never said what, and you changed. You spent more time away from them. You quit having time for Mama and Tio and..then...nothing. Nothing at all." she searched his gaze as if to suss out the truth, but all she had was questions that never seemed to have an answer.

Vincent · « **Reply #33 on:** March 15, 2023, 08:54:15 AM »

"No, I'm alright," he said but was glad for the help back to the chair. He still seemed a youngish man for his age and certainly was no dotard. This was more of a mental (PTSD?) strain from those long gaps and blue lights...."Thank you.."

Vince couldn't help but chuckle at one thing she said. "Thin air...What would you say if I told you that was it? I mean, pretty much exactly..."

She'd think he was crazy, say true....

But wait...should he go there? Could he?

Julieta · « **Reply #34 on:** March 15, 2023, 11:45:22 AM »

She wasn't studied in the medical field, but she knew enough when someone wasn't quite right and from the way he touched his head and the slightly ashen tone to his skin she guessed a migraine was coming. She'd had enough of them to recognize symptoms. Though not everyone was the same, she almost felt it for him.

His words however, surprised her. "What?" clearly he was worse off than she thought. "Did you say that's what happened? You vanished in thin air?" but it wasn't as if she really expected him to affirm it as her expression was one of compassion, not real curiosity.

"Do you get them often? Headaches? pain?" she'd not sat down but stood next to his knee, slightly leaning over to lightly touch his temple where he'd several times touched. "I get them too, sometimes. I...I think I should go, let you rest and welll...think about....things.."

Things? What things? It just seemed the right thing to say. "Look, I know this is weird...and I know that your daughter isn't really keen on my being here. Why don't we just take this slow. I'll get a hotel room and then....well..I don't l know..but.." Honestly, she was beginning to wonder if the shock of her showing up was too much for him. "We'll figure out something, just...step by step.."

Vincent · « **Reply #35 on:** March 15, 2023, 01:19:30 PM »

"It's...complicated." That wasn't a brush off, but a real uncertainty how to explain their weird supernatural life here. He certainly didn't want to scare her away, but didn't want her to think he'd abandoned her, abandoned Raolo or anyone.

"Sometimes," he admitted. "It's easing up now though. Seems they started up after I'd quit smoking," he chuckled a little. "I get it, it's a lot to take in, for all of us. We can slow down. I know this place can be overwhelming," he indicated the property, though really meant more the inhabitants than the estate itself.

Then Mia came out through the porch entry, walked up to Julieta and held out a single rose for her.."Rosa for a rosa," she said with a sweet smile..

"She likes you," Vincent said with a grin. "Reyhan's really taken to you too. We'll just give Rosa time and I'm sure she will too. Listen..."

Vince scooted up to the edge of his seat and Mia climbed up into his lap. "Annalise came into our lives just over a year ago, then Mia came along shortly after. If she can adjust to two new younger sisters, I think a cousin should be fine.."

And then the door opened and a second toddler came out to join them. "Ahh, this is Jacy. She's Tamantha's little one.."

"Hi!" the little brunette said to Julieta with a big smile.

Julieta · « **Reply #36 on:** March 15, 2023, 02:07:19 PM »

She was more concerned about his health than his words at that moment and simply nodded, accepting his demur of the vanishing. "Well, yes...smoking is bad for you. I'm surprised anyone does it now." Of course, vaping had taken over but many still smoked cigars and pipes.

"I think that ..." she began to say when the little girl toddled out, surprising her with the flower. "But I'm.." about to reject it before realizing the child wouldn't understand. "Thank you, chiquita" Taking the rose and ignoring the single thorn by the bud that had pricked her finger.

She was still crouched down when the girl hurried to climb onto Vincent's lap, diverted when another came out of the house.

She appeared a bit overwhelmed, "Tamantha...that was the other woman with the man." she remembered them vaguely, seeing them in the great hall but had been so intent on Vincent himself that they never really quite registered.

One of her hands was resting on the porch to keep her balance as she turned on the balls of her feet from one to the other. "Yes..oh......hi" parroting the child's tone and manner. It was definitely clear she had no experience with children, let alone toddlers.

Vincent · « **Reply #37 on:** March 15, 2023, 02:27:13 PM »

He'd considered vaping when giving up cigarettes, but figured as prone to addiction as he was that was probably a bad idea.

Vince smiled as the two little ones did their best to make Julieta feel at home. It was a relief to have them around, a reminder of innocence lost but reborn again.

"I have two granddaughters as well," he said with a grin. He could see that she was unused to being around kids but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It didn't sound like she'd grown up around too many. "You can meet them soon hopefully. Summer is about their age though Bunny is a newborn."

Vince nodded, impressed but not surprised at her quick filing of names and faces. "Tamantha is Terese's cousin. Annalise and Mia's mother.." She'd be able to follow the tree to that point at least.

He knew the invitation to stay had been extended and understood her hesitancy it taking it, at least for now. "Before you head back into the city, I'll call ahead to the Hotel Santiago." He grinned at the name - coincidence? "Show them your ID and they'll put you up in one of the more comfortable suites."

Vince stood, lifting Mia to his shoulder as he stepped towards the rail again. He seemed much steadier on his feet now, despite the extra small weight of his daughter. "If you like, I could meet you there tomorrow for lunch. We could talk again without all the distractions, adorable as they might be."

Mia smiled at that.

Julieta · « **Reply #38 on:** March 15, 2023, 02:37:50 PM »

"You don't look..." before mentally skirting through those she'd met. "Are they Reyhan's or Rosa's?" privately thinking that neither one did a great job at naming the children. Summer? Bunny? They had to be nicknames, not given names.

"That's not necessary," about the hotel but again was diverted by the children when he stood. She met the little Mia's blue eyes, impulsively holding out the rose to her. She did first pluck off the thorn that scraped her finger. "Why don't you keep this for me, I don't have a vase." looking to Vincent. "I don't know if she understands," the rose held between them.

Lunch sounded agreeable. "12:30?"

Vincent · « **Reply #39 on:** March 15, 2023, 03:11:24 PM »

He smiled at that statement, though she hadn't finished it. "Thank you. They're actually Reyhan's. You'd like his wife, Selena. Rosa's...single still. Annalise is actually married if you can believe that, but no children yet.."

And about the hotel, he shrugged that off. "Still, I'll make the call and if they see you, they'll take care of you." So it was up to her and the folks at the hotel wouldn't be put out either way. They actually held a few suites for family as needed..

Mia smiled as Vince gave her a little nudge, and reached out and took the rose back from Julieta. She put it to her nose and took a deep smell. "mmm, good!" she giggled..

"12:30 it is. The hotel has an excellent cafe.." which would work whether she stayed there or not....."Can we walk you to your car?"

'We' being himself and Mia. Jacy had already run back inside..

Julieta · « **Reply #40 on:** March 15, 2023, 03:47:41 PM »

OOC: Show

Evidently she wasn't here to hit up the family for money or whatever she could get out of them. In spite of her abrupt appearance, she didn't want to be seen as a mooch. Of course, Vincent would know Tio would see she had funds but others might not be as accepting and she didn't want to put anyone's nose out of joint.

"Thank you." about the hotel, accepting his words gracefully before nodding and letting him led the way to her car. "Yes, I have something to give you as well."

"You mentioned four children, are their many here?" her steps intentionally slower than her normal pace.

"Are there many people..sorry, family here?" for the size of the house and grounds, she began to wonder.

Vincent · « **Reply #41 on:** March 17, 2023, 03:05:18 PM »

"Children," he said with a smile at her question. "Yes, there are a handful, and more on the way it seems."

As they got to the drive, he signaled Fuentes to bring her car around.

"There's family that comes and goes. Some live off property but are here often. I'll go into that a little more with my explanation of where I've been all this time." He was sure Tio had been keeping tabs but didn't know how much he knew of the "return".

Julieta · « **Reply #42 on:** March 17, 2023, 03:13:00 PM »

"alright," she glanced up at him, then followed Fuentes with her car. Once it was parked, she skirted around the passenger side to open the glove box.

A plastic encased dvd with the words, 'reel-to-reel' was withdrawn. She stared at it a moment before taking a breath before turning around to face him.

"Tio made these from the reel to reel film he'd taken while you and mum were younger. Younger being relative, there were films from childhood up to teens. As she held it out to him, "I thought you might like to have it?" again with the questioning tone as if sometimes she wasn't sure how to address him...or others it seemed.

Vincent · « **Reply #43 on:** March 17, 2023, 03:22:41 PM »

"I'd like that very much," he said softly, feeling a rush of emotion at having visual evidence of his childhood with Elise. He took a deep breath and took the offered DVD from her.

"Thank you," Vince said, meeting her eyes once the dvd was exchanged. From the heartfelt way he'd said it, she could tell he meant for more than the dvd. "I'm glad you came to see me. Tomorrow at 12:30 then?"

By then he'd probably be a bit nervous about meeting with her, about the talk they would have then. But he found himself becoming comfortable with the woman she'd grown into, so it was more a fear that he wouldn't live up to her expectations. "This little one will be down for her nap by then, so it'll just be the two of us." He said as he kissed Mia's cheek. What was unsaid was that they'd have no interruptions from older children.

Julieta · « **Reply #44 on:** March 17, 2023, 03:33:50 PM »

OOC: Show

"Alight, good" Her slight smile flickered to Mia then to his hand that held the dvd before circling up to meet his gaze. There was a moment of indecision before she nodded and stepped back.

"Tomorrow then" before walking to the side of the car that Fuentes vacated. She wondered where Joel was in that brief moment that it took for her to slide into her seat. He could see her reach behind her waist as if making an adjustment. She'd double checked before arriving in the state that open carry was legal. It was constitutional carry state so she felt comfortable leaving her small pistol in it's holster.

As she began to pull the car away, she paused, looked back at him as if about to speak again then nodded. "Tomorrow." hoping it'd be less of an anxious moment for her in public than it was in this huge house with people popping in and out.

Her hands gripped tightly to the wheel before she continued down the drive, paused again for the gate to be open before turning onto the highway.

She'd gotten a mile down the road before she realized, she had no idea where she was going.