Chapter 10 Confroted

Mrs. Cleuza felt her face burning. She was ashamed and embarrassed by this unusual situation. Was this the man of her adolescence? The man she had fallen in love with and given herself to? It was hard to understand what they intended with that meeting.

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Cleusa asked seriously.

"Mama, don't you recognize him?"

"There's no way you can't recognize him. Especially when he's so close to you. Did you set me up? I don't understand what he's doing here. Or weren't you expecting me? Mrs. Cleuza was irritated.

"Of course I was expecting you, Mom. I thought you would like to know that I found my real father. You said..."

"It doesn't matter what I said. I am a married woman and I am willing to go back to my husband immediately. Mrs. Cleuza now looked furious after the scare.

"Cleuza... Don't do this. I'll leave if you want me to, but Sigrid needs you. What happened to make you so angry as soon as you saw me? I didn't do her any harm..."

Mrs. Cleuza looked him in the eye for the first time.

"How dare you come back only now? Do you really think I have no reason to hate you? You left me with a child in my womb and never showed up again and you wanted me to what? For me to react in what way? You destroyed my life."

Sigrid felt her eyes fill with tears and she stood up.

"That part, you had hidden from me." Sigrid said deeply hurt. "I didn't know that my existence had brought such heartbreak into your life. Go away if you want." She said and left.

Mrs. Cleuza was left alone with Visbur. She stared at him angrily.

"Have you come to sow discord in my family?"

"Cleuza... I didn't think you would receive me this way. Of course I don't want anything bad for you."

"Then why did you only show up now? You found out that your daughter is married to a billionaire and decided to approach him? Has your daughter become interesting now?"

Visbur took a deep breath and recounted everything that had happened up to Sigrid's appearance at his gate. He explained what had happened so that he hadn't pulled her out of her torment. And he told her everything he had been through since their inevitable separation. When she realized that Cleuza was bursting into tears, she stood up and ventured timidly to take her hand, which was on the table. She didn't withdraw her hand. But she looked at him in a different way now that she heard his whole story. After some time in silence Cleuza allowed herself to relax. She regretted the way she had spoken to her daughter. She probably wanted to surprise her after so many confessions from her mother. And she was pleased with the friendship and connection that she realized had been created between the two of them. Sigrid had always been a very sentimental person, and discovering her father and being accepted by him must have brought refreshment to her soul that she could never understand. But she knew that was not all. Her daughter expected her to rekindle the romance she had had with her father more than twenty years ago. Looking now at the man in front of her, she couldn't help but think how benevolent the years had been to him. He looked more handsome, if that was even possible, than he had when she had her romance with him.

"I apologize for accepting our daughter's invitation.... I may not even have the right to call her that, but she seemed very happy to rescue our closeness as father and daughter. I hope this won't be a problem for you. She told me that she had always been treated with indifference by the one who claimed to be her father, and that she was even happy to learn that in fact, she had a father other than the one who somehow raised her as his own."

"I don't mind your closeness at all. I'm even happy."

"Then why does your countenance tell me that you are not yet relieved?"

"Because I don't have only her as a daughter. I need to think about Astrid's feelings. My other daughter. I know what you and Sigrid expect from me..."

"Cleuza... Let's talk about us. Then we'll solve each problem that comes up one by one."

"What do you wish to talk about?" Mrs. Cleuza asked hopefully. She needed to hear what she thought she was about to hear. It had taken many years for that desire of hers to be fulfilled. And she felt that now was the time.

"What do you think about us starting over? Give us a chance, because now there are no impediments."

"I'm married Visbur."

"You can leave him. You would be protected on my side. I would never allow him to come near you, much less harm you. From what our daughter told me, he couldn't afford to keep following you around. So I will start taking everything away from him. I will contact your father and ask him to stop sending money to Erick, because you no longer wish to live with him and your granddaughter is well married and the other granddaughter is well supported. Otherwise, he will destroy himself. He does not know how to manage the money he receives, as he is a person full of addictions. I have also heard about divorce, a kind of legal separation. A lawyer can explain it to us better and tell us if it is possible in your case."

"You are very pretentious!" Cleuza said scolding him, but with a smile on her face, for everything he was proposing so far was good for her. "How do you know I do not wish to return to my husband?"

"Because I know you are not insane. And there is one more thing I intend to do and that is as a matter of urgency. I wish to recognize Sigrid as my daughter. And I will put her in my will as well."

"Won't your parents find a way to separate us again? Erick may not have the resources, but he knows where to look. Your parents can become his provider so we won't be together." Cleuza said sadly as she really wished for everything he had said.

"As much as he knows where to look there is no possibility of him finding my parents, because besides him not having the resources to do so, my parents are very well hidden. It's their own fault. Because to separate me from you they moved from continent to continent. Nobody here but me knows their address. And I have never trusted a single letter to an employee to post. They did a very good job of hiding and even changed their names. I think it is impossible for him to find my parents. They even cut ties and contacts with other family members." Visbur said and shook his head. "It pains me to think that all these measures were taken to keep us away from each other.... "

"I agree to start over and give us a chance. But let it be a very discreet new beginning so that when we really resolve that what we want is to be on each other's side my daughter Astrid won't be surprised."

"I will be very discreet." Visbur said contentedly.

Flauber found Astrid in the living room with her face bathed in tears that were still pouring from her eyes. As soon as she saw him she ran into his arms. She snuggled in as if that place belonged to her. Flauber smelled the scent of her hair and taking a deep breath looked up, looking to God for the strength to resist the impulse to comfort her with a kiss.

"That's what you brought us here for isn't it?" Astrid asked in a choked voice and still snuggled in her brother-in-law's arms.

"I didn't know Sigrid would bring you here. But I approve of what she did. Don't you understand that your father is not a good husband and that your mother is not happy by his side?"

Astrid turned away from him and took a few steps back.

"I know very well the things Dad does and that they have not truly been a couple for many years. But it's not easy to see Mom with another man.... I can't explain it to you... Do you think it's normal? Is that natural for you?"

"Natural and not even normal is the way your father treated Sigrid and your mother. Everything that is happening now is the fruit of what he himself planted. We are all human beings full of needs and longing for attention and love. There is a huge need inside each one of us. Let them decide what to do with their lives and follow your own. Don't stand against your mother or against Sigrid's father. They have a history. Let them be happy in whatever way they find and decide."

"That will happen more than once in our family..." Astrid said seriously.

"What do you mean? With whom?"

"With both of us, that's right!"

"What are you talking about Astrid?" Flauber asked knowing full well what she meant and desperately searching with his gaze for where his briefcase was. Finally he saw it dropped in a corner near the fireplace which gave him an idea. He breathed a sigh of relief that no employee had taken it from there.

"You know what I mean. You love me just as I love you, and you can't resist the attraction that binds us together. You can't deny the emotions we experience together."

Flauber stared at her angrily and turned away from her.

"You... I thought it was just a dream..."

"Ah! So you have a habit of dreaming about me?" Astrid said piercingly and crossed her arms.

"Astrid, I can't deny that attraction. But what happened between us was a mistake. I... Astrid, that will never happen again. I love Sigrid."

"It will happen many times yet. And I don't deny it. I know you love Sigrid, but you love me too. And I won't give up on you."

"You'll forget me as soon as a handsome young man comes along to win your heart."

"That person is you, and I'm sure deep down you know it."

"Astrid, understand... I won't abandon Sigrid to be with you.

"Nor do I want that. I have no interest in ties. But we will keep meeting yes."

"Is that what you want for your life? To be a lover?" Flauber asked in horror at the feeling of joy that welled up in his chest at knowing that if he wanted he could have both. He knew it was wrong, but at the same time he knew he couldn't resist her charms. He knew it was wrong, but at the same time he knew he couldn't resist her charms. She was a woman of fiber and he valued that.

"It wasn't what I wanted. But I didn't think it would happen to us. And since I do not wish to hurt Sigrid's heart I accept that position yes. And I will be happy by your side. We all will be. You, me, and Sigrid."

Flauber ran his hand over his mouth nervously.

"How can you say such things? Every woman desires a husband. A place in society. Children. You'll be giving up a lot to be with someone who can offer you nothing more than.... What we had in Texas.

"Yes, you can. I'll be rich. You will give me clothes and teach me how to drive. And when I want to travel you will give me all your moral and financial support."

"You don't have to be my mistress to have those things. I promise you that I will give you all these things you want without it being necessary for you to.... Stay with me."

"You really don't understand, do you? Flauber we love each other. And if it were today you would not marry Sigrid. You would stay with me. I don't know what happened between you, but something broke everything you felt for her. You never looked at me like that before.

"Nothing has, Astrid. Our love remains as firm and strong as a rock. But maybe, it will break when I tell her what happened between us. I don't know what her reaction will be yet, but I can tell you that no matter how I feel about you, I can't live without Sigrid. She is like the oxygen I breathe. She is everything in my life. Always has been. From the moment I saw her. That will never change."

"You mustn't tell her. She's pregnant and she can't be upset. I understand all the love you feel for her. But you can't give up on me either. You'd better assume that for yourself. Everything you say you feel for her reflects what I feel for you. As you said yourself, I'm giving up a lot of things to be together. You don't have to give anything up. Just accept that both of us are part of you."

Flauber ran both hands over his head. He was nervous. Astrid's proposal was tempting, but he feared the consequences of starting a love triangle. And besides, it would leave Astrid committed to something that would give her no future because according to her words she would give up marriage and children to live as a mistress. He didn't feel entitled to take that away from her. She might regret it later. On the other hand he couldn't think about the possibility of seeing Astrid next to another man. He couldn't accept the idea of knowing that she would be lying with another man and having children.... He felt totally against the wall. He needed some time to think. That was it! He couldn't solve anything now while his feelings were still burning in his chest. He needed to let time go by so that he could work things out without being driven by the heat of the moment.

"Astrid... We shouldn't settle this now. Let's give it some time then. "

"How much time do you need?" Astrid said after a moment with a thoughtful look.

"Give me a month. Then I will give you a right answer. I need to think, not only about what is best for me, but also about what is best for you."

"All right. Until then we won't talk about this matter anymore.... Live as if you don't have to solve a problem and rather as if you don't need me in your life." Astrid said thoughtfully. "I will do the same."

"Yes." Flauber breathed a relieved breath. "Now I need to go check on Sigrid. You should go back to the dining room and introduce yourself after apologizing for your childish behavior. Try to get to know Visbur better."

Astrid stared at him for a while with defiance shining in her eyes and a wry smile on her lips. But she heeded what he said and went back to the dining room.

Flauber went into the bedroom where he thought he would find Sigrid crying and unhappy. But he was surprised to see her dancing alone in the room with soft movements like those of a ballerina, a smile on her lips and her eyes closed. He admired her for a long time, wondering how he could have thought for a single moment that he was living a life of betraying her with his own sister. He loved her a little more when he looked at her. She was truly the woman of his life. He approached her slowly and sat down on the bed. He didn't want to startle her or take her out of that moment that seemed so peaceful. She was already sweating when she decided to stop her dance. She turned around and saw him watching her. She smiled at him and sat on his legs, hugging and kissing him passionately.

"Well? Did they get along?" She asked with a mischievous smile.

"Sigrid! You... Were you feigning indignation?" Flauber asked smiling.

"It was the way I found for them to talk. Don't you think it was a good idea?"

"Honey... It was a perfect idea. But I didn't know that I had married an actress. I believed I would find you unhappy."

Sigrid giggled and suddenly put her hand over her forehead. Flauber was immediately worried.

"Sigrid... Maybe we'd better get you to a doctor. This thing about you getting dizzy is not normal..."

"It won't do any good. We have to wait for the results of the tests. And also every pregnant woman feels these dizzy spells. Let's talk about other things. Did you convince Astrid to accept my father?"

"I don't know if I convinced her to accept him, but she agreed to come back to the kitchen and present herself as a real lady."

"Then it's time for us to keep them company. After all we haven't had lunch yet.... I'll take a quick shower. You can go. I'll meet you there." She said getting up as she kissed him chastely on the lips.

Flauber was about to refuse and say that he would wait for her right there for fear that she would feel new dizziness when he remembered his briefcase and froze his words.

"I will do that, but I will send one of the maids to keep you company. I don't want you walking around alone." Flauber said and as soon as Sigrid entered the bathroom he ran into the living room.

He took the sheet out of his suitcase and threw it on the fireplace that was lit. Soon one of the maids arrived. Flauber asked her to take and put away the guest's suitcases. He himself decided to go back to the room and take his suitcase with him, now free of any evidence of his betrayal, although he knew he had to talk to Sigrid about it. He wouldn't keep something like this from her. As soon as she was out of the shower and dressed they went together to the dining room. Lunch was already being served and they both took their seats. The conversation revolved around Visbur. Everyone wanted to know how he felt when he saw Sigrid and recognized her as his daughter, what his romance with Mrs. Cleuza had been like and everything he had done during those years away from them. Visbur answered everyone and by the end of lunch everyone considered him family. Even Astrid, who felt a certain amount of pain because of her father, could not help but be charmed by the charms of this man who knew how to treat everyone with affection and she also knew that her father never treated her mother with the proper respect and that everyone in the small town where they lived knew of his many betrayals. She thought as she paid attention to the conversation everyone had with him, herself being one, that if her mother wanted to be happy with him she would not be a hindrance no matter how much she felt for her father, but he was just planting what he harvested as Flauber had said.

After lunch they decided it would be a good idea to go in the pool. Flauber was tired from the trip and knew that his mother-in-law and sister-in-law were too, but a swim would help to relax the muscles and tension that everyone must be feeling because of so many emotions. Sigrid packed bathing suits for her mother and Astrid and Flauber packed them for Visbur.

They played in the pool like children for the rest of the day. Then, as soon as they were out of the pool, everyone went to their rooms to rest for dinner. But besides Mrs. Cleuza and Visbur, no one else showed up for dinner. Cleuza and Visbur understood that they must have been very tired, so they slept right through and had their meal together. As soon as they finished they talked for an hour before Cleuza decided that she also wanted to rest and Visbur walked her to her bedroom door and kissed her hand goodbye. They both slept happily that night.