" Caitlin?"
"Yes Dad."
We were all done eating and had moved to the side porch of our house. I hardly come to this place because it was considered as Mum and dad's corner. It was where they used to lounge and listen when the going was good.
We moved here at Dad's request after the meal. We were waiting for dessert to be served when Dad called my name.
"What do you think of France?"
"France?... " I was thrown off.
"We are thinking going to college in New York is a bad idea." Mum replied just as Uncle Liam came in followed by a young girl whom I have been seeing for some days now. She was carrying a tray of dessert which was mostly cakes. Once they left,...
"I thought you already took care of everything Dad." I turned to Dad looking puzzled.
"Yes. But New York is not Arizona." He signed.
"As long as someone recognizes you, they will keep bringing up what happened." Mum interjected.
"But why France ?" It wasn't that I had any problem with France. My French is passable and can only get better the more I speak it but I have devoted my heart to staying in New York City to the point that the possibility of not going sounded like a slap to my face. Therefore, at that moment, I just wanted to spurt whatever excuses I could manage…
"Because nobody knows you there. Also, resumption is so close. To get you into any prestigious school at this time is next to impossible here in America." It was Mum that replied again. I couldn't but stare at her for a bite, feeling annoyed. The fact that she apologized last night doesn't give her the right to keep intruding into my conversation with Dad but then from her tone, I just knew she was the one arranging all these things so she was definitely the one that should answer my questions. But then, opposing her had become second nature. Resisting it was like blocking my nose off from air.
"... But I do have some good connections in France that could help. All you have to do is tell us the university you would like to attend." She concluded.
"Any university?"
"Yes." Her eyes brightened and I called down the moment I noticed.
"What about my course of study? Can I change that too?" I asked cautiously, not daring to look Mum in the face.
"
"What do you want to study?" Dad finally showed interest in the conversation while Daniel who had been sitting there all day still remained silent.
"Anything except business and management." I pouted, totally embarrassed at my own childishness. The idea to change my course occured to because I was going to change school. It wasn't something I had thought out. I only asked if I could do it out of excitement at the prospect of deciding my own fate. Them asking me to go ahead and change it was unexpected. To cover up my embarrassment, I picked up the judge of orange juice on the centerpiece and focused on pouring a cup for myself.
"You have two weeks to decide both the school and your course." Mum said in a small voice.
"Okay Mum. Thanks." I couldn't even look her in the eyes. I raised my glass up and drank, covering my face with it.
"Your phone is in my study." Dad said.
"Okay."
"It would be better if you don't appear in public for the meantime. Stay offline too."
I nodded and kept eating the chocolate cake in front of me.
I wanted to ask about Riley's whereabouts from Dad but I wasn't sure if it was okay to bring it up with everyone around or I should just let Daniel do his thing like he promised.
If things had gone without a glitch, I would have left for NewYork in less than 4 days but I have to leave for France in two weeks. Outside my family, Sylvester was the only person I cared about so I made a mental note to call him once our little family time was over but to my dismay, my number seemed to have been blocked or he probably changed his phone numbers. In short, I couldn't contact him. Not even online.
I decided on a private university in Bordeaux and I decided to study political science and property law. Mum seemed to like my choice but I couldn't be sure because these days, she just kept saying yes to everything I wanted and kept her distance. Something, I was grateful for.
Daniel was able to gather some information and if I am to believe any of them, the possibility that Riley and Dakota were also dead would be very high. Daniel said he had told Dad about how Riley tried to get Dakota to sleep with me so they could use me to blackmail Mum. Dad was furious and Dad swore they would pay. To the whole world, he was on the run but I couldn't stop wondering if he was buried on the farm or shipped out.
After the whole scandal, Sophia lost her fiancé, settled with Mum and left the country. Daniel and I suspected that she might have left for the UK. She always wanted to do that. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She was dedicated to the family because she loved Daniel. It took Daniel forever but he came around. When it was time for her to start enjoying her time with him, Dad forced him to marry someone else and arranged a marriage for her with a good family.
She never hurt anyone. She never schemed but still, we managed to ruin the only good person in the whole family. I can only pray that she will find happiness. I am sure she would be okay though. She is strong and Daniel promised to keep an eye on her.
The only person I knew nothing about and worried for was Sylvester. After I tried to contact him to no avail, I went to his house. The two grannies didn't even allow me to step into the compound. They told me I was a bad influence on their grandchild and begged me to please let him go.
To say I was sad was an understatement. I was sad to the point of depression.
Before I knew it, two weeks were up and it was time to leave. I wasn't planning to take anything because I was going to do my shopping once I got there. We have at least four properties in Bordeaux. Even though we don't have anything beside the sea there, the house I picked was larger than my house in New York.
On the eve of my departure, I received a package from FedEx and inside was the white vibrator wrapped in red chiffon stripes and a note. The note had a phone number and an instruction that I should call that number in 5 months' time.
While I was happy that I got my toy back, I was quite regretful that Sylvester and I never got to do the send forth we had planned for our separation. Sadder was the fact that we might not see each other for a very long time since not just a city would be separating us now.
Every fiber of my being missed him. I was unwilling.
Today, I left with Uncle Liam, having no idea what the future holds. I am excited and anxious but one thing is sure, my future is going to involve a lot of sex.
The End.