Absolution by S. Anne Gardner

Author:S. Anne Gardner [Gardner, S. Anne]
Language: zho
Format: epub
Published: 2013-09-26T06:18:00+00:00

We spent the afternoon exploring the garden and the woods around the villa. She was kinder to me in those few hours than my mother and father had been to me my whole life. We ran through the woods and played hide and seek. I loved being with her.

Late in the afternoon we started back to the house hand in hand. As we were coming toward the house my mother suddenly appeared and walked out to meet us.

She immediately noticed that I had gotten dirty. I recognized the look of disapproval in her eyes and my hand unconsciously squeezed Francesca’s. She looked down at me and then back to my mother.

"I'm sorry Carlotta if we stayed out too long, but I had such a lovely time exploring with Cristina. She is a lovely child, much like her mother." As she finished speaking mother's face changed.

Mother smiled at Francesca. "I've been waiting to speak with you all afternoon," my mother said charmingly.

"Go and have your bath before dinner, Cristina dear," mother said to me lovingly.

Francesca knelt down in front of me and took both my hands into hers. "Thank you for the loveliest afternoon I've ever had." She gave me a brilliant smile. She then leaned towards me and kissed my cheek. As she stood up again she released my hands, still smiling.

"Go on Cristina," repeated mother.

I walked toward the house. When I reached the door to go inside I looked back and saw mother holding Francisco’s hand and kissing her on the cheek. Then they walked toward the gardens. I could hear my mother laughing as I went in the house.

~~~~~~~~~~

Carlotta led Francesca away from the house. "I have been waiting for you all afternoon," she said softly as she pulled Francesca into an embrace.

"I'm sorry, I really enjoyed being with your daughter. She's very sweet," Francesca answered.

"If you like Cristina, just wait till you see Maria."

"Why do you always do that?" Francesca asked as she pulled away from her and started to pick a flower.

"What?" Carlotta asked, not understanding what she meant.

"Since I've known you, every time we discuss your daughter Cristina you tell me how much better Maria is." She still did not look directly at Carlotta.

Carlotta just stared at Francesca not saying anything else. After a few moments Francesca looked into the eyes of a woman who was wondering.

"Why Carlotta?" She asked looking straight into her eyes.

"You're imagining things," Carlotta looked away, suddenly nervous. Francesca started walking away from her toward the house. "Where are you going?"

"You don't trust me!" Francesca turned to look at her.

"I don't know why I do it. She needs so much. She always has. Maria…well she just loves you back," she stated simply. "Anyway, what does it matter? She doesn't care. All she ever does is go off and stare out into nothing. She is just like my father used to be.”

"How can you be such a bitch with your own daughter?"

"Did you come here for her or for me?" Carlotta asked in anger.

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