Nacre's Promise

Chapter XXVI : Symbiosis

Cuevas-Blancas, 1910.

It was the start of summer. It was not yet hot enough for the activity to be affected by the blazing sun which crushed the men in these latitudes. The temperature was perfect, the days were long, conducive to interminable meals and discussions where the guests remake the world, in the evening under the wisteria.

However, since the revelations that had been made to them and their recent wedding, Isabel and Diego did not take advantage of it. They kept their distance and hadn't brought up the subject that seemed to bother them. Whether it was fear or modesty, neither of them knew it but the question seemed to eat away at them from within, affecting their relationship. Isabel told Diego that she needed rest and calm and spent her days in the bedroom sewing or reading. She only left her refuge in the evening, for a quick dinner.

When Diego was away, she remained, most of the time, prostrate in her chair, her head full of questions about her parents and about the events that had surrounded her birth. Diego, for his part, was deeply involved in the management of the estate and spent a lot of time outside with his father. Perhaps a need to justify its legitimacy?

At home, their conversations were unlike those of a couple and focused almost exclusively on practical matters, never orienting towards the questions Diego was dying to ask.

This situation could not go on forever, one of them had to decide to break the silence. It was finally Diego.

— Tomorrow, I have nothing planned with my father, he announced to Isabel. I was wondering if you would be willing to take advantage of the beautiful weather and come with me to the sea. We could have a picnic, swim and spend the day there, just the two of us. What do you think?

For a moment, Isabel seemed to come out of her apathy and her face lit up. But that gleam had been fleeting and she replied without much conviction.

— Why not! I don't remember having been there for many years. I think the last time was with you and your dad when we were kids.

— However, it is not that far! It is true that there are no plantations to watch so close to the sea, but this is our home and we should go there more often. My father sometimes said that one day we would find a hotel on these lands by leaving them abandoned!

Diego was aware of the shock his father's revelations had caused, but he did not despair to see Isabel recover. He himself had been very shocked, but he had succeeded in coming to terms with a situation that he could not change. Whoever his father was, Rodrigo would remain the one who raised him. He regarded him as his father and nothing could ever change the attachment that they had for each other. He intended to carry on with his life as before. Rodrigo's honesty was commendable though. But their fates had been sealed when he adopted her and nothing and no one could now change their destinies.

Isabel smiled but didn't answer. She went back to her reading as if this conversation had never taken place.

The heavy silences became more and more unbearable. Diego returned to the charge the next day.

— Have you thought about it? What would you think of going to the sea tomorrow? he asked Isabel. Do you have an activity planned that you cannot postpone? I think you, well, we both need a change of scenery.

Isabel looked surprised. Obviously still disturbed and plunged into her inner discomfort, she had forgotten her husband's proposal and his request made her come down to earth. All the questions she was turning back and forth in her head kept her from falling asleep. She always ended up sinking, after long hours, into a restless sleep. His nights were short and fatigue was felt.