Calumbra 23 - Book 1: The Maid

17 - Better Left To Fray

July and Samson seemed to get along very well even for their blotchy past. They brought up things from when they were kids and laughed about the stuff that used to make them mad. Lady Olivia smiled at them as she did some needlepoint beside her husband.
"Look at them, Dominick. Oh I'm so happy for the both of them. Soon they'll get married and give us some grandchildren!" she said, making a face and smiling.
Dominick only rolled his eyes as he looked over at his sons, who were watching the two try to woo each other. Tavit was watching with interest as Trinidad had a more perplexed look on his face as he watched the two talk close together. There wasn't much love in the mansion that Trinidad was familiar with and so watching the two try and be lovey-dovey was something new to him. Olivia and Dominick weren't exactly cuddly when the boys were around and none of the servants did their thing in front of the boys as well.
"Are we bothering you?" July giggled as she looked over at the Blackwood boys.
Tavit shook his head. "We're just curious. We don't know what that looks like."
"What what looks like?"
Wooing. Trinidad signed with a smirk to Samson.
Samson made a face and lifted his chin up at him.
"What did he say? That's an interesting thing you're doing there."
"It's called sign language. He doesn't talk so he has to use his hands." Samson explained.
"Exciting!" July said, clapping her hands together. "That's a rather fascinating speech. May I learn?"
Trinidad looked at Dominick, for usually people thought it was weird he spoke with his hands. He was confused at her interest.
Dominick laughed at his oldest son. "Of course she can learn. She won't turn to stone if she does, Trin."
Trinidad blushed at that and July smiled at him.
"Is he always this shy?" she asked with a smirk to Samson.
"He's just not sociable and so it intimidates him sometimes. But don't worry about him and if you want to learn sign language then you can. Tavit can teach you the best because he is usually the one communicating with Trinidad in that way."
"Me?" he said, pointing to himself in confusion.
"Why not? You interact with Trinidad the most and you've got the signs down pat. I don't see why you can't teach the young lady a few words." Dominick said with a smile to his youngest son.
Tavit looked at Trinidad who raised an eyebrow to him and shook his head 'no' to some unknown thing that was passed between them silently. It had nothing to do with the learning of signs but it did have to do with the girl. Trinidad moved jerked his head and Tavit followed his older brother into a room.

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"What's wrong? Why are you giving me that look?" Tavit asked as Trinidad closed the door.
I don't know much about love, but you sure have a look that I don't like.
"What are you talking about? What look?"
Just a look... Just don't do it. If it happens, fine, but don't provoke it.
"What are you talking about, Trinidad? Your signing is getting flustered." He growled, grabbing Trinidad's flying hands. "Calm down..."
Trinidad sighed and ran his fingers through his black hair.
I don't know what the look is called but I've seen it. You like Ms. O'Daer.
"Well, yeah, of course I do. She's going to be Samson's wife, I hope."
Keep thinking that way. If you in any way provoke her to like you and take her away from Samson, he will snap. If anything happens, let it happen.
"In other words, you're saying that if she starts to like me, then that's fine. But if I make her like me..." Trinidad nodded once in affirmation. "I see... Well, my plan is not to take her away from him."
Good... She's very pretty though. he said with a wry smile.
"And I'm bad."
Trinidad laughed a little and winked at him.

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The months went on and Tavit taught July the letters and a lot of words to understand Trinidad. As he taught them, they became close, signing across the table and everything. Samson wasn't as good at signing as Tavit and Trinidad and so he didn't catch a lot of the words. He realized though that Tavit was getting very close to July. He wasn't stupid and narrowed his eyes at his youngest sibling, not very happy with the outcome of the situation.
He took Tavit aside one day and threw him against the wall.
"What do you think your problem?! Who do you think you are?"
"What are you talking about?" he asked.
"You're taking July away from me!"
Tavit looked at him innocently and Samson growled, putting his face in Tavit's.
"I didn't tell you to teach my girl your signs so that you could fall in love with her! She's mine, and was betrothed to me!"
"I haven't done anything to lead her on, I swear it. I've only been teaching her the letters and that's it, I promise on Delaware!"
"Delaware? Wh-why are you promising on her? She's dead."
"No she's not. You idiot; Delaware doesn't die that easily."
"You're as delusion as your brother! She died!"
"You miss her too, Samson. But I'm telling you, she's not dead..."
"You're out of your damned mind. I will only say this once more and you'd better get it through your thick skull: stop trying to steal my girl."
He slammed him against the wall again and walked off.
Tavit breathed in heavily and sighed, looking around the hallway to make sure the conversation had been a private one when he thought he felt like he was being watched.
"Damn it, Trinidad, you heard everything didn't you?"
Trinidad walked from the corner with a glare from his gold eyes and firmly grabbed hold of his brother's shoulder.
I told you not to do that. Yet you do it anyway.
"Like I said before, I didn't mean to if it happened that way. You've been watching us! You know!"
I know that the basic lessons are over and now you're starting to take things a little farther than they should. Stop this now... If you hurt him he will never forgive you.
"If you were eavesdropping, as you have a knack of doing, you will have heard that I swore on Delaware that I wasn't trying to woo her." He said, narrowing his eyes at his brother.
Then it is a lie because you don't believe that Delaware is coming back.
"Puh, you're a fool to think I really believe myself. It's a defense mechanism, you dolt! Of course I have a hope that she's coming back! Damn it, Trinidad! She was as important to me as she was to you! More, in fact! I based the fact that fantasy and magic was in this world because of her! You're a bit selfish into thinking that she only inspired you."
Trinidad let go of Tavit and stared at him in confusion and disbelief.
Then... why did you always try and dissuade me?
"As I said... it's a defense mechanism. I know she's out there, doing her thing... but I haven't fooled myself into thinking that she is going to come back. I know in my heart that she will never come back to us. She's got other things to do and places to be with her immortality rather than remember a couple of scrawny kids from England... and I think you know that too..."
Trinidad gulped and leaned against the wall of the hallway.
Yeah... I do...
"Listen, if you want to believe she's coming, then do so. I won't try and convince you she's not anymore... Really, Trin, I think it's best to just leave our conclusions to ourselves. If you want to watch for her every day, then that's your business. I didn't realize up until now that I even wished for her back. Saying what I did, I realized that in my heart, I haven't given up on her return either. So, in whatever way you choose to think, go ahead... But, I am not trying to steal away Ms. O'Daer from Samson."
Trinidad nodded and touched the ring that hung on his neck.
I can't forget her easily, Tavit. This necklace just shows that she's somewhere out there... I feel like if I don't believe, she will really disappear.
"Well, let's just say that wherever the devil she is, I hope she's having a bang up time. Must be to forget about us..."
Trinidad smiled and Tavit put his arm around his brother's shoulders.