Calumbra 23 - Book 1: The Maid

28 - Can You Handle The Truth?

After becoming more acquainted with July, Sullivan thought it best that he go and find his own parents before he got hit with a rolling pin. Delaware walked with him, wanting to see her friend.
"Do you think he'll be mad at me for coming home... crippled?"
"I doubt that. He'll just be glad you're home at all. Knowing Sully..."
Sullivan smiled as they went toward the kitchens.
"'ere now! Get those vegetables chopped and that soup made! Our 'eroes are back and they need to eat!"
"Ah, Mother..." Sullivan said with a reminiscent grin to Delaware.
"She sounds-"
"What kind of work is that?! Put yer back into it!"
"Lovely."
"No need to dampen it. She's a mess to be around but... Father loves her."
They walked in and a very pretty, yet buxom woman was throwing a spud at the cook who, without a beat, turned and caught it in the water that was not really boiling but hot. Delaware saw that it was Sullivan, who was grinning ear to ear. He was so much older than the twenty year old she remembered but he was still joyful and looked like he loved his family with everything.
"Oi! Mum, Da! I'm 'ome!" Sullivan yelled with an uncharacteristic Cockney accent that threw Delaware off guard.
The two turned and the woman yelled, picking up her skirts and running toward him. Delaware moved as she practically trampled her son, hugging and kissing and touching his face. Sullivan laughed at her as he kissed and hugged her back. She looked down and gasped loudly at the cane in his hand.
"What the bloody 'ell! Sully! Sully, come see what that Blackwood boy 'as done to our Sullivan!"
"Calm down, Samantha. He's only-" He stopped, looking at Delaware and smiled, crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. "Hello, Ms. Tate."
Sullivan's wife, Samantha, looked at Delaware and narrowed her eyes at her.
"Oh... You're that immortal woman. The one 'oo told my Sully to make 'is children your 'constants' in your everlasting life. What do you make us of?"
"I only asked because I value your husband's loyalty. I only wanted to not be forgotten in time like I have so many times before. With a constant, when I arrive after leaving, I will be remembered and have someone to speak with."
Samantha's eyes turned sympathetic and she nodded.
"Aye, I understand. What did ye say to 'er, Sully?"
"I told her that I would be honored."
Sullivan smiled at his son and Samantha rubbed his head. Delaware felt it best that she leave the reunion and started to slip out of the kitchen when she felt she was backing into someone. She looked up and found Trinidad with a plate of tarts and a guilty look on his face.
"Well then, I suppose you stole those?"
He grinned and offered the plate to her. She took one and he moved his head for her to follow him and she obliged.
"So much has changed since I've been here. Where is Samson, by the way?"
Trinidad whipped out a small writing pad and wrote on it.
Riding out...
"I see... Trinidad, why did you stop talking altogether?"
He shrugged. Without you, I had nothing else to live for.
Delaware stopped him and looked at him sadly.
"You have a wonderful family that absolutely needs you... Why would you think that?"
"Because he's like you." She heard behind her. Tavit walked up and put his hands in his pockets. "Without someone to understand him, this Hell, what use is there to keep people in his life? At least if you were here, he'd have someone who understood."
Delaware looked up again and Trinidad shrugged, putting a whole tart in his mouth. Tavit growled and snatched the plate from his brother.
"You'll eat us out of house and home. You'll get a feast tonight."
It's not like I won't be hungry. he signed.
Tavit made a face but took it upon himself to take a tart as well. He put the tray to the side and motioned for the two of them to follow.
"We need to talk."
Trinidad rolled his eyes and the two of them followed Tavit to the office where Delaware had been almost thirty years earlier, being hired by Dominick. The two of them sat on the other side of the desk as Tavit leaned against it.
"I'm sure you're wondering why Trinidad is the way he is and I'm... well..."
"You look very handsome." Delaware said.
Tavit lifted an eyebrow at her and gestured to his brother.
"I'll tell you what happened and how we found out about my brother."
Tavit sat behind the desk and put his hands under his chin.