For the next two weeks, Marcus was busy renovating his penthouse for Cara. He wanted to start afresh and remodeled the place to give him a happy and positive vibe. His mom had been calling him non-stop but he didn’t find time for a visit. A feeling of dread engulfed him every time his mom called. The urgency didn’t sit well with him since his mom wasn’t keen on his wedding with Cara. Then what was she up to? He didn’t have any wish to ponder over it much.
Cara returned home feeling disappointed and upset. Her college had been sending her to reputed places for internships but luck didn’t favor her at all. Despite all her efforts, even after three weeks, she was back at square one, heartbroken and jobless.
“Cheer up, dear. It’s just a difficult phase. Take it easy. You still have money in your account to fall back upon,” said Aunt Maggie. Cara nodded absent-mindedly knowing that the money wouldn’t last them more than six months. What will she do afterward?
“I can’t wait for it to be finished, aunt Maggie. I need to find something or the other.”
“You can try elsewhere if this place doesn’t have opportunities to make it big,” suggested Uncle Joe.
“Yeah, I’ll just try this month else I’m planning to move to New York and try my luck at the Broadway Theater,” said Cara excitedly. Aunt Maggie clasped her hands, having started to dream already.
“Then you’ll be a celebrity and send us tickets to your show. We’ll get the royal treatment at the VIP balcony seats,” said aunt Maggie, making Cara giggle.
“Of course, anything is possible,” encouraged uncle Joe. The talk relieved the pressure off Cara to some extent although she didn’t stop trying for jobs in and around Long Island. After four days, her condition was still the same except for a temporary job at a small bar nearby. The lead member of the band that performed was hospitalized and she had to fill her place. It wasn’t the type of opportunity Cara was looking for and the money wasn’t much either.
“Think big, my dear. I don’t want you wasting your life singing in bars. I can pull the show till you get a stable and prospective job,” said Uncle Joe.
“Yes, Cara, your uncle is right.” Cara nodded, feeling indebted to the old couple. Who said that you need to be related by blood to share a familial bond?
The doorbell rang and Adam rushed to open it. “Marcus?” he exclaimed, making all heads turn in his direction. Cara froze hearing the name of the last person she had expected to see in her life again. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest as she slowly got up from her seat just the moment Marcus entered their humble home. His eyes flew to hers and held her wide-eyed, incredulous gaze, as he slowly approached them. Uncle Joe gave Cara a brief glance and went forward to greet their guest.
“What a pleasant surprise. Marcus!” he said, going forward to shake hands with him.
“Hello, Joe. Nice to see you again,” said Marcus. The children rushed forward to cling to him, unaware of the undercurrents between him and their older sibling.
“I knew you would come, Marcus,” said Vera, hugging him. Marcus smiled at her, hugging her back while his eyes held Cara’s gaze. Aunt Maggie too went forward but she was wary of the purpose of his visit and didn’t want him to break Cara’s heart again.
“So, what brings you here, Marcus? I heard that you are planning to settle in New York forever?” she asked, coming straight to the point. Cara stopped in her tracks a few feet away from him, waiting for his reply. Maybe he came to settle her dues! But why would he need to come all the way here to do that? He could simply transfer the amount to her bank account. Maybe he missed her and wanted to see her! She looked away not wanting to hope. Was she pinning too much hope on this visit?
“Yes, you heard right, Maggie. I’m indeed planning to settle down in New York. I was having my apartment renovated, otherwise, I would have come down earlier.” Cara frowned wondering why he wanted to come down here, of all places on earth. “Can I have a word with Cara alone, please? This is a little urgent,” he said, glancing at Joe Smithfield.
“Cara, take him to your room,” said aunt Maggie but she somehow didn’t look very pleased. Cara walked towards her room without a word, her eyes cast downwards. She didn’t want to face him when there was nothing between them anymore. She walked into her room and waited for him to enter. Marcus closed the door and immediately turned towards her, his piercing eyes gazing at her, wanting to show her how much he had missed her, how his life had lost its meaning without her. Yet he couldn’t say a word as he stared at her helplessly.
“What is it that you need to discuss?” she asked, looking away. She was trying to cope with the heartbreak so the sooner she could deal with Marcus, the better it would be for her mental health. Marcus took a step forward making Cara’s eyes widen and she stepped backward to create some distance between themselves. However, Marcus didn’t utter a single word and kept advancing towards her, his eyes burning into hers, challenging her to look away.
Cara gasped when her back hit a wall and she knew that she was trapped. “Please let’s get on with the discussion,” she prompted him. He stopped a foot away from her and stared at her broodingly.
“Aren’t you happy to see me, mia Cara?” he released a staggering breath. Cara’s eyes filled up and she looked down at her feet, unable to take in any longer. She loved him. How could she not be happy to see the only one she loved?
“That’s inconsequential, Marcus. My happiness doesn’t matter. What is it that you wanted to discuss with me?” she said, her voice trembling with the effort it took her to speak. ‘God, please don’t let me break down in front of him!’ she prayed in her mind.
“Your happiness is what matters the most. I want to see you happy,” he whispered, coming closer to her. A tear trickled down her cheek. “Are you crying, mia Cara?” Cara shook her head slowly as another teardrop trickled down.
“I’ve come to take you to New York with me. I had planned it all along but you left so abruptly. Why did you leave?” he asked, his fingers wiping the tears away and stroking her cheek in a gentle caress.
“You never mentioned anything! Why do you want me to go there?” she asked, gazing into his eyes with confusion. Did he miss the se*? Maybe since it was unlikely that he missed her otherwise.
“‘Coz I can’t stay away from you,” he whispered, his face inches from hers. Cara’s breath hitched at his nearness although she knew that his words didn’t have anything to do with love. He didn’t love her. He might have missed the crazy se*, that’s all!
“Oh,” was all she could say. Marcus gazed at her with disbelief. Was that all she had to say when he was willing to take her home with him?
“Aren’t you interested to be with me?” asked Marcus, feeling a little hurt.
“I need a job badly, Marcus. I’ve appeared for a few interviews, maybe I’ll get through in a couple of days,” she said, looking sad and heartbroken. She didn’t have time for a no strings attached relationship with Marcus. With his family there in New York, she was scared of humiliation and insults.
“You can work for me at the art studio, help me set it up for the exhibition,” he suggested. Cara gazed at him with disbelief.
“You haven’t set it up yet?” she asked with interest. Marcus smiled and shook his head.
“I was waiting for you to help me,” he whispered, pressing his body closer to hers, “I was waiting for a lot more, Cara. I can’t live without you.” Cara smiled, touching his cheek tenderly but her eyes held a deep sadness in them. She wanted to hear the three magical words. He said everything else but not those. He still didn’t love her! “Will you come to New York with me?” he asked her hopefully.
Cara knew that she wouldn’t get the type of opening she was looking for here in Long Island. She had to go to New York. Maybe she could help Marcus and then when his need for her was over, she could go her own way. “Yes,” she said, looking him in the eyes. She had no idea whether he would continue where they left off but she felt happier to be with him again. Marcus leaned closer but Cara ducked under his arms and walked towards the door. With her family waiting outside for some update, she didn’t want to embarrass herself.
“We should inform my family first,” she said much to Marcus’s disappointment. He wanted to tell her that he was planning to marry her but developed cold feet at the last moment. She was young and hadn’t even settled into her dream career. What if she refused to be tied down to him? What if she refused to go to New York with him?
Her family accepted her plans of going to New York with Marcus, although aunt Maggie wasn’t very happy about it. Cara didn’t get to speak to her alone with Marcus hovering around her all the time. Finally, she packed up and took leave from her loved ones, and left home with Marcus.