Chapter 14

Following dinner, Jim labored to compose a lecture, while Luis drafted seminar calendars. And despite not attending his father's class, he valued the obligation. Simultaneously, the day was waning, though distant rumbles suggested showers. In this regard, Caroline opened the shutters, in anticipation of the late season storm. In the same breath, Jim remained curious about Luis and Karen's relationship.

"You're still worried?" Luis questioned, lifting his eyes from the table.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," Jim retorted.

Gaping, Luis sneered.

"We haven't spoken much and don't plan too,"

Expectedly, Jim listed and crisscrossed his arms.

"Well," he asserted. "You have the same major, so you'll see her at some point."

"You have to trust me,"

Pitching forth, Jim nodded.

"You know I do,"

Drawing near, Luis noted Caroline's unsuspecting grimace.

"You look troubled,"

Awkwardly, Caroline gawked.

"You know me,"

Now and again, it wasn't unusual for Caroline to express opinions, though in recent times, she appeared more reluctant to do so. Noticing this, Luis wanted to put her mind at ease.

"Don't worry," he asserted. "I have everything under control,"

"I know," his mother responded. "By the way, what time's your first class?"

Casually, Luis fetched the registry and examined it.

"8 am,"

"Make sure you get some sleep and stay focused,"

Naturally, Luis grimaced.

"Mom, I'm not in secondary school,"

Arm in arm, Caroline escorted Jim into the living room, where they'd linger together, relishing each other's company. To the same effect, Luis retreated to his bedroom, often thinking of Karen, and their unlikely reunion during enlistment.

Another thing, having Alex back in his life felt like a godsend, because for as much as he'd matured, he hadn't changed at all. Sometime later, Luis overheard his parents as they gathered outside. Wherefore, he unfastened the casement, which allowed the humid night air to pervade his pores.

Favorably, Karen had apologized, but the sentiment lacked sincerity. In relation, she seemed emotionless, so a regression of her affliction appeared plausible. Come what may, he watched over his parents, feeling more contented than he had in months.

Cross the city, Alex finished prepping as his excitement for the upcoming semester flourished. More importantly, his parents loved having him home, despite the exhausting efforts to maintain the peace. Parallel to this, Jessica's verdicts had altered numerous aspects, but Diana and Stephen accepted Karen anyway.

At this stage, the evening was becoming colder, so Alex and Karen sat huddled together, talking about everything. And despite the recluse behavior, he seemed delighted to have her home. In most cases, retaining an intimacy had shown precarious, but the bond stood resilient, and direct communication had proved beneficial. Within this framework, Alex again conferred with his father, while Karen helped Diana with the dishes.

"Looking forward to tomorrow?" Diana inquired, placing plates.

Rotating, Karen tittered.

"Yes,"

Throughout, Diana remained cautious of Karen's ever-changing outlook, because despite a sociable disposition, she could become mentally erratic. Based on that, Diana wanted to protect Karen from the world.

"As I often tell Alex," Diana stated. "Stay on track and don't get distracted,"

Slowly, Karen set the cloth and laughed.

"If you're referring to Luis, don't worry, I'll manage,"

Unexpectedly, Diana sulked and placed her hands on her hips.

"I didn't mean to push,"

In kind, Karen scoffed and held her hand.

"Relax, I've already spoken with Luis, and there wasn't a problem,"

Coincidentally, Diana felt reassured, knowing Karen wouldn't lie. Even then, with the peril Jessica had caused, she remained skeptical.

"I'm glad your mother changed her mind,"

That said, Karen lamented.

"It's not like I gave her a choice,"

Gradually, Diana fixed a final dish into the cupboard and shut the hatch.

"Even so," she added. "I hope everything gets better, because you deserve it."

From there, Karen emptied the last of the wine.

"What do you say we join the boys?"

Right away, Diana agreed and led Karen to the living room. A place where they often gathered for hours, discussing life and the future. That way, bonds and dialogues became more profound.

"And, what are we talking about?" Diana questioned as she and Karen relaxed.

"Oh, you know," Alex responded, raising a glass.

Together, Diana and Karen fixated on Alex.

"Riding in with Luis tomorrow?" Karen requested.

"I wasn't aware he's stopping by," Stephen interjected. "You should've said something."

Altering, Alex glimpsed.

"Yeah, we're grabbing breakfast and heading in, nothing major,"

All of a sudden, Diana beamed.

"Why don't you stay and enjoy a home-cooked breakfast?"

"Not a bad idea," Alex retorted. "I'll message Luis."

Straight away, Diana rushed to the kitchen and started sifting. Generally, everyone seemed thrilled by the gesture, everyone that was, except Karen. Yet again, she seemed docile, but unknowingly daunted and excluded.

"You all right?" Stephen questioned, swaying.

"I'm fine,"

Like a shot, Stephen rose and followed.

"Where are you going?"

Indiscernibly, Karen moved onto the porch.

"Thank you for dinner,"

To his regret, Stephen said nothing, but based upon his expression, Diana and Alex knew what'd happened.

"What else can we do?" his father challenged as Diana regressed to the kitchen.

"Nothing," Alex inserted. "She's ascending, and enraptured with obtaining dominance."

Ultimately, Karen couldn't abandon her love for Luis, nor the incessant pursuit of authority. Too, everyone recognized her history and the complications that came with it. Whatever the case, Karen was acting pretentious for unsuitable reasons, and despite separating from Luis years before, she remains obsessed.

More than that, knowing Luis still loves her broke Karen's heart, because despite everything, she also adored him. In which case, Karen's confidence grew, because despite Jessica's intervention, fate had brought them together again. In the same vein, Karen resented her mother's fleeting and self-serving agenda. Thereby, she'd remain defiant, blinded by an intimacy she stood determined to rekindle.