Almost: Almost series, #2

By Adriana LS Swift

A modern Romeo and Juliet with family hatred, lies, intrigues, where the main characters risk their own lives to be together.

Ernest is denounced for harrassment and that is about to completely sink him. He who has always taken his profession seriously and has an infinite respect for his students, is suddenly caught onthe street and being pointed out for something he is not.

Marta has to choose to in between believing her friend or following what her heart tells her, and she starts to realize that not everything in life is so simple as she believed it was up till recently. If she saves Ernest from going to jail, the whole world will find out about their relation, bringing a log of problems to both of them. And Marta isn't physically not mentally prepared for something like that.

More problems, more hard decisions to take, more love and more hate in between families, where the past starts to take shape until almost drowning the present. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pandora
• Release date: Mar 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9781071506776

Book preview

Prologue

December 1987

A wedding is not just a simple celebration where you invite family and friends. It is a moment in which you commit to love and protect another person, in spite of the good and bad moments with them. And that is something Carles and Silvia know quite well.  Both have just left a small church in a neighborhood of Barcelona that has nothing to do with theirs. It is the only one where they could get married this way.  The priest who officiated the wedding thought she was pregnant; hence the rush and secrecy.

But it had nothing to do with that.

I’m coming in with you. she repeated to Carles at the doors to Silvia’s house. 

But it’s better if I am the only one who—

I am your husband. He reminds her. Nobody will stop me from being by your side from here on out. 

He grabs her hand and kisses the ring he had put on her finger less than an hour ago at the altar. She nods letting out a sigh before knocking on the door.

Seconds later, the service staff opens the door. Silvia and Carles enter and let themselves be guided by the upbeat voices of nearby conversations coming from the manor lounge of the mansion Silvia lived in.

Jordi is her. Silvia whispers to her husband with horror.

He, also horrified, swallows saliva and pulls in his courage, a courage he only has when next to his now wife.

In a few minutes everything will be over. He tells her grabbing her hand with a firm grip and taking the last steps until he finally entered that room where they find both families gathered and chatting as they are used to.

And there was no need to call their attention. They have been rapidly noticing that something was happening when they saw Carles and Silvia holding hands at the doorway.

What does this mean...? Jordi’s father starts saying with a booming voice when he sees that the couple doesn’t let go of their hands and neither says a word.

Please, Joan. Silvia’s mother, Carla berates him. Daughter, what is happening?

But Silvia couldn’t talk. She can’t stop looking at Jordi who crosses his arms in the seat next to her father. He has a calm expression on his face contrary to her father. She sees him stand up and put his hand on Jordi’s shoulder as emotional support.

Her father chose his side and it wasn’t exactly hers.

We wanted to inform all of you that Silvia and I just got married.

And Carles had struggled so hard to pronounce those words without a trembling voice, but if it wasn’t him, Silvia wouldn’t be able to. And it doesn’t matter anymore if the world starts to scream, cry and threaten them with nonsense. No, none of that matters. They will leave here's and go to their new home together. They don’t care if the rest doesn’t support their decision, they could live with it. They just wanted to do things moderately right; the best they could under the given circumstances.

Mother, Adria, please. Jordi emphatically interrupted silencing everybody as if it were magic.

He walks towards Silvia and Carles. Carles places himself in front of his wife fearing the worst.

Jordi, let’s talk... He starts saying.

But Jordi has something else in mind. He hugs Carles and proceeds to give Silvia a hug as well leaving everyone present astonished.

Congratulations. He tells them still standing in front of them.

Jordi, we... Is everything okay? Silvia asks still not believing what just happened.

You two are my friends and if both of you are happy, so am I. He answers with a large grin. He turns to their families and adds We should all be happy with this if we really loved you two.

From that moment on, everyone tries to put effort in maintaining their manners. They don’t seem happy with the situation but return to the high-class families they were and, as such, they must show a knowing to be; different from what could be seen in another house of a not so elevated status. Before everything else, we must maintain our behavior.

What nobody explains, not in that moment nor when everybody leaves on good terms, is the reason why Jordi reacted so cordially. And that is because he himself didn’t know. What was clear is that he would never, under any circumstance, forgive what those two had done.

He would never forgive that a Calçó would be the one who had stolen the love of his life.

1

December, 2014

Ernest

I can’t teach a class. I can’t be with Marta. I can’t get involved in certain transactions with my father’s company. And I ask myself ‘What am I still doing in Barcelona?’.

Ah yes. I forgot. I can’t leave the country until the big mess that was made by that allegation is resolved.

I get up from the sofa again and walk around the room like a caged wolf. I need to get out of here, but I don’t want to see anybody. I don’t pick up the phone either unless it is my father or Elise, who found out what happened and calls me every few hours to see how I am doing.

Like a piece of shit is how I am at the moment.

Only four days have passed since my apprehension and I still can’t calm myself down. At least my father sent me the best lawyer in Barcelona and after a few hours, I was out of the police station leaving no time for the press to find out what happened. Not even the students know anything yet, although Eugeni, the only one till today who knows something, will have to go to my class to give explanations for my temporal suspension and...

I sit down again and turn on the TV. After a few seconds of changing through the channels, I turn it off and drop the control on the table. What will Marta do when she finds out what happened? She might hate me and never want to know anything, or she might still want to talk to me. In the first case, it won’t be necessary to do anything. In the second... I won’t let her get involved.

That, never.

I get up one more time. I approach the window and watch the people leaving their houses on their way to work. Even though at this instant they just want to finish their shift and go back home, they are lucky. I would give anything to be entering the doors of that classroom looking for my beautiful noiava right now.  I miss her so much that I feel my chest hurting just by thinking of her. Feeling every single second of her absence. Everything that happened with Josep a few days ago seems completely idiotic now. I wasted valuable time thinking stupid thoughts while I could have been with her; enjoying her day and night.

The people continue passing under my window, continuing with their lives, while mine was destroyed days ago.

Marta

Or skating. Montse proposes with her gaze on the teacher’s empty table.

No! Paintball! Iona exclaims excited with her own idea.

Montse turns towards her outraged.

What bullshit are you saying? To walk around like painted whores?

Montse and Iona talk about what they are going to do this weekend. Personally, I don’t feel like leaving the house and let them plan what they want. I don’t know why Iona bothers making plans with Montse when she leaves us hanging at the last hour or wants to invite her friends, Pili and Mili to come with which the whole plan is ruined from the beginning.

Okay, people. I ask you to remain silent for a moment. We hear Eugeni who walks into our class closing the door say. I have something to tell you.

The people look at him curiously. What’s wrong? Ernest isn’t coming today?

There’s no class? Ignasi asks with a mocking tone. "Can we go now?

His friends laugh but Eugeni doesn’t look like he is in the mood for jokes today.

Ernest Calçó will not be coming to class today. He explains. He has had a little setback and until further notice, I will be teaching your classes.

What happened? Someone from the front rows asks.

There is nothing to worry about. He tries to calm us down as he hears the people starting to get riled up talking about a strange sickness. It is possible that everything gets cleared up and Ernest will be back soon.

Everything gets cleared up?  Iona asks raising her tone. What needs to be cleared up?

New whispers go around the classroom. I don’t understand what is happening. I haven’t heard anything about him since Monday when he didn’t show up at the plaza. I don’t know if he is okay, if something happened to him or if he finished his work at his father’s company and went back to Paris.

I don’t know anything about him, because he nor I have taken the trouble to get in touch again. 

That is not something for me to say. Eugeni answers taking out papers from his folder and trying to bring order to the class without success.

And that is when Pili and Mili intervene. They turn towards Montse who has been quiet since Eugeni started talking.

In the end you did it! Both scream excitedly. Oh, my god! You dared to do it!

Eugeni tells them to be quiet but they completely ignore him.

That’s what we planned, right? Montse answers annoyed by her two friend’s excitement.

They laugh like crazy.

We didn’t think you would be capable of doing it. And they start talking in between them. Should we go too?

What are you girls talking about? I ask Montse.

Nothing. She answers without looking at me.  

Iona observes the situation and intervenes.

Montse, what have you done? she asks her.

What I had to do. Nothing else.

She reported Ernest for harassment. Is it that? Pili and Mili tell her almost in unison and started laughing.

Eugeni manages to control the class by threatening them with a test. But I can’t even hear him.

Montse, you did that? Iona asks quietly meanwhile the class had already started.

I couldn’t do anything else. She apologizes crestfallen. I hope you support me because I am going through a very difficult—

Support you? I tell her standing up unable to control my rage. You’re telling us to support you? In what do you want us to support you in?  Say it!

Marta, please do us a favor to... I hear Eugeni tell me.

I’m having a terrible time! Montse replies with tears in her eyes.

You’re having a terrible time? Ernest has never harassed you in his life!

Iona grabs on to me trying to sit me down and stop me from screaming.

He did! and now Montse also stands up. Ernest is no angel, you know?

I know very well how Ernest is and, in this class, nobody thinks he is a harasser.

Marta! Sit down and be quiet or you’re out of here! Eugeni threatens me.

Well, we do think... the two borinots start to say. 

And I’m tired of all of them.

Both of you are a pair of—

Sit down, damn it! Iona screams at me pulling me so hard that she sits me down for the moment.

If I hear another word, I will suspend your subject and you will have to enroll again next year!

Alright, I won’t say single word. I start to get my stuff together.

"What are you doing? Iona whispers.

I’m leaving.

Stay and we will talk about it later with calm.

I don’t even answer. I don’t answer to Eugeni who asks me where I’m going with an authoritarian tone either.

I am going to tell him...

Ernest

I hear somebody opening the house door with a key and I turn around, surprised. I see Marta come in full throttle with tears in her eyes. I was going to get up, but she reaches me before I can move.

Why didn’t you tell me what was happening? She asks with tears in her eyes; hugging me. Why didn’t you tell me what Montse did?

Marta, you should be in class. What is what... I tell her trying to make her look at me.

You should have told me, god damn it!

She continues crying and hugs me with strength not letting me move. It appears she is calming herself down little by little and that is when I make use of the moment to free her arms from my neck and having her sit down next to me where we can talk.

I didn’t want to get you involved. Is the first thing I tell her.

I was going to end up knowing about it, but you didn’t tell me anything, Ernest. You haven’t been fair with me.  I found out in the worst way possible and I feel like a complete idiot.

She continues crying but not with the same intensity as before.

Eugeni? I ask.

No, he didn’t say anything. It was those two borinots and Montse.

So, at this point, the whole city must know. And soon the Casals...

I am sorry for what is happening.  And with all the pain in my heart, I speak the following words. "I am sorry that you had to find out about what happened with Montse that way. I know I had to tell you and not make you believe that I distanced myself from you because of the issues with Josep, but...

Her face changed and her eyes widened in astonishment.

What did you just say? She asked slowly.

I don’t know what Montse told you, but I apologize for—

No, no, no... wait... she rubs her eyes and looks at me again. This isn’t true. You haven’t done anything to anybody. Montse lied by doing what...

Marta, I just hope you can forgive me someday.

I hold back my tears as best as I can while I see my noiava starting to cry in silence. She looks at me as if she didn’t know me, as if she is fighting against herself to not believe what I am saying.

You are lying to me. You are not like that. I know you. She starts saying as if she was trying to convince herself. 

We have only known each other for a few months. I remind her.

With one day was enough to—

We are not the main characters of a movie, Marta. This is real life! Wake up! Ok? I get up after screaming and walk to the window of the lounge.

Ernest, I hear her say – once again by my side— Please don’t do this to me.  Don’t make me believe that—

I don’t want you to believe anything. I am saying what there is, nothing more.

Are you telling me that you wanted to sexually abuse Montse? Her voice is almost a whisper now.

It got out of hand. I answer tersely without looking at her.

That’s not true. She said repeatedly as if in a loop. It can’t be...

Leave the keys in the hallway when you leave. Was all I answered.

There is a terrible moment of silence at this moment. The only thing that could be heard is the sounds from the play in the distance and the careless conversations below the window.

Marta doesn’t say another word. She throws the keys to the floor next to me, runs towards the door and leaves slamming it.

She leaves me lonelier than I have ever felt till now.

2

Ernest

I am going to end up crazy according to my lawyer. I must get out of here, he says. I need to get some sunlight. I think he is saying that to enjoy it now before they put me behind bars for a good while. Because now, two other students, Pilar and Aurora, felt like accusing me as well, and this has already come out on the news. The headline is very bold: University professor, just arrived from Paris, harassing students from the EBU.

How wonderful.

I know that things are not looking well. Bruno tells me again. Bruno, my chubby and good-natured lawyer outside of the office and cruel and ruthless inside the office. But nothing is impossible. He gets up to leave after our reunion. Think about what I said, okay?

I told you I wasn’t going to do it.

But it is the only alibi you can use for the three cases. He tells me trying to make me reconsider it. It can bury those three allegations single-handedly.

I told you I don’t want to bring her into this, and I forbid you to do it. I tell him decisively.

He shakes his head pitying my decision. I can’t give in. I don’t care what he says nor how long I will have to be in jail. She is going to stay out of all of this. 

When Bruno leaves, I go to the kitchen waiting to see if the sight of the food he brought me would give me an appetite. I stare at the refrigerator shelves once more and I close the door when the cold bothers me. Maybe tomorrow I will eat something, I might wake up a little hungry.

But right when I am waking up, I feel the weight of my problems crushing me and I can’t lighten the load throughout the day.

I return to the sofa, grab a blanket cover myself with it.  On the streets, the rain falls in gusts on this shitty day of Christmas eve.

Marta

So, you will stay at home? My father asks at dinner.

I told her if she wanted to come with me. Iona says sitting next to me.

I don’t feel like going anywhere. I tell my father as I look at Iona from the corner of my eyes. "It isn’t the first Christmas I spend alone.