Post by NotJustaBook on Jan 18, 2014 4:03:01 GMT -5
4.6. The Liar
(Orestes)
Had I brought home any other woman than Cadence, I would have worried. What would Iphigenia think? Would the lady like my little princess? (If she didn’t that would have been it – couldn’t have that). But Cadence was basically one of the people Iphigenia knew best. Nothing changed after that kiss in the snow. Well, Cadence did move into my bedroom and we kissed more than we had as employer and employee, but essentially, it was the same.
She played with Iphigenia and the two of them were as close as ever and Cadence took care of her. She was the one who taught her to walk and talk because it turns out she had a real knack for it.
Because of her, everything went smoothly for my little princess’ birthday.
Honestly, I’m glad Cadence was there when we went shopping for Iphigenia’s new wardrobe. Every time I suggested something, Iphigenie looked at me, absolutely mortified, until Cadence suggested that we let her pick it all out herself.
“I have absolutely no idea what she likes,” my girlfriend confided in me as we watched her pick out dresses. “And I have about as much fashion sense as you do. Probably less.”
Just as important, we had another daughter. This one together. She was a tiny, quiet little thing that we names Lysimache, Lyzzie for short. Cadence had taken to calling Iphigenia Genny ages ago, insisting she couldn’t pronounce it and it was the same with Lysimache.
“You all have such weird names.”
“It’s a family tradition. My great-great-grandmother had a name that fit into the theme and she continued with the tradition.”
“I’m glad that’s the family tradition and not locking people in basements. I guess I’ll get used to the names…”
It was all good for a long time. You’d think I was happier but there was always a nagging sense of guilt. Whenever I looked at Cadence, I wasn’t feeling guilty about not telling the babysitter and daughter of a dear friend what I suspected about her past. Now it was my girlfriend, my beloved, the mother of my daughter.
When no one else was there, I stood brooding for hours, hating myself.
I had told Cadence what I knew for sure.
But not what I suspected. The nagging suspicion that I knew where she had come from.
And that’s why, sometimes, I had to go. There was nothing more for me in Egypt, of course. I’d found all I needed there. But there was always another country, another tomb to explore. It was sort of my job, the only one I’d ever had in any case, and it had always been a bad habit.
Don’t want to face Esther today? Adventuring was what I did.
Now there was no more Esther and no more Egypt. China was up next. And even though I felt millions of times worse when I fled from Cadence, I still went.
Confronting damp old tombs and deadly traps was still more appealing than confronting my problems.
Author’s note:
Oooh, another baby, another name and you know what that means:
Lysimache: In Greek mythology the name of Priamos’ and Hecuba’s daughter and thus sister of Hector, Paris, and Cassandra of ‘No guys I totally swear that horse is bad news just leave it out there why won’t you believe me’ fame.
(Orestes)
Had I brought home any other woman than Cadence, I would have worried. What would Iphigenia think? Would the lady like my little princess? (If she didn’t that would have been it – couldn’t have that). But Cadence was basically one of the people Iphigenia knew best. Nothing changed after that kiss in the snow. Well, Cadence did move into my bedroom and we kissed more than we had as employer and employee, but essentially, it was the same.
She played with Iphigenia and the two of them were as close as ever and Cadence took care of her. She was the one who taught her to walk and talk because it turns out she had a real knack for it.
Because of her, everything went smoothly for my little princess’ birthday.
Honestly, I’m glad Cadence was there when we went shopping for Iphigenia’s new wardrobe. Every time I suggested something, Iphigenie looked at me, absolutely mortified, until Cadence suggested that we let her pick it all out herself.
“I have absolutely no idea what she likes,” my girlfriend confided in me as we watched her pick out dresses. “And I have about as much fashion sense as you do. Probably less.”
Just as important, we had another daughter. This one together. She was a tiny, quiet little thing that we names Lysimache, Lyzzie for short. Cadence had taken to calling Iphigenia Genny ages ago, insisting she couldn’t pronounce it and it was the same with Lysimache.
“You all have such weird names.”
“It’s a family tradition. My great-great-grandmother had a name that fit into the theme and she continued with the tradition.”
“I’m glad that’s the family tradition and not locking people in basements. I guess I’ll get used to the names…”
It was all good for a long time. You’d think I was happier but there was always a nagging sense of guilt. Whenever I looked at Cadence, I wasn’t feeling guilty about not telling the babysitter and daughter of a dear friend what I suspected about her past. Now it was my girlfriend, my beloved, the mother of my daughter.
When no one else was there, I stood brooding for hours, hating myself.
I had told Cadence what I knew for sure.
But not what I suspected. The nagging suspicion that I knew where she had come from.
And that’s why, sometimes, I had to go. There was nothing more for me in Egypt, of course. I’d found all I needed there. But there was always another country, another tomb to explore. It was sort of my job, the only one I’d ever had in any case, and it had always been a bad habit.
Don’t want to face Esther today? Adventuring was what I did.
Now there was no more Esther and no more Egypt. China was up next. And even though I felt millions of times worse when I fled from Cadence, I still went.
Confronting damp old tombs and deadly traps was still more appealing than confronting my problems.
Author’s note:
Oooh, another baby, another name and you know what that means:
Lysimache: In Greek mythology the name of Priamos’ and Hecuba’s daughter and thus sister of Hector, Paris, and Cassandra of ‘No guys I totally swear that horse is bad news just leave it out there why won’t you believe me’ fame.