3nd Chapter

The week passed too fast for my taste. It was the damned day that the little guy would come back here and I'm still not sure what for. This both annoys me and makes me very nervous and anxious. My dad doesn't say anything! Absolutely nothing! Not even to tell me what he is going to do, if this shit he invented is sealed or not. What the hell!

”He's here,” says Maria.

I was sitting on the stable floor. I didn't want to show up at home, but of course I had no choice.

“I have to go now?”

“Your father said to call you, dear.”

“Say I'm coming.”

Maria leaves and I lean against the wall and sigh deeply. I so wanted my life to be mine! But what can I do against it? If it didn't depend on my parents, I could be gone.

Maybe it's a good idea to go with this guy. He lives in the big city and I can get a job there, I don't know! Anything that gives me freedom and total control of my own life

I get up unwillingly and run my hand over my pants cleaning the dirt from sitting on the floor. I walk slowly to the house and when I enter my father approaches and take me to the short man. He smiles at me.

“Hello, Lara.”

“Hi!” I reply unwillingly.

“Your father was telling me a little about you.’

“I bet there were no compliments.”

The man laughs and my father gives me a stern look.

“Actually, he was talking about your passion for horses.”

“Oh...”

“You were in the stable?” Look me up and down. I also look and see a piece of hay clinging to my pants.

“Yes. I spend all day there.”

“It's good to know you like it.”

“Is it? Why?”

“I have a stud farm.”

I remain silent looking at the man, who smiled widely. I look at my father, and he had a poker face. Perhaps this news did not please him.

“Since my father loves to keep secrets from me ...” I dare not look at my father now, because I know that if he could, he would kill me with his eyes.  “May I ask what you two agreed about me?’

The short man looks at my father with a frown.

“Didn't you tell her?”

“No.”

“Good. I came to pick you up.”

I look away.

“Can I get to know what for?”

“Your father said he is taking care of your future and wants you to marry someone he trusts.”

“Do you think this is normal?”

“Lara!” My father scolds.

“Let the girl speak,” says the little man.

“Do you think it's normal for him to want to choose that for me these days?”

“I confess that this is a little archaic, but also necessary.”

“Necessary?”

“Yes, for both your family and mine.”

“What does that mean?”

“That part is not important to you.” I roll my eyes.

“So what is it?”

“You're engaged.”

“Against my will.”

“Keep calm. Once everything is resolved, you can divorce if you want.”

“Really? And what has to be resolved?”

“I told you it doesn't matter to you.”

“But I don't understand ... If I can get divorced later, what the hell is this future?”

“Lara! Speak right!” My father fights.

I shrug and the little guy laughs.

“I'll explain to you later.”

“Can I take Teci?”

“You're asking too much, Lara!” My father speaks stressed.

“I can't leave her here! She will go into depression!” I say nervously.

“She is a mare, she can't go into depression.”

“And are you an expert now? Are you a vet?” I ask furiously. My dad starts looking intimidating and I bite my tongue.

“Of course you can take the mare.”

I look at the man with surprise.

“Swear?”

“Of course! I saw depression happen in horses that were in love with the owner. If this mare is so important to you, you are certainly very important to her.”

“I appreciate it! I don't know what would become of her without me.”

“I'll prepare everything to take it.” He smiled.

“Today?”

The man laughs at length.

“I didn't know I was going to take the mare. Your father didn't tell me you had that affinity. But as soon as we arrive, I will see to it.”

“Thanks.”

“No need to thank, girl.”

He said it well: girl. He must be forty years older than me! Can only I find it absurdly wrong?

“Pack your things, Lara.”

“All right.”

I head to my room. My mom and Maria are in it. Two large suitcases are on the bed, and they were packing my things in them.

“Do any of you know where I'm going?”

“Mr. Lorenzo has a home in Italy.”

I keep my mouth open for a long moment. They don't stop packing things even with my horror face.

“What?”

“You’re going to Italy, my daughter. I just don't know if you're going to live there or spend a few days.”

“But I won't see you again?” I ask upset.” Wait! How will he take Teci there?

“He's a rich man. He’ll find a way.”

At least he will take it. That’s what matters.

****

Lorenzo's helpers or employees took my things to the car while I said goodbye to my parents and Maria.

“Take care, my daughter.”

“Will I be able to see you?”

“Whenever you want,” say Lorenzo.

“Don't be so melodramatic, Lara.”

“If you don't have a heart, I do!” I reply in a bad mood. My father was going to start an argument, but my mother stopped him.

“She's leaving.”

“OK, you're right.”

“Whenever I can, I'll be in touch, Mom,” I say, ignoring my dad.

“Go with God, my daughter.”

“Thanks. Stay with Him.”

“Shall we go?” Asks the little man.

I took a deep breath and followed the little man out of the house. Before getting into the car, I looked at the house and the stable. All the terrain I used to run when I wanted to feel free.

Will I have a similar place to escape?

My parents and Maria are on the porch. Both are crying and my father, as always, indifferent. I get into the car sitting in the back seat. The short man sits in the front seat and the driver starts to leave with the car.

I keep looking back, leaving the image of my house in my mind.

I don't know what will become of me in the next few months and even though I have plans to get rid of it, I'm afraid that everything will go wrong. And I'm still confused about what he said about divorce.

Will I be able to get rid of this in the near future?

It took us a while to get to the airport. As I said, I live at the end of the world and everything is distant. I'm glad I said goodbye to Isabeli the day before. I know I won't be seeing her for a while.

Or maybe never again. However, we agreed to speak on the internet.

“We're here.”

I look out of the car window. It wasn't a very big place and it didn't look like an airport. It just seemed to be an airstrip.

I get out of the car and follow Lorenzo, his bodyguard is in charge of picking up the bags. When I saw what we were going to fly on, I was paralyzed in the same place.

It was a private jet! My God!

“Have you ever flown?”

“No.”

“You'll like it.” he says, smiling.

“Where are we going?”

“Spend a few days in Italy, and then we'll be back.”

“You don't live there?”

“No. I have many properties. We are going there to meet my son, and we will be back in a few days.”

“Son?” I ask, choking.

It was just what I needed! I don't know how to deal with children! They are always combing and driving people crazy! I have no patience for that!

Sometimes, my younger cousins ​​would visit us on the farm, and they would try to make my life a living hell. But I also did theirs.

“Let's go. We have a long way to go.”

“That's great” I say dejectedly, and he smiles.

I slept most of the trip. When I woke up it was for dreams about children hanging around Teci's neck and I gone crazy. I will never want to have children!

“Lets land now.”

“At last!” I say with my hands in the air. Lorenzo laughs at my drama.

We got off the jet and got into a very fancy car. I don't understand brands, because I don't ride a car, I ride a horse. We stayed in the car for a few minutes. I cannot take it anymore! I want to get there soon! And don't think I'm looking forward to meet his son, or see the house that I know must be huge. I'm in a hurry, because I want to sleep.

Yes, I slept the whole trip, but that doesn't mean I'm not tired yet.

The place we were passing was very beautiful. The car was on the straight road, it seemed to have no end. Next to it, the lawn was green and huge. Beautiful as I have never seen, not even in the grounds of my house, or ex-house.

I saw few houses, but they were very beautiful, small and tidy.

I loved this place.

The driver entered a dirt street. Still, the place was beautiful. He stopped at the last house, or do I say mansion? The place was huge! The house was perfect and very big. Two or three times bigger than the one I lived with my parents. Wow!

“We're here.” He offers his hand to help me out of the car. I take it and keep looking at the place. It was incredible!

I think I will enjoy spending a few days here!

“Let's meet my son now.”

I take that back.