Blue Blood and Belgium Chocolate

|27| The Legend of the Library

Adaliz

and the burnt down library

"ADALIZ PHILIPPE, WHAT is the meaning of this?" My mother says voice dignified but showing excessive signs of irritation.

I glance up looking at her. "Meaning of?"

"Her," My mother's eyes shift over to where a brunette woman was standing clipboard in hand. 

"Mother, meet Regina Thulle, she will be assisting me on the repairs of the National Library."

If I thought that would calm her, it seems to irritate her more. "I know that," she says, "but why is she doing your work?"

I frown, "She's not running the country mother."

"No, but she's doing everything on restoring the library."

I close the files she'd passed me filled with well thought out details on the cost of each restoration from each book to each wing that has been in the library prior to the fire. "She is just helping me on planning the restoration of the National Library. I thought it was best to hire an expert of the matter."

"She's doing everything." 

"No, I'm the one approving of what needs to be done."

My mother's eyes don't flinch, nor does her voice raise in volume. "Adaliz, this is not what you and your father agree on. I'm sure you know that well enough. This project needs to be done, only with your efforts."

"I don't have time."

"Neither does your father but he does do it."

"With the help of myself and Daegan."

My mother comes to the desk and takes the file away from my hand flipping through Regina's careful notes on it. "Have you even been to the library?"

If I had a retort to say, it dies on my lips. It is a valid question. The irony is, I've not even stepped foot inside the charred remains of what once was a pride of the country. 

My mother catches this and her lips curl into a large grin as though she's proven a point. 

"I'll visit it today," I say before she voices it out.

"Good." She's triumphant. "And take Daegan with you."

I try not to flinch. I've been avoiding him since Fabianne's party and for good reason too. I shouldn't have been surprised that my mother noticed the change in my behaviour. 

"I think he's busy helping dad." I try instead.

She doesn't budge. "No, he's not. I just saw him in the theaters watching a movie."

"Mother..."

"Adaliz, he just came back from a decade of service from the military. He feels more alone than ever. Laurie and Jasper were 14 and 12 when he left and look at them now." There's a bit of passion in her voice, a lot more sadness, "Things have changed so much since he's gone. You don't need to make him feel more alone than he already does."

"But mother, you don't get it -"

"No, I get it well enough. He didn't act the way you expected him to and now you're avoiding him and further hurting and isolating him than he needs to be."

I flinch.

"That's not true," I protest.

She just meets my eyes and waits.