The flight was smooth, and two hours after boarding, I arrived in Denver with my heart pounding hard in my chest. That was it, it was done.
I move for an unknown city, to unknown people, to complete the greatest madness of my life. But now I have no way back.
I looked around as I left the airport arrivals area pushing a cart with all my luggage, which was not much, in search of Theon. I frowned as I passed a gargoyle that "adorned" the environment, it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. Did anyone really think it would be a good decoration?
I sat down in one of the vacant seats, waiting for the father of my son to show up. After a few minutes without any sign of him, I decided to call, but before the call could be completed, he appeared panting in my field of vision. And to my utter surprise, he was accompanied.
The woman next to him was shorter than him, with shoulder length dark hair and delicate features.
Is this his girlfriend?
" Samantha, I am sorry! " He apologized, greeting me with a half hug " there was an accident on I70 and we ended up stuck in traffic jams.”
" Of course, no problem " I answered in front of the woman's analytical look.
He didn't tell me anything else about his situation with his girlfriend, I guess she decided to stay with him in the end. I just didn't expect him to bring her here without telling me, I wish I had prepared myself for that.
" Aren't you going to introduce me, Theon? " she spoke up as I walked away at a respectful distance.
I don't want to give this woman any reason to hate me, it's not enough that I got pregnant by her boyfriend.
" Sorry, Samantha, this is Calliope, my sister." He explained as she held out her hand to me.
" Oh, I didn't know you had a sister," I hurried to greet her.
Okay, at least she has no reason to hate me!
" It is a pleasure to meet the mother of my future nephew or niece," she smiled warmly, shaking my hand.
Yes, my son's aunt! Will he have other aunts or uncles? I don't know anything about him, we haven't really met.
God, what madness am I committing?
" Are you ready? " Theon asked, interrupting my reverie.
" Of course," I silenced my inner voice that screamed that this was the biggest stupid thing I had ever done in my life.
I had taken a step into the unknown, and I needed to face the situation. It was all a consequence of irresponsibility, and I had to take the blame and accept the changes.
This is no time for regrets!
Theon soon took control of the luggage cart, leading me toward the exit. He did not want to allow me to make any effort, and I felt grateful for that. In one way or another, it was as if he was looking after me.
His sister walked beside me in silence the whole time. This situation bothered me a little, but I didn't know what to say to break the uncomfortable silence.
" So, Calliope, do you have other siblings? " I decided to try to get to know her a little better.
" We are four brothers," she observed me with an indecipherable expression as we made our way across the parking lot to where the car was.
" Have you eaten yet, Sam? It's after one o'clock, we can have lunch before we start driving up to Aspen " Theon interrupted us as we reached his SUV.
" Sure, that would be nice," I smiled gratefully.
Although I had eaten a snack during the flight, I was starving.
He proceeded to stow my belongings in the car as I walked to the back door, before he caught my eye.
" Go ahead," he instructed, "you'll be more comfortable.
" That's not necessary," I stammered, looking at his sister.
" Please, I insist," she assured, "I don't mind riding in the back seat.”
Soon we were settled in a snack bar that was near the city limits waiting for our meals. The atmosphere seemed to have changed a little, Calliope was filling me with the most varied questions, about my family, my origins, my profession, and my answers sometimes surprised Theon, who did not know many details about me, just as I didn't know details about his life.
As soon as we finished our lunch, he paid the bill while I went to the bathroom. As I left, I noticed that the two of them were already waiting for me outside the cafeteria, next to the car. I walked over there unconcerned, but slowed my steps when I overheard a conversation between the two of them, who had not noticed me.
" I thought at least the two of you knew each other better," she whispered critically, "you don't know anything about her and you were stupid enough to get her pregnant, what were you thinking, Theon!”
" It wasn't planned, we weren't thinking much," he murmured, sounding displeased by his sister's tone, "and I only spent a few days with her, there wasn't time.”
" A few days would have been enough to talk about your family and find out something about this girl if you were interested in something besides her body," she continued angrily, "I didn't expect that from you!”
" What exactly did you expect, Callie?”
" That you would get pregnant with someone you could build a family with. Not someone like her," the woman replied, opening the back door of the car.
I bit the inside of my cheeks, feeling my eyes fill with tears. It's not like I expected to build a family with him, but it's not easy knowing that I'm not considered appropriate. Will my son be rejected?
That thought made me bring my hand up to my belly, wanting to protect him from anything.
" Sam! I didn't see you come," Theon paled a little when he saw me standing a few meters from the car.
Calliope immediately looked at me, looking mortified that I had overheard their conversation.
" Do you mind if I ride in the back seat now? It's roomier," I asked, looking down at the floor in an attempt to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out at any moment.
I thought we were getting along, but in the end, I was just accepting a ride to my new city, I was alone!
" Samantha, I'm sorry... " Calliope began to explain herself, coming towards me.
" I don't want to hear it, let's just go, please," I cut her off, deciding to hold my head high.
Theon took a deep breath, looking annoyed before opening the door for his sister to come in front of him, slamming it hard afterwards. I was just settling into the back seat when I felt his hand on my shoulder.
" I'm sorry," he whispered.
I replied with a dull smile that seemed to have been enough for him at the moment, who turned the car around to take the driver's seat.