Duplicitous (F.C)

Wake-up Call

Felix and I are vastly awakened but pounding on our door. Pulling the sheet over my bare chest, Felix urgently dresses himself to answer the door. "Farleigh, he's having a tiff with mum and dad." We gather around the spiral staircase. "I wouldn't do this." Farleigh exclaims. "James is very upset." Elspeth's voice defends her husband. "You know that... why would I do this?" Felix and I share a look of concern. "What's this about?" Oliver asks Venita joining in on the chaos. "Shh." The three of us hush him. "There must be some kind of mistake." He proceeds to defend himself. "What happened, V?" I whisper. "He tried to Knick something." My brows furrow at the slang as I look to felix. "He stole something pretty valuable from mum and dad from the looks of it." Caught up, my attention goes to back to the argument at hand.

Farleigh seemed far too comfortable in this house with the Catton's, so hearing him jeopardize that is astonishing to say the least. "What are you talking about?" He asks for the both of us. "He's a fucking idiot." Venetia's comment causes Elspeth to look up at us, causing us to all scurry. "Debrief by the pond." Felix shuts the door behind us as we walk into my bedroom. "What a beautiful wake-up call." I chuckle at Felix's dry joke. "Morning." His morning voice still as handsome as ever. "Morning." My arms hang from his neck as I gently kiss him. "Should've known he was up to something." I furrow my brows at his bold statement as I parade through my dresser. "Before the dinner with the Henry's, we happened to have an argument about money."

"He brought up Oliver's party." My full attention falls on him after finishing my search. "Then proceeded to mention how his mother lives in squalor, which she's lucky to have my father putting any type of roof over her head." He reddens, getting heated over the topic. "Rambling nonsense about how she's not able to pay her bills. My father has enabled her, being more generous with her than I've seen with V and I. It seems to me that he's more concerned with his appearances when he goes back to University, not for his mother's wellbeing. "

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"Don't the two of you look lovely."Elspeth smiles, her attention falling on our intertwined hands. "I'd love to meet for tea later, if that's alright with you, dear." Felix looks like he's about to say something, but I gently squeeze his hand to assure him. "Sounds lovely." She smiles. "Any requests?" Elspeth seems genuine this time, but I have a feeling it's due to Farleigh's exit she's grown keen on me. "I'm sure that whatever you seem to fix will be perfect." This is all I wanted from her, and it's something I hope will stay. "Til tea then" Felix and I exit. "Seems like mum has a chip off her shoulder." He jokes, but I have a feeling that whatever words he shared with his mother stuck. "Maybe a new era has started."

"I mean, it's outrageous." V tells Oliver as she tans on the dock. "What happened?"  Oliver asks. "He sent an email to Sotheby's to say that he'd "come by" with some Palissy plates." Felix makes places down our lawn chairs on the grass. "I mean, what an idiot. He had to have known that dad went to school with the chairman." My eyes land on Oliver who already seems to be looking at me. His cheeks tint as I catch his gaze. "I mean, talk about biting the hand. Mum and dad would've given him anything he asked for." I cozy up beside Venetia. "Yeah, well, he obviously got sick of asking." V offers me a drag from her cigarette and I accept. "Thats ridiculous, he's more spoilt than we are."

"I mean come on, you have to admit... it's a little bit dark, him having to go with a begging bowl." Felix sheds light on Farelighs perspective, which she doesn't bite. "Guys, your parents." While Venetia stays silent, Felix coaches Oliver to stay mute. "What a glorious day." James beams, his wife silent by his side. "Never known a summer as hot as this one. Think it was even hotter than last year." Which is funny because it had been a breezy day. "I didn't't think that was possible, but here we are again." When there's tension, talking about the wheather seems to liven things. "It's hotter than Barbados, apparently. Barbados." Felix catches my eye, mouthing. "Barbados", which nearly almost made me lose it. "I can believe it, darling." Elspeth paces past the chair she was meant to sit in. "Honestly, I dont ever think I've been hotter in my life."

"I need to check with Robert... to make sure that he's being very vigilant about the hydrangeas." James paces back in the other direction, while Elspeth settles in her chair. "I haven't heard this song in forever, Calliope." Felix chuckles. "I used to hang out with them when I was modeling. Britpop, Blur, Oasis." The distant memory makes her smile. "God, the parties. Oh, but then, of course, Common people came out and everyone thought it was written about me. Which is completely mortifying." In another life I would be Elspeth in her younger days, but I'm way too invested in the one I'm living now. "What?" Venetia's outburst made me bite my lip. "She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge, it couldn't have been me. I've never wanted to know anything."

"God, I wish we didnt have to go to London." Elspeth complains. "I didn't know you were going to London." Felix throws the newly dead weeds into the water. "Pamelas funeral." She states nonchalantly. "Pamela died?" Oliver and I say in unison. "She'd do anything for atttention.'' Most likely rolling her eyes underneath her sunglasses. "You excited for your party, Oliver?" Felix tenses at Venetia's question. "Is there a theme?" Knowing that there was an uproar about his party, then they must have a theme. "Midsummer's night, so dress accordingly." Elspeth's attention lands on her daughter, which causes me to chuckle. It reminds me what used to be my relationship with my mother.

"You alright?" Felix places his hand on my leg. "I think I'm feeling quite ill from the sun." Standing up, I take my towel with me. "Should I come with?" He made sure not to be the middleman this time. "Enjoy the sun, but not too much." Placing the sunscreen on his lap, he rolls his eyes. "Very funny." For the first time it felt like I got Elspeth's approval I had been so desperate for when she laughs at my comment. "Your fair skin stands not a chance with the Uv's today; it'd be wise to listen to her." He hands the lotion to me. "If you're going to scold me, then you could at least get my back." I hand over the suntan lotion to Oliver. "I'm sure Oliver would love to volunteer; right, Ollie?" He squirms from being put on spot. "Erm... I guess." He places some lotion into his palm. "Case solved." Felix and Oliver seem uncomfortable, while the three of us chuckle at the awkwardness. "Love a girl that can laugh." Elspeth comments, and a smile falls on my lips as I walk away from the group.

As I make my way back to the room, the cold breeze feels like a breath of fresh air. Before laying down on pale blue linens, I reach for my blackberry. My finger hovers over my mother's contact; reading our last messages. My finger hovers over the call button. A deep sigh escapes my lips as I press the button, awaiting to hear my mother's voice on the other line. "Hello." Hearing her voice makes my heart skip a beat. "Mom, I've been waiting to hear from you." My heart races as I wait for her response. "Life's been a little different since you left, Cal." She sounds sober. "I've been in treatment; things got dark for me very quickly, and I realized that I needed to be there for you." Or at least what her version meant of that.

"Are we okay now?"She hums. "I'm sorry for the way that I went about things; you were going through a lot." A little angst made me turn on her at her lowest. "It's in the past, Cal." I'm not holding my breath for an apology from her. "Now, how are you holding up there?" Did I fully want to let her in? "It's been interesting; I actually have tea with Felix's mom in a bit, so I'll call you before bed." That's the last thing I want to miss. "It's good to hear your voice, Janey." It felt like having my mom back. "You to, momma." As I look up, I see Felix standing in the doorway. "You seem chipper." I sigh trying to take it all in. "My mom called, she's sober." He smiles, coming over to pull me into a hug. "That's great, Darling." The puzzle pieces are falling into place.  For the first time it feels like I'm getting my life right.