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CHAPTER FOUR: - MEET AND GREET

Clarisse looked at Eric in disbelief. Everything in the park is blurred out. Every vision, every sound diminished. The blithe giggling and laughing of the kids were in the distant somewhere now. The rattling branches of the sycamores and palms mumbled behind Eric’s words, joyous squirrels had disappeared far away in the dense bushes to defend themselves as if they heard a threat.

Clarisse’s head was spinning. She felt cold and dizziness creeping over her. Her heart raced no more. It slowed its pace, trying to catch up with the swooning world around it, she guessed.

“How could you fall so deep in disgrace?” She mumbled before tumbling.

“Calm down. I am sorry…,” Eric steadied her and signalled his men to get the car ready, “... I just said that I wouldn’t do anything like that, I assure you,” he said.

“I am okay. Sam is watching.” She saw Sam getting off the swing and striding towards them with his little feet.

Eric let go of Clarisse and grinned widely. Looking at him, he said, “Please tell him.”

“Don’t you think it’s too much for him to take in? Are you inclined to answer all his questions? You certainly provide a rational answer to mine,” Clarisse said.

Eric sighed, resigning the debate to Clarisse. He did dwell on the last words of Clarisse. Considering her point, he said, “it’s okay. Don’t tell him, yet.” and smiled brimming with fatherly sentiment.

“Hey…!” Clarisse knelt and embraced Sam, leaving Eric wondering about how she bounced off all the tension in the air and provided Sam with a delightful greeting. As if nothing had happened. Eric felt proud.

“Mom…,” Sam sprang off his feet, dropping into Clarisse’s arms, “… Who’s this?” He asked, hiding behind her.

“This…,” Clarisse gently grabbed Sam’s hand and presented him to Eric and said, “… is Eric. My old friend. We had a great venture together at the school.”

Eric crouched down to Sam’s height, yet appearing a few inches taller than him. “And are you?” He asked Sam with all of his charms.

“I am Sam Holt, and I am eight-years old,” he replied.

“Hello Sam, it’s so nice to meet you…,” Eric looked around, “… are you enjoying your time here?”

“Well, we made a settlement…,” Sam gazed up at Clarisse and giggled, “… I wanted to go to the movies. But, I got pancakes this morning, so I guess I don't get movies.” Sam said.

“Sam…,” Clarisse spoke with authority in her tone, “… so maybe next time we will just stay for the weekend with no TV.”

Eric laughed and asked Sam if he would like to go to the movies now.

“If Mommy doesn’t mind,” Sam said, puppy faced.

Eric glanced at Clarisse and raised his eyebrows. Clarisse folded her hands across her chest in disapproval, shooting the sharp look of rejection.

“Oh, come on. Let’s hang out. It’s been a long time, Clarisse, since the last time we went to the movies.” Eric pleaded.

“Mom, please. I like Eric, let’s go.” Sam added.

“Fine. All right. We can go.” Clarisse agreed.

“Yay…!!!” Sam bounced up and down with excitement.

With all the playing, he spared energy for that, Clarisse thought.

“Now, you…,” Eric placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder, “… you see those unhappy men in the suit?” He asked, pointing towards his men.

“Yes.” Sam chuckled.

“Great. Tell them they are in for a movie treat and see if they can smile.”

“ You are fun, Eric,” Sam said.

“Thanks. And you are adorable. Go run now.” Eric gave a little pat on his back.

As Sam went running, Eric noticed that one thing that had been missing from him; love. He saw his pure reflections in Sam. And Clarisse knew he’d.

“Didn’t he make you miss me?” Eric asked.

“No.” Clarisse denied the truth.

She'd spent years denying that, and she had gotten better at it. But yet it didn't convince Eric. He could read her like an open book, and somehow he felt she was a mystery.

Every time Clarisse looks at Sam, she sees Eric as he was when young. The innocence she recalled was not tainted by his family’s atrocities. Now that she’d seen him, it’s all gone. She didn’t want him to be one of Lewis'. But again, she, somewhere deep, believed what Eric had told her ‘he didn’t have a choice to make,’ just as they robbed him of his decision in his high school times. But it isn’t just that, is it? A part of her willed to scream and ask him how long will you be compromised, Eric? But going down that road has consequences. Dire consequences. It's so difficult when you have no one to blame, because then it's just you yourself.

She silently strolled alongside Eric, scrutinizing his face, trying to get into his mind. What does he think about all this after meeting up with Sam? Doesn’t he want to give up and run away? She felt the serenity in Eric’s eyes. She saw his relaxed composure in the way he strolled, the grin never leaving his lips. His shoulders at ease, hands in the pocket, and he could be humming. She saw him inhaling deep breaths, and she wanted him to stay that way. But there was a question which had caught her mind off. “ Things have changed since father’s death” his words rang in her head. She wanted to know.

“Eric…?” Clarisse spoke.

“Hmm…” Eric responded, perfunctorily.

“What has changed since your father’s death?”

Eric froze in the place, his shoulders back to the rigid frame of domination, his jaw clenched and fist balled.