Romantic Camelot Cove

Throughout their relationship together there had been many things to fight about between Guinevere and Abhijeet, but the one subject they had always returned to was money. Most couples fight more about money than any other subject, and this had proven true for the Cornwells. Guinevere had always been irritated by the fact that Abhijeet’s job paid him so little and also by the fact that he didn’t seem to be advancing as quickly as he had once promised her he would.

Though she had tried to keep in mind that it was his dream, and therefore none of her business, Guin had found herself struggling with the fact that she made more money than her husband. She had always wanted to be able to stay at home and look after her children while her husband maintained a job. It would have been easier for her all along if it could have been that way for her family, but unfortunately the bills had to be paid and it was her cheque that paid them.

The woman had always wanted to be able to support the man she loved. His dream was to be a chef with his own television show on the Yummy Channel. His dream had always made Guin smile and even chuckle a little to herself, but it was Abhijeet’s dream and she was in no position to interfere with it. In the meantime she would just have to work as hard as she could to support their family.

And although she might never admit it, Guinevere was proud of her husband. He did work and study hard to get the promotion he dreamed of. It just seemed that he always got overlooked when it came time for the interview process to begin again. Perhaps it was because his employers were so pleased with his work that they wanted to keep him where he was. Neither of them would ever know the answer to that.

The change from fast food to restaurant work, however, was a boon. Even if it weren’t for the raise of 300 simoleans a week, it also meant that they had more time together and more time for their daughters.

One night Guinevere and Abhijeet were spending a long-overdue evening resting on their bed together. Abhijeet had already changed into his lounging clothes for the evening and Guinevere had grown quite fond of her uniform. Abhijeet had told her he liked the way she looked in it, and now that they had more time together she felt as though doing those little things that made him happy were more important than ever.

“It feels good to have more time to spend together, Abhijeet,” Guinevere told her husband with a broad smile as she snuggled up against his shoulder. It felt comfortable like this, warm, solid, secure.

He kissed the top of her head and held her gently in his arms. “Now that the girls are growing up and we have more time together — And no more diapers! — I think things are going to get better for our family, don’t you?”

Guinevere smiled and wrapped her arms more tightly around her husband. “I think so,” she whispered softly. “I love you Abhijeet.”

“I love you too,” he said, pulling her more tightly to him and pressing his lips to hers. It felt warm being like this together, cuddling on their bed in the romantic glow of the room. It wasn’t long before romance turned to passion and they fell asleep in one another’s arms, not to awaken until the morning sun had begun to creep in through their windows.

Slowly things were beginning to change in the Cornwell household. Guinevere and Abhijeet spent more time together, watching their children grow up before their eyes and sharing their love for the first time in so long that everything felt new once again. For Guinevere it felt like spring when the earth was revived and new again. Their relationship was like that blessed season — new again for both of them. Those who knew the couple couldn’t imagine anyone being happier together than Guinevere Cornwell and Abhijeet Depiesse and there was even talk around town about how things seemed to be changing for them. “They’re acting just like newlyweds!” people would whisper.

The Cornwell’s heard little of the talk that was going on nor did they care to hear it. They were so wrapped up in themselves and their daughters that it seemed as though nothing could spoil their joy. Suddenly Abhijeet was thinking of settling down and making a true commitment to Guinevere, even preparing a renewal of their vows as a surprise for her, and Guinevere was thinking twice about extending their family. She had finally recognized that Abhijeet didn’t want any more children and he knew that she needed the deepest commitment he could make.

If their life could work, they were making it work now!

Meanwhile the girls seemed to be growing into lovely young creatures. Morgaine and Therese continued to share a close relationship with one another and it seemed that Morgaine harbored no resentment for her sister in spite of the fact that it seemed that both their parents always had more time for Therese than they had for her when she’d been Therese’s age. Morgaine was only ten years old but seemed to have a kind of quiet maturity about her when it came to her sister. She did what she could to help in looking after Therese.

When the two girls could be torn away from one another they could often be found playing with other children from the neighborhood. Therese had made fast friends with Orlando Bertino and Guinevere and Abhijeet often enjoyed sitting on their front porch watching the two play together. Times were good, and it made the entire family feel secure with one another for the first time in so long.

It even seemed as though everyone was growing in their trust for one another.

That is, until the day that Guinevere returned from Dr. Porland’s office for the third time during her marriage to Abhijeet. The news had been unexpected. She’d only gone for the visit because she’d been throwing up and hadn’t seen her monthly in awhile. In truth, she’d thought that perhaps at the age of thirty-two she might already be coming to the end of her cycle.

She’d been wrong of course and now when she looked down at her growing belly she realized that she had probably known all along. Still the news seemed somehow unexpected and unwelcome. Things had been going so well for her and Abhijeet! The birth of a baby could only interfere with their happiness now…

Guinevere had no idea how to tell her husband what was going on. It was news she didn’t want to have to relay to him but she knew that if she didn’t tell him now he’d never trust her again.

That night as they prepared to retire Guinevere cleared her throat. Abhijeet glanced up at her from the book he’d been reading and frowned slightly, removing his reading glasses and looking at her seriously. “What’s the matter, babe? Are you getting a cold or something?”

“No,” Guin said clearly, trying to muster all the courage she had. “I’m just pregnant again, that’s all.” She’d tried to say it casually but she knew that her voice was trembling when she spoke. She slipped into bed, still trying to act as though nothing was out of the ordinary, but Abhijeet jumped out of bed and she quickly followed him.

“What do you mean you’re pregnant again, Guinevere?!” he thundered, so loud that Guin shrank back for a moment. “I thought we agreed, no more kids! How the hell am I supposed to trust you when this keeps happening! I was satisfied with just Morgaine!”

Tears sprang to Guinevere’s eyes. She’d known that she’d wanted this baby all along, but she’d put off becoming pregnant because it wasn’t what Abhijeet wanted. “I hadn’t planned on this happening, Abhijeet,” she said softly, her voice breaking. “I’m happy with the two girls we have too… And I want you to be happy…”

She sighed softly, suddenly depressed. This should have been a happy time, whether the pregnancy had been planned or not. Instead, Guin felt betrayed by her husband and saddened by his reaction. “I didn’t plan it Abhijeet,” she whispered again as he quietly left the room to check on their sleeping daughters.

To Abhijeet’s mind, the relationship was already over. He had been doing everything he could to make it work for all four of them, including keeping his roving eyes locked securely on his wife. His daughter’s meant the world to him and their happiness was paramount. He couldn’t keep them happy if he was always looking for women other than their mother. It just wouldn’t work!

But somewhere in all that his own happiness had to factor into the equation. He realized now that his thoughts had always been that once the girls had grown up and left the nest, he and Guinevere could deal with their problems in a way that worked best for each of them. They would no longer have to take the girls into account — they could go their separate ways and live their separate lives.

But with a new baby on the way, it just extended the process further. They’d be togther and miserable for longer, he realized. And Guinevere had broken his trust when she had become pregnant. He just couldn’t be with a woman he couldn’t trust!

So he quietly slipped into the bedroom his daughter’s shared and bent over Therese’s bed, laying a light, gentle kiss on her forehead. With a start he realized that there were tears in his eyes — he didn’t want to leave them behind! Somehow he had already made the decision to go and to leave Guinevere and the girls to their own lives, but he found now that he couldn’t go without his children — he just loved them too much!

In her bed, Morgaine stirred and then opened her eyes as Abhijeet stepped closer to her bed. She looked directly into his eyes, so like her own, and gave a soft sigh. “Why are you crying, Daddy?”

With a deep flush of embarassment, Abhijeet swept at his eyes with his hand and shook his head. “I’m not crying, baby… I’m not crying,” he whispered to her. It was a small lie, one which would protect his daughter.

Suddenly, intuitive Morgaine shot bolt upright in bed. “You’re leaving us, Daddy! You’re leaving!”

Abhijeet looked surprised. He had planned to leave, yes. He wanted to leave, yes. But he didn’t want to leave his girls, and he knew that if he were to leave tonight they might be lost to him for forever. “I’m not leaving, Morgaine,” he said softly, sitting down on the bed next to her. He wasn’t sure if it was entirely true, but he wanted to reassure his daughter that everything was going to be alright.

Morgaine frowned softly. “You aren’t happy, Daddy,” she said with all the wisdom of a ten year-old. “And Momma isn’t happy.” She gave a little pout. “And when Momma ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy.” She giggled at the recollection of a plaque she’d seen once and Abhijeet joined in her laughter for a moment.

After a moment everything was serious again. “Daddy, can I go with you? Please?”

Abhijeet frowned. Yes, the decision was made. He had come here to say goodbye to his sleeping daughters and slip out while Guinevere was still asleep in the bed they had shared. He could stay with his parents for awhile or live in the empty home they had purchased a long time ago with the intention of renovation. It was somewhere to go at least, but was it enough for his daughter.

Finally he shook his head. “I don’t know, Morgaine…” he said softly. Therese was still snoring in her bed and Abhijeet glanced towards her with a concerned expression on his face.

“Momma doesn’t need me here, Daddy,” Morgaine whispered, catching the hint from her father and dropping her voice. “She has Therese. Please? I’d rather stay with you, Daddy!”

Abhijeet was taken aback. He knew that Morgaine had never been particularly close to her mother. In fact, she was right: Guinevere spent more time with Therese and always had. It had always seemed that Therese made Guin happiest out of all the members of their household. But how would she react if he took her older daughter from her? It could result in a custody battle if he didn’t play his cards right, and he didn’t want to put the child through that.

“Are you sure?” he asked Morgaine after a moment. “Your mom could fight this you know… She could make me bring you back here if she wants to, Morgaine. Do you want to risk going through all that?”

Morgaine threw her arms around her father. “Yes, Daddy! I want to stay with you!”

Finally Abhijeet nodded. “I’m going to call a taxi. I’ve got somewhere we can stay for a little while at least… You just sit tight and I’ll be back in a few minutes. Change your clothes and get anything you want to take with you packed up. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to come back for anything that’s been left behind!”

It was nearly 8 am when Morgaine and Abhijeet were both finally ready to go. There was no school that day because it was a Saturday and Abhijeet felt confident that he could get them to their new home before Guinevere ever woke up. She’d already been placed on maternity leave from her job and had taken to sleeping late in the mornings now.

Quietly the pair crept out to the waiting taxi and slipped into it, careful not to wake Guinevere or Therese. By the time they made it to the cab, however, Therese was running after them, fully dressed and clearly panicked. “Daddy! Where are you going? Can I come too?”

There was no time for Abhijeet to say anything to his younger daughter before she had slipped into the cab herself and the driver had pulled away. Alarmed and clearly in shock, he started to scold her but then thought better of it. “Where are we going, Daddy?” she repeated after a moment, her voice clearly nervous.

“Daddy’s taking us to live with him in a new house!” Morgaine chimed before Abhijeet could answer Therese’s question.

“Oh goody!” Therese giggled. “I don’t like our house! I want to live in a different house!” Then she suddenly became concerned. “Daddy, where’s Momma?”