Knowing it was best that her parents remain oblivious of all that was going on between herself and Emile, Kiera continued to teach him in secret. Their love, as it grew, was a different notion altogether.
Emile''s POV
Kiera and I had developed a sort of schedule for our get-togethers. We''d start with my lessons which usually lasted for at least an hour and a half or so. While I''d always studied eagerly, we both found ourselves looking forward to the cuddles, caresses, kisses and love-making we shared afterwards.
"You''ve been doing so well", Kiera whispered as we closed the books, ending my lesson for the night. "I''m so proud of you."
"I''m just happy I''ve had you to teach me", I replied, gently embracing her. "You''re the best thing that''s ever happened to me, Kiera."
"I feel the same way about you, Emile. I just wish my father could understand that there''s more to you", Kiera said, reaching up to stroke my cheek. I nodded in agreement but at the same time was deep in thought.
"What''s it like where you live, Emile?", Kiera wanted to know. "I''ve seen homeless encampments before...but never one in the woods." I chuckled.
"Well, first of all, there aren''t big mansions with nice yards and fences around them, that''s for sure. That being said, we don''t judge each other and there''s more than enough love to go around. We always help each other as much as possible".
"Sounds a lot nicer than having to deal with my father and his attitude, Kiera replied. At that, I smiled.
Kiera''s POV
In an attempt to keep our relationship under wraps, Emile did his best to come to work every day without paying me any special attention. Although he was kind and polite, we limited any displays of affection to my bedroom after his lessons late at night. It was understood between us that this was just how it had to be. At least, for now.
Nonetheless, the encampment Emile called home fascinated me. Having grown up with someone as strict, overbearing and snobbish as my father, I almost couldn''t imagine that there actually was such thing as a loving, non-judgmental person!
In truth, my only examples of such a thing were my mother Aviva and Emile himself. Despite knowing of the desperate poverty he lived in, I yearned for the love he''d known throughout his life. Because, at least that was unconditional. Surely, his mother and father would accept our love!
July, 2005
Emile''s POV
Though winters at the encampment were always a struggle, no one argued that summers were much worse...especially in July which is the hottest month here in Chicago.
Just to cope with the heat, many, many families including mine swam in the river or chose not to use so many blankets when they slept.
It was because of said heat, in fact, that Kiera''s mother Aviva decided most of my duties should be inside instead.
"Keeping the bushes trimmed is one thing", she explained. "but there''s plenty to be done in the house as well."
So, my job shifted to tasks such as dusting, sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and wiping down the tables and counters. Aviva also allowed me to help fold the laundry with her and Kiera.
As happy as these changes made Kiera and I, they also made it more difficult to keep our relationship from her parents.
"Kiera, we should at least let your mother know about us", I whispered as we lay cuddling one night.
"Emile...", Kiera sighed.
"I understand that you''re afraid...but your mother''s very kind. It''s not her that dislikes me! You don''t really think us being together would make her angry, do you?", I asked.
"No, but what happens when she brings it up to my father? They discuss almost everything so, I know she would!", Kiera replied.
"We can''t sneak around forever", I pointed out. "It''s impossible."
"I know", said Kiera.
"There is a bright side to this", I continued, taking her hand and kissing it gently. "You finally get to meet my Mamma and Papa tomorrow."
"Yes, it''s a good thing you have weekends off, isn''t it?", Kiera giggled. I nodded.
"Tell me about how to get to your encampment one more time", she asked. "It''s in the forest about three miles from here, right? The one where all those red mulberry trees grow?"
"Yeah, and our hovel is the one with the blue tarp at the entrance since we''ve got no door", I reminded her.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"I''ll just tell my parents I''m going for a bike ride on the trail in the woods", Kiera explained. "I do it pretty often so they won''t know I''m making a detour if I don''t say anything."
"I can''t wait", I told her.
"Right back at you, cutie", she said, running her hand through my hair.
I awoke early the following morning to sunlight streaming through the cracks in the hovel''s entrance. Yawning and sitting up on my pallet, I could feel a cool breeze whooshing in as well.
Quickly but quietly getting up and smoothing out my blankets, I grabbed a towel, a washcloth, a bar of soap, some shampoo and conditioner, a change of clothes and my toiletry items, stuffing them inside my drawstring bag and slinging it over my shoulder. Careful not to wake Mamma and Papa, I tiptoed outside heading to the river for a bath. When I finished and came back, both of them were up and dressed too.
"Good morning, Emile", said Mamma. "Did you sleep well, dear?"
"Yes, Mamma", I replied giving her a hug and kissing her cheek. "How about you and Papa?"
"We did, thank you", she said.
A few different types of fruit trees grew near the encampment. There were apple trees, paw-paw trees, red mulberry trees and peach trees. We gathered some of each fruit for our breakfast as well as Kiera''s visit that afternoon.
"Kiera''s very excited to meet you both", I told him. "I think you and Mamma will like her a lot."
"Son, we need to talk about this little fling you''re having, alright?", he replied, setting down the basket he''d been holding. "Your mother and I understand that you like Kiera a lot but..."
"Papa, this isn''t a "fling", I said. "Kiera and I are in love!" Papa sighed but nodded.
"I just hope you''ve been concentrating on your job in lieu of all that''s been going on between the two of you. You go to the Dogwood mansion to work", he said.
"I understand that", I told him. "It''s just..."
"Just what?", Papa asked.
"She isn''t just visiting because she wants to meet you and Mamma. She''s never been to a homeless encampment and...", I began.
"Emile, what exactly have you been doing besides working over there?", Papa continued, his voice growing stern.
"I''ve been sneaking over every night so she can teach me to read and write", I replied.
"Anything else?", he asked.
"We''ve been intimate...her parents don''t even know", I said.
"Intimate?! Emile, do you realize the seriousness of this?!", Papa hissed. "If this continues and you''re both found out..."
"I know..."
"I don''t think you do!", said Papa.
"Just please be kind to her", I pleaded.
"Of course I will", he replied. "I''m just very concerned about both of you.”
Kiera''s POV
As I rode my bike down the dirt road and into the woods, it didn''t take long for me to find the encampment. Like Emile had told me, it was located among numerous red mulberry trees. What I hadn''t realized was just how many people lived there!
Some of the hovels were home to only one or two people. However, most of them sheltered rather large families for their size.
As children in ragged clothes scurried about playing in the sunshine, their parents and older siblings followed close by with wide-eyed babies on their hips.
It was amid the laughter and various scoldings, that I at last spotted the Bosco family''s hovel...with a smiling Emile waiting out front.
"Hi Kiera!", he called.
"Hi Emile", I replied cheerfully as I stopped and parked.
After we shared an embrace and a quick kiss, I stepped back to take a look at the outside of his home.
Constructed from large, rusty sheets of metal with an old blue tarp as a sort of curtain instead of a door, I could see a man and woman looking on from the inside. I assumed the couple were Giovanni and Alicia, Emile''s father and mother.
"Hello, Kiera", said Alicia. "It''s nice to meet you."
"Welcome, Kiera", Giovanni added, shaking my hand.
Inside, as we drank some juice and enjoyed some of the fruit Emile and Giovanni had gathered up, I took in everything else around me.
Made up of two small rooms, the main one consisted of the discarded cushions we sat on, the little, beaten up table we were around, a makeshift stove and two small wooden crates.
One was being used as a counter and had dishes arranged neatly on top. The other held a few more dishes, some washcloths, a sponge, a few folded towels and a little container of plastic eating utensils.
In the far corner, I could see a pallet made from faded pillows and worn blankets. Next to that was a camping lantern and a knapsack. Another tarp separated this from the second room which I assumed was where Emile slept.
“Your home is very unique”, I said. “I like it.”
“Thank you”, said Giovanni. “We know it isn''t what most are used to but we make do with what we have.” I nodded.
Emile''s POV
Kiera and I had hoped that her meeting my parents would alleviate the stress surrounding our relationship. That was far from what happened. Although they were nice to Kiera, their quiet, awkward demeanor during the visit and constant arguing afterwards said it all.
Still, Kiera and I were firm in our decision to continue on together. Unbeknownst to us all, such worries were only the beginning.
By that September, Kiera had missed her time of the month, was sick in the mornings, tired the rest of the day and feeling unwell as a whole.
With the possibility of pregnancy looming, I offered to use a bit of my earnings to buy her a pregnancy test…but she insisted on taking care of that herself.
“There''s no way you could sneak past my parents with something like that!”, she whispered.
“Kiera, if you are pregnant, we won''t have a choice but to tell our families”, I told her gently. “You know that and so do I.” Fighting back tears, Kiera hung her head.
“I''m scared”, she said…and though I tried to be strong as I comforted her, I was too.