~~~~~~~~~~

Raisa walked towards where Nona was sitting. Somehow she knew she would end up here.

Nona sat, as if waiting for her. Raisa walked up to her and sat down quietly at her Nona's feet. Suddenly, the proud dark head came down on the old woman's lap. The old woman caressed the dark locks of hair as she done so many years ago.

"Cara Mia. You have been away so long," Nona said softly.

Raisa closed her eyes. "Yes, Nona."

"Tell me about your friend." The old woman asked as she kept caressing the dark head of hair.

Raisa got up and took a few steps away.

The old woman waited silently.

With her back to the old woman she began to speak.

"I need her," she said simply.

The old woman still waited. Raisa finally turned around and faced her. "I love her." There, she had said it out loud. She locked eyes with the old woman defiantly.

"This is the one you have chosen?"

"Yes."

"Good," said the old woman simply.

Raisa's strength seemed to have left her. And now she looked to the old woman like a frightened child. "You know about me?" She asked softly.

"Cara Mia. You are my little girl; I know all about you" she opened her arms as the now sobbing woman went into them. "Te quiero, Cara Mia. Te quiero." She held Raisa closer to her as she caressed the dark head of hair and she comforted her child with the reassurance of her love.

~~~~~~~~~~

Late in the afternoon, almost as if by silent understanding, Carolyn walked outside and Raisa was suddenly besides her. She looked different somehow; both gave each other a shy smile and started walking side by side.

Carolyn looked around her and was amazed with the sheer beauty and an almost dreamy like stillness all around them. Peacocks strolled not too far from them and occasionally would open their feathers and parade them to attract their mates.

"What a beautiful bird," Carolyn commented softly.

"Yes, did you know that the one with the beautiful feathers is the male?"

"Really, totally unlike humans, huh?"

"Less sure to attract because of its prickly demeanor perhaps, it needs the beautiful feathers," Raisa said seriously staring at the magnificent birds.

Carolyn now looked at her. "I guess they are as blind as some of us then."

Raisa looked at her now curiously. "What do you mean?"

"Looking for outer beauty," Carolyn said simply and now she looked away at the birds.

Raisa looked puzzled. "We all look for outer beauty."

"Is that what attracts?" Carolyn asked still looking at the birds as she started walking again. Raisa started walking next to her.

"Some...it attracts some," Raisa answered uncomfortably.

"Is that how it is with you?" Carolyn stopped now and turned to face her.

Raisa stopped in front of her looking down at her hands as they interlocked nervously.

"Never mind," said Carolyn sadly and started walking away.

"Wait!" Raisa said as she caught up with her.

"Is it always this warm this time of the year here?" Carolyn asked in faked politeness.

"You aren't talking to me!" Raisa grabbed her arm and turned her around to face her.

"And who am I talking to?" Carolyn said in exasperation.

Raisa suddenly released her and took a few steps away. She would have normally just walk away and not bother, but with Carolyn it was different. It was obvious Raisa was upset as she turned with the wildness in her eyes again but unlike so many other times she had not run.

"Why must you always provoke me?" She asked in exasperation.

"I don't want to fight," Carolyn said and started walking back to the house.

"What do you want from me?" Raisa demanded in anger.

Carolyn yelled as she kept on walking. "Get a life, you egotistical bitch! And leave me alone!"

"I need you!" Raisa yelled out in pain.

Carolyn stopped and turned around slowly. She saw Raisa moving quickly towards her but stopped abruptly in front of her.

"What do you want me to say Carolyn, that I would want you even if you weren't beautiful?" Raisa asked in agitation.

Carolyn looked down feeling uncomfortable in the situation she found herself in. "No..." She said softly as she looked down.

"I would want you if I were blind and had never seen you," Raisa said softly. "I can't breathe, eat or sleep without thinking of you."

Carolyn looked up into the eyes that were now soft, filled with uncertainty and fear. "I don't know how to do this." Raisa's words could hardly be heard.

Carolyn raised her hand and caressed the softness of the face in front of her. Her lips were close to Raisa's, but for some reason unbeknown to her, still waiting. Then suddenly the words came.

"I love you Carolyn," Raisa said barely beyond a whisper and Carolyn's lips met hers tenderly.

Raisa's arms went around her gently and held her close. When their mouths parted Raisa's eyes avoided the others but her arms still held the woman in them. She was like a deer caught by a bright light, frozen, unable to flee.

"I love you too," Carolyn said softly and Raisa's head came up quickly searching the eyes in front of her.

She stared at Carolyn in disbelief. Suddenly, she pulled her into her arms so tightly that Carolyn could hardly breathe. "Te amo." And this time her mouth was filled with the taste and promise of passion to come.

~~~~~~~~~~

For the next two days they took walks and rode in the mornings together. Raisa would take Simon down to the river to pick sweet fruits and Caroline would set up a picnic near by in the afternoons for lunch.

All that passed between them were warm looks that caressed and spoke of love. The words they shared were considerate and tender. They waltzed around one another with care with the uncertainty and excitement of their newfound love.

Carolyn was touched with the patience that Raisa showed Simon in everything. She was like another woman here. Nona had been right. Raisa was unique; every moment with her brought new and wonderful surprises. Here at Virago she was a different woman. Or perhaps it was because she seemed happy. That was the phrase that struck Carolyn as she saw Raisa and Simon running back towards her from the river. Raisa seemed happy.

"I won! I won!" Simon yelled, full of excitement.

Raisa came up behind him and started tickling him and they both rolled on the ground with abandonment and laughter.

"Come on you two before the ants steal our lunch."

"Okay mom," said Simon as he walked over to his mother.

Raisa lay on the ground looking towards the river as she leaned on an elbow. Carolyn got up and walked over to her; then sat down as her hand reached out to caress the dark hair of the woman who had laid siege to her heart.

"Andreas and I used to bathe here when we were children."

"Who is Andreas?"

"My brother. He is away on a buying trip. He will be here in a few days. He is nothing like me don't worry," Raisa said with laughter.

"How is he then?"

"He is...he is not like me." Raisa became serious and pensive. Carolyn could see the walls rising.

"Nona would say you are thinking too hard again," Carolyn said and Raisa looked up at her with a smile and then looked back towards the river again.

"Andreas is quiet, there is a gentleness about him. Nona says that he is like my mother. But unlike her he loves this land." She looked all around her. She was quiet for a little while then spoke sadly. "My mother used to love picnics."

"And that makes you sad?" Carolyn asked carefully. This was the first time that they had really spoken of Raisa's family.

"She brought Andreas and I here for a picnic to tell us she was leaving Papa and us. She went back to Italy soon after," Raisa said bluntly.

"I'm sorry sweetheart," Carolyn said lovingly as she caressed her lover's hair. She could feel the pain and anguish that her lover must have felt when being given this news; Carolyn could still see it in those eyes. She had come to see in a matter of days that Raisa was not as unfeeling as people thought her to be. And faced with such painful things who would not shut out loving or needing another human being? It was obvious in every word that came from Raisa's lips that to her love meant pain.

"No need, it was a long time ago," Raisa said and got up suddenly.

Carolyn reached for her hand and pulled her back down to sit beside her. She held on to her hand as they sat. She could feel the emotions building up inside her.

Raisa looked into her eyes and then looked back out towards the river as she started speaking again. "She hated Venezuela and she ended up hating my father. We were his children. So, I guess by association she hated us." She said nothing after that and Carolyn was shocked into silence by the pain and anger that came out of those words.

"How old were you?"

"I was 7 and Andreas was 4 when she left," she answered as she played with a patch of grass in front of her.

"Did you ever see her again?"

"No."

"And your father?"

"He died 5 years ago."

The silence stretched between them. They both were now looking towards the river when Raisa felt Carolyn's hand take hers again and hold it tightly as she said, "I love you Raisa Andieta."

~~~~~~~~~~

They were both coming in from their ride when Raisa yelled and her horse took off in a gallop. Carolyn followed.

As they neared the house a man with dark hair came running down the front steps of the hacienda.