Who: Melanie and Amphitrite What: Meeting with a goddess. Melanie has things to learn about this family. When: Tuesday afternoon Where:New Paradise Cafe, Sag Harbor NY Warning: None
Melanie missed her own mother, which she felt may have been the reason she was trying so hard to impress Lady Amphitrite. She was dating her son, who had been glued to her since Poseidon's attack. There was still so little she understood in the immortal world, the whole idea hadn't quite settled with her tiny brain yet. She had yet to really understand the goings on of this family. She only knew one thing, she didn't want to let Triton go. He was important to her, he had been since the day she met him those three years ago. She hadn't yet to think of the fact that she would eventually get old, and he would continue on without her. She didn't want to think about it, she just wanted to be happy.
With a youthful smile Melanie waved toward Amphitrite as she approached. The cafe was right on the harbor. With the sun out there was a nice view of the harbor that she felt Amphitrite would appreciate.
Amphitrite would try for her son. She would try to become close to Melanie, and truth be told she had started to feel something between them. As a mother it was only natural to wonder what sort of woman her son wanted to be with. Melanie was important to Triton, and therefore important to her. That didn't mean there weren't still obstacles to overcome and gods knew she had plenty of those. She had spent the better part of her time reflecting on years past and getting to know someone who had barely been in her life a month. And then her sister showed up. Between that and the freedom she felt she had been in the best mood of her life. Now she had to jump through these hoops Melanie was inadvertently putting up. The girl needed to know it wasn't her fault, and honestly it was tiring to Amphitrite to continuously tell her that.
She smiled and walked to where Melanie sat, taking the seat across from her. "You chose well. I love the smell of the ocean breeze. Though not quite as much as the ocean itself." There was still that connection to her home, no matter what might have happened in the last few months. Inside she was doing everything she could to drive out that memory and past existence. If there was anything to be known of gods it as that they were very stubborn creatures. "And how are you, my dear?"
There was a happy smile on Mel's face at Amphitrite's greeting. She took a breath she'd been holding once the woman sat down. "I've been here a few times with Triton. It has a nice atmosphere." A ring of blush hitting her cheeks. She was really grateful for him. She just didn't want to feel as if she was asking too much of him.
"Do you miss it?" She asked softly. She notched there was something different about Amphitrite since the last time she had seen her. She seemed happier.
Amphitrite looked around with interest, but she was more interested in looking out at the view. It was nice and the gentle breeze was exactly what she needed that day. She needed it any day.
She nodded, "Of course, but at least now I can dive in whenever I please." She smiled at that and then looked back to Melanie. She considered her a moment but just then the waitress came by. Amphitrite ordered and then waited for Melanie to before she said anything again. "There's one thing we do need to discuss before we get into to girl talk. This guilt you've been feeling. Of all people I know what it's like to feel guilty about something you never did, and this is one of those cases. When I say this don't think I'm trying to be scolding, but the situation had absolutely nothing to do with you. When he tried to harm you was when things changed forever between himself and Triton. Triton came to me for guidance and if he hasn't already told you his plans I'm sure he will soon enough. It was what Triton told me that made me most angry at his father, so I left while he was off on a business trip. When he returned was the last time I saw him. He assumed I was trying to run away again, which I wasn't, I just needed to get away from that place. What I didn't expect were the words he said or how horribly he said them. Long story short, he kicked me out. Whatever sadness I felt before is gone because that monster is out of my life. It would take a strong love spell or amnesia for me to return to him willingly. My dear girl, it had absolutely nothing to do with you." She decided not to say it might be a little narcissistic of her to think she had anything to do with this.
Melanie listened to everything the beautiful goddess had to say, her eyes a little wide, glancing away from time to time as if she were a scolded child. She knew Amphitrite meant well.
After a while she took another deep breath and released it.
"I just...." she picked at the hem of her shirt. "I didn't mean to break up your marriage." She paused speaking up again as if she needed to defend her relationship with Triton. She knew Amphitrite hadn't completely warmed to her yet. "I love your son."
Amphitrite felt the strong urge to slap her hand to her forehead, but resisted. She was so frustrated at how stubborn this girl was being.
Sighing, she shook her head, "Melanie, you didn't break up that hell hole of a marriage. It was doomed from the beginning. He broke it up by chasing skirt after skirt without any regard to my feelings or what it would do to me. There have been countless others before you, and you were the lucky one because you got away. To be completely honest you might not be here right now if you hadn't."
She was quiet for a moment and then went on, "But I'm glad you are. Know that. But you still need to understand that a single mortal did not, and could not break up my marriage. What can I say to get you to understand that?"
"I know you love my son. He loves and cares for you a great deal and that's why I refused to let that horrible man do anything to you, but I failed."
Melanine nodded her head quickly, somewhat uncomfortable with this situation still. She hadn't meant to sound so narcissistic, she'd only ever wanted to be truthful with Triton's mother because she was someone so important to her boyfriend.
"I called out your name," she said in a shuttered breath. Her eyes were full of tears when she looked up, even if they had not fallen yet. That night still plagued her. To know it had been nothing more than to get Triton's attention made it even worse. What if had gone worse? "That's when he stopped."
At Amphitrite's next words she shook her head vigorously, holding out a comforting hand reassuring her with the gesture that she had not failed.
Amphitrite did want to speak delicately, but that was something she hadn't really done in years. She wasn't as good at it now, but she did speak as carefully as possible without outright telling Melanie to get over it. Because that's not what she was aiming for.
She blinked and stared, speechless at this announcement. And then just as quickly came back to herself to reach out a comforting hand. While she did still feel she had failed her son she did appreciate Melanie's gesture. It was sweet.
"Why would you call for me? Why not Triton?" She seemed astonished by the information. Hardly any worshiped her now and for anyone to call for her help was surprisingly, and yet she felt a sense of pride to know someone out there had thought of her when their life was being (presumably) threatened. She gasped suddenly, remembering. "It was you. That night I thought I heard someone calling for me. It was you. That explains so much."
"I don't know. It was the first name to come out of my mouth." She held a lot of respect for Amphitrite to handle things as she did, so strongly.
"I never had a mother. I respect you."
She meant that as honestly as she could hope for, she removed her hand wiping under her eyes to let those dreadful tears not reach her cheeks. She was a lot stronger than this herself, she'd just been under a whirlwind of events since she'd moved back from Japan. It all hit so fast.
She shook her head in response. "What do you mean?"