“Enough!” Charlotte shouted. “This is not up for debate. Nerissa, we cannot allow you to stay in this house if you continue to act this way towards my daughter. If those girls at your school are more important than your family, then you can go and stay with them. But you’re not terrorizing my daughter more than she already is.”
Graciela shut her eyes tightly but Charlotte could see the tears forming in them. “Fine!” Nerissa shouted. “I’ll go live with them then!”
“Your parents miss you a lot,” Alistair said. “At least come with me for a few weeks to visit them.” Alistair looked to his daughter as if telling her he would handle the feisty girl.
“You can’t leave me grandpa,” Graciela said, a single tear sliding down her cheek. “I know this is what you have to do, but if you leave and Camilla leaves, and Pax leaves…”
“I didn’t say I was leaving,” Pax cut in.
“I know you!” Graciela cried. “If Camilla is leaving, you’re going with her! Mom, stop them…”
“I can’t,” Charlotte said, struggling with the idea. “I want them to stay here with us forever but our family will never have the luxury of safety, peace and calmness. If we don’t go out there and find ourselves, and make strides to change the world, no one will. If Camilla feels so strongly about this I’ll allow her and Pax to go so long as they have a discussion with me and your father first. If you wanted to go, I’d let you go too.”
“No, I’m really waiting for Leon,” Graciela said quietly. “I don’t want him to come back and not know where I am. I…” She placed a hand on her heart but shook her head. “Grandpa…have you talked to Callen about this?”