End Flashback

Okay, ladies and gentlemen. Don’t you think that Carmen was, at this point of the story, starting to champ at the bit?
Yes, you do because it’s pretty obvious.
But what’s the reason behind that?
Well, to me the answer is quite simple.
Because she was starting to feel useless.
Because Shane was slipping away, somehow, and Carmen needed to reaffirm herself in another way.
I must admit it, even if Shane is my friend.
She was taking Carmen for granted.
She didn’t even look at the house. She just lived it, as a manifestation of power.
A status symbol, yes.
But this is not how things work.
Not on the long distance, anyway.
And Shane, I must tell you this, isn’t a greedy person at all. Carmen neither.
But they had been struggling so hard to achieve their goals, that, is some bizarre way, they didn’t notice how their own goals were starting to possess them.
In any cases, Carmen just wanted a bit more of space, right?
Right.
Now… let’s talk about pride.
Pride can be interpreted in several different ways.
It can be considered as a haughty attitude shown by people who believe, often unjustifiably, that they are better than others.
Or it can be considered as the correct level of respect for the importance and value of your personal character, life, efforts, or achievement.
Third case.
Pride can be the happy, satisfied feeling somebody experiences when having or achieving something special, that other people admire.
Well, Carmen belonged to the second category of proud people, sometimes to the third.
In this particular case, she was starting to think that Shane paying for everything was, somehow, unfair.
Wrong.
She needed something just hers.
Also, she needed to get closer to Shane, but this is another matter.

Flashback – Carmen

“… I try this as a means of gathering a little money, you know…”, Miss Jenny Schecter is saying, as we walk across the house, “…Because I am attending a few classes at William and Mary College”.
She stops, giving me an apologetic look.
“But that won’t interfere with my duties”.
I smile a warm smile.
“That’s great. I am happy for you, really”.
She looks down, at the floor, unsure.
“So… do I get the job?”.
I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“The fact is, Jenny, I don’t need a live-in. This was my wife’s suggestion. It will be just Shane and me here at home. Although I am getting going my own catering business…”.
I chuckle.
“…But let’s face it, I don’t need to work for the money. And that does not make me one of those women who is married to a very successful person and is dedicating her life to her, and then has to validate herself as a human being, because boredom is getting in. No!”.
I shake my head.
“I have a wonderful house, crammed with beautiful things”.
I take a look around.
“I did this house myself. I did a great job. Not that I am necessarily a slave to materialism, no. But I am proud of what I have accomplished, although I suppose some people find my life disgusting…”.
Jenny watches me with her eyes wide open and I chuckle uncomfortably.
“…Okay, disgusting is too strong a word. No, I would not say that many people would respect the choices I have made, although women would. Women like me”.
Jenny nods her head in approval, crossing her arms.
“But then I don’t care what they think because I can’t stand who they are”, I ramble.
“What I am trying to say, Jenny…”, I murmur, exhaling slowly, “…Is that I don’t need a live-in”.
She looks up at me, a crestfallen expression on her elfish face.
I grab her hand and shake it, gently.
“Well… Thanks for the interview and good luck, and God bless you”.
But she doesn’t leave.
She remains motionless, just staring at me.
And I remain motionless, staring at her and still holding her hand.
“I would like you to understand that, if I were to hire you, my life would probably change…”, I murmur, starting to give up.
“…You would be this new element in the house”.
We remain silent for a long time, just staring at each other with understanding eyes.
“Well…”, I finally mumble, surrendering, “…Let me show where your room is”.
Jenny smiles politely, following me up the stairs.

End Flashback