Chapter 22 Back On Tour #6
“Matriarch,” Carry said very softly without lifting her head.
“If I may address this, please.” Jenny gazed at all of them hard, the girls having dropped their heads since Katie used a different name.
She moved behind all of them in a circle while they all remained silent.
Jenny didn’t say anything for nearly three minutes, just glaring at the girls.
“Carry, SPEAK!” she commanded in a harsh voice.
“Matriarch, please forgive me and my friends. I was raised as Carry Ann Elizabeth Mitchelson, but with your permission and blessing, I just want to come home. I’m begging you, Matriarch.
Please let me return to the name of my birth and be part of this family once more.
Let me serve you as your own daughter and nieces do. ”
“You are willing to serve me?” Jenny said, barely keeping her stunned look from influencing her voice. “You may look up, Carry. Speak the truth by looking me in the eyes.”
Carry slowly raised up, barely able to bring her eyes to hers. “Yes, Matriarch.”
“You ask forgiveness for your family?” Jenny barked.
“Matriarch, I was too young to know what happened. I can only beg forgiveness for myself. I beg of you now, please let me come home,” Carry sobbed softly.
“I’m begging you.” She dropped down onto her knees and bowed her head onto Jenny’s feet.
“I beg for your mercy. Please let me serve you Great Matriarch,” she said through thick sobs as her body heaved up and down in anguish.
“Carry,” Jenny said in such a soft voice it was barely above a whisper. Slowly she lowered herself down beside Carry. “Do you promise to love, honor and obey your Matriarch, swearing your fealty and loyalty to me and only me?”
“I promise my fealty and loyalty to the only true Matriarch, pledging my very life to serve her and only her for all of my days,” she managed through stuttered breaths and shuddering body.
“Then arise and be known once more as Carry Elizabeth Easthaus, daughter of Gerald, and servant of the Matriarch and her family, now and for all time.” Carry slowly stopped sobbing, barely able to lift her head.
Jenny was still crouched in front of her.
“It’s alright now child, you’ve finally come home,” Jenny said with a love and affection that hit Carry hard.
“Your past sins have been forgiven. You stand anew as one who has returned from being lost.” Jenny helped Carry to her feet.
“Thank you, Matriarch,” Carry said, still bowing.
“Carry, please look up,” Jenny said in a soothing voice. Carry slowly lifted her head. “Today, I take you as my second daughter. You and Cassie now mine.”
“You may now cheer,” Suzy instructed. The girls lifted their heads, still slightly stunned and saw Carry hugging Jenny tightly, softly sobbing against her. “CHEER ALREADY!” Suzy demanded.
“YEAH!” they screamed together. Jenny let Carry go and lifted her to a standing position.
“Cassie, in recognition of the hard work and dedication you and your team have done, you are reinstated as the Heir and Princess of Family Pendergast. Please receive your pendant.” Cassie bowed as Suzy placed the Pendergast family crest pendant over her head on a gold chain. “Well done, daughter.”
“Wendy Calput!” Jenny called firmly. “Step over here,” she called and Wendy moved over to stand beside Jenny at full attention.
“You have served the family well, and in recognition of your part in restoring this lost sheep to the fold, I award you the Family Pendant and the title of Lieutenant,” she said, which made Wendy immediately bow forward to receive the pendant that Suzy handed to Jenny.
She slowly placed the pendant over her head.
“Today, you become the Princess Select, second heir of the Family.”
“Thank you Matriarch. I’m deeply honored for your trust and selection,” Wendy said with a grateful voice.
“Katie Sutton!” Jenny called. “Today you will no longer be known as a Sutton, but you will be elevated to the name Easthaus.”
“Thank you Matriarch,” Katie said in a quivering voice.
“All of you have done well. You are dismissed to the dining room to eat, before you go up to your rooms. Your bags will be waiting for you there.” Jenny waved them away.
The four girls bowed again and then waited as Cassie moved around in front to lead them out.
As soon as they’d left, Suzy moved over.
Jenny looked up in anticipation. “It’s done then? ”
“No, Sister!” Suzy said in a wavering voice.
“Benny is hurt and Vince is dead. It seems the driver slammed the brakes as they were descending on twelfth street bridge.” Suzy shook in place.
“Millard was injured by the airbags, but he’s ok,” she let out in a mouse voice, then dropped the phone to the desk.
It clattered for just a moment before Jenny grabbed it.
“Lance may be dead,” she read aloud. “Suzy, take a moment. Sit down sister. I know how much he means to you.”
“He’s such a sweet boy,” she stuttered out as she sank onto the couch. “What happened? What went wrong?”
“I’ll find out, Suzy. That Greg Garrelson is going to die.
He’s going to pay for everything he’s done against this family.
” Jenny looked Suzy directly in the eyes.
“I swear, sister. He’s going to pay for this with his life!
” she said as she gripped her hand tightly in a fist. “Millard is going to finish him.”
“Please, Jenny. Check on Lance. Make sure he’s not dead,” she said as she sobbed.
“Tessa,” David called as they walked in the door. “Let’s get everything set up for some drinks and cards.”
“Of course, dear,” she said as she flipped on the lights. “Denny, Janet, Molly, Fred, Lisa come on in,” Tessa called as they moved into the house.
“We should have checked on Greg before we left the airport,” Fred said walking in.
“Oh, give him a break,” Janet said. “He and Veronica were wanting to have a serious conversation before we left. I know that Harry was quite patient with them. He’s never failed to get anyone home.”
“Yeah,” Fred replied. “It’s that conversation that worries me some. They looked like they’d seen a ghost when they looked at me.”
“You’re imagining things again, Fred,” Molly said as she patted his shoulder then passed by him. “Lisa, you need to bring your boss back to reality.”
“He just needs a tall beer,” she said. “Tessa, do you have a Modelo Negro?”
“In the mini-fridge over there by the hutch,” she said pointing.
“Fred, please sit down and let me get a beer for both of us,” Lisa said with a look that told him he needed to just comply with her orders.
“Yes, dear,” he said as he took a seat, watching Lisa closely as she walked over. He nearly fell out of the chair leaning forward as Lisa bent over to grab the beers from the mini-fridge.”
“OMG FRED!” Molly exclaimed. “Are you eyeing Lisa?”
“Of course he is,” Lisa said like it was nothing. “You should see him in bed.”
“WHAT?!” everyone exclaimed and deafening silence fell. David stepped back into the room from the bathroom. He looked at Fred who was sitting there like he’d got his hand caught in the cookie jar.
“Fred, is there something we need to know?” David asked.
“It’s none of your business,” he said firmly as Lisa came and placed a beer in his hand. “You let Greg date his PA, why can’t I marry mine in secret?”
“You’re married?” David replied with shock. “When’d this happen?”
“Where do you think Lisa and I went when you took your honeymoon?” Fred retorted.
“Fred dear,” Lisa said softly. “Greg laid the groundwork that allowed us to finally admit what we’ve known for years. I love him and when I had the chance to marry him secretly, I took it.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” David insisted.
“Because of how you’re reacting right now, David. You give Greg grace, but you didn’t even bother to congratulate us.”
David scratched his head and looked at Tessa, who just nodded in agreement with Fred. “You didn’t congratulate him at all.”
“Congratulations to both of you,” David said as he recovered. “I’ve got a bottle of champagne somewhere.”
“We’re fine like this, David,” Fred insisted. “We didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Well, they were going to find out in about four months anyway, dear. I wouldn’t be able to hide it by that point.” Lisa smiled softly as she saw Fred’s face fill with confusion. “Yes, dear. You are going to be a father.”
“I’m, uh,” Fred stuttered for a moment. “Father?” he let out slowly. “Are you sure?”
“That’s what I was confirming on the phone when we were coming down here. Darren verified our due date. We’ll have ours in June.” Lisa smiled brightly and glowed from the joy of what she was now carrying.
“I’m going to be a dad,” Fred finally let out.
“At least you made an honest man out of him first,” David said. “I truly want to,,,” he was saying when his adams apple caught in his throat and he froze in fear.
“David?” Fred said as he jumped to his feet, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket.
He reached in with trepidation and pulled out his phone.
There it was; the message everyone had feared.
‘Notify All.’ Fred went pale and reached for the seat behind him as the phones for Lisa and Molly went off, followed by Tessa’s phone.
Tessa shrieked as she read the message, ‘Greg and Veronica attacked.’
“Relax, Veronica,” Greg said softly. “We’re safe here.”
“It’s not here that worries me, dear. It’s after.” Veronica looked at Greg with sad eyes.
“Harry, what do you think?”
“Consolidation like we did with the Tashugis.” He moved over and looked down at Veronica. “You better move in with Greg for this until you head back out on tour.”
“Thanks, Harry,” Veronica said with a firmer voice. “Well Greg?”
“I absolutely agree with Harry,” Keith blurted out as he walked in. “We can’t watch everyone spread out. We need to consolidate in the three partner’s houses for the next week before the tour resumes.