27. Ariella
Ican’t seem to comprehend everything that has happened over the course of the last few hours. I don’t know whether to be mad at my mother or pity her for what she has done. The question that remains is whether or not I can forgive her. It will take me time to recover from the sting of her betrayal, but how can I teach Alex to forgive others if I’m not willing to do it myself?
With Patrick’s arms still around me, I watch as Savannah and Jerry carry away my mother’s unconscious form. They’re taking her upstairs to be with the rest of the men who had been captured. Before my father followed them, he assured me that she would be taken care of. What that meant, I wasn’t sure. However, knowing the godly man that he is, her punishment will be fair and just.
“Daddy!” Alex shouts from the hallway when he sees Patrick standing next to me. He runs as fast as his little legs can carry him and jumps into his father’s arms. “You’re all right! I prayed that God would keep you safe, and He did!”
“He kept the whole team safe. Even your Grandpa is going to be all right. We need to make sure to thank Him for that.”
“Oh, I will! He’s the best!” Alex says excitedly. I would be offended if he was talking about anyone else, but our son’s words couldn’t be truer.
I stare lovingly at the two most important men in my life and send up a silent prayer—doing as Patrick had just suggested—thanking God for bringing Patrick back to me.
“I don’t know about the two of you, but I’m ready to get out of here,” I say.
Patrick barks out a laugh, “You really don’t like being in confined spaces.” He moves Alex to hold him with one arm, extending his other for me to take. I do, and we head upstairs to see what awaits us.
Savannah is the first to notice our arrival as we exit the stairwell, informing us that everyone is waiting. Before we leave, Patrick asks her, “Have all the men been detained?”
“Yes, they have. If there are any more, they haven’t made their presence known.”
“That’s because my daddy is Superman! No one can defeat him!” Alex exclaims.
“You’re right about that, Kiddo. He’s the bravest man I know.” She gives him a wink and tickles his sides. Patrick has to set him down because of all his squirming. Still giggling, Alex gives Savannah a big hug.
“One day, you’re going to make a great mommy just like mine is,” Alex tells her, beaming a wide smile. She smiles back, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
I give Patrick a look that says, “I need a moment alone with Savannah for some girl time.” Thankfully, he understands and escorts Alex out of the room. When she sees I have something private to say, she removes the communication device from her ear and turns it off.
I give her a genuinely affectionate hug before placing my hands on her shoulders. I want her to know that I mean every word I say. “Alex isn’t wrong. You are going to make a great mom someday. I want you to remember that you don’t have to give birth to a child to love them as your own, and you have so much love to give, Savannah. God isn’t going to waste that by leaving it to sit in your heart unused. When the time is right, you’ll know.”
“Thank you,” is all she says in response, leaving me to wonder if she took my words to heart. I give her a little wave before heading off to find my family.
Coming from the garage means I have to go through the kitchen before reaching the hallway to the living room. The gurgle of the coffee pot snags my attention, and I look at my watch to note the time.
“I know it’s late, but my son and his team will be up for quite a while sorting out this mess. Care for a cup?” Charlie asks.
“No, thank you. I have enough adrenaline coursing through my body. I doubt I’m going to be able to sleep for a week.”
She laughs. “I know what you mean. When Don got shot, I went into full ‘mama bear’ mode and took down three guys in quick succession with those nifty tranquilizer bullets. He may be my husband, but that doesn’t make me any less protective of him. It doesn’t matter that he can hold his own; no one messes with my man.”
I adore my mother-in-law and start to tear up when I think about what my own mother had done.
“Aw, don’t you go crying, Sweetheart. If you cry, then I’ll cry, then the men will wonder what they did wrong and pester us for a week about it. They’ll keep asking if we’re okay and wait on us hand and foot, trying to make up for something they think they did. Actually, that sounds mighty nice, and I need a good foot rub. Let’s go ahead and cry,” she teases.
“I feel like I’ve cried more in the past week than I have in my entire life. What is wrong with me? I’m supposed to be a strong, independent woman who is capable of running a country.”
“Ariella, there is nothing wrong with crying, and it doesn’t make you weak. The good Lord wouldn’t have given us tears if we weren’t meant to use them. We women cry when we laugh. We cry when we’re angry. We cry when we’re sad. Heck, we even cry when we’re happy! It’s a wonder we get anything done!”
She cackles long and loud, and I can’t help but join her. It feels cathartic and releases the tension I’d been holding in. By the time we finish, we’re both wiping tears from our eyes.
“See what I mean?” she says, bursting into another fit of laughter.
Once our giggling is under control, I say, “I should go find Patrick and Alex and see what they’re up to.”
Charlie waves me away. “They’re out front.” I give her a quick hug before leaving, grateful for such wonderful in-laws.
“Thanks, Mom,” I tell her. This time, the tears in her eyes are from pure joy.
Floodlights from the house illuminate the spacious lawn out front, and a gaggle of men are milling about. It’s not hard to spot Patrick with Alex attached at his hip and both our fathers standing next to him. His face lights up with happiness when he sees me walking in his direction. I’m almost to him when Kiernan steps in my path.
“Did you miss me, Honey?” he asks playfully.
“Who are you again? I can’t tell under all that bruising.” The casino’s thugs really did a number on him.
“I thought my brand of handsome would shine through. No? Okay then. Let me introduce myself. I’m Kiernan, your best friend.” He offers his hand for me to shake. I don’t take it, but I do wrap him in a hug.
“You know I have a bone to pick with you, Mister. How could you keep your gambling a secret from me? When I found out about it, and you became a suspect, it broke my heart.”
“I’m sorry, Ariella. I never meant to lie to you. At first, I had been winning so much that I thought I couldn’t lose. But then I did, and it snowballed from there. I kept trying to win back my losses, always failing. I ended up way in over my head and was too embarrassed to say anything. It won’t happen again,” he promises.
“It better not. If it does, you’ll feel my wrath! It will make those guys who did this to your pretty face seem like schoolyard bullies.” I put up my fists and do a very poor imitation of boxing.
“Put those guns away, Tiger. You have my word. No more gambling.” He gestures to his face, “This was a mighty big wake-up call. I can’t go around looking like Frankenstein all the time. I have to worry about what the ladies will think now that I’m officially on the market,”
Jordain joins us, “They’ll think that your older brother is still much wiser, smarter, and better looking.”
I give Jordain a friendly hug, “You, I did not expect to see. I knew you were in the area, but I didn’t think you would get your hands dirty.”
“I was recently informed that I was high on the suspect list because of this whole opium nonsense. I was deeply hurt to know that you thought I would harm you or Alex over a silly little plant.” He clutches his heart as if I’ve severely wounded him. I know better. Not much ruffles his feathers.
Kiernan elbows his brother, and Jordain raises an eyebrow at him. “Don’t give me that pompous king look; it won’t work on me. Don’t forget that I caught you admiring yourself in the mirror while you were perfecting it.”
I snicker at the thought of a younger Jordain doing such a thing, especially because I wouldn’t have put it past him.
“But seriously, Brother, I never thought you were capable of such things, and I don’t think Ariella did either. It was her mother who planted the idea in her head.”
“Is this true, Ariella?” Jordain asks.
I nod. “I never wanted to believe it. Julietta, on the other hand…”
Both brothers laugh, and Jordain tells me, “Julietta is a piece of work. I can admit that. However, in this case, she was misguided, having always admired your mother and being in love with your brother since she was 19.”
“No way! They’ve been married for two years and don’t even share the same bedroom. They practically hate each other.”
“There’s a fine line between love and hate. Julietta thought she was doing her duty, and knowing her like I do, she went about it the wrong way. Gabriella has been grooming her, indoctrinating her into believing that the opium trade was of critical importance to both countries. She never questioned your mother because she idolized her. When Aaron wouldn’t bend, I guess she refrained from engaging in post-marital bliss, if you know what I mean. It didn’t work; it only pushed Aaron further away.
With everything out in the open now, maybe they can work things out when she gets over whatever virus has her laid up.”
“Oh, no! Julietta isn’t sick! Mother put her in a drug-induced coma! Excuse me, I have to get my father!”
I run over to where my family is gathered, Patrick looking amused at my delay. When he notices I’m not smiling, he asks me what’s wrong.
“Julietta isn’t sick! She’s not involved in any of this!” I tell them everything my mother had confessed regarding what she had done to Julietta. Patrick’s team was occupied at the time and didn’t get to hear that part of the conversation. When I’m done, my father immediately gets on the phone to call Aaron and explain the situation.
Jordain and Kiernan overhear what’s being said and offer their personal doctor to assist. I breathe a sigh of relief when my father gets off the call and tells me that Aaron is on top of it and that our physician will be detained until we get home.
Patrick wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my head. It’s something he likes to do.
“Who’s that coming up the driveway?” Alex asks.
His question gets people scrambling, and everyone with a weapon aims it toward the vehicle as it approaches. Patrick and his team are the first to lower their guns, recognizing the SUV. I assume it belongs to Shining Knight Protective Services since it looks exactly like the two cars parked in the barn.
“They’re with us!” Jessie shouts.
Patrick goes over to greet the two men that emerge from the vehicle. I recognize Carter from the initial meeting at the Shining Knight building, but this time, he looks far more tan than I remember. The other man is someone I haven’t seen in almost ten years. Roger Cavanaugh.
“It looks like we’re late to the party,” Carter says.
“We’ll be having another one for you later. Congratulations on your engagement!” Savannah yells.
Roger’s serious expression morphs into one of sheer happiness when he sees Patrick, Alex, and me standing side-by-side. “Well, don’t you two look happy as clams? It’s nice to see both of you together again. And who is this young man?”
“I’m Alex! This is my Daddy!” he says, hugging Patrick.
Roger and Carter’s eyes widen as big as dinner plates at the announcement. Evidently, Ethan didn’t tell them that part.
“That explains a lot,” Carter says, and at the same time, Roger comments, “It must have been some honeymoon!”
“Roger Cavanaugh, it’s great to see you again!” My father greets his friend with a handshake.
“It’s been a long time, King Trevor..”
“It’s just Trevor, now. My son, Aaron, took over the role of king two years ago.” They chit-chat for a few minutes, and introductions are made. Everyone knows everyone by the time all is said and done.
My father stands before me with a huge grin. “Ariella, may I assume that you won’t be returning to Cothena with me?”
“No, Father. I’ll be staying here. However, Patrick has agreed to marry me per Cothena’s customs so that our marriage can be legitimized in the eyes of our people.”
He faces Patrick, “You would be willing to do that? To stand in front of thousands of people in nothing but a ceremonial loincloth while the priest shaves and tattoos your head?”
“Um. Yes?” The look on Patrick’s face is one of pure horror.
Kiernan nudges him, “It isn’t as bad as it sounds. I’ve heard it tickles more than anything. It’s when they dip you in boiling wax to strip the hair from your body and then cast you in plaster for a mold that you will wonder if it’s all worth it.”
“Why would you do that?” He sounds so panicked that it’s hard for me to keep a straight face.
“For your ‘His and Hers’ wedding present. They make statues to immortalize you in history,” Jordain adds.
I rub Pat’s arm gently and flutter my eyelashes coquettishly, “I’m worth it, though. Is that right, Sweetie?” I feel a shudder run through his body before it becomes rigid with determination, steeling himself for what’s to come. “I’d go to the ends of the earth for you, Ariella. If shaving and tattooing my head, boiling myself in hot wax, and standing in front of thousands of people in nothing but a loincloth is what I need to do to spend forever with you, then I’ll do it.”
“Good man! Welcome to the family,” my dad says.