Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tulya
“Thank you for everything. You didn’t have to do any of it,” I said softly, kissing Marley on the cheek.
“Come on, sweet girl. What you did, even if you didn’t spare Val the whole lot of it, I’d have done it.”
It had been four months since I’d left Rubia. A new year had come, Valentine’s Day passed, and I watched the Easter egg hunt by the pool from my balcony. I’d had two calls from my mother and one from the medic, all three only to check on my progress and to scold me for taking the human’s side.
“Seriously, you didn’t have to, but I’m forever grateful to you.”
Taking my semi-healed hand in hers, Marley looked at me. “You will let me know how Blake is…?” She still got choked up every time she mentioned her granddaughter.
“Of course, and I will call with her on the line. It can be between us.”
I knew from Caro—who checked in every few days—that Blake was living with Magnum and loving the attention from everyone in Rubia except for Cinder, who had taken to the role of wicked stepmother very easily.
“I’m going to work on having Valerie visit. That’s my first order of business when I get back.”
Marley closed her eyes and a tear fell. Her daughter had slid into a deep depression after being forced to leave Blake.
She had no way of returning to Rubia without one of us taking her, and so she was stuck waiting…
and waiting. It was a pain I didn’t get firsthand as a caretaker, but I did understand as someone who’d held on to memories for months, hoping Donovan would return.
“Your first order is to keep getting better and take care of yourself.”
I’d never told Marley about my love affair in Florida, but she suspected. Many times, she’d commented, You look like you’re wishing someone would walk through that door.
Of course I never admitted a thing. To Marley, or to Caro when she called or texted.
Not once had I asked about Donovan. She’d told me he came back to Rubia and fought with Magnum.
The whole place knew there was bad blood between the brothers, but she had no idea what transpired.
Cinder was carrying on as if she and Magnum were in love and to be married immediately.
I’d heard Blake was going to be a flower girl.
This was also information I never shared with Marley when she would come to check in and sit and have room service tea with me.
Mostly, I told her about Rubia and our customs. She wanted to know what it was like where her granddaughter was living.
“I’m fine, or as good as I’m going to get.” I never thought it would take this long for the hives to disappear, but I’d finally been hive-free for two weeks. My weak hand still tremored several times a day. And while my fingers had loosened a bit, they didn’t work very well.
With nothing better to do, I’d taught myself an app for dictating my voice to text so I could write when I got back home. I wasn’t sure if my powers still worked—Ezza had asked several times—or if I should be using them, but chances were high my mother didn’t care.
I slipped a cardigan over my black tank top and flowy khakis, all internet purchases while I recovered and spring hit Florida. I didn’t leave my room much other than sitting on my balcony, but I felt the need to still look better than good.
Oh please, I know the reason. Except he never came back.
“I will call tonight, and let you know I arrived safely,” I said to the woman who had become my only friend. Placing a small kiss on her cheek, I squeezed her arm with my decent hand and sucked back a cornucopia of emotions.
“When you have privacy, honey. Don’t rock the boat, ya hear me? We gotta get Val to see her daughter and at least pretend to play by the rules.”
I nodded, knowing Marley cared for me but also prioritized Valerie. It was okay. I admired how much the mother loved her child.
“I’d better go.”
She nodded and I was off. A black SUV waited for me downstairs, courtesy of the concierge, who had become a close acquaintance of mine. He thought I’d come down with a viral infection in my muscles, and thanks to another lie—my family’s big Grand Cayman money—I’d stayed for months.
He’d arranged for my transportation to the private airstrip for my presumed flight back to the Caribbean.
With a quick wave to the staff, I was securely sitting in the back seat of the giant SUV, my fate unknown.
I’d dozed off for the flight, and my whole body startled when the flight attendant tapped my shoulder. “We’re here,” she said softly.
With a quick nod, I stood, grabbed my tote and purse, and made my way to exit the plane.
Outside stood my mother, Caro, and Ceci. It was an interesting combination, and not one I would have picked, but I had no choice other than to go see my welcoming party.
“Tulya.” Ezza breathed my name and pulled me in for a limp embrace. “Good to see you are all put back together.” She said this without even tossing a glance at my hand.
“Tuvy.” Caro yanked me close. “I’ve missed you. I never knew how much you were the yin to my yang.”
“Missed you too, Car.” I used my good arm to hug her tightly.
“Hi, Ceci,” I added when I let go of my sister.
“No one else on the plane?”
All of a sudden, Ceci being there made sense. She wanted to make sure I didn’t bring Valerie.
“No, only me,” I said without any emotion, but I couldn’t help but think what a bitch my mother’s best friend was.
“We have made it clear that no one but Rubians are welcome here.”
“Who is we? Are you in charge now?”
Caro glanced at me as I sassed Ceci.
“We are your mother and her brother, the Minister.”
I started to walk toward the waiting car, and I couldn’t wait to be alone in my cottage. “Then why are you telling me?” I had to stop and ask Ceci. “If you’re not part of the we?”
There was no surprise when my mother stood up for her friend rather than me. “Tulya, leave it be. You know the rules, so what does it matter?”
“It matters because the last time I checked, Ceci was no longer in charge of ordering me around. I did your bidding once.” I squinted at the woman I used to sort of like and started walking again.
I didn’t care what she said. I knew all the reasons were rooted in Valerie not coming back.
“Because my granddaughter is here now. To stay.” Ceci closed the subject. “Welcome home to you.”
There was no parade, not even a thank-you.
Inside the car, I stared out the window, counting the minutes until I was home.
I felt Caro’s gaze on me as I remembered the ride to the airport with Donovan.
We’d been star-crossed enemies with a crush.
Then, we became lovers and confidants for a brief time.
And now I’d likely never see him again. Which left me heartbroken.
Sadness washed over me as the driver stopped in front of my cottage, the snow all melted and my tulips beginning to rise in front of the stone facade.
“Abraham will be over later to check on you. Your uncle will see you tomorrow for a full report of what happened. And later you will visit with Magnum and Blake, welcoming her to Rubia.”
That was it from my mother. I didn’t expect much more than a laundry list of tasks. In her mind, I was back to do her bidding as if I’d never left.