Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
It had been nearly six months since Saskia last stepped foot in her home country. The weather had turned cold and the wind cut through her thin clothes as she stepped off the plane.
“Saskia!”
Leeza was waving at her from the ground and holding up what looked to be a heavy winter coat. As Saskia approached, she wrapped it around her shoulders. “We’re having a brutal cold snap. Winter is coming early to this part of the world.”
She hugged Saskia tightly before holding her out to look at her. “Wow, you look like you’re about to pop. Exactly how pregnant are you?”
“A little more than five months.” Saskia accepted hugs from Jozef and Shaun who handed out winter gear to the others as they stepped off the plane and into the chill wind.
“Could it be twins?” There was a hint of hope in Leeza’s tone.
Saskia shook her head. “I’ve been assured there’s only one in there. It’s just big and I am not, so things stick out more.” She was starting to feel self-conscious.
Leeza smiled with understanding. “You look beautiful, really. You’re positively glowing.”
Saskia laughed, her first genuine laugh in almost two months. It felt good to be at home with her sister. “It’s the hormones making me sweat more.”
“Sure,” Leeza agreed. “But it’s a gorgeous sweat. Come on, let’s get you out of the cold. You’re probably not used to it anymore.”
Saskia had to admit she wasn’t. It felt both wonderful and strange to be home again.
The climate in the part of Africa where Marifiya was located stayed warm and humid throughout the year.
Without realizing it, she’d grown accustomed to the heat.
She’d traded in her denims for shorts, and her boots for sandals.
There were two cars and Leeza got into one with Saskia and Shola while Nikka and Nonna went with Shaun and Jozef. As they drove, Saskia realized they missed the turnoff into the heart of Prague where her apartment was located.
“Where are we going?” Saskia asked, pointing at the turnoff.
“Jozef thinks it would be best if you stay with us on the estate and I agree,” Leeza said. “We can keep you safe there and you’ll have everything you need.”
“For how long?” Saskia demanded.
Leeza looked surprised. “Well, forever really.” At Saskia’s fierce frown, she quickly added, “At least until after the baby is born and you’ve had time to settle into motherhood.”
“No, I want to go home,” Saskia said firmly. “I didn’t agree to this. I came back to Prague so I could go home, not out to the estate.”
“You didn’t come back to see us? To see me?” Leeza looked hurt, but Saskia could tell it was affected.
“Of course I came back to see you,” Saskia said exasperated. “You walked into a warlord’s compound in the heart of the Congo to save me, I will always want to see you. But I also want to go to my own home and my own bed.”
Leeza looked at Saskia with sharp eyes that held a little more respect than they had in the past. “Jozef won’t like it. He wants all the family on lockdown at the mansion.”
Saskia rolled her eyes. “He wanted that before I got into trouble in Pretoria. Just because I stayed a few extra months in Africa doesn’t change the way I feel about having my own place.”
“You were kidnapped,” Leeza reminded her drily. “Not hanging out in Africa on a lark. Let’s not pretend nothing’s changed. You’re coming back to us pregnant.”
“That doesn’t make a difference,” Saskia said flatly, rubbing her stomach. “I’m the same person I was with or without a baby.”
“You’re more vulnerable,” Leeza argued.
Shola spoke for the first time since they’d gotten in the vehicle. “She will have me.”
Leeza swung hostile eyes toward Shola. “I don’t know anything about you except that the man who hired you also knocked up my sister. You don’t get a say in this.”
“No, I don’t,” Shola said flatly. “But she does.” She nodded toward Saskia. “And the man who hired me instructed me to do everything in my power to give her what she wants and needs.”
The three women stared at each other in a battle of wills. It was Saskia who finally broke the silence, raising her voice to speak to the driver. “Please turn the car around.” She didn’t recognize him, so she gave him her address.
The driver’s eyes met Leeza’s in the rearview mirror. “Mrs. Tsotsarov?”
Leeza seemed torn but finally nodded. “Okay, we’ll do it your way, but Shaun has been planning this homecoming since we found out you were coming back. It would crush her if you didn’t show.”
Leeza was manipulating Saskia’s emotions, but what could she do? “Fine, we’ll come out for a few hours, but then I want your word that no matter what Jozef says, you will make sure I come home to my own place.”
“Of course,” Leeza agreed quickly.
Saskia settled back in her seat, then frowned. “Shaun has been planning my homecoming since yesterday?”
Leeza looked puzzled. “No, she’s been making arrangements for weeks.”
“But how could she have known?” Saskia didn’t know herself until yesterday.
“Radik called a few weeks ago to tell Jozef he thought it was time for you to come home. They spent hours discussing your security before coming to an agreement.”
Saskia was stunned. Radik knew weeks ago he was sending her home. He didn’t tell her until yesterday. Why?
He’d seemed torn in the car, as if fighting himself. Maybe he wasn’t sure about his decision until she made it for him by saying she wanted to go home.
Understanding his motivations didn’t help her mood.
She was still angry with him. Searingly, blazingly, set-fire-to-everything-in-her-path angry.
Maybe he really thought he was saving her and the baby by sending her away, but who cared?
While she was with him, she’d worked on her own fears about being part of a mafia family.
She’d seen that being with him meant compromising her ideals, and she’d done it.
She’d been willing to fight for him, to change for him.
But as much as he’d changed for her too, he couldn’t seem to take that last step to include their baby.
“Saskia?” She blinked, startled when Leeza touched her arm. “We’re here.”
Cold air washed over her and she realized Shola was standing outside by the open door waiting for them to get out.
Catching the concern etched on Leeza’s face, Saskia tried to smile but failed. “I’m fine, really.”
“I don’t think you are,” Leeza said in a low voice only Saskia could hear as they slid out of the vehicle. “I’ve never seen you act this way before.”
Saskia sighed, taking in her family home for the first time in several months. Rather than feeling a hit of nostalgia, she felt cold, disconnected and weary. It wasn’t her home anymore.
She touched her stomach protectively. She absolutely refused to raise a child in this house.
She was snapped out of her grim musing as a piercing screech tore through the calm quiet of the estate. “Teta Saskia!”
A smile split Saskia’s lips and she held her arms out to her three-year-old niece who ran full tilt toward her, smashing into her and bursting into tears.
“Oh no, what’s this about?” Saskia went clumsily to her knees to embrace her. “Don’t cry, Addy. Tell me what’s wrong?”
“Mished ew.” Her words were garbled against Saskia’s neck, but Saskia got the gist.
“I missed you too, sweetheart.”
Leeza and Shola both gasped as Saskia stood, picking Adeline up in her arms.
“Put her down!” Shola demanded, reaching for the child.
“Saskia, not while you’re pregnant,” Leeza admonished her.
Saskia laughed, feeling lighter. “I’m fine and she barely weighs more than a feather.” She narrowed her eyes at her sister. “I seem to remember you picking up Kris plenty while you were pregnant with this one.”
“That was different.” It was a weak protest and they both knew it.
“How?” Saskia demanded, carrying her niece into the house despite Shola and Leeza hovering anxiously.
“I’m bigger and more…”
Saskia raised an eyebrow. “Capable? Tough? Womb-made-of-steel?”
Leeza burst out laughing. “Okay fine, you’re right. I’m just used to worrying about you and it’s hard to stop now that you’re all grown up.”
There was an age difference of nine years between them and Leeza had acted as both parent and sibling when they were young. Saskia had resented her for it, but now, seeing her parents in a different light, she realized how much she’d needed Leeza’s influence.
In the sitting room, Saskia set Adeline down on one of the couches and grabbed her sister’s hand, squeezing it. “Thank you for always watching out for me. I might not need it anymore, but I appreciate it nonetheless.”
Leeza blinked in surprise before spontaneously throwing her arms around Saskia’s neck and hugging her tightly. “I missed you.”
Saskia hugged her back, holding her for a minute. “Same.” She sniffed back tears. “I think it took being away to see how much you mean to me. It’s too easy to take something for granted when it’s always there.”
“Hey, what’s all the crying about?” Havel demanded, striding through the door.
Saskia smiled and pulled away from her sister, pinning him with a stare. “And why weren’t you at the airport to greet me, brother-by-marriage? You don’t seem as concerned about me as everyone else around here.”
His laugh boomed through the room as he pulled Saskia in for a long but gentle hug. “I’m the only one here who knows your secret, that’s why I stayed behind.”
“What secret?” she asked.
“That you’re more capable of handling yourself than any other person in this family.” He hugged her a little tighter before releasing her.
His words meant more than he could know and she tried to convey it in a heartfelt, “Thank you.”
He winked at her and grabbed his wife, pulling her into his side. “Where’s everyone else? I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.” Leeza laughed, rubbing his belly.
The whereabouts of the others was quickly resolved as the heavy front doors were thrown open and a brightly chattering group burst into the sitting room, coats flung about for the servants to take care of.
Nonna and Nikka, who had never left their home continent before, were beyond pleased to accept Shaun and Jozef’s hospitality. They were welcomed into the home as if they were part of the family as arrangements were made for them to stay at the mansion for the duration of their extended vacation.
Saskia settled on the couch next to her nine-year-old nephew, who was sitting quietly by himself. He hadn’t hugged Saskia, but that wasn’t unusual. He didn’t like being touched, tolerating it only occasionally. It was one of his special quirks from being on the autism spectrum.
How are you doing, sweetheart? Saskia asked, using sign language. Though he could speak verbally, he preferred non-verbal communication.
He signed back, You were gone a long time.
Yes, I was, she agreed. I went on a visit to Africa. I met lots of interesting people and learned lots of new things. I will tell you about them some time and show you some of the pictures I took.
He shook his head and lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers. He didn’t do eye contact often and she was surprised he was looking at her now. No, you were gone because someone took you and refused to give you back. I was scared and worried.
It took everything in her not to pull him onto her lap for a big hug, but it would only make him more anxious, so instead, she signed, How do you know that?
My parents talk sometimes when they think I’m not listening. They said a warlord took you and they worried what he might do to you. Mom didn’t sleep and walked around the house late at night a lot. Sometimes I stayed up with her.
Saskia was shocked at of his level of understanding and saddened because he shouldn’t have to know that his aunt had been kidnapped by a warlord.
I was never in any danger, she assured him. And now I’m home, at least for a while, so neither you nor your mom need to worry anymore.
He nodded, and leaned over, resting his head against her arm.
She didn’t touch him, but she kissed the air over his head.
She’d told him she was home… at least for a while.
She still felt hope that Radik would come after her, realize that sending her away was the biggest mistake of his life, beg her to come back with him.
She wouldn’t, of course. She had her pride.
He’d have to grovel and even then, she wouldn’t give in.
Eventually, he’d have to kidnap her again, the way Jozef had kidnapped his wife. Twice.
A smile twitched her lips, and she relaxed into the cushions, cuddling next to her nephew. She watched her family and her African companions with love as they argued, bantered and laughed together. It was good to be home… for a while.