He turned his head to look out the window. “Anyway, I needed to offer them something valuable. Something that would make up for any implied insult. Aria knows the rest of the story.”
“You monster! You sold us like cattle. Your own daughters. Made to marry criminals!” Aria sobbed as she lunged at him.
I managed to step between her and her father in time, holding her back.
Even though I had my back to her father, I could hear him stand.
“That’s right. My daughters. Do you have any idea how rich you and your sister would have been? You would have lived like princesses. What father doesn’t think their daughter is a princess? And it’s not like you were actually married to anyone. Those idiots had you sign the wrong paperwork.”
“I’m not married?” Aria asked, her eyes wide in confusion.
“No. And your sister’s dead, so the deal was a bust anyway.” Her father rolled his eyes.
Now it was my turn to tell that piece of garbage off.
I turned and stepped up to him. Towering over him, I pushed my finger into his weak chest. “You don’t even care that your child is dead? You treated your daughters like slaves. You think you’re slick because you’ve done business with the scum of the Earth?”
He tried to step back but fell onto the couch. “Your mom is one of the people I do business with.”
“Like I said, you do business with the scum of the Earth. And you’re a fool to have anything to do with her. She will chew you up and spit you out worse than anything you can imagine. Even worse than what you did to your own flesh and blood.”
Just as Aria’s father began to say something the sliding doors opened and out walked my mom, Mr. Dorton, and Alexa.
My eyes widened at the beautiful woman Alexa had become. I had seen a few pictures of her but nothing recent. The only thought I had was she would make a man very happy one day.
The following thought caused my heart to sink. I was going to be that man if my mother had her way. And she always had her way.
Alexa gave me a stiff smile as she fussed with her dark hair. Aria was right, there was no sister. Alexa was the dark-haired woman she saw with my mother.
“Alex, I’m happy you came. But don’t you think we should have left Aria out of this,” my mom said as she pursed her lips.
“Why? Why would I leave the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with out of anything that has to do with me?”
My heart sped up, not from confronting my mother, but that I spoke out loud what I had been thinking about for the past month.
“What?” Aria’s voice cracked beside me.
I didn’t want it to be like that. I wanted to whisk Aria off to that island we talked about. Serve her fresh fish, tropical drinks, and a diamond ring while gazing at the ocean.
I turned to her and took her hand. “I think you know how much I love you, Aria. And this is the last place I wanted to do this, especially in front of these people.” I glared at Aria’s dad as Aria gave my mom the evil eye.
“But, I can’t keep this inside anymore. The more time I spend with you, the more I realize that I need to show you, to tell you, how lucky I am to have found you in that art gallery three years ago,” I said as I stared into her warm brown eyes.
“You didn’t find her, Alex,” Aria’s dad interrupted me pouring my heart out to his daughter.
I turned my head toward him and regretted holding Aria back when she wanted to attack her father earlier.
He smirked. “Oh, you think you just happened to find my daughter in an art gallery? Your mother and I made sure you ‘found’ Aria. Mrs. Hawthorne was desperate. Since you refused to be a man and fuck a woman. Even prostitutes who would fuck anything if they were paid enough.”
“Dad!” Aria yelled at her father.
“Don’t tell me he didn’t tell you he was a virgin when you two finally had sex?” He waved his hands in the air in front of him.
“Dad, none of this is appropriate,” Aria said.
“Anyway,” he said ignoring his daughter’s comments, “when Mrs. Hawthorne mentioned her problem with her son, I knew my daughter was perfect for him. She loved art and would have sex with any man with a penis.”
I heard Aria and Alexa gasp but I only saw red. I don’t even remember moving toward Aria’s dad, but I remember punching him in the face. And in the stomach. And finally, shoving him against the window in the room before Mr. Dorton pulled me away.
Pushing Mr. Dorton off me, I turned to my mother. “That’s what you want?” I pointed to Aria’s dad as he lay curled in a ball on the floor. “You want to surround yourself with those type of people? People who would sell their family, their children for money. Then turn around and call their children whores. But I’m not good enough? I’m a problem to you?”
I could feel the hot tears streaming down my face but I didn’t care. My mother was awful and she wanted to be with awful people.
“It’s a necessary evil, Alexander,” my mother said after a sigh.
She had grown so immune to this sick life that it didn’t faze her.
“There is something evil in this room and she has a Botox face and wears diamond rings,” I said and smirked.
“Alexander August Hawthorne! That is no way to speak to me. I’m your mother.”
It only caused my smile to grow. I never made my mom angry and it felt good. She was always so in control, cool, and rarely fazed. Finally, I found one of her buttons to push and I wanted to take a sledgehammer to it.
“Oh yes, the mother who thinks lying is a form of endearment. Or telling him never to go outside during the day for fear he would be kidnapped and tortured . . . that’s what every good mother does. And that anyone who showed me attention only wanted me for my money.”
“I told you, Alexander, I did that to protect you. I may not have been a typical mother but it doesn’t mean I didn’t love you.” She stepped forward and tried to touch my arm.
I moved back shaking my head. “Don’t. If you loved me, how come you never told me?”
There was silence. My mother frowned and I thought I saw regret in her eyes.
“Mom, just—”
“Alexander, I’m sorry. I do love you, very much,” my mother said.
She gazed down at the floor as her shoulders slumped. “I’m tired, Alexander. Tired of fighting and sneaking around. Maybe you do belong to Aria—” My mom was cut off from Mr. Dorton.
“Emma,” he said.
She waved her hand at him. “Douglas, it’s fine.”
My mother nodded and surprisingly, he accepted that.
“Alex, it’s been a long time. I have lived like this for so long I forgot what it was like to just love people instead of be weary of them. I don’t even know what I am fighting anymore.” She gave a sad smile and walked over to sit on the couch.
There was a knock at the door. Mr. Dorton went to answer it. Moments later he came back.
“The car is here to take us to the chapel. For the wedding.” His eyes darted between me and his daughter.
“Dad, I can’t marry him. I told you that. You told me I was here about a potential job offer. Please, tell me your terrible scheme to marry Alex is over.” Alexa waved her hand at me and Aria.
“Don’t worry, Alexa,” my mom said before standing back up. “We’ll go to the chapel, but we will be going to make my son’s dream come true because I love him.”
My mom took my hand and Aria’s hand and held them. “What do you say Ms. Dixon. Do you want to marry my son tonight?”
THIRTY-FIVE
Aria
“The blushing bride,” Alex’s mom said to me as she led me into the little Vegas chapel’s prep room. It was a tiny room with a full-length mirror, chair, and petite round table in the corner. The room had one small window that faced an alley.
“We don’t have to get married right now. I appreciate that you want to make your son happy but he just proposed,” I said still in shock at her complete turnaround with me.<
br />
When Alex’s mom asked if I would be open to marrying Alex tonight I wanted to say no but my head nodded yes. In a few months, maybe. Or, perhaps, in a couple of years we could start to plan a wedding.
It’s not so much the thought of being with Alex that had my throat tighten until I thought I couldn’t breathe, it was the marrying part. If people hadn’t noticed, I didn’t have the best example of a good marriage growing up.
I never dreamed of being a bride and still don’t. I love Alex but I had no desire to have him put a ring on it.
Mrs. Hawthorne pulled a small black leather bag from her purse and placed it on the table. “I’ll let you use some of my makeup.” She turned to me and pursed her lips as her eyes roamed my face. “You do need to freshen up. I can only hope my makeup can help with that.”
I sighed realizing that’s probably the best I’d get out of Alex’s mom when it came to being nice.
“Thank you. When can I see Alex?”
Mrs. Hawthorne made her way to the door but turned before closing it. “It’s bad luck to see the groom before the wedding, Aria. You will see him when the ceremony is to start.”
Before I could stop her, she closed the door.
I stared at the makeup and mirror. The more I gazed at them, the more sweat trickled down my neck.
Shouldn’t I have friends helping me with this? Like bridesmaids. I opened my purse and pulled out my cellphone.
I called Morgana, no answer.
I called Evaleen, no answer.
Tiffany would help. She’s always eager to support people. I called her. No answer.
Crap. Where are my Chicago peeps when I needed them?
I took a few steps toward the table with the makeup, suddenly hyperaware of how suffocating the room appeared. Was it purposely made closet-sized to make sure people raced down the aisle for fear of being consumed by four walls and worn, green carpeting?
I had to get out of here.
Turning I moved to the door but when I tried to open it, the door handle wouldn’t budge. I jiggled the handle a few times and realized Mrs. Hawthorne had locked me in here. Could she tell I wanted to escape?
How do I get out of here? Maybe there was a key. I scanned the room and still only saw a small table, chair, and mirror. The key would have to be hidden . . . like on a window ledge.
I walked over to the window and felt around the edge. There was no key to be found, but when I tugged at the window it easily pushed out. I’ll escape through the alley.
Since this room was in the basement, the window was small and set high up toward the ceiling. I moved the chair over and climbed up. A whisper of a memory when I had to do this the last time I was marrying someone caused my eyes to burn as I pushed myself through the tiny hole.
I was almost out when I felt hands on my arms. Since I was turned face down I couldn’t see who was pulling me. Probably some drunk dude looking for a good time. I’d have to explain that hanging out by wedding chapels wasn’t the best place to find a hookup.
When I got free and stood I was shocked at who was standing in front of me.
“Grace?” I said.
Grace Jenkins, Mimir’s office receptionist where Morgana and Evaleen both worked, was helping me escape from a marriage in Las Vegas.
“Hi, Ms. Dixon.” She smiled and even in the dark light of the alley I could tell she was blushing.
“Why are you here? Did you come to Vegas on vacation?”
If so, that’s a really crazy coincidence she happened to be here to help me. Maybe Evaleen was right about Grace, she’s a weird stalker-like person.
“I didn’t like what they were doing to you. It’s not right,” she said as she waved toward the chapel.
“Were you inside when we came in? I wish I had known but I didn’t see you.”
“I don’t have time to explain, I need you to come with me.”
Grace glanced over my shoulder and her eyes widened. Before I could turn my head to see what was happening, she grabbed my hand and pulled me with her. She was surprisingly strong for someone so petite.
We ran in the opposite direction of what she had seen, to the end of the alley. Once we got there, we were met with a large black SUV and Alexa holding the door open for us. I hopped in as Alexa got in behind me and shut the door.
Grace hopped into the driver’s seat and took off just as I buckled myself in. There was someone in the passenger seat in the front and when he turned I gasped.
“Alex? Did you do this?” I asked.
I was confused. Did he not want to marry me, too? I could understand why, given his family background, but then why did he propose?
“No, Grace did. She saw what was happening and decided to help.” Alex turned his head to watch Grace as she focused on the Las Vegas streets while maneuvering the vehicle.
His eyes seemed to soften and he reached over to place a hand on her shoulder. The hairs stood on the back of my neck. Why was he touching her?
“Grace. Why are you here?” I said and I didn’t care if everyone could hear the edge in my tone.
I could see her dark eyes flicker up to the rearview mirror. She heard me but there was silence.
“Aria, I wanted to wait to tell you until we got somewhere safe.” Alex turned in his seat with a pained expression on his face.
He never wanted to marry me. This was all a setup to get out of marrying Alexa or to get back at his mother or something.
How could I be so stupid not to see it? Alex is a Hawthorne and Hawthornes are some fucked-up people. That’s saying something considering my family.
Was Alex using me all this time? Were all his words a lie? And how did he drag poor Grace into all this? Probably saw how she looked at him in the elevator back at Mimir and decided to use her, too.
I felt sick and I had no way out of this car. I went from one trap to another.
“What is it, Alex? Just tell me. I’d rather hear honesty than lies.” I wiped at the lone tear as it slid down my cheek.
I pushed back into my seat and folded my arms—the only protection I had for what was about to come. Heartache. Loss.
I will never give my heart to any man again, no matter how much he understands the need to express beauty through art. Was that a lie, too?
“Grace is my twin sister, Aria. My mother wasn’t lying. She was at the chapel when we arrived. I finally got to meet her.”
My eyes danced between Alex and Grace. Tiny Grace and big Alex. How could they possibly be brother and sister? But then I saw it.
Their nose was the same and their cheekbones. They even had the same dark hair. The only differences, other than height, was eye color and skin pigment. Alex had skin like caramel while Grace’s skin was light, creamy.
“I have my mother’s complexion,” Grace said as if reading my mind.
“I, uh, I can see that. You two just met?” I asked, not really knowing what to say.
“Yes. Grace actually knew for a while but Mom told her it wasn’t safe to tell anyone, even me. That’s why she stared at me when she met me at Mimir. She knew but couldn’t say anything.”
“It’s not easy keeping secrets but, as our mom said, it can be for the best to reveal them at the right time.”
Sounds like something Mrs. Hawthorne would say. Now I felt bad for Grace. Here I was, believing she was creepy and worse, after my man, but she only wanted to know her brother.
“Don’t you have parents, Grace? Didn’t they ever tell you about your real family?” I had a million questions in my head and barely knew where to start.
She sighed as she maneuvered the SUV away from the bright lights of Vegas and into the dark desert.
“Not really. Yes, I was adopted when I was a kid. But they didn’t really love me. I was just an unpaid servant to them. You have no idea how happy I was when my real mother contacted me. It may sound silly but I always dreamed my real parents would come for me.”
I noticed her knuckles whiten on the steering wheel before she co
ntinued, “When Emma, oh, I mean, Mom. That’s so weird to say still, after everything that’s happened. Anyway, when she told me about my family, my brother,” Grace turned her head to give a quick smile to Alex before focusing back on the road, “I wanted to run off and be with them. But then she told me why I was adopted and that I had to keep it secret, I was willing to do that for my real family. I would do anything for that kind of love.”
“Grace, I’m so sorry you had people treat you like that. We seem to be a car full of misfits. All our parents only cared about was using us for personal gain,” I said and let go of a cynical laugh.
“That’s why I had to get you all out of there. I overheard Mom talking to the other two men about marrying you, Alex, to Alexa,” Grace said pointing to Alex. “The things they said. It was crazy what they planned to do. No, this wasn’t the family I had in mind. I knew Alex was a good person and figured Alexa was too, so I snuck them out a side door while their parents continued to talk.”
“I wanted to come get you but Grace said it wasn’t safe. She decided to help you escape. So here we are.” Alex smiled at me as if everyone in this car was the perfect family.
THIRTY-SIX
Alexander
I was happy.No, that’s not right, I was blissfully content. I had no idea I could feel this way but here I am in a motel room in Sterling, Colorado waking up next to the woman I love with my sister in the room across the hall.
Could I have even imagined this a year ago? No.
This must be what it feels like to have a happy family. To be surrounded by the people you love. Even Alexa, I told her she could come stay with us for as long as she wanted. But she decided to stay with a friend in New York. We dropped her off at Denver International Airport on our long drive back to Chicago.
“What time is it?” Aria asked, her voice rough from just waking up.
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