by Jillian Neal
Thoughts of outstanding school systems, vegetables, and internet safety suddenly became extremely important. He tried to envision Aida leaving them everyday to go to school.
“She seems exceptionally bright. She read that paper quickly and adeptly for seven.” The Governor reminded them. “But you might want to do a few educational things with her that her classmates will certainly have already done, but that she never has. Take her to the zoo, to see a movie, to a park, on a picnic, to the beach, things like that.”
“I want to take her to Kauai.” Fionna turned the full power of her pleading gaze on Dan.
He’d been thinking the very same thing. “Why don’t we call your grandparents when we get home? We could spend the summer there if you want, baby doll.”
“Oh Dan,” she threw her arms around him and squeezed him tightly. The Governor cleared his throat when the hug extended for several minutes.
“Sorry,” Fionna reseated herself. A rosy heat colored her olive cheeks.
The Governor chuckled and shook his head at them. “She’ll have to be immunized,” he continued down his list. “And, she does seem to have accepted the mine collapse story. She’s reconciled that in her mind. I would leave it at that. I wouldn’t try to explain to her what actually happened unless she asks when she’s much older. Rainer still has no clue as to the gruesome details of his parent’s deaths, and he never will.” The Governor looked visibly pained as he recalled their murders.
Fionna and Dan shared his grief as they signed the last few papers.
“She doesn’t have a middle name.” Fionna noted as she signed her name under Dan’s.
“No, and that isn’t uncommon in the village where she was born, but you could give her one if you’d like.”
“We’ll let her choose.” Fionna stated firmly as Dan smiled and winked at his beautiful wife.
“Or, we could make Santos one of her middle names, but I think she should have two. She could choose the second, just like you did, baby.”
Fionna swallowed down another round of emotion as she nodded her agreement.
Cookies and Milk
“What do they taste like?” Aida was quizzing Logan when Dan and Fionna returned to the deck. He’d offered her one of Mrs. Haydenshire’s famous chocolate chip cookies.
“They’re amazing!” Logan scrubbed Aida’s scraggly hair. She seemed to bring peace to him as well, Dan noted. He’d phoned Logan when he and Fionna had returned from Kauai and invited he and Adeline over. They’d discussed Pravus and what Logan had done and how it affected him.
It had been cathartic for both of them, but Aida seemed to bring Logan peace, a reminder that life went on in the wake of all of the evil atrocities that Pravus had committed.
Dan watched as Aida took a hesitant bite. Her eyes goggled. “It’s so yummy!”
“She’s probably never had a cookie,” Fionna whispered.
“Ever?” Dan was unable to believe the depth of poverty that Aida had lived.
“Her family was really poor, Dan, and the orphanage feeds them stew everyday because it fills them up.”
“I’ll give you the recipe.” Mrs. Haydenshire assured Fionna.
“Thank you! And Mrs. Haydenshire,” she pled as Mrs. Haydenshire halted and turned back to her. “If I get confused or I’m not sure how to handle something with her…?”
Mrs. Haydenshire embraced Fionna tightly. “Then Stephen and I are just a phone call away.”
After thanking the Haydenshires profusely for all of their help, Fionna gazed at Aida who’d been supplied with milk and another cookie via Logan and Adeline.
“We need to get her home, so I can sew the hem on her dress and then get back for the parties.” Fionna laid her head on Dan’s shoulder. He brushed a kiss in her hair and pulled his car keys from his pocket.
A sudden realization had him reeling momentarily. “Uh, baby, I don’t have a way to get you both home.” His two-seater Ferrari was definitely not a family car.
“Here.” Rainer tossed Dan the keys to Emily’s Hummer. “Give Sam a call, but we won’t be needing it for a few weeks.”
“Thank you,” Dan still couldn’t quite wrap his head around everything that had changed in one day’s time.
“Okay, but I don’t want a minivan.” Fionna’s plea made everyone laugh.
Dan helped Aida up into the Hummer and showed her how to buckle in. He added a booster carseat to the list of supplies they needed to acquire immediately.
“I got to fly in an airplane yesterday, and it was so high. And then I got to ride in Garrett’s car, and he has a phone that has movies on it!” Aida declared in shock.
Dan and Fionna shared a grin.
“We need to take her by a few stores. The things in her suitcase are falling apart, but we need to be careful. She’ll be embarrassed.” Fionna whispered as Dan cranked the Hummer.
He recalled Adeline’s face and her horror when Lucas had taken them shopping in Sydney. His willingness to buy her anything at all had done nothing more than make Adeline uncomfortable and further the wedge between them.
Keeping the warning planted firmly in his mind, he and Fionna tried not to overwhelm Aida as they guided and encouraged her to try on tennis shoes that fit.
“I’ve never had new shoes before.” She admitted shamefully.
“Well, we’ll just get one pair for now, and that way your feet won’t hurt, so you can run really fast.”
Aida nodded but she was still uncomfortable. She finally picked out a white pair with light purple laced butterfly designs and purple laces. She carried the box in her arms like Dan and Fionna had given her precious metals. They moved on to clothes.
“You need a new nightgown for the slumber party.” Fionna pointed to a rack of little girls pajamas.
“My nightgown is in my suitcase. Sister Mary Francis packed it for me.”
“It’s so small and full of holes.” Fionna whispered to Dan.
Not certain what else to do, Dan reached and pulled a purple pair of pajamas off of the rack that appeared to be Aida’s size. They had hot pink hearts all over them. “I really like these.”
Aida’s eyes lit, but she said nothing.
“And, I think you would be so pretty in them.”
“You do?” Aida quizzed. Dan and Fionna nodded adamantly.
“But I already have a nightgown, and you aren’t allowed to have more than one because someone else might need it.” Aida explained the rules of the orphanage.
Dan thought momentarily that his recently mended heart was going to break all over again. Fionna drew from him quickly as she took a deep breath. He felt the energy she pulled leave his body. Somehow, her draws never depleted him. The always seemed to give him strength.
“Well, now that you’re going to live with Dan and I it’s okay to have more than one, and if you’d like we could give your other nightgown to a little girl that’s a little bit smaller than you. You’ve grown so much since I saw you Brazil. I think it’s time for you to get clothes that are a little bit bigger.” She kept her tone soothing, but Dan knew she was fighting tears.
“Are you sure?” Aida’s brow knitted tightly. She didn’t want to break a rule.
“I’m sure!”
“Do you have more than one night gown?”
“Uh,” Fionna stammered. Truthfully she only had one nightshirt other than her vast collection of negligees and nighties because she normally slept naked. A preference that drove Dan wild and that he sincerely hoped she would continue even though they’d suddenly become parents.
“Well, I usually sleep in one of Dan’s t-shirts.” Fionna supplied in a partial truth.
Aida nodded her understanding. “It’s so nice if you get clothes that are too big because then they don’t pinch like all your others.”
Fionna and Dan shared a heartbroken gaze as Fionna nodded.
“Is it okay if I have those?” Aida whispered suddenly in a terror filled plea as she pointed to the pajamas in Dan’s hands. He
r head fell in shame.
“Of course, sweetheart. Do you see any others you might like?”
After several long minutes and a great deal of convincing, Aida admitted to liking a pink nightgown with Cinderella on it and another pair of short pajamas with crowned frogs all over them. She said the frogs were very funny, and Dan considered purchasing two pairs.
Fionna picked her up a new toothbrush and children’s toothpaste. Aida hadn’t fussed too much over this as Fionna mentioned that she was buying she and Dan new toothbrushes as well.
Time was running short, so Fionna simply picked up three pairs of blue jeans, a few small shirts, panties, and two cotton dresses that she thought Aida would like. She added them to the buggy without discussion.
After the purchases had been made, Dan drove his new family home in Emily’s Hummer. He liked the way it handled and wondered if Fionna might like one. They certainly needed a larger car.
Aida entered slowly clinging to Fionna’s hand and gnawing on her lip. “Your house is very nice.”
Dan wondered if it would take Aida as long to call it her house as it had taken Fionna.
“Would you like to look around?” Fionna eased softly, but Aida shook her head. It had been too much in one day. She was overwhelmed and exhausted.
Fionna gave Dan a pleading stare. Drawing a deep breath, he leaned and hoisted Aida into his arms. She immediately turned and hid her face in his neck once again.
He moved to the couch, sank down, and cradled her tightly.
“Aida, would you like for us to stay home with Dan and not go to the slumber party?” Fionna was struggling under the weight of Aida’s emotions. She read her with ease, and Aida’s fears and confusion were all-consuming.
“I would like to go to Emily’s slumber party, please.”
“Okay,” Fionna smiled in relief. “Well, if we’re going to stay with Emily tonight, then you don’t have to pick your room out today.”
Dan felt Aida’s energy ease. She didn’t want to make any more decisions. She continued to glance around the house until her pale brown eyes landed on the quilt on the back of the couch.
“Hey, you know Fi made those quilts.” Dan gestured to the others hung over the armrests of the couch and loveseat.
“You did?”
Fionna smiled and nodded. “Maybe in a few weeks we could make one for you.”
“A purple one?” Aida asked excitedly. Her energy soothed and then beginning to spin happily.
“Sure!”
Aida turned back to Dan. “Did you know that Fionna has this stuff that she can put on your skin and make it not itchy anymore?”
“Fionna is amazing.” He studied her arms as he made his vow. Her olive skin looked patchy and dry.
“They can’t afford suntan lotion at the orphanage, so they never wear it, but they play outside most of the day in Brazil. She has eczema. Garrett usually heals the patches if he’s there when they come up, but he couldn’t heal what was causing it. I put Tutu’s kukui oil all over her while I was there and her skin cleared up, but then we left.”
She forced a sweet smile as she took Aida’s hand. “You know, when I was a little girl, my mom used to put that same stuff on my skin every night after my bath so that my skin wasn’t itchy. I still put it on everyday, so maybe we could put it on together.”
This idea seemed to thoroughly delight Aida. “Is that how you got to be so pretty?”
Dan beamed at both of his girls.
Fionna swooned. “Oh, thank you. How about if we all go in the kitchen and have a snack? Then I’ll go finish your dress, and we can pack for Emily’s.”
Elaborating on what they were going to do brought Aida peace. Everyone understood that she was fine as long as Dan and Fionna didn’t force too much on her at once.
Dan watched Aida dutifully eat the apples and cheese that Fionna had cut up for her, but she was thoroughly delighted with the Dr. Pepper that Dan had provided her.
Fionna’s new sewing machine was flying upstairs, and he felt a sense of peace and wholeness flood through him. It was an odd sensation, not one he was accustomed to feeling unless he was in physical contact with Fionna.
After getting everything packed, Dan drove back to the farm. Aida had requested that she be able to bring her new frog pajamas. She was certain that Emily would think they were funny as well.
The Haydenshires seemed pleased to be throwing one last slumber party in Emily’s honor. They shared nostalgic gazes when they thought no one was paying attention.
“Okay, I ordered the pizzas.” Governor Haydenshire informed his wife as she was preparing bowls of chips and dip.
“Pizza is delicious!” Aida explained to Dan. “Garrett brought it to us when Fionna and Emily threw the slumber party at the orphanage.”
“Yeah I did.” Garrett hoisted Aida up onto his shoulders making her giggle with delight. “And why did I bring you pizza?” he chanted.
“Because you’re the man!” Aida supplied in a clearly well rehearsed routine.
Dan and Fionna rolled their eyes and laughed at the two of them.
“I guess Dan can be the man too.” Garrett pledged.
She giggled and nodded her agreement completing the perfection of Dan’s day.
“Well would one of the men like to make the child something to drink?” Mrs. Haydenshire rolled her eyes at the macho spectacle playing out in her kitchen.
Garrett lifted Aida off of his shoulders.
“What would you like to drink, sweetheart?” Dan winked at her. She gifted him with another one of those heart-melting grins.
She turned to Mrs. Haydenshire timidly. “Do you have the stuff that Dan gave me at he and Fionna’s house?”
Mrs. Haydenshire raised her eyebrows to Dan in question. He chuckled and scrubbed Aida’s head making her laugh. “Dr. Pepper, but maybe just one more today.”
“I do have that.” Mrs. Haydenshire supplied Aida with a prepared glass.
“They have it here too.” Aida whispered in shock making Fionna, Dan, and Garrett beam at her adoringly.
“We need to get going.” Logan urged all of his brothers, Rainer, and Dan. Aida’s face promptly fell.
She clung to Dan’s hand. “You’re going to come back, right?”
Dan leaned down so he was gazing into Aida’s frightened eyes. “I promise, baby. I’ll be back to get you and Fionna bright and early tomorrow morning.”
“What if you forget to remember us?” She sounded terrified.
“Aida.” Dan hugged her closely. “I would never ever forget you and Fionna, okay? You two are the most important people in the entire world to me.” He explained as all of the Haydenshires offered him sorrowful gazes.
Aida pulled away from Dan and grasped Fionna’s hand. “I will take care of Fionna for you. I remembered.”
“Thank you. I know you’ll take good care of her. If you decide you want to come home, you tell Fi and I’ll come and get you both, even if it’s late tonight.”
The Governor smiled and gave Dan an impressed grin. “Good dad.” He gave a slight nod of approval bolstering Dan’s confidence. He still wasn’t certain that he knew what he was doing.
The Man You Have Become
Kisses were shared by most of the Haydenshire men and their wives, fiancées, and girlfriends that were staying for the party. Dan pulled Fionna in for a long drawn kiss. As sweet, happy giggles reached their ears, they knew their little girl had spotted them.
“She’ll have to get used to that, because we’re still doing that all the time.” Fionna laughed.
Dan gave her a rather lascivious smirk that said when they’re little girl was asleep they’d be doing a whole lot more.
Aida promised again to take good care of Fionna for Dan before he left to join all of the Haydenshire men at Lesco’s Pub. They took the back room that Logan had booked for Rainer’s bachelor party after Rainer adamantly insisted that the party would not be held in a strip club or even a bar.
“Ok
ay.” Garrett poured himself a beer from the numerous pitchers Les was setting on the long table. “I know that we’re here to harass and chastise Rainer, but could we all just take a minute and raise a glass to the guy that not only scored one but two of my favorite women in the world in like two week’s time?” He raised his mug to Dan.
Laughing, Dan nodded his acceptance of the toast.
“Yeah, let’s just talk about your having a little girl.” Will chimed in as everyone took a seat. “First of all, you will be broke very, very soon, like as soon as Fionna and Aida decide that she needs new clothes. And I'm pretty sure this has already happened, but she will wrap you so tightly around her little finger it will be painful, but you will be woefully unable to extricate yourself from her grip.”
“That has definitely already happened.” Dan assured everyone. Turning to Rainer with a goading grin he chuckled. “You know, I will say, all of that stuff the Governor used to complain about constantly with you and Emily suddenly makes perfect sense to me.”
Rainer rolled his eyes and braced for the incoming harassment he was certain to receive over the next few hours. “I am marrying her tomorrow.” He reminded everyone.
Les carried in platters of wings, hot dogs, burgers, and onion rings. He grinned at Rainer. “All right now, Mr. Lawson, you better take care of my favorite little red head.”
Rainer laughed. “She’s my favorite red head too, Les. No worries.”
“Well, if anything gets too confusing tomorrow night you just give me a call and I’ll talk you through it,” Les harassed.
Everyone laughed heartily as Rainer shook his head. “I think I got it, but thanks.”
“Yeah, but go ahead and write your number down for him, Les.” Connor brought on another round of laughter.
“So, do we get to find out where you’ll be stiffing our little sister tomorrow night?” Will chanted.