Misery Saves the Night
Page 28
Scars all healed and powers back at a safe level, Recarie parted the waterfall and stepped behind it. The cave behind it had the glowing blue markings of her family on them. These markings said what clan lived there and also doubled as protection talismans. Not far into the tunnel, Recarie started to hear the voice of her family.
“They’re all here.” Almost in tears she reached the little home that her family had carved into the mountain. “Including him. Awe.” Her head drooped at that thought of the man whose face she tried not to remember even though she wanted to be his world.
Light from inside the main room could be seen through the curtains several feet in front of Recarie. She peaked in to get a sense of her family before making her entrance.
“There’s mom!” Recarie whispered. “She looks like she’s doing well. Ah, it must be nearing the holiday’s morning. Everyone is all dressed up in silvers and blues.”
Standing in front of a long refreshment table with a great spread of sweets and appetizers were Trey and Gillian. They were talking to Cirri who sported a small goatee now. Rheanne was handing out sparkling cider drinks to Caleth and Tory who were playing some sort of card games and eating mixed nuts.
“OMG!” She mouthed seeing the baby bump on Justine. “When did that happen?”
But that was not the only surprise. Two little girls and a little boy came bursting out of the kitchen and pulled on Gillian and Trey. The girls had short coal black hair while the boy sported deep violet locks. All three of them had the same sparkling silver eyes of her family. She could have sworn they called the pair mommy and daddy. These children were probably three years old by Recarie’s estimate. Recarie was about to turn and leave when the kitchen door opened and the last party guest entered the room. He joined Justine and put his arm around her shoulder.
“Oh no…” Lip trembling Recarie knew what had happened. “Ian!” She accidentally shouted and gained everyone’s attention in the process.
Ian could see the person standing behind the curtain, but for only a few seconds before she jolted off. Everyone else saw her too. Only able to stand there from the shock of seeing the girl, everything was silent. Ian ran out of that door before anyone else could. Standing in the tunnel, he couldn’t see Recarie anywhere. This did not stop him. He could feel her presence.
“I’ve been gone too long.” Recarie cried running back to the waterfall. “I’ve got nieces and a nephew and one more on the way. How could Ian do that?!” Someone was behind her and getting closer. She dashed through the waterfall and lost her balanced. “Hmph.” In true Recarie fashion she cried while sitting in the cold water. “I should not have come here.”
PLUNK! Something came crashing out of the water fall, splashing water all over her face. When the focus came back into her eyes, Recarie was face to face with a man she had longed to see.
On his knees, Ian looked at the soaked young girl. His breaths were long and deep as he studied her. Shaking Ian brought his hands out of the water. He wanted to put his hands on her to make sure she was real. Recarie had turned her head away and stood up. Face full blown red, Ian could sense that she was angered and he knew it was wise to not bother her while in that state.
The moon’s blue light lit up her body and Ian was sure she was real. “I can’t stand it.” He grabbed her hand, but to only have her pull away. This did not make any sense to him and without words he got off his knees and wrapped his arms around Recarie with his chest touching her back. She did not say anything as she tried to break away, but Ian only held on to her tighter.
“Let me go…” Recarie was barely able to say anything while trying to deal with what she had just seen. Ian said nothing. “Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!” He still held onto her tight.
“Why are you so afraid of me?” Ian finally managed to form a sentence. “Do you know how long your family has missed you…? How long I have missed you…”
“Well you obviously didn’t miss me too much!” She was finally free from Ian’s hold.
“What are you talking about?” Stupidly he reached out for her hand again only to have Recarie slap it away.
“You know, I must have been pretty naïve to think that I could have just shown up here and everything would be the way it was. To think that you had been waiting for me all this time, only to find out you are with Justine!” Recarie fell on her knees.
“Oh, that…” Ian stopped trying to get a hold of Recarie.
“After all I went through to get here… I should have stayed in the abyss.” Her family had joined the pair, but they stayed hidden behind the waterfall.
Ian said nothing and Recarie was pretty sure he got out of the lake. When she finally stopped shaking from nerves Recarie was able to stand again. She wiped the tears from her eyes, but that did not help as snowflakes began to fall and melt the moment they touched her face.
“To think I honestly loved you.” She mumbled.
Eyes closed, she felt someone grab her face. Opening her eyes, she got a good look at his. Ian’s face showed he was serious and Recarie felt slightly scared.
“I never stopped loving you. It may have been difficult for us in the beginning, hell even in the middle, but since I first saw you I always had this feeling we belonged together. When we were in Farous, I wished we could’ve lived like that forever because at least I knew you would always be by my side. Even when you asked me to turn you into the NSSH, I believed in you and it physically crippled me each day I was away from you.” Ian’s thumb stroked her cheek to wipe away a falling tear. “You’re sweet, generous, kind, considerate, and everything else that makes you beautiful inside and out. Even though you jump to conclusions and never let others know how you truly are feeling, I’ve always been drawn to you. I have been only helping Justine these last months. Her fiancé, Miuan who is a very good man and former NSSH agent, is out of town for the next three weeks and since I had some free time I told him I would help Justine out until he returned. There’s never been anyone in my life except for you and there will always only be you. I love you Recarie.” Ian did something no one was expecting as he got down on one knee. “With all that said and us being the two biggest drama queens on the planet, I am down here on my knees in the freezing water asking if you will marry me.” He pulled a ring out of his pocket. “I bought this when I returned to Disten after our adventure to Farous. Even though I did not know why I had at that moment, I know now it was because I wanted to be by your side forever. Just say yes.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Recarie burst out laughing. “What a relief!” Laughing was a way for her to release her stress. “We are a bunch of drama queens aren’t we?”
Ian was a little puzzled about her reactions. “Yeah. ‘We’ are.”
For the third time that night, Recarie dropped to her knees and kissed Ian. She had waited so long to kiss the man she loved, that she pushed him over, all the while still kissing. Without words, as they had said enough that night, the two were able to tell each other all the things they hadn’t said.
“Gross!” A little boy shouted.
“Ssh!” His mother pulled him aside.
Ian and Recarie blushed. “That’s Trey and Gillian’s son?”
“You have no idea how much you missed.” He leaned in towards her and kissed her lightly on her lips.
“But you will help me catch up won’t you?” Recarie raised one eyebrow and helped Ian out of the water.
“So was that a yes?” Yasire shouted over the rushing water.
“Most definitely.” Leaning on Ian with her finger woven between his, they joined their every growing family.
“Welcome home Recarie.” Everyone shouted, though the children were a bit puzzled about what was happening and who she was.
Recarie hugged her mother who had huge tears trickling from her eyes. Cirri wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around. He had missed her for so long.
“I am very proud of you, my little Recarie.” Squeezing all the air out of her body, he turne
d her over to the rest of the family.
She was little confused about why Caleth and Tory were there, but embraced them none the less. Yasire and Justine welcomed the younger girl home.
“Don’t you ever leave us again.” Justine hugged her little sister. “It feels good to know you’re back with us here.”
“This feels a little weird… Or more awkward at that.” Recarie thought as she was embraced by the woman whose fiancé she had tried to steal. “Something I’ll get used to, I suppose.”
“Hm?” Her family looked at her trying to figure out just what she meant.
“Said that aloud did I?” A sudden urge to flee crept into her thoughts.
Trey just playfully punched her on the arm, but Recarie knew it was all in good fun. Face softened and content, Recarie knew she was in the right place. With all the people who truly loved and appreciated her at her side, they all entered the lair. Their family was now complete.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
© Copyright 2012 by Brittany Allen