Lessons Learned (The Gifted Realm Book 2)

by Jillian Neal

  “Logan, you and Adeline can walk with Rainer and Emily, or you could fly back with the rest of your family,” Stariff explained.

  A broad grin lit Logan’s face. “Have you ever been in the helicopters?” he quizzed Adeline.

  She shook her head nervously.

  “We’ll fly.” Logan looked extremely pleased. “Governor’s son and all that goes with it, that was the deal,” Logan reminded her.

  “Have fun,” Emily waved to her family.

  “You ready?” Rainer’s nerves set back in as he took in the throngs of reporters.

  “I guess.” Emily wrapped her hand tightly around Rainer’s bicep. He placed his hand over hers, secured her to him, and opened the door.

  “Rainer, tell us what you’re feeling after your victory!” screeched a reporter to Rainer’s right.

  “Uh, I’m thankful that it’s over, and hopeful that my uncle and I can find peace at some point,” he offered truthfully.

  Emily gave him a reassuring smile as they stepped down a few steps.

  “Emily, are you planning any shopping trips soon?” called a young female reporter very near Emily. The reporter was from a style magazine, and the question didn’t seem judgmental in any way.

  Emily smiled. “No, I’d really just like to spend some time with Rainer and my family.”

  Reporters frantically scribbled down her quote.

  “Rainer, will you do anything to prevent your uncle from making further claims against the estate?” called a reporter from Wall Street.

  “I have complete faith in the Governors’ decision, and I trust the individuals that I have managing the estate,” Rainer nodded in the reporter’s direction as dozens of flashbulbs went off in his face.

  “Any ill will towards your uncle, Rainer?” a reporter from the Times asked.

  Though he wasn’t entirely certain this was the truth, Rainer shook his head. “No, I truly hope my uncle will find someone or something that fulfills him. I’m very blessed to have both,” Rainer gestured to Emily. The crowd swooned.

  “When’s the wedding, Rainer?” After chuckling at the education they were receiving, Rainer tread carefully.

  “Oh, I think we’ll be keeping that information for just close friends and family, for now.”

  “But you’ve set a date?” They became frenzied, and he sighed.

  “No more questions,” he cut them off and issued Emily quickly into the Hummer that had been brought around for them.

  “Well, that was different,” she commented as he drove away.

  He felt the air that had been pent up in his chest for days finally begin to release. He was able to think about something besides the belly shot and the trial.

  He slowed the car. He just wanted a minute with her. She beamed at him with a tranquil smile, one he hadn’t seen in quite a while.

  “Thank you for loving me through all of this. I don’t deserve you,” he vowed suddenly.

  “Rainer, are you kidding me? I almost lost you half of your family’s estate. I can’t believe you didn’t dump me the first chance you got,” she sounded truly shocked.

  “No, Em, I almost lost half of the estate, and I would never dump you for any reason. I’m the luckiest guy in the Realm. Trust me!”

  “I’ve kind of wanted to ask you something, but I don’t want it to upset you or for you to think it’s like the belly shot,” she started hesitantly.

  As Rainer pulled on to the interstate, he waited for more. “Em, you can ask me anything. I won’t be upset, and what on earth could be like the belly shot?”

  “Well, not like the belly shot exactly, just like it in terms of the Angels doing it, and it being kind of wild, I guess.”

  “Okay, I’m going to go ahead and say, if there are cameras involved in any way then no, whatever it is. Just please, no.”

  Emily laughed and shook her head.“No cameras. I swear.”

  “Why don’t you just tell me whatever it is?”

  Emily seemed to have to steel herself. It made Rainer insanely curious.

  “Em, just tell me.”

  She drew a deep breath. “Dana’s husband is coming to practice Wednesday.”

  As this did nothing to help Rainer understand what she wanted, he shook his head. “And?”

  Emily bit her lip nervously.

  “Em, it’s me. I’ve gone to the store on multiple occasions to buy you tampons and Midol. Nothing about you will upset or embarrass me. So, baby, whatever it is, just tell me.”

  “I know. I just usually know how you’re going to react, and I can’t quite figure this one out. It’s weird for me. So, here goes, Dana’s husband is a Gifted tattoo artist. He does all of the Angels’ tattoos, and I kinda want to get one. But I don’t want an Angels tattoo. I want something different, but I was worried after the mess I caused with the belly shot, and with Dad, and everything, that you would freak,” she stated all of this in one long gush, without taking a breath.

  “What I want is really what I want, not because all of the Angels have them.”

  Rainer tried to consider every possible scenario involving Emily getting a tattoo.

  “How do you know it won’t end up in the papers?”

  “Well,” Emily seemed relieved to be discussing it, “Paran is doing them at the stadium Wednesday evening after practice. Only the Angels, and I guess anyone who might be picking one of us up,” she indicated Rainer, “will be there. So, it wouldn’t be like somebody got a shot of me going to a tattoo parlor or anything.”

  “Do you like them?” Emily hemmed for a moment. “I mean, do you think they’re sexy?”

  “I’m sure if it’s on you, I’ll think it’s sexy,” he answered truthfully. “Em, baby, you’re an adult, and I’m sure as hell not your dad. You don’t have to ask my permission. If you want a tattoo, then get one.”

  “Well, I know, but if you hate them or something I don’t want to do it.”

  “Your dad will flip.” Rainer glanced over at her as he turned down the two-lane road where the farm was nestled.

  “No, he won’t. I mean, Will has Brooke’s name on his chest, and Brooke has their birth dates and wedding date done up on her ankle, and Patrick has the Adminis crest on his arm, and Garrett’s covered in them.”

  “Yes, but, Garrett is Garrett, and you’re his ‘baby girl’.”

  “Daddy will be fine. I want to know if you like them.”

  “So, you aren’t doing the double A or the lightning bolt and halo thing?” Rainer tried to envision that somewhere on Emily’s body.

  “I want it to be a surprise.” It was in that moment that Rainer could tell how badly Emily wanted the tattoo.

  “Why didn’t you say anything about this before? I thought we weren’t doing the not telling each other thing again?”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know. I had to think about what I wanted and where I wanted it, and we were so stressed about the trial. Then the whole thing with the belly shot. I just wouldn’t even let myself really think about it until this was over.”

  Rainer nodded his understanding. His mind was full of Emily’s body inked with a tattoo.

  “Are we going home first or on to your parents’ house?”

  “Ugh, no, I’m changing first!” Emily exclaimed.

  Rainer turned towards the guesthouse. He studied her, dressed in an extremely conservative, navy blue, stiff skirt and low matronly heels. There was nothing about what she was wearing that was her save the scarf she was running through her hands.

  Though she never wore anything too revealing or inappropriate, she definitely had a style all her own. Her uncle Tad was right; the things she picked out were all her, and her style was deeply engrained in her personality.

  Rainer understood in that moment that it was one of the many things he loved about her. He regretted that his being Joseph Lawson’s son had stifled her for the past week as they’d worked to appear to be mature and overly responsible for the sake of the lawsuit.

  Emily’s favo
rite high heels, scarves, and her signature jewelry that she usually purchased at antique stores had been put away. She’d very willingly put away a part of herself for his sake.

  “Em, baby, if you want a tattoo then it’ll be sexy as hell.” He knew that’s what she wanted to hear. “Can I bring you dinner or something before you get it?”

  Her entire being lit with excitement. “Really?” She looked like he’d just made her entire week.

  Anything that made her smile like that, he wanted her to have. He nodded as a sudden thought occurred to him.

  “Isn’t that going to hurt, sweetheart?” He tried not to sound like he didn’t want her to have the tattoo, but the thought of her in pain for any reason set him on edge. He was her shield, after all.

  “Probably a little, but Fionna says that whenever she and Chloe get one they cast each other and keep it from hurting. Dana says Paran is really good at making the redness go away when he’s finished.”

  Rainer tried to hide his disdain that some other guy was going to be casting her. Since Paran was not a Medio, then he would be using his own energies to help her heal.

  “Or you could heal it for me, I guess.” Emily sounded disappointed.

  “No, it’s fine. If you want it to be a surprise, then I can’t wait to see it. Where are you going to put it?” He suddenly thought of a whole other reason that he might dislike Paran.

  “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “But it won’t be photographed and put up over the bar at Anglington’s, right?”

  “Uh, most definitely not. I think the patrons at Anglington’s have seen quite enough of me.”

  Emily rushed to change clothes, and Rainer suddenly remembered something.

  “Hey, Em, baby, I should have told you this, and honestly I just forgot with everything we’ve had going on.”

  “What?”

  “Your dad thinks your mom might be pregnant again.”

  The hairbrush hit the dresser. She stared at him in wide-eyed bewilderment.

  “What?!”

  “Uh, well, I kind of think your mom’s gonna have another baby,” Rainer eased. He wasn’t certain how to handle her reaction.

  “Rainer! She is over fifty. She cannot have another baby!”

  “Maybe your dad was wrong, but I’m doubting that.”

  Emily shook her head and stomped into the closet. “I’m just not thinking about this right now.”

  “Got it.”

  Family Ties

  Rainer glanced at Emily nervously as he pulled the Hummer into the barn.

  Grandpa Haydenshire’s Buick was parked nearby. Rainer prayed that there wouldn’t be an incident with Logan and Adeline.

  As they all entered the kitchen, he inhaled deeply of Mrs. Haydenshire’s homemade marinara sauce and meatballs. His mouth watered.

  Emily went to join her mother and grandmother as they rolled the meat between their hands and chatted placidly. Upon Emily’s arrival, talk turned to weddings, much to her obvious delight.

  Rainer took a haphazard glance around, but didn’t see Grandpa Haydenshire in the kitchen or family room anywhere.

  He offered hellos to Will and Brooke.

  Garrett and Chloe were having dinner in D.C. Patrick was seated on the window bench, scowling. He’d had another fight with Lucy. The twins were zipping around the kitchen, causing general havoc.

  “Rainer, sweetheart, do you think you could take them outside for a little while?” Mrs. Haydenshire requested.

  “Of course.”

  “Do you need some help?” Emily offered. Rainer knew she was having fun with her mother and grandmother, so he shook his head.

  “Nope, Logan’s coming.”

  She and Mrs. Haydenshire laughed as Logan rolled his eyes and threw a few grapes from the bowl on the counter into his mouth.

  “Ok, fine.”

  “Adeline, sweetheart, just grab some meat and start rolling it,” Mrs. Haydenshire instructed.

  Logan cracked up. It seemed the trial being over and the promise of copious amounts of food had him in a great mood. He waggled his eyebrows at Adeline and gave her a wry grin. She turned the shade of an overly ripe tomato.

  Rainer slapped him on the back of the head. “What are you twelve?” He carried Henry out the back door and headed towards the swing set. They set the twins in the baby swings and began pushing them and listening to their squeals of delight.

  Logan turned to ask Rainer something when, “What the hell?” spat viciously from his mouth.

  “What?” Rainer glanced around and then saw Governor Haydenshire and Grandpa Haydenshire on the dock, fishing. “Logan, man, I think your parents are trying to make peace, before the election, maybe?”

  “If he says one word to Adeline,” Logan threatened.

  Rainer certainly couldn’t promise that Grandpa Haydenshire wouldn’t be rude to Adeline, so he offered Logan a sympathetic gaze as they released the twins from the swings and watched as they ran around the yard.

  Everyone settled at the large table in the dining room. The air vibrated with nerves and hostility as Logan glared at his grandfather while seating Adeline.

  Levi slapped Logan on the back and simultaneously pushed him into his seat. He seated himself between Logan and Rainer in a show of solidarity.

  Brooke half-walked, half-waddled to the table. She fell into her seat with Will right behind her. Governor and Mrs. Haydenshire followed everyone in, and set down pasta bowls of spaghetti while Paps Anderson carried in the large pot of sauce. Emily’s grandmother brought in baskets brimming with garlic toast.

  As everyone was seated, the Haydenshires held hands and beamed at one another. Rainer took Emily’s hand. It seemed most everyone at the table knew what was coming.

  “Oh, for crying out loud! You cannot be serious! Do you two even know what causes this? My word, son, you’re a Realm Governor, certainly you can cast her!” Grandpa Haydenshire shouted. He threw his hands towards the Governor and Mrs. Haydenshire in acrimony.

  “Dad,” Governor Haydenshire glared at his father. “First of all, we wish Garrett were here, but he already knows that I am officially going to run for Crown Governor. The campaign will start as soon as we get back from the beach, a week from Monday, so we’re going to need a lot of help. I expect all of my children to pitch in

  Everyone, save Grandpa Haydenshire, vowed to help in any way that they could.

  Mrs. Haydenshire glowed as she stepped forward slightly. “And,” she drew an excited breath.

  Logan looked morose, as did Levi.

  “I haven’t seen a Medio yet, but we are expecting again.” Tears formed in her eyes as mixed reactions went around the table.

  “Congratulations, sweetheart,” Nana Anderson stood to embrace her daughter, as did Paps.

  Adeline looked overjoyed.“Oh, Mrs. Haydenshire, I’ll help any way I can, and I can check you anytime you’d like.”

  “Well, if that don’t make the daisies rise up and sing in hell then I don’t know what might,” Grandpa Haydenshire huffed furiously, though no one was entirely certain what he meant.

  “So, I’m going to have a brother younger than my kid?” Will seemed stunned.

  “Well, you could have a sister,” Emily pointed out.

  Will shook his head. “One out of ten isn’t good odds, Em.” He still looked thoroughly put out. “What if we need you to help us?”

  Mrs. Haydenshire took her seat and patted Will’s hand. “Sweetheart, your little one will be here several months before ours. By the time the newest Haydenshire comes around, you’ll have everything down pat. Now everyone dig in so I don’t have to reheat everything.”

  Rainer studied Emily. He tried to be nonchalant. She didn’t seem to have had a dramatic reaction to her parents’ news, but as he rubbed her leg he felt her energy swirling rapidly.

  He concentrated, and tried to determine what he was feeling from her. Tension and worry rose like gathering storms just under her skin.

  Grandpa Ha
ydenshire jabbed his fork Rainer’s direction. “What the hell was that you were doing to Emily in the papers the other day? Looked like you two were advertising for a cathouse. She go into heat or something?”

  Rainer clenched his jaw. He had no real defense for what Emily’s grandfather had seen in the papers.

  “Dad, please,” Governor Haydenshire sighed, “I would like Lillian to just relax and take it easy. We’re going to be on the road campaigning, and I don’t want her to have any more stress than is absolutely necessary. She just needs to relax.”

  “Well, son, it seems to me that you can’t leave her the hell alone long enough for her to not be in a condition where she doesn’t need stress. So, you know what, you want her to relax, why don’t you two try separate beds?”

  No one spoke for several long minutes. Everyone focused on their pasta and willed the dinner to be over soon.

  Mrs. Haydenshire was steadfastly ignoring her father-in- law as she smiled. “I set up the ice cream churns on the deck, so after we’re finished you can all get them going. I put the hand crank one out as well. One of you just cast it and let the twins help.”

  “We’ll do it Mrs. Haydenshire. You just rest,” Adeline urged sweetly.

  “Oh, honey, I plan to,” Mrs. Haydenshire laughed. “I’m going to sit out on the swing and let you all bring me a bowl when it’s ready.”

  “We’ll take care of the dishes, Mrs. Haydenshire,” Rainer offered.

  “Yeah we’ll help, Mom,” Will and Levi joined in. Mrs. Haydenshire nodded her appreciation as Nana patted Rainer’s hand sweetly.

  “Yeah, let’s serve up ice cream along with our pipe dreams, and pretend that Peterson’s not gonna eat you alive for this litter you’ve already got, and now another one on the way, not to mention that he’s decided to turn your daughter into a stag film star!” Grandpa threw at Rainer.

  “And then let’s just pour some hot damn cherry sauce all over the fact that he’s gonna put his leash on a stray cat!” his hand shot outwards towards Logan. He knocked over two glasses of sweet tea in the process.

  “You know what, Grandpa, you can go straight to hell!” Logan’s chair flew backwards into the sideboard as he leapt.