He was beginning to understand a little of what Will went through every day. And he didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter Six – Antonia
Outnumbered. Antonia was out of her depth; it felt as if they were ganging up on her. The only person she trusted and needed in the world had given her trust and loyalty to someone else. Someone she had only just met.
“I’m only trying to protect you, Kayleigh.”
Kayleigh's shoulders softened, as did her voice. “I know, Antonia, but I don’t need you to. Honestly. I have never been so happy. Maybe once you meet Daryl, you’ll see how happy I am for yourself.”
“It’s just happened so fast, I’m scared for you.”
“Scared, why?”
Antonia looked sideways at Sam, who met her gaze evenly. It was as if he could read her mind, his eyes penetrating her thoughts. He smiled at her gently, which should have made her feel better but she simply felt more defensive.
Yet when he spoke, he summed the situation up perfectly. “Antonia is scared we’ve somehow manipulated you, Kayleigh. Is that right, Antonia?”
She loved the sound of her name on his lips. Closing her eyes, she gave herself a moment to compose herself and then she answered. “As I’ve said, it happened so suddenly. You told me you had met someone, and then I get a wedding invitation. How can that not worry me?”
Kayleigh flung her arms around Antonia. “I’m sorry. It was thoughtless of me, but I can't wait to be Daryl’s wife.”
Antonia glanced at Sam again, who was watching the interaction with interest. “Can’t we talk in private?” she asked.
“There’s nothing you can say to change my mind,” Kayleigh said firmly. “Either in front of Sam, or alone.”
“Sam,” Antonia said, and her heart fluttered in her chest as she looked at him. “Would you mind if I talked to Kayleigh alone?”
“Oh course not. Kayleigh,” he said, placing his hand reassuringly on Kayleigh’s arm, “Antonia is only worried for you. I have work to do. I’ll speak to you later.”
“Thanks, Sam,” Kayleigh said, watching him walk to his truck. “You shouldn’t have been so rude to him.”
“I don’t know him. I’m sorry if I sound abrupt, but look at this from my point of view.”
Kayleigh sighed deeply and waved at Sam as he drove away. “I’ll put the kettle on. Come inside, I’ll try to make you see that I am in full control of my own decisions. I’ve grown up, Antonia. I don’t need you to fight my battles any more.”
“Oh, Kayleigh. Please don't sound like that. I came to see you were alright. Not to quarrel with you.”
“I know.” Kayleigh grabbed Antonia’s hand and pulled her inside. “Come on, let’s start again. I’ve missed you. I would love it if you came to live here too.”
“Not happening, Kay, I enjoy my job and my independence too much.” She thought back to the way Sam had looked at her. The thought of having a man look adoringly at her every day for the rest of her life had its attractions. But that was not the life she wanted, and now she needed to find out what had made her sister change her mind.
She quashed the next thought that popped up into her head. If she did find a way to understand her sister, would it make Antonia question her own decision? No, she was never settling down and never having children. Yet, Sam’s face swam in front of her eyes all the same.
“Don’t you love this place? Daryl built it. Well, with his dad and Sam’s help, of course.”
“At least he has a home of his own,” Antonia said, begrudgingly admitting to herself that the cabin was charming. She could see the touches Kayleigh had already infused into the place. “You still have that thing for owls, Kay?”
Kayleigh laughed. “The clock? Yes. We saw it in town and Daryl’s mom bought it for me as a housewarming gift. Although of course this isn’t Daryl’s new home, but you know what I mean.”
“Do you like his parents too? My, this gets better all the time. A great man and supportive parents.”
Kayleigh paused, her hand hesitating as she moved to pick the kettle up. Her shoulders slumped and when she turned to face Antonia, she had tears running down her cheeks. Antonia went to her, gathering her into her arms and comforting her. She stroked her hair in the same way she had when they were children, when all they had was each other.
“It’s OK, Kay, I’m here now. I’ll help you. Come on, let’s pack your things and you can come home with me.”
Kayleigh pulled back away from her. “Toni, please. That’s not why I’m crying.”
“Then why?” Antonia asked, brushing the tears away from her sister’s cheeks. “Tell me. Make sense of it for me, please.”
“I love Daryl, his parents are wonderful and they’ve accepted me into their family. For the first time I’m part of a real family.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “It’s shown me what we missed. As children.”
Antonia’s face cracked and she knew she was going to cry, but she swept her sadness aside. She hadn’t allowed herself to mourn her childhood for years. The past was the past and you couldn’t change it, no matter how much wishful thinking you undertook.
“I know how appealing that is. And I don’t blame you, not one bit. But this is a big decision. Marriage. It should be for life.”
“It is, Toni. I wish you would believe me. I know it’s hard for you to understand. But once you meet him, you’ll see how wonderful he is. He loves me. And he won’t ever leave me.”
“How do you know that?”
“I just do, Toni. I really, really do.”
“OK. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I came here expecting you to be brainwashed. And I must say, I’m still not convinced that they haven’t planted these ideas in your head. But I’m willing to go along with it. Because I love you.”
“And I love you. You know that. I only hope one day you're open to the kind of love that’s possible between two people.”
“OK. There you go sounding all airy-fairy again.” But Antonia couldn’t help smiling at Kayleigh’s radiant face. In a way, she hoped her sister was right, even if it did scare the pants of her—but she wouldn't admit that, not yet.
“Just give love a chance.” Kayleigh filled the kettle and put it on to boil, before she added, “Sam is a good man too, you know.”
Antonia laughed. “Not happening. I’m willing to give Daryl the benefit of the doubt, but Sam is a little off. I thought he was a stalker or something.”
Kayleigh laughed. “I know what you mean. That’s the impression I got from Daryl when I first met him.”
“You are not instilling me with confidence about your fiancé, Kay.”
“I just mean that they are shy.”
“He didn’t seem shy to me.”
“He didn’t know what to say to you, that’s all. So he babbled.”
“How do you know?”
Kayleigh poured boiling water into the two mugs, stirring them for a while before answering. “He came here and told me he’d met you. Not that he knew who you were. But you made quite an impression on him.”
“As he did on me,” she said dryly.
“Oh, come on, he’s perfect for you.”
“Don’t go there, Kay. There is not going to be a double wedding. I am not falling for a man who lives in the back of beyond. I have a good life in the city.”
“But you could have a better life here.”
“So, have you chosen your dress?” Antonia asked, firmly shutting the door on the subject of her and Sam.
“Yes, I have a fitting tomorrow. Will you come with me?”
“Of course.”
“I’m also hoping you’ll try on a few dresses too.”
“Whoa, I just said no to a double wedding.”
Kayleigh laughed. “I meant for my maid of honour.”
“Oh, of course.”
“Really, Toni. You look a bit disappointed that I didn’t mean wedding dresses.”
“No. Not at all.” But, deep down, she
wondered what it would be like to walk up the aisle with the man of your dreams waiting for you.
Chapter Seven – Sam
“It would be much easier if we told her.” Kayleigh was talking quietly to Daryl, who had come home with a lovesick Sam in tow. She was trying to explain to him how unconvinced her sister was of their marriage plans. Antonia was upstairs taking a shower and getting ready for the dinner Kayleigh had cooked. “If she knew the whole truth, she would understand.”
“And how do you think she’ll take it? From what you say, she already thinks we’re a cult or something who have brainwashed you into marrying me.”
“I think she’s getting over that. It would be so much easier, though.”
“It’s not the kind of thing you spread around, Kayleigh,” Daryl said firmly. “This doesn’t just affect us.”
“I know. But she’s going to find out sometime, isn’t she? So why not sooner rather than later?”
“Why do we have to tell her?”
“For starters, there’s the Beltane Rites. You said after that I won’t age normally. How am I supposed to keep that from her?”
“We'll think of something. But I think it’s better if she gets used to the idea of us as your family first and then we can come up with a reason later. I’ll talk to my mom, see what she told her family.”
“And you think that’s a good idea, Sam? To keep it from her?” Kayleigh asked. “I thought it would make it easier for you if she knew.”
“What does it have to do with Sam?” Daryl asked.
“You didn’t tell him?”
Sam shook his head. “Nope.”
“Tell me what?”
“Shall I tell him for you?” Kayleigh asked.
Sam felt like a complete coward. When Daryl came up to the farm after work, he should have told him then, in private. But he couldn’t form the words in his mouth. Partly because he still couldn’t see how he would ever convince the hostile Antonia that he was good enough for her.
Not normally one to have issues with his confidence, his earlier meeting with Antonia had festered in his mind. Of course, he would never be the right man for her. She lived in the city, probably in a luxury apartment, and all he had to offer was a drafty old farmhouse. She would laugh in his face.
“She’s my mate.” Sam looked at Daryl, tilting his chin up, hoping his brother didn’t laugh at his predicament.
“Wow,” Daryl breathed. “That does put a different slant on things.”
“That’s the understatement of the year. She already has a bad opinion of me. And you, for that matter.”
“Me? She hasn’t met me yet. Damn, is she that judgemental?” Daryl scraped his hand through his hair, looking worried.
“Didn’t you tell him anything?” Kayleigh asked accusingly.
“I didn’t really want to talk about it,” Sam said defensively.
“Before I hear anymore, I think I need a beer,” Daryl said, heading for the kitchen.
“It's in the fridge. Sam, do you want one?”
“Just one, thanks, I have to drive later.” He accepted the ice-cold beer from Sam and they sat down around the kitchen table.
“So let’s begin at the beginning,” Daryl said.
“You walked into her at the diner and knocked her purse out of her hand.”
“Oh. Now it makes more sense.”
“Then, while I was watching you, I realised she was my mate.”
“And she was already upset by me and you acted like an idiot?” Daryl asked.
“Yes. I think that sums it up.”
“Listen, Sam, that’s how I was around Kayleigh.” He placed his hand over hers and smiled at her. “And that ended OK. Or at least I hope it will end OK.”
“It will.” She smiled at him and leaned forward to kiss his cheek.
“The difference is that you had months to pluck up the nerve to even speak to Kayleigh. I don’t have the luxury of time.”
“But do you think that showing her that you have another, more animalistic, side is going to make it easier? It can kind of freak people out. You can’t exactly just walk up to a woman and say “Hey, babe, you're my mate, and by the way, I turn into a bear,” can you?”
The hair on Sam’s neck prickled. He stiffened in his seat and his eyes grew wide. “I don’t think I have to.”
Chapter Eight – Antonia
She had come out of the bathroom, rubbing her hair with a towel. The voices coming from downstairs rose and fell, and she knew that her future brother-in-law was home. Going back to her bedroom, she brushed her hair and tried to make herself look presentable. But, as usual, her face was red and blotchy from the warm shower.
Looking at her reflection critically, she decided not to put on any makeup to even out her complexion. It would take too long, so she went downstairs as she was. At least she got halfway down the stairs before she heard them talking.
They had moved into the kitchen and they were talking like co-conspirators. This was it: if she listened to them, she might get to the bottom of how Kayleigh really felt about her fiancé. If nothing else, she would be able to see them interacting naturally, without them putting on a show for her. It was rude, and underhand, but she had her sister’s best interests at heart.
Their voices were very low, so she crept further down the stairs, hoping they wouldn't hear her. No, they were still talking. She watched Kayleigh put her hand on Daryl’s and reassure him. Still unable to hear every word clearly, she tiptoed along the hallway. If she were caught, she would simply say she had come down to say hello.
Now Daryl was talking. Something about animals. They must be talking about Sam’s farm. She had missed her opportunity; it was better if she just went on in. So she did. Only to hear the most bizarre thing ever.
“Antonia!” Kayleigh stood up abruptly and looked at her closely. “We didn’t know you were there.”
“Obviously.”
Kayleigh looked from Daryl to Sam, pleading with them for help. It was Sam who stood up and spoke. “Antonia, I’m not sure how much you heard.”
“Enough.”
“I really didn’t want you to find out this way,” Kayleigh said, coming around the table to hug Antonia.
“Find out what? That you’re all mad.”
Kayleigh released Antonia, who took another step backwards. “What is this, some kind or LARPing thing you play?”
“I’m sorry?” Sam looked bewildered. “What is LARPing?”
“Live action role-play. You know, when geeks dress up as characters and playact. Or in this case, pretend to be bears.”
“People actually do that?” Daryl asked Kayleigh.
“Yes, honey. They do.”
“Weird,” he said.
“Weird. You think that’s weird? What about you two? What do you do, crawl around on all fours howling at the moon?” Antonia’s voice rose.
“Wolves howl. We’re not wolves,” Sam said.
“Listen to you both. You’re not bears either.”
The three people in front of her were silent, none of them knowing what to say. Neither would they meet her eye. A tremor passed through her. They really did believe they were bears. She had to try to get Kayleigh away from them—but how, when her sister obviously believed in this too?
“They are,” Kayleigh said. “I know it’s hard to believe, but they are.”
Antonia couldn’t understand how Kayleigh had bought into this whole thing. But she had, completely; she could read it on her face. So she called their bluff.
“OK. I can see how much you want to believe this. And I guess I’d like to believe it too.”
Kayleigh frowned at her sister. “Really?”
“Of course. Look how happy you are, Kay. Perhaps if I see what Daryl can do, then I might understand it all a bit better.”
“Toni. I know you don’t mean that. That’s how you used to speak to me when we were kids and you were trying to make me believe my nightmares weren’t real.”
Tears welled in Antonia’s eyes. “I’m scared for you, Kay. I really am. I don’t understand how you can go along with this make-believe.”
“Antonia. Will you promise me that if Daryl and Sam show you ... really show you that they can change, you’ll keep this to yourself?”
“Kay, it’s not real.”
“OK. Then I promise you that if it’s not real, I’ll go home with you. And if it is real, you’ll keep their secret.”
“I promise,” she answered, “As long as they promise to let you leave. I want their word on it.”
Daryl stepped forward. “Kayleigh.”
Kayleigh turned and looked at him. “Daryl, this is the only way to make this right. Antonia needs to know. I can’t keep a secret like this from my sister. Not now.”
“Then we swear.” Sam came to stand by Daryl, putting his hand on Daryl’s shoulder like two comrades about to go into battle. “Come on, Daryl. What’s the worst that could happen?”
But Antonia could see the uncertainty in Daryl’s eyes. He knew he couldn’t pull this off, and he would be giving Antonia a strong case for dragging Kayleigh out of Bear Creek. She had the upper hand; she could get her sister away from these madmen easily. All she needed to do was get Daryl to agree.
“Listen, Kayleigh, let's forget about it. I don’t want to embarrass Daryl in front of you.”
Daryl squared his shoulders. “Antonia, it’s not that I can’t change. But I don’t ever want to swear on anything that might involve me losing Kayleigh.”
“That’s sweet, so you’re not going to do it?” She wanted to end this. It was completely ridiculous to even be having this conversation.
“Daryl,” Kayleigh said, slipping her hand into his. “Let’s get this out of the way. I truly believe that it’s the best way of sorting everything out. Don’t you, Sam?”
“Yes,” Sam answered. Then he came towards Antonia. “I know how this looks, I really do. But we’ll go outside, Daryl and I will change ... and you have to promise not to freak out.”
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