by Autumn Dawn
Rhapsody delicately sipped her tea as she considered. “As loyal as you were to her, you must consider how out of place she must have felt. Sometimes, nature has a way of correcting the balance. Both you and Keilor can now proceed with the natural course of your life. Surely Jasmine—if she'd loved you—would have wanted that for you."
Rage like she'd never known poured through Wiley, consumed her. She stood up slowly, and it was all she could do not to launch herself over the table. Summoning her voice through the white anger was hard enough. “Get out. Start walking, and don't stop, or so help me, I'll bitch slap you to the ground right now."
Eyes wide, her mother stood. “How could you—"
"Get out!” Finger shaking with adrenaline, she wanted nothing better than to choke the life out of the woman. “Don't you ever walk through that door again, or so help me, I'll throw you out it myself."
Amazingly, the woman stood her ground. “I can see that you're upset—"
Wiley started for her.
Finally, Rhapsody realized she'd gone too far. She ran for the door, narrowly escaping.
Wiley slammed against the carved wood, snarling her rage. Outraged, she slammed it again and then gave it a good kick.
How dare she? How dare she?
Jayems must have been summoned from wherever he was, because he showed up not five minutes later. One look at the couch cushions scattered in every direction told him the depth of her anger. “What did she say?"
She told him, and she didn't watch her mouth as she did so.
His eyes widened and then he advanced on her with tenderness, folding her into his arms.
It was the tenderness that broke her. “She's no mother to me, Jayems! How could she say something like that about Jasmine? She's been more a sister to me than that woman has ever been a mother. She's jealous, and mean, too."
"I know. It's all right; she won't come back in here unless you decide to make your peace with it.” He rubbed her back.
She pulled back. “Make my peace! Are you crazy? How am I supposed to forgive her for that?"
He offered a lopsided smile. “That's why they call it ‘make your peace.’ Nobody's implied it's easy."
She grunted and allowed him to hold her again, but there was no softening in her heart for her mother.
* * * *
They got word the next day that Jasmine had been rescued. Mathin and his two friends were running with her deep into the swamps to avoid pursuit. Jayems sent out men to clear the path for them for the run home.
While relieved, Wiley found it hard to sit home and wait. It was on one of those dark days, when her friends Shanra and Kayless were trying to cheer her up, that Wiley realized something important. She hadn't had her period since before Jasmine was taken.
Shanra saw the arrested expression on Wiley's face and immediately went to her. “What is it?"
Wiley blinked at her, dazed. “I think I might be pregnant."
Jayems lit up when he heard. Knowing that the glad news would bring hope to Keilor, he quickly passed it on. Her family was ecstatic; there hadn't been a baby in the family in years. Even Rhapsody bragged to all her friends about the new heir. The fact that her own daughter still refused to talk to her was not discussed.
All told, Jasmine was gone almost two months. If anything, the experience changed her in positive ways, for she returned a stronger, more confident woman. She and Keilor had a fiery reunion. When she came up for air, she and Wiley exchanged hugs and tears. But this is not the end of the story ... ?
Teasing Danger
Available now from New Concepts Publishing
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