His Sister's Return

by Mary Goldberger

  “Trust me,” he muttered leaning slowly forward until their lips were only a few inches apart and he watched her eyes darken with an emotion he understood.

  “You are going to break my heart,” she mouthed a second before he kissed her not catching her words although he knew she said something.

  Alina moaned lightly as her arms came up and twined around his neck, and Trystan took the opportunity to change the angle of the kiss as he shifted so more of his body hovered over her own.

  As he broke the kiss some minutes later, Alina lifted drowsy eyes to him and he chuckled darkly as his own passion matched her own.

  “I have been waiting to do that,” he muttered as he trailed light kisses across her face.

  Alina shivered in his arms and he leaned back to look at her a smug smile on his face that Alina saw and wondered at before he leaned down to kiss her again.

  They were kissing and mumbling when Trystan’s cell went off, and he groaned aloud resting his forehead against her as Alina started to laugh.

  “Not funny,” he grumbled at her as he shifted slightly pulling the phone from his pocket and he frowned as he saw the caller id.

  He lifted himself off her with a kiss as he answered, “Let me call you back in a few minutes.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer as he turned off the phone and Alina looked at him in suspicion as she sat up.

  “I have to go out of town next week,” he told her giving her hand off the bed. “I was wondering if you would like to go with me.”

  She gave him a thoughtful look before she said, “Let me think about it, okay?”

  He nodded his head as he leaned forward to kiss her again before he pulled away and murmured, “You have until the middle of the week.”

  Alina shook her head as she mumbled, “Yes, sir” which earned her another delightful kiss that left them both breathless.

  He gave her a nod as neither one could speak, but as the door closed behind him a smug smile came across his face before his cell rung again.

  “Hello, Marla,” he said heading for the elevator. “Sorry about that but you caught me at an awkward time.”

  Marla gagged a little as she said, “Next time turn off your cell so I don’t interrupt your and Bea’s dates.”

  Trystan didn’t correct her assumption as she told him about her weekend with Samuel and he smiled warmly as he heard the happiness in her voice.

  Alina sat back down on the bed not soon after the door closed behind Trystan and she put her head in her hands.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” she muttered aloud knowing that she was indeed stupid. She knew that Trystan Tyeson was playing with her for what reason, she didn’t know but she couldn’t seem to say ‘no’ even though something told her that whatever his reason for playing with her, she was going to be hurt in the end. A grim look came to her face because that was nothing new in her case and she wondered what she should do.

  “Walk away so I don’t get hurt, or enjoy my time with him even though when he ditches me, I will probably hurt hundred times more than ever before,” she asked herself aloud.

  She already knew the answer to that question, had known before she even asked herself it. She sighed in weariness as she got up and headed for the shower before she called it a night.

  Chapter 13

  The week began slowly as Alina started making preparations for her move to Tiers while at the same time getting ready for her trip with Trystan. Trystan called her everyday although he rarely came to see her and Alina knew that there was a reason for that. It was the middle of the week when Trystan called her and asked her out to lunch.

  Alina wanted to accept but she hadn’t been feeling well the entire day so she told him, “How about we do it another day, Trystan?”

  She hid her cough as he said, “Of course.”

  She didn’t know that he frowned his eyes narrowed thinking she was going to spend it with Samuel if his proposal was approved by the board.

  “Talk to you later,” he told her on a sharp note, and Alina heard it even though her head was spinning. “Before I hang up, have you decided about next week?”

  “Yes,” Alina said softly, and Trystan smiled at the one word before he told her ‘goodbye’ and hung up.

  Alina sagged against the bed as she hung up the phone going in to a coughing fit and she knew that she was running a temperature. She shivered as she pulled the covers over her head and drifted off to sleep.

  A few hours later, the ringing of her cell wake her up and she answered with a muffled, “Hello.”

  “They loved it, Alina,” Sam said in excitement. “I’ve already called Marla and we are going to celebrate. It is the perfect time to introduce you two now.”

  Alina winced as she told him, “Congratulations, Sam, but today is not a good day. How about we do it another day?”

  Sam heard her cough and frowned as he said, “Are you okay? Maybe I should forego the celebration and come take care of you.”

  “NO,” Alina said firmly although she coughed afterwards. “You deserve to celebrate with your fiancée and your friends. You worked hard for this moment so don’t let the fact that I am sick ruin it. Besides, it is nothing more than a little cough, but I don’t want to take the chance of it spreading especially as you have that vacation coming up with Marla.”

  Sam smiled at the remainder and said, “Okay, Alina, but if you need anything don’t hesitate to call.”

  “Yes, daddy,” she said with a teasing note in her voice although there was a touch of sadness too.

  She was lucky though that Sam didn’t hear it as he hung up a few minutes later his mind focused on Marla as Alina wanted him to.

  For the next few days, Alina stayed in bed running a high temperature and coughing so hard that her throat was sore, but she didn’t call anyone as she took medicine that she asked one of the staff members to bring her with the understanding no one needed to know that she was sick, which wasn’t necessary because the staff member completely forgot about her minutes later as he met his girlfriend.

  Uncle Sarette called her at the end of the week and he frowned as he heard her coughing although it wasn’t as strong as before. “You don’t sound so good,” he remarked.

  “You should’ve called a few days ago, Uncle Sarette, I sounded worse,” she told her with a weary chuckle.

  “Alina,” he began, but she interrupted him with a, “Did you find anything out?”

  Her uncle sighed before he told her quietly, “No, nothing at the moment because unfortunately, the name Dana Smitherson is actually more common than I thought.”

  Alina closed her eyes at the news before she said, “Thank you, Uncle Sarette for helping me.”

  “Alina, what are you going to do once you catch whoever it is stalking Sam?” He asked her only to get silence before she sighed heavily.

  “I don’t know, Uncle Sarette, I just don’t know,” she told him in a soft voice filled with confusion.

  He frowned at her words but the only thing he said was, “I did as you requested about the box and just so you know, Janice called me asking for some money.”

  Alina ran a hand down her face before she admitted, “I am tired, Uncle Sarette.”

  Her uncle’s eyes widened on the other end of the phone at her words wondering if Alina was finally ready to make a decision about her mother.

  “Okay, Uncle Sarette, this is what I want to do,” she said slowly her voice firm with no doubt a voice he heard plenty of times, but only when discussing her work.

  “I want to ask one thing,” he said after she stopped talking. “Do you really want to give that much money to your mother because you worked hard for that money?”

  “It is the last time I will give her money so she better use it wisely,” Alina said her voice devoid of all emotion.

  “Then consider it done,” Uncle Sarette said. He looked down at a letter he received in the mail the other day for her. “Also I received a letter in the mail about a restaurant openin
g in Witt.”

  At the news, Alina’s eyes narrowed with curiosity as she told him, “Go on.”

  “They just wanted to know if you would like to be interested in helping out,” he told her. “It is merely a request for your services.”

  Alina looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully before she said, “Find out who is the leader of the project and any other information before I make a decision.”

  Uncle Sarette smiled knowing that Alina never made a decision without knowing all the facts first especially when it came to business.

  They talked a little more until her uncle hearing the tiredness in her voice told her ‘goodbye’ and that he would call her later.

  Sam called the day before he left on his two week vacation with Marla letting her know where they were at with their birthday gift for Uncle Sarette and Alina grimaced as she realized with everything going on she hadn’t done her share which she apologized to Sam.

  “I don’t know what is eating at you, Alina, but remember your brother is here now so you can talk to me about anything,” he told her.

  “Thank you, Sam,” she told him softly before she chuckled telling him to have a good time before they hung up.

  She didn’t receive a call from Trystan about when he wanted to leave so she assumed maybe he changed his mind about her going with him. She shrugged her shoulders and lay down to get some sleep unaware of the tears that stained her pillow as she slept.

  Trystan sat in his office with a frown as he hadn’t heard from Alina since he called her and invited her to lunch, and he knew that she hadn’t been with Samuel because he was with Marla more than he was home.

  A knock sounded on the door breaking into his thoughts and he said absently, “Come in.”

  The door opened to reveal Bea who was dressed beautifully Trystan had to admit although it didn’t have the same effect as it normally did for some odd reason. He shook his head as he gave her a smile and asked, “So what do I owe the pleasure, Bea?”

  He hadn’t seen her since he dropped her off at her condo because he wanted to get his work in order before he left and he also wanted to get his head back together. About Bea, he succeeded as he looked at her and saw beneath the make-up and sultry smiles but he still hadn’t succeeded with Alina yet.

  “Trystan,” Bea pouted at him. “I thought we were going to spend the weekend together.”

  He nodded his head as he remarked, “I did tell you that but unfortunately it can’t be this weekend, Bea. I am taking Alina to the conference in Deluna with me.”

  He watched as her eyes widened in astonishment before she said sharply, “Why?”

  Because I want to, was his automatic response although he didn’t say it aloud as he explained. “You were the one who sent me the picture of Alina and Sam together at the airport.”

  Bea nodded her head a smirk flicking across her lips before she controlled it but unfortunately Trystan saw it and wondered if Bea enjoyed the torment and pain Marla had gone through in the last few months.

  “So you are taking her with you for your sister,” she asked in triumphant.

  “Yes,” he told her with a nod of his head although he knew he wasn’t being completely honest with himself, or her.

  Bea smiled at him with satisfaction at his words, but in the back of her mind she was going to use that to her advantage when they returned.

  Two days later, Trystan knocked on Alina’s door as he glanced around the hallway only to turn back when the door was pulled open.

  “Come in,” she told him quietly, and he frowned seeing how pale she was as he followed her into the room.

  She grabbed a small bag on the bed before snatching up a purse she had draped over one of the chairs and Trystan took the opportunity to glance around but the room was clean nothing screaming at him.

  “Ready to go,” she said turning to him with a smile.

  He couldn’t help himself as he smiled back walking toward her to take the small bag from her and he raised an eyebrow at it.

  Alina shrugged her shoulders and laughed as he shook his head leaning down to catch her lips in a soft kiss before he straightened to his full height.

  There was a look of delight in her eyes as he glanced at her and he smiled curling his arm around her waist as he led them out of the room making sure that the door closed firmly behind him them as they left.

  As they left the hotel, Alina looked around her as Trystan glanced down at her with a slight frown in his eyes remembering what Samuel had asked Marla a few weeks ago before he brushed it aside.

  Dark eyes watched them as they got into the car and pulled away from the hotel laughing at something that the man at the door said to them.

  “Well, well,” she muttered and she laughed as she walked away eyes wide as she hurried away.

  Trystan settled in his seat glancing over at Alina who leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed.

  “Are you okay?” He asked noting again the paleness of her complexion as he refocused back on the road.

  “Just getting over a cold,” she told him, and he sent her a frowning glance that she didn’t see as he thought about the only time he called over the week, and his frown deepened at how unobservant he had been when he talked to her.

  “We should be at the airport in about five minutes, but if you don’t think you can make it,” he told her. “Just let me know and I can take you back to the hotel.”

  Alina opened her eyes and looked at him with a smile. “I feel better than I did at the beginning of the week believe me. Besides, staying cooped up in my hotel room definitely won’t help me to get better so unless you want to take me back, I will be fine.”

  He nodded his head as he reached for her hand giving it a light squeeze telling her without her words that he wanted her there with him. They pulled into the airport parking the car in the garage for long stays before they grabbed their bags and headed inside finding their terminal with plenty of time to spare.

  As they were settling into their seats, Trystan glanced over noting how comfortable and relaxed Alina seem to be with the exception of the pallor.

  “Do you fly often?” He asked as she snapped her belt into place.

  “Often enough,” she told him with a slight grimace. “My mother didn’t want to stay in one place too long especially after a divorce and she didn’t travel any other way except fly.”

  Trystan frowned as he asked, “How many times was your mother divorced?”

  She didn’t answer right away as the pilot came on over the intercom and spoke to his passengers for a few minutes, and not too long after they were airborne.

  Alina shifted slightly in her seat as she looked at Trystan who was still staring at her.

  “How many you ask?” Alina asked on a sigh. “Counting the recent one, I would say she has been married and divorced four times since I was six.”

  She shrugged her shoulders as she added, “That doesn’t include the many lovers and boyfriends she had.”

  Trystan looked at her with unreadable eyes and she laughed reaching over to pat his arm.

  “I didn’t tell you so that you would feel sorry for me, Trystan,” she said with a smile. “You asked so I told you.”

  Trystan looked down at the hand on his arm and he wondered how much of what she said was the truth as he glanced back up at her noting that there was a faraway look in her eyes.

  “Alina,” he said more sharply than he intended and she glanced over at him with a slight frown.

  He forced a smile to his face and covered her hand with his as he told her, “I was just surprised that you told me because you aren’t very open about your life.”

  “True, I’m not,” she agreed with another shrug of her shoulders before her eyes closed and he lifted his free hand to brush back a strand of hair smiling as he realized that she left her hair down.

  “You said that you liked when I wore it hanging free,” she remarked softly, and a few seconds later her breathing even out letting him know that
she had fallen asleep.

  The flight attendant came around then and she smiled as she saw Alina sleeping on his shoulder. “Is she all right, sir?” She asked quietly and he nodded his head at her question before she walked off.

  Alina slept the entire six hours of their trip and she only woke up as the plane began its descent, and he watched as her eyes snapped open at the change.

  “Hey sleepyhead,” he said softly, and she blinked at him before she sat up quickly causing her vision to go blurry at the sudden motion.

  “Wow,” she said putting a hand to her head as she closed her eyes again.

  “Are you okay?” Trystan asked putting a hand on her arm and she nodded her head as she slowly reopened her eyes.

  “Yeah, I just moved too fast,” she told him shooting him a glare when he outright laughed at her.

  As they left the plan, he kept a tight grip on Alina’s hand and she looked down at their hands before she glanced back up at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Trystan,” she said with a question in her voice as they walked out of the terminal into the airport.

  He smiled and said smoothly, “I don’t want to lose you.”

  Alina shook her head at the corny answer allowing her hand to curl in his as she said on a teasing note, “Lead the way, sir.”

  He laughed at her response and they headed through the airport to the exit where Trystan had a car waiting for them.

  Trystan headed straight for the hotel they would be staying at as he had a meeting with the manager as soon as they arrived.

  “You will be on your own for this evening,” he told Alina as they entered the hotel some time later. “I have to meet with a few others that will attend the conference with me.”

  Alina nodded her head understanding that his work came first on this trip as he told her, “I will go check us in so if you want to wait over there by the elevators?” He indicated the elevators with a tilt of his head before he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before walking over to the reception desk.

  Alina headed for the elevators that he pointed to unaware that he turned around to watch her for a few minutes before he headed over to the reception desk.