His Sister's Return

by Mary Goldberger

  “Alina!” A voice screamed from her phone lying a few inches from her as people came rushing over at the burning car and the unconscious woman.

  Chapter 18

  Trystan looked up as Trudy came in the room a smile on her face.

  “Congratulations on Marla’s marriage,” she told him putting down some paperwork on his desk.

  “How do you know?” He asked a second before his eyes were drawn to the newspaper she placed with his work.

  He stood up swiftly and said with a snarl, “How the hell did they find out?”

  He didn’t see Bea standing in the doorway and seeing his harsh look she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

  “I’m sorry, Trystan, but I may have mentioned something when I was talking with some friends of mine,” she told him softly starting toward him only to freeze as he shot her a deadly glare.

  “Trudy, call my home and check on my family. Tell them I will be there shortly,” he told her and Trudy nodded her head a questioningly look on her face.

  Bea stood there stunned as Trystan walked around her out of the office following Trudy.

  “Trystan, wait,” she called turning on her heal to follow him wondering why he was taking the fact that it was in the newspaper so damn serious.

  She reached his car a second before he drove off and although he gave her a hooded glance he didn’t tell her to get out.

  “Personally,” she began the silence making her uncomfortable. “I think that letting society know can only help Marla especially informing that Alina woman about Samuel’s nuptials.”

  Trystan didn’t respond as he increased his speed and Bea smiled smugly as she turned to stare at the window.

  As he pulled up to his house, he noticed that Samuel and Marla were standing on the front step talking. They turned at the sound of his car as he parked and turned it off before climbing out to join them.

  Bea slid out of the car astonishment evident as Trystan talked with sister and Samuel without glancing back at her, and she strode over to them with a scowl on her face.

  “I’m fine, Tryst,” Marla was telling him as Bea reached them and Trystan gave her a hug before stepping back.

  “Dad and everyone else is in the living room,” Samuel told them his voice hard with anger as he put an arm around Marla’s waist before turning to go inside.

  Trystan and Bea followed, and Bea didn’t understand why everyone was acting as if letting society know about the wedding was asking for disaster.

  As they entered the living room, Delilah glanced up at them tears in her eyes and she said quietly, “Why didn’t anyone tell me what was going on?”

  “Mom,” Marla began as she rushed over to her only for Sam to finish.

  “We didn’t want to worry you, mom.”

  She glared at him as she wrapped her arms around Marla before she sighed and said, “I understand although I’m not happy about it, but now I know why you rushed the wedding. So what do we do now?”

  She glanced around the room noting how pale Trace was as he sat on the couch staring at the wall and Sarette sat in the chair clutching his cell phone tightly his knuckles turning white.

  “The wedding will still take place on Saturday,” Marla said in a determined voice as she pulled back from her mother’s embrace wiping tears from her eyes.

  “Honey,” her mother began only to still at the light in her daughter’s eyes.

  Sam saw the same look as she stood up and turned to him her eyes telling him what she wanted to do. “I agree. The wedding will take place as planned,” he confirmed watching her smile with relief at his agreement.

  The others nodded their head as Trace shifted his stare to them and said, “We should change the time though maybe make it later in the day.”

  Sam thought about his dad’s suggestion as a smile started to cross his face getting a similar smile from Marla as he stated, “Dad has a good idea. Everything is already done except for the caterer but I think…”

  “Don’t worry about him,” Aunt Theadora said coming in the room her eyes haunted and her face white. “He owes Al…” she stopped as she realized what she was going to say before she continued on, “He shouldn’t have a problem with the change in time.”

  Trystan glanced over at her sharply noticing the slip of Theadora’s tongue although no one else seemed to have caught it.

  “How can you be so sure?” Bea asked irritated how everyone was speaking around her and she had no idea what was going on.

  “I just am,” Aunt Theadora said as she held out a hand for her husband’s phone.

  Trystan noticed that he didn’t want to release it, but with a slight murmur from her, he handed it over. She made a quick phone call getting the answer she knew she would get before she hung up.

  “We are set,” she said handing the phone back to her husband her hand closing around his hand as it tightened around the phone.

  Alina woke up slowly her head throbbing as a voice said, “You’re finally awake. That was a nasty cut you received, but you were lucky otherwise.”

  Alina winced as she slowly sat up noticing that she was in her own bedroom before she turned her eyes to the person who had been speaking.

  “Mrs. Santos,” she said quietly putting a hand to her head encountering a bandage.

  “Hello, dear,” Mrs. Santos said softly observing her with watchful eyes. “The neighbors called when they found you unconscious by your burning car.”

  “How long have I been out?” She asked easing herself to the side of the bed.

  “Five to six hours,” Mrs. Santos told her handing her a glass of water and some aspirin.

  Alina took it gratefully before remarking, “I seem to be a constant source of trouble for you.”

  Mrs. Santos shook her head watching the charm on Alina’s bracelet sway slightly before it stilled and she nodded her head as if she knew something.

  “Mrs. Santos,” Alina said handing back the glass, “I need to get back to Witt.”

  Mrs. Santos sighed heavily before she said, “I know my dear, but you should relax for a little longer before you hurry out.”

  She called out and the door opened to reveal a middle aged man standing there his eyes shadowed but otherwise he didn’t say a word.

  “Jimmy will take you there, Alina,” Mrs. Santos commented and Alina glanced over at the man who nodded his head at the question on her face.

  “Thank you,” Alina said leaning forward to give Mrs. Santos a hug. As she leaned back, she frowned before asking, “Did someone pick up my cell?”

  Mrs. Santos grimaced as she grabbed a plastic bag from the table holding it up for Alina to see.

  “Sorry, Alina, but it got trampled on when the neighbors rushed over to help you,” she told her as Alina took the plastic bag.

  Alina sighed glancing down at the broken phone in the bag before she said, “Can I use your phone, ma’am? I need to call my family to let them know that I’m all right.”

  Jimmy pulled out his cell and handed to her as he stepped in the room, and Alina started to rise to her feet only to gasp as she went lightheaded at the movement.

  “Alina,” Mrs. Santos said, and Alina shook her head slowly feeling her stomach settled down as her dizziness retreated.

  “I’m all right,” Alina said putting a hand to her head before she lifted it and smiled.

  She took a deep breath and then, after releasing it, she took the phone from Jimmy’s hand dialing her uncle’s number.

  Mrs. Santos could hear the relief in the other person’s voice when Alina said his name. She talked for a few minutes informing him that she would be coming back as soon as possible. After being told about the wedding being moved later in the day, her uncle told her to take easy after she informed him of returning to Witt.

  “It is a good idea, but they need to still be cautious anyway. We don’t know how she will react now that she has learned they are going to be married,” Alina said after he told her. “Uncle Sarette, I should be there ju
st in case…”

  She was stopped as her father got on the phone and told her, “The wedding is tomorrow evening so you can leave in the morning and still make it in time.”

  Alina nodded her head, but she bit her lip although Mrs. Santos nodded her head in agreement as she looked up at her.

  She hesitated for a second before she said, “Okay, I will stay here until tomorrow morning.” She hesitated briefly before she said, “Dad, I may return to Charlotte for a while after the wedding, and we catch Sam’s stalker.”

  Mrs. Santos settled on the edge of the bed with a heavy sigh as Alina listened to her father who wasn’t happy to hear what his daughter was telling him, but he understood as he said, “Do you want me to tell Sam?”

  “No, don’t tell anyone yet. I will tell them when I make my final decision,” Alina told him in a calm voice although her face was anything but calm to Mrs. Santos’ eyes.

  They talked a little longer before she hung up handing the phone back to Jimmy who had stood quietly listening to her end of the conversation.

  Mrs. Santos studied her for a few minutes before she stated, “You don’t plan on going back, but you want everyone to believe that you are.”

  Alina turned to her with sharp eyes before she sighed. “It won’t fool my Uncle Sarette, either, but he will go along with it when my father informs.”

  Mrs. Santos opened her mouth to argue before she thought better and closed it turning to Jimmy.

  “Jimmy, prepare a light meal for Alina, please, before she gets some sleep,” she asked getting a nod from him before he left the room.

  She turned back to Alina who had walked over to the window unsteadily putting a hand against the window pane to steady herself as she stared out.

  “Will you be well enough tomorrow to make the drive?” She asked her quietly.

  “I have to,” Alina told her without glancing at Mrs. Santos her hand clenched in a tight fist.

  Mrs. Santos nodded her head as she added softly, “So you do. Come sit down and rest until your lunch arrives.”

  Alina hesitated and walked over slowly, but a little more steadier and sat down on the edge of the bed.

  Jimmy came in a few minutes later with a bowl of reheated vegetable soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

  Alina smiled at him as he sat the tray down before placing a stand in front of her and replacing the tray on top of it.

  “Thank you,” she said again her eyes bright with unshed tears that she blinked away as she reached for the spoon.

  She ate what she could of the meal in front of them and Mrs. Santos nodded her head pleased at what she ate.

  Ten minutes later, Alina was in bed resting as Mrs. Santos sat in the kitchen with Jimmy as she told him, “Tomorrow when you drop her off, Jimmy, don’t stick around because what happens…”

  Uncle Sarette glanced around the room and a worried look came to his face as Theadora came over to him.

  “What is it, honey?” She asked quietly putting her hand on his arm.

  He told her about the conversation he had with Alina and her eyes filled with tears of relief.

  “She is okay?” She repeated her hand squeezing his arm at his words.

  “Alina is tougher than we give her credit for,” he told her with a small smile.

  He watched a grimace cross her face as she stated slowly, “She had to be, huh, after what her mom put her through?”

  Sarette sighed as he put his head back and laid a hand on the one resting on his arm. “Alina’s mom loves her in her own way, but at the same time she loves money and always has, and Alina learned early that was just how her mother was.”

  He sighed after saying this as he pulled Theadora in his arms unaware of Trystan who had walked in and froze at the sound of Alina’s name.

  “Trystan,” Bea called tearing him from his thoughts as Sarette and Theadora hearing Bea’s voice got up and headed for the kitchen where Sam and Marla were hanging out.

  “Bea,” Trystan said turning to her after watching them walk away.

  Bea smiled as she reached him wrapping her arms around his waist and asked, “Is everything ready for tomorrow?”

  Before he could answer, Trace walked in the room his mouth in a tight line as he told them, “Reporters are here.”

  “Do they know about the change in time?” Trystan asked as he moved away from Bea and headed for the front door.

  “I don’t think so, but let’s hope not,” Trace said following him, and Bea frowned at them as they walked away from her.

  The evening went by fast as Trystan and Trace kept an eye on the reporters watching as they settled down to wait.

  “Damn,” Trace muttered as the night went on.

  “Dad, let’s get some sleep,” Sam said as Trystan glanced over at them. “Marla and the others already went to bed, and I think you should too.”

  Trace sighed but nodded his head in agreement after one last look before he headed up to the room Delilah had let him use for the night.

  Sam watched him as he went upstairs before he stood next to Trystan and looked out the window.

  “What should we do?” He asked quietly, and Trystan smiled at him as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

  “I think I have an idea,” he told him with a wicked look, and Samuel chuckled even though he still felt some anger at the man for hurting his sister.

  “All right, I will leave it to you Trystan,” Samuel told him after glancing out one last time before he turned and headed upstairs a frown on his face.

  Sarette caught him as he reached the guest bedroom he was given and told him, “I got a call from Alina. She is fine, according to her and will be here as soon as possible.”

  When Sarette hesitated, Samuel asked, “Alina said something else didn’t she, Uncle Sarette?”

  Sarette nodded his head as he told him, “She mentioned to Trace about going back to Charlotte after your wedding and we catch your stalker.”

  Samuel’s eyes narrowed as he said, “Did you she tell Dad why?”

  Sarette shook her head before he said dryly, “If she does go back, I don’t think she will stay but tie up some lose ends. I think she doesn’t want anyone to know where she is actually going to be.”

  Samuel ran a hand through his hair as he said, “Or she doesn’t want one individual in general to know?”

  Sarette nodded his head as he said, “That’s my opinion too.”

  Sam shook his head before he said, “Thanks for letting me know, Uncle. Go get some rest because tomorrow is a big day although I hoped that my sister would share it with me.”

  “She may still share it with you, Sam,” Sarette told him with a smile patting his back before turning and going back to his bedroom.

  Sam watched his uncle walk away as Trystan did earlier before he walked in his room closing the door behind him as he switched on the light.

  “I was waiting for you,” Marla said from the chair by the window, and he glanced at her in surprise.

  “I think your brother and mother will kill me if they catch you in here,” he told her as he walked over to sit down on the arm of the chair.

  “I’m not going to stay the night although I would like to,” Marla said. “I just wanted to see if you heard anything about Alina.”

  “Sarette stopped me outside the door and told me he heard from Alina earlier,” he told her running a hand over her hair. “She is fine and hopefully she will be here for our wedding tomorrow evening.”

  Marla nodded her head before she yawned and said, “I guess I should go get some sleep for tomorrow.”

  She sounded so disappointed that Samuel laughed and said, “We will be spending tomorrow night and every other night together from now on so be patient.”

  Marla laughed at that comment as Samuel pulled her to her feet and walked her to the door.

  “Goodnight, sweetheart,” he told her giving her a sweet kiss and she kissed him back before she walked away back to her own room.

  Her
mother watched them from her partially opened door and when Marla’s door closed, she smiled with pride closing her own door hoping that tomorrow nothing would go wrong.

  Chapter 19

  The following morning Sam went downstairs dressed casually for another until it was time for him to get dressed for his wedding. He frowned slightly as he headed for the living room knowing that the chances of seeing Marla until it was time to say their “I dos” while she got herself ready. He wondered how Alina was doing as he went past the front where he took a detour to check and see what the reporters were doing.

  He glanced out the window to freeze as he noted that the reporters were gone, and Trystan said next him a cup of coffee in his hand, “Hopefully they won’t make it back until after the wedding.”

  Samuel turned to him with slightly suspicious eyes as he asked, “What did you do, Trystan?”

  “I merely had my secretary spread a rumor,” Trystan told him with a wicked smile. “Although the rumor isn’t completely false, the reporters won’t know it until it is too late I hope.”

  Samuel shook his head laughter coming out as they turned and headed for the kitchen unaware Bea was listening to them from the bottom stair. After they walked away, a thoughtful look came to her face and she smiled with a suddenness that hinted she had a plan before she followed Trystan and Samuel to the kitchen.

  The day continued on in that fashion as caterers arrived to start setting up the tables while Aunt Theadora and Delilah decorated and set up the backyard for Samuel and Marla’s wedding smiling at how beautiful it was coming out.

  An hour before the wedding, Bea finished getting dressed as she listened to the bustle of the house and as she walked over to the window, she saw how everyone was finishing up the last minute touches in the backyard around the gazebo where the two had picked to say their vows.

  Bea shook her head as she thinking that when she got married it would definitely be in a more expensive place then Trystan’s backyard although she loved the house thinking about the money that was needed to maintain it.

  Shaking her head as she cleared her thoughts, she smiled as she picked her cell up and dialed a number before she said, “I got a scoop for you…”