The rest of the ride was filled with silence and as they got off at the lobby, Bea spoke up. “I will ride with you to drop off Alina.”
Trystan hesitated for a second in his stride which Alina caught before he asked, “Did you come in your own car?”
“Yes, but you can swing back by here for me to get it before we go to my place,” Bea said before she smiled. “Or we can get it tomorrow instead.”
He didn’t answer and Alina caught the satisfied smile that crossed the woman’s face as they walked out of the hospital.
“Miss Barks,” a nurse called out catching up to them a slight frown on her face. “You know that you should be in a wheelchair.”
She handed a bag to Alina who had the grace to blush as she said, “Sorry, Nurse, but I really didn’t feel like riding in a wheelchair.”
“But I would’ve enjoyed pushing you in one,” Trystan teased, and Alina threw him a narrowed look.
The nurse shook her head as she chuckled, “It is hospital policy, but since you’ve already escaped then there is nothing else I can do. Take care of yourself.”
“Thank you,” Alina told her with a smile as the nurse headed back inside.
As Alina turned back around to face Trystan and Bea, she lightly elbowed him in the stomach.
“Hey, what was that for?” He asked in surprise but there was a glint of humor in his eyes as he rubbed his stomach.
She didn’t answer him as she scanned the parking lot and spotting his car, she started toward it.
Trystan’s laugh followed her causing her to smile softly as he and Bea followed her.
As they reached the car, Trystan shifted his body blocking Bea who headed for the passenger door as he indicated for Alina to get in.
Alina hesitated for a second giving him an unguarded look before opening the door to slide inside and Trystan closed the door behind her before he turned to Bea.
“I think you should go home, Bea, and I will talk to you later,” he told her before he took her arm gently and walked her over to her car opening the driver’s door for her.
“But Trystan,” Bea said with a pout on her face, “we need to talk about us.”
Trystan didn’t even blink as he said, “We will talk later.”
After another pout at him, she slid inside her car and he shut the door hitting the roof gently before he turned and walked back to his own vehicle.
Bea watched closely as Trystan backed out and left the hospital parking lot, and her hands wrapped around the steering wheel her nails digging into the vinyl that covered it leaving deep impressions.
“Where are we going?” Alina asked after he pulled away sending him a quick glance.
“Well, I’m taking you to your father’s house, but first my mother wants to meet you,” Trystan told her sending her a quick look before returning his attention to the road.
Alina stared at him with a frown crossing her face a stunned look in her eyes and he chuckled as he grabbed her hand resting it against his upper thigh.
Stunned at his action, Alina dropped her eyes to their clasped hands resting on his jean covered thigh before she shifted her gaze back up to him trying to read what he was thinking, but his face was bland and his eyes were shielded by dark sunglasses that he put on as they drove away from the hospital.
“You confuse me,” she admitted aloud her eyes still searching his face.
“Good,” he replied giving her hand a squeeze as he started slowing down to take a turn in a wrap-around driveway that led to a beautiful two story house.
As he parked the car, Alina stared at the house in awe loving the homey look of the place and Trystan, watching her after he turned off the car, smiled to himself before he opened his door.
“Come in,” he said starting to get out. “My mom has been looking forward to meeting you.”
“Oh, I’m sure she has,” Alina mumbled under her breath as Trystan closed his door and started around the car to open hers. Before Trystan could reach it, Alina had it open and was sliding out to meet him, and he gave her narrowed look which confused her.
“So damn independent,” he said closing the door for her.
Getting what he was saying, she grimaced before she said, “I can’t help it. I learned to rely on myself before relying on someone else.”
He muttered something under his breath as they turned and started up the walk way, and Alina frowned because she thought it sounded something like ‘rely on me’ but as she caught up with him at the door he gave her a smile and grabbed her hand again as the door opened.
“Trystan, Alina,” Marla said with excitement grabbing Alina by the hand as she stepped outside. She hugged Alina who was stunned although she didn’t see the look that Marla sent Trystan over her shoulder. “I’m glad that you are feeling better, Alina.”
She kissed Trystan’s cheek and was heading for her car before either one could comment. Trystan and Alina gave each other startled looks before they turned to watch her open her car door throwing them a smile.
“I’m sorry for the rush, but I’ve got to stop by my store before going home,” Marla revealed a bright light in her eyes. “Samuel has a surprise waiting for me at home.”
“You two need to go on a honeymoon,” Trystan said with a laugh as he grabbed Alina’s hand again.
“We will just not right now,” Marla told them her eyes resting on Alina for a second before she grinned at their clasped hands giving her brother a knowing look before she climbed inside her car. “See you two later.”
They waved as she pulled away from the house and Alina chuckled before she said, “I love your sister even though she is wacky.”
Trystan started laughing as the front door opened again and his mother watched them as Trystan said thoughtfully after his laughter died down, “I wonder why they are waiting.”
Alina stilled at his words before she sighed and said, “Probably because Sam wants to be here just in case my mother decides to show up.”
“How can you be sure she will?” Trystan asked as he turned fully to face her noticing that her face was pale.
“I read the newspapers while I was in the hospital,” Alina told him wearily running a hand over her eyes. “My mother loves being a part of anything that can bring her money even if its short-lived.”
Trystan frowned as he turned them to go inside only to stop when he saw his mother standing in the doorway.
“Mom,” Trystan said stepping forward to kiss her cheek although he kept Alina’s hand tightly in his grasp.
“Trystan,” his mom said smiling at him before she turned her attention to the young woman standing next to him tugging her hand from his grasp.
“Ma’am,” Alina said still trying to get her hand from Trystan as he stepped back to stand next to her.
“Come in, dears,” his mother said stepping aside so they could enter and she watched Trystan closely as he pulled Alina in behind him.
She closed the door behind them before she asked, “So how are feeling dear?”
“I’m doing better, ma’am,” Alina told her as Trystan’s mother headed for an opened room and Trystan followed her giving Alina no option to do the same as he still had a hold on her hand. “Trystan…”
“Yes,” he said as they entered the room and he turned to face her causing Alina to bump his chest. He released her hand to catch her waist holding her to him and Alina frowned up at him as his mother observed them from the couch where she had settled.
“Something tells me that there is more to the story of your mother,” he murmured looking down at her his hold on her waist tightening slightly causing Alina’s eyes to widen briefly before she shielded them.
Trystan had seen the emotions that flashed through her eyes before she hid them and he opened his mouth to comment when his mother spoke up.
“I have to agree, dear, there seems to be more of a story regarding your mother,” Delilah said from the couch, and Alina easily broke Trystan’s hold to go sit down choosing the chair n
ot seeing the flash awareness in Trystan’s eyes at her chose. His mother did though as she observed the young woman in front of her.
“Mom,” Trystan said walking over to stand behind the chair Alina was sitting in. “This is Alina Barks. Alina, this is my mother, Delilah.”
“Nice to meet you, ma’am,” Alina said with a smile.
Delilah smiled and nodded her head noting her son’s protective stance behind Alina’s chair, and as Alina shifted in the chair, she wondered if Trystan knew he was making the young woman nervous.
He knew and was enjoying the knowledge that his nearness was making her uncomfortable.
Alina turned to glare at him but before she could tell him to go sit some place and get from behind her, his mother asked, “Alina, why are so sure that your mother will cause trouble?”
At her question, Alina stilled in her seat turning to look at her before she sighed in weariness. “Because to my mom, I’m a bank,” she admitted honestly. “Whenever one of her marriages fails, or she is short on money, I’m the one that she calls.”
Delilah raised her eyebrows at this as Trystan reached out and ran a hand down her hair.
“Marriages?” He questioned although he could care less how many her mother had but he thought the more he knew the better.
Alina tilted her head back to meet his eyes for a second before she returned her attention to his mother. “My mom has been married four times and I’m sure that the fourth divorce is already in the proceedings or completed. I never know anymore, but it is a good bet when she starts calling me.”
“Oh, dear,” Delilah said shooting Trystan a look which he met without flinching.
“Don’t get me wrong, ma’am,” Alina said easing back against the cushion of the chair. “My mom does love me in her own way and I know that, but I also know that if there was a toss-up between me and her becoming rich beyond her dreams, I would lose without question.”
Delilah wondered if one could call that as caring but she didn’t say it aloud because she could sense that Alina truly wanted to believe it.
“It was a month ago,” Alina began closing her eyes, “I had a set of jewelry returned to her third husband that she took while the divorce was being finalized. Although she tried to say that it was giving to her in the divorce settlement, I knew it wasn’t.”
“What did she do with them?” Trystan asked looking down at her watching her body settle comfortably in the chair’s thickness.
“She pawned them,” Alina said bluntly her eyes opening up landing on his mother who couldn’t hide her astonishment and she smiled slightly. “Once I learned what she did with them, I bought them back. I knew returning them right away wouldn’t do anything so I waited until he ordered Janice to return them and then I had Uncle Sarette send them back.”
She sighed running a hand across her face and told them quietly, “It is the only way to really help Janice without causing an argument between us.”
“Wouldn’t returning them when you attained them again been wiser?” Delilah asked in a soft voice.
Alina chuckled at this her eyes filled with humor as she said, “Unfortunately, Janice would’ve used that to her advantage and tried to extort money from him and his family. It was easier to wait until he wanted them back.”
“Why did he wait so long, I mean…?” Trystan asked getting Alina’s attention as she tilted her head to look at him. “I assume that they have been divorced for some time.”
“About two years give or take a few months,” Alina revealed. “But in answer to your question, I don’t think he wanted to bother with it because he was married to Janice longer than the others so he knew how she was. It just so happen though that the jewelry she took belonged to his sister who was overseas doing her doctoral. When she returned and discovered that they were missing, she wanted them back.”
Delilah and Trystan both stared at her in wonder at her bluntness and honesty, and Delilah wondered why she was being so blunt about her background. As Alina looked over at her, Delilah held back her gasp as she read the sadness in her eyes before she lowered them and Delilah had a feeling that she was telling them intentionally to distance herself from Trystan, or Trystan from her. Delilah glanced at her son and she mentally smiled at the concern and worry she read in his eyes telling her that what Alina was revealing wasn’t working as she hoped.
“Alina…” Trystan began only to be interrupted as his mother asked without hesitation, “When did you finally move out on your own?”
Alina shot her a startled look before she laughed aloud although there was no humor in it. “When I was fifteen before she met her third husband, she had a boyfriend who was physical when he was drunk and I didn’t move out of his way one night, so I ended up down a short flight of stairs. Unfortunately, or fortunately in my case, someone saw him do it and they wanted to call the cops, I only wanted to get away so I asked to be taken to the local social service office. Once they heard what happened and saw the evidence for themselves, after getting medical treatment they helped me get out of the house and into another place.”
“What did your mother say about it?” Delilah asked clasping her hands in her lap to conceal their shaking.
Alina shrugged her shoulders as she said softly, “I want to believe that mom wanted the best for me and knew that this was the best option.”
Trystan clenched his hands into fists as he heard the doubt in Alina’s voice telling him that she didn’t truly believe it, but it was better than thinking her mom was glad that she was gone.
Delilah frowned as she did some slight calculation in her head and said, “So that means your mother’s third husband was after you moved out on your own?”
Alina nodded her head as she said, “My mom knows how to play the ‘single mother’ card very well when it suits her.”
There was a sincere smile on Alina’s face catching both Trystan and his mom’s attention, and Trystan asked in a rough voice, “Her third husband didn’t…?”
Alina shook her head as she told them, “I was already out of the house at the time, but my mom used the fact that I wasn’t leaving with her to get his sympathy. When I started college, he helped pay for it so I didn’t have to worry about anything but food and personal items I needed. Although the people I was living with could help me, I appreciated the fact that they didn’t need to put out so much money on my behalf.”
Delilah went to go ask another question but the phone next to her rang and she reached out a hand to answer it with a ‘excuse me’.
Trystan nodded his head although his eyes were still focused on Alina who said, “Yes, ma’am.”
He watched as her eyes closed again and leaned over to say low in her ear, “Tired?”
She didn’t jump as he suspected as she nodded her head shifting slightly in the chair. “A little, but it’s not every day I answer questions about my childhood,” she told him without opening her eyes.
“Why not?’ He asked one hand reaching out to run through her hair and he was satisfied when Alina sighed softly at the action although when she spoke there was an angry note in her voice.
“Trystan, my mom is the classic gold digger in the truest sense. She goes through money as if it grows on trees and even when she is married, she isn’t faithful.”
She gave a weak scowl before she continued, “I was only four when we left here, but I didn’t blame Mom…Selma for kicking us out even though it hurt that she didn’t seem to care about me. As for dad, I understood when I was old enough that my mom was his mistress and yet I can tell you without a doubt that after he reconciled with Mom Selma, he never slept with Janice which pissed her off.”
She shook her head again as she let her eyes drift close and her head sunk back against the cushion again, and Trystan sighed quietly as he walked around to bend down in front of her.
“It tired you out talking about your past,” he muttered running a fingertip down her cheek although she didn’t flinch and he smiled ruefully as he realized that
she had fell asleep within those few seconds.
“She’s asleep,” his mother’s quiet voice drifted across the room and Trystan turned his head to look at her.
He wouldn’t tell his mother that although she never left the room for her phone call, he had forgotten that she was still in the room and he had the feeling so did Alina as she talked about her mother.
“Take her up to the room next to yours,” his mother said suddenly as she reached for the phone. “I will call Trace and let him know that she will be staying here tonight.”
“Mom,” Trystan said as her words sunk in and he stared at her in surprise. Although his mom never stopped him from doing what he wanted, the one thing he never did was bring a woman home for the night out of respect for her. Even when Bea stayed over she slept in a guestroom and not the one near his bedroom which was technically used for family members. The fact that she was telling him to give it to Alina spoke more than any other words could and he said suddenly, “Mom, does this mean…?”
“We will talk about it later,” she told him in that mother voice he and Marla knew not to argue with no matter what.
Trystan had to chuckle as he lifted Alina in his arms thinking that although he was past thirty years old, his mother could still make him do what she wanted with just the right tone of voice.
“I love you, mom, you know that,” he told her as he headed out of the room.
“I know,” she said as she watched him leave the phone receiver to her ear, and she smiled a soft light entering her eyes. “There are some things you still listen to me about, but only when really want to.”
Her mumblings were cut off when the phone was picked up on the other end and she said without hesitation, “Trace, hi” before she explained what was going on her eyes still staring at the doorway where her son walked through.
Chapter 23
Trystan laid Alina gently down in the guest bedroom noting the light frown that crossed her face and he sighed gently as he took off her shoes. He grimaced as he realized that she needed to be undressed so she could sleep comfortably.
His Sister's Return Page 24