Inclusions

by Emily Duvall

  Luke unbuttoned his jacket and the button at the collar of his shirt. “She knows we’ll help her in whatever way we can.”

  Stevie turned to Melanie. “I owe you an apology for how I’ve acted to you. I was wrong about you.”

  “Thank you, but an apology isn’t necessary. I’d like for all this to move forward.” Melanie swirled her hand in the air.

  “Stevie is going to be taking some much needed time for herself once we return to Belvedere,” Luke explained.

  “I’m looking forward to having more free time,” Stevie added with a contented grin.

  “Are you still going to be Vivian’s nanny?” Melanie said.

  “No, not in the day-to-day sense. I wouldn’t dare miss out on Vivian’s childhood.”

  “Sounds like the two of you have everything worked out.” Melanie put her hand in Luke’s.

  Stevie’s head inclined forward. “Don’t leave us hanging. Will there be a wedding today?”

  Luke watched Melanie blush. He cleared his throat and squeezed her hand. “Not today, but someday soon.”

  Stevie patted Melanie lovingly on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to join Vivian in the kitchen. There’s enough food to feed this entire neighborhood. Make sure you get something to eat.” She smiled at Luke and padded back down the aisle.

  Melanie’s gaze moved up to Luke’s. “There’s something I brought for you.” She reached in her purse and withdrew the velvet bag.

  Luke’s lips parted slow. A look of peace washed over his eyes. He reached out and touched the bag. “I haven’t seen this in a long time.”

  “My sister has been their keeper. Mark gave them to her to watch over and hold until he got out. She finally gave them to me.”

  Luke picked up the bag and set it on a chair. He ran his finger over the string. A strange, unassuming expression crossed his face.

  “Don’t you want to see them?” Melanie’s mouth formed a weak smile. “I didn’t know about them. I didn’t know how much they tied my brother to that awful day.”

  Luke looked at Melanie with stark gentleness. “I think they’ve caused enough problems between the two of us. We can look at them later, together. Right now, I don’t want to destroy this moment with talk about your brother. You are here. That’s all I care about.” Luke removed his jacket and reached into his pocket. A black, velvet box appeared in his hand and he laid the jacket on the back of the chair. “Don’t let this get stolen.” He smirked when he spoke, knowing how sensitive she would be about the content inside. “I can’t get this back a second time.” He opened the box.

  Melanie peered inside. Her hand jumped to her heart. “Oh my gosh…” she said, speechless.

  “This is the blue garnet. The one Bruno and his men got off you.” He took it out and placed it around her neck. He fastened it there and admired the way it dangled against her glowing skin. The stone gave off a deep blue hue with the storm clouds moving in overhead and before their eyes, began to darken.

  “How did you ever get this back?” She ran her finger over the stone.

  “Gemstones have a way of returning.” Luke lowered his face to her and kissed her. He encircled his hands around her waist. The heat from his body matched hers and he whispered, “There’s more where that came from.”

  She slid her hands down his thighs. “Are we talking about gems or something more?”

  “Definitely something more.”

  Epilogue

  Speech therapist Gabby wrapped up her session with Vivian. She sat and manually held Vivian’s hand, showing her how to put the toys back in the pink crate. Melanie got up, walked over to Vivian and took a seat next to her. “How did she do?” she asked.

  “Vivian’s doing very well. Her vocabulary’s expanding every day. Soon, she’ll be putting sentences together.” Gabby tucked away her educational tools in her bag and zipped up the sides. “I can tell everyone involved in Vivian’s life is working hard at getting her to make those vowel sounds. She’s also able to make the sounds of a sheep, cow, and very close to a horse. This is good. This is progress. The therapy helps them move forward. I get concerned when I don’t see progress and that’s not the case here. We’re also getting ready for our next sixth-month evaluation of Vivian. Put in,” she said directly to Vivian and held eye contact with her. “In,” she repeated and moved Vivian’s hand with the toy hammer into the crate.

  Melanie scooted the pile of puzzles and toys closer to Vivian. “Put in,” she echoed.

  Gabby waited until all of the toys had been returned and the floor clear of all the items from their session. She turned to Vivian and waved. “Bye-bye.”

  Vivian held up her hand and attempted, “Buh-bye.”

  Melanie reached out to touch Vivian’s hand. She took it and Vivian meshed her fingers around Melanie’s. They walked Gabby out of the playroom and down the hallway, past the rows of windows with the curtains pulled back. The sun shone with glaring brightness on the floor and showed off the faintest scuff mark. The gooey, sweet smell of melting chocolate wafted through the hallway and Melanie’s stomach fluttered.

  Vivian broke free and ran ahead to the front of the house. The automatic door opened and Vivian giggled and pointed and flapped her hands. She ran into it to get the door to open again and squealed with delight.

  Gabby passed a knowing glance to Melanie. “I hope everything goes well tomorrow.”

  Melanie ran her hand over her burgeoning belly. “We’ll let you know how the appointment goes.”

  Gabby walked through the open doors and left them to their house. Melanie took Vivian’s hand more firmly than usual and turned a protesting Vivian around. Vivian started to scream and Melanie redirected her upset stepdaughter. “Want a cookie?” she said, following the scent of what could only be hot chocolate chip cookies.

  Vivian broke free of her hand and ran into the kitchen. A very pregnant Melanie walked in a moment later. Her eyes shooting fireworks at the trays of cookies with steam still coming off their tops on the counter.

  “Gabby’s all done?” Latonya said, turning her head to the side to glance at Melanie and Vivian. She looked back to the oven and pulled out another tray using oversized pot holders.

  “She’s gone. Cookie?” she said to Vivian.

  Vivian nodded like she hadn’t eaten in hours. She understood “cookie” without confusion or needing an additional prompt. Vivian ran to the table and chairs, climbed up, and hit her hands against the table like some Viking waiting for a plate full of meat.

  The house in Belvedere felt like home. The chill of winter faded a few weeks ago giving way to blossoms on the trees and too much grass on all of their acreage. Melanie sat down at the table, next to Vivian. In a few weeks Vivian would have two sisters. Luke would have three daughters.

  Melanie’s pregnancy had been rough at first. The morning sickness eventually faded and she’d had an overall easy time, except for the gaping hole in her support system. Her mother and Jessie hadn’t been involved with the pregnancy at all. So all the highs, like the first kick and first sonogram, she shared with Luke, Stevie, and Latonya. It panged Melanie to go through this without her family, but the vacancy of their fallout remained. She couldn’t speak to them without her heart turning black and her words still unkind towards them.

  She nibbled on a cookie and thought about them now. One day she would forgive them. Not today. She’d get there on her own. A tree branch moved outside and Melanie caught sight of Luke talking on his phone and pacing. He’d returned from a trip to Thailand with Brent two days before and would be out of the field until the summer. He didn’t travel much, and when he did, Melanie didn’t hold him back. So long as he came home to her. She wiggled her ring finger, the one usually showing off one of the many gems he had made for her.

  She got up out of the chair. “I’m going outside. Will you keep an eye on Vivian?”

  “I’ve got cookies, she’s going nowhere,” she said to Vivian and smiled at
Melanie. “Go on.”

  Melanie walked out the side door. Luke saw her and ended his call. “Hi,” he said. “These weeks will be the last time it’s ever quiet again in this house.”

  “I know,” Melanie said, laughing. “Are you ready?”

  “I’ve already got a gift for the girls.”

  Luke reached into his pocket and pulled out a burgundy velvet bag with a silky rope drawstring. “Open your hand.”

  Melanie’s palm opened under his and out of the bag dropped two aquamarine gemstones the size of a quarter. “These girls are starting out spoiled.”

  “They’re their birthstones,” he said proudly. “They’re only ten carats each.”

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  “I bought Vivian one. You should see the emerald I have tucked away for her in my vault. I’ve never treated it. It’s untouched. Close to five carats.” Luke wrapped his arms around Melanie. He held her like this for a long moment. “Tell me she’ll be okay.”

  She heard the concern in his voice. “She’ll be okay. She’s a bright girl and she works so hard at her speech. The development specialist we’re seeing tomorrow will give us direction. We both know whatever she says won’t matter. Vivian’s come a long way. She’s happy, she’s healthy, and she’s making such good progress.” Melanie breathed in his familiar scent. The outdoors stayed with him for days after he got home and it reminded her of the night they shared the tent in Madagascar. “Let’s not think too far ahead about the future.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “The moment you came to this house, unannounced, is the moment I knew.”

  “What did you know?” Melanie gazed up at him. A tiny foot kicked against her ribs and she put her hand up high on her belly.

  “I knew you’d be standing here one day, with me.”

  “What a relief that you offered me a job.” Another odd sensation, swiped across the lower part of her belly, a heel maybe.

  Luke chuckled. “We both know I was offering you much, much more.” He reached into his pocket and took out his phone. “It’s Brent, let me take this.”

  Melanie stepped aside and watched Luke’s eyes light up. She knew that look. He was receiving a tip. She laughed out loud.

  Luke snapped up his gaze to hers. “Your source is for real?” He paused and nodded with a knowing grin. “You’re sure this red diamond is over eight carats?”

  “Go get it,” Melanie mouthed.

  He wrapped his arm around her chest and held her close. “I’m already where I want to be.”

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Emily Duvall graduated from Sonoma State University and The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs with a Master’s degree in Sociology. She worked in the field of social and educational research for several years before taking up writing. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two children. Find out more information about Emily’s writing at www.emilyduvall.com.

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