Inceptive

by M. D. Melai

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “You’re the one who told me that you loved me, and then snuck out of the house in the middle of the night to be gone for over six months. Next thing I know, you’re back here with Lucas’s arms wrapped around you!” he said as his voice rose.

  “That’s different!” I countered back.

  Both of our voices were ringing throughout the house, but neither one of us seemed to care.

  “How is it different?”

  “You kept who my real parents were a secret!”

  “Yours was worse! At least you had no idea about your parents. Benito thought he was doing the right thing in a terrible situation, and here you are acting like a wounded bird.

  “When I woke up that next morning and you were gone, it almost destroyed me. After everything we had talked about that night, you got up in the middle of the night and you left me.”

  “Well, at least you know how it feels when someone you love leaves you!” I replied with enough spice to make Emilio’s face drop.

  “That was a different situation and you know it!” he said after regaining his thoughts.

  “How is it different?” My breathing became deeper as my rage became stronger. I could feel the heat rise before it escaped my lips.

  “I had no choice!” he snapped back.

  “It doesn’t matter who left whom, and for what reason. The point is we both have done it— we’ve both walked away.”

  The anger in his face slowly melted away as my words resonated.

  I don’t know how we went from Benito and his secret to this. I knew this conversation had been inevitable. We had avoided it for weeks, because of my father’s death and the whirlwind that had been surrounding us—I just didn’t expect it to go this far.

  “If you want to be mad at me for some secret I kept from you that wasn’t my place to tell you, then fine, you can be pissed at me. I can take it. If I can handle you continuously questioning whether you want to be with me or not, then I can definitely handle this.”

  With that, he turned and left me standing there, replaying our conversation over again. It was true that I loved Emilio, but that didn’t make my statement any less true.

  The sound of someone clearing their throat brought me out of my own thoughts. Lucas’s face came into view as I turned to face him.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I shook my head, like I was trying to clear my thoughts away, and took a deep breath, before answering that I was fine.

  “Lily,” Lucas said as his hand touched my shoulder, making me look up at him instantly. The look on his face let me know whatever he was about to say next pained him.

  “Don’t,” I said, shaking my head. “Please don’t say what I know you’re going to.”

  He bent down in front of me and took my face in his hands. “I just don’t know what to do right now, Lil,” he began. “I know that you care about him, but I know you care about me too.”

  I looked down at the ground and shook my head again. I couldn’t believe this day!

  “I think the best thing for you to do right now is think—really think about what you want,” he said as he moved my hair out of my face and leaned his head on mine. “You and Emilio have some things you both need to work out. Any man would have to be an idiot not to see that you two have unresolved feelings about each other.

  “And I don’t think that you and I can really work out until you have resolved or moved past those feelings and find out where you want to be—or more so, who you want to be with. I want to make you happy—you deserve all the happiness in the world.

  “I just hope you don’t take this as me not wanting you, because I do, so damn much! I just think it’s best if I step back and let you decide this on your own and on your own terms. You need to make this decision for yourself, not for me—not for him.”

  “This isn’t what I want,” I spoke up.

  “You say that now, but I know a part of you wants him too. I’m not leaving you—I’m just taking a step back until you figure a few things out. Most importantly, maybe you need to focus on your family and this newest development in your life first. Then you can work on your feelings between Emilio and me. And then, if and when it’s our time, I’ll be patiently waiting for you. You’ve been my world these past few months, and all I want is to continue that with you. But I need you to be a hundred percent positive that’s what you want too.”

  Lucas leaned in and kissed my forehead. “I love you, Lily. Always.” Then he stood up and walked out the bedroom door.

  This day had gone from bad to worse. After trying to absorb everything that had taken place between Benito, Emilio, and Lucas, I stood up and yelled for Violet.

  I needed to get away, just long enough to clear my head. My house was packed up, and the truck was loaded. All my brothers were here now, plus Emilio and Lucas—they didn’t need Violet and me anymore.

  A couple days back home without any of them would be nice. I couldn’t even begin to try and resolve my problems if I was distracted by my family and the unexpected situations I now faced with them.

  “Yes,” Violet said as she rounded the door frame.

  “I’m heading home, if you would like to join me, then you need to pack your bag.”

  Chapter 3

  Violet and I were able to get a quick flight out of Toronto the next morning. I had spent the rest of yesterday helping pack as much as I could. When I told my mother I was heading home early, she understood and told me she would see me when she returned back to New Jersey.

  I was thankful that the flight would only be a short hour and a half. In that moment, I was never more excited to head back to New Jersey than I was waiting to board the plane. I was going to be taking full advantage of not having anyone around for the next couple of days—well, besides Violet.

  As soon as we boarded, I put my earphones in and turned on my iPod. I was trying not to think about the last forty eight hours and welcomed the distraction without hesitation.

  The music blared in my ears throughout most of the flight. Violet knew that I needed this to help calm me, so she didn’t bother me—she mostly kept to herself and read a book.

  I knew we were getting close to landing when I heard the flight attendant’s voice come through the overhead speakers. I chose to ignore her—it wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before. Right after I heard her voice stop, Violet tapped me on the shoulder.

  “What’s up?” I asked as I pulled my earphones out of my ears.

  “There’s something that I need to tell you. Well, ask you really,” she said smiling.

  “It’s not another secret that has been kept from me for the past twenty years, is it?” I asked jokingly.

  “No, just a month or two,” she nervously laughed.

  I waited in anticipation as Violet pulled her purse up onto her lap and rifled through it. Her hands were still in it when she slightly turned in my direction and took a deep breath.

  Please let it be a good surprise! I don’t think I can handle any more bad ones.

  “Will you be my maid of honor?” she asked as she pulled her hand out of her purse and flashed her sparkling engagement ring at me.

  I was elated and speechless. It took me a minute to gather my excitement enough to answer her.

  “Yes!” I exclaimed loud enough that the whole airplane heard me.

  I immediately grabbed her hand and brought it close to examine the ring. It was a beautiful princess cut diamond with little diamond accents all around the rim.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said in awe of the ring.

  When I was done gawking at the outside of it, she pulled off the ring, turned it over, and told me to look inside. Dante had engraved it with “My Forever.”

  My brother, a romantic. Who knew?

  Pure happiness filled me—my best friend and my brother were going to get married!

  “When? What? How?” I finally asked.

  “Right before I was kidnapped,�
� Violet said. She then went on to explain how Dante had proposed.

  He had told Violet that they were going to take a mini vacation to get away from the “rat race,” as he explained the search party that was sent to find me. They ended up at Giorgio’s lake house one weekend, and on their last night, Dante took her out on the lake in Giorgio’s boat. She said they watched the sunset, and as the sky turned to an orange, pink glow, Dante took Violet’s hand and turned her to face him.

  Violet explained how Dante said some of the most beautiful things she had ever heard. She apologized for not telling me exactly what he had said—wanting the sweet words to stay between the two of them. I fully understood. I would want the same thing. Those words were meant for her, not anyone else.

  “And then he knelt down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was completely shocked. I wasn’t expecting it, especially with you being gone and everyone worrying. He said he had been holding onto the ring for a while. I asked him what took him so long, and he said that with everything going on in our lives that there was never a good time. But he grew tired of waiting for the perfect time, so he planned the whole weekend and decided then that he was going to propose.”

  “Violet, I’m so happy for you two,” I said as my smile widened even more. “All I have to say is, it’s about time!”

  The remaining minutes of the flight consisted only of wedding talk.

  ***

  When Violet and I arrived home, we were both still on cloud nine. She said that she didn’t want a big wedding, just close family and friends. She mentioned that she would like to have it here at the house and just have everyone come here. We had plenty of property and there was tons of space to work with.

  She also mentioned she hadn’t made it far with the plans, just a small guest list and a few notes. I wish she would have told me a couple of weeks ago, but I was glad she had chosen the plane ride home to tell me. I really needed exciting news, and that was the best news I could have received.

  We threw our luggage in our rooms and headed back down to the kitchen, knowing we were hungry.

  “What were you thinking? Do you want to cook?” Violet asked.

  “I have a better idea,” I replied with a sly smile.

  I slung my purse onto my shoulder and headed towards the garage. My car keys had been placed back on the key holder by the kitchen door. I grabbed them, before heading out the side door and towards the garage.

  My beautiful car was still there, sitting in the exact same spot I had parked it in the last time I drove it. I almost kissed the door when I went to open it. I knew enough about cars to know that if they aren’t driven in a long time sometimes they won’t start.

  Between everything that had gone, I knew it hadn’t been driven by me in over a year.

  I prayed that my car would start as I turned the key over in the ignition. I was elated when the engine roared to life.

  I noticed immediately that there had been several miles put on it. When I asked Violet about it, she said she and Dante had driven it a few times, but mostly Emilio had been the one taking care of it.

  “Apparently cars have to be driven and maintained.” She shrugged.

  I just laughed. I didn’t know much about cars, but apparently Violet knew even less.

  It felt good to drive my own car—I had missed my Camaro. My father had given it to me as a peace offering when I was forced to move to New Jersey the first time. Looking back now, I would give the car back in a heartbeat if I could just have him back. I missed him so much.

  Violet and I had chosen our favorite restaurant down by our office building. During dinner, we talked more about the wedding, and Violet never missed an opportunity to show off her ring. Anyone could tell she was overjoyed.

  After we ate, I drove us over to our office. To say I was looking forward to getting back to work would have been an understatement.

  I had loved working at the coffee shop in Spain. It taught me a considerable amount of patience that I didn’t know I had or would ever need. But it was nothing compared to designing and redesigning places and the sense of accomplishment I felt every time we finished a building, business, or home. The look on the client’s face when they saw how we made their vision come to life was more than satisfying.

  As soon as we entered the office, the smell of lavender engulfed me, and I felt at home.

  “How have things been going here?” I asked Violet nonchalantly.

  “Good, we’ve had a steady stream of work for a while now,” she said.

  “That’s good. I’m ready to start work again. I need to work,” I said, knowing the distraction would be most welcomed.

  “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Violet laughed. “So I'm assuming no more house arrest, huh?”

  “That is never going to happen again,” I said firmly.

  After Violet caught me up on a few things, we closed up the office and headed back home. The drive home was quiet and peaceful, and I could tell we were both tired from the last couple of days.

  When we arrived home, before we even pulled onto the long driveway, I noticed lights on in the house.

  “Violet, did you leave the lights on?” I asked.

  “No, I know for a fact I turned them all off. I wonder if one of the guys came home early.”

  “I hope not.” I grimaced.

  I parked the car, and we cautiously walked in to the house. I looked at Violet, who quietly grabbed a knife from one of the drawers in the kitchen and quickly fell in behind me.

  “Why me first?” I hissed.

  “Because you have had more training,” she whispered back.

  “Okay, fine, just don’t stab me,” I said as I took a defensive stance, walked out of the kitchen, and into the open living room.

  “No promises,” she teasingly whispered.

  Most women would have turned around and went back outside to call the police, but apparently today, Violet and I were feeling courageous.

  “Hello?” Violet called out.

  We heard footsteps coming from the second floor, and then they pounded down the staircase. Violet and I visibly tensed as we waited to see who was going to come into sight.

  “You scared the hell out of me!” Elle shouted as soon as she turned off the steps and saw us standing there. She lowered the baseball bat she was holding before she spoke again. “What are you two doing here?”

  “We got back early,” Violet half laughed as she lowered her knife. “What are you doing here?”

  “Emilio said I could stay here while everyone was gone. The men, who usually watch me, are busy with something else. And since I’m definitely on the Heinrich’s hit list, Emilio thought I would be safer here until everyone got back. I promise I planned on leaving before you got home,” she said, directing her statement at me.

  “It’s fine, you can stay,” I said.

  Violet and Elle looked at me like I had just confessed to killing someone.

  “What?” I asked. “She’s safe here, and the past is the past. I flew off the handles that one night, and for that I’m still sorry. I can be…well you know…difficult at times. And I figured if you can still stick around after being shot at and watching my father die, then you’re a lot stronger than I thought you were, or you’re just crazy. Either way, I have more respect for you, and I think you will fit in around here just fine.”

  I had grown more comfortable around Elle since the night my father was shot. She was actually a really sweet person once I gave her the chance to be. That first week that my father was in the hospital, we had shared some good moments, and I had grown to like her. She apologized profusely for the things that had taken place. I had forgiven Emilio for everything, so she deserved the same. After all, we were family.

  ***

  The next morning, Violet and I woke up before Elle. The first thing Violet did was turn on a pot of coffee as I made my way to our office. I figured we would work from the house today, and Violet could catch me up to speed on a coup
le of things.

  My desk was clean and organized as I sat down in my chair. I knew for a fact that I hadn’t left it that way. I was the most unorganized out of the two of us, paper-wise. My desk was usually always covered in paperwork.

  “Violet?” I called out.

  “Yes.”

  “Why is my desk so organized?”

  Violet’s laugh rang out next before she spoke. “Because Elle used your desk from time to time while you were gone, and she cleaned it up. I will spare you the rant I got while she was doing it.”

  It made sense she would do that, since she did help out while I was gone, but it still irritated me. I couldn’t find a damn thing now.

  Soon after, I heard the ding of the coffee pot, and moments later, Violet came through the office door carrying two cups in her hand.

  “Let’s get started.” She smiled as she sat down at her desk. “We have a lot to catch you up on.”

  Violet was easily able to catch me up on the projects that were currently underway. Most of them were nearing completion, and others needed our immediate attention since we had been on another hiatus after her kidnapping and my father’s death. If we thought our getaway last summer was going to cost us clients, then it would be a miracle for us to still have any after this last one. We were going to have to work extremely hard to keep the ones we already had, plus build relationships with new ones. LilyVi Interior Designs did extraordinary work, but our track record lately was a disappointment. Hopefully, we could leverage our success rate in a way for us to gain new clientele. It was safe to say our marketing skills would come in handy soon.

  It was almost eleven when Elle finally made her way into our office.

  While helping Violet, Elle found out that she really did love the aspect of designing almost as much as we did. Violet had told me what a great help she had been in my absence, and we both agreed we wanted her to stay on with us permanently. Violet and I could always use the extra help, and she already knew the ins and outs of the business.

  “Hey what do you say about staying on and working for us permanently?” I asked as soon as she sat down on the small couch in our office.