“How is that possible?” Riccan finally asked.
Nena gasped and held her hand to her mouth with surprise. She had thought the girls’ auras were familiar, but now she could definitely see the connection. After all this time, Nena finally had her grandchildren. Real flesh-and-blood grandchildren of her very own. Her heart began to beat faster as the realization hit her hard. The tears began to flow down her cheeks as she realized her dreams had finally come true.
“Do you remember a time in Corpus Christi…?” Amanda began to ask.
Riccan’s face turned red as he recalled exactly the time to which Amanda was referring. He had been so confused about his unaccounted time. For a long time, he had played it off as having eaten bad food. Eventually, he managed to not think about what had happened. Now, he had to know the truth. “What happened to me?” he asked in a whisper.
“You were drugged by the waitress at the restaurant. She was employed by Elder Vargen to harvest your seed for impregnating me. Elder Vargen wanted the most powerful opportunity for creating his very own prophet to raise under his tutelage.”
Daven was truly outraged now. Amanda was concerned for his health if he did not vent his feelings soon. She understood his reaction since it was his son who had been so tragically taken advantage of.
“Riccan, I’m sorry for having to tell you this news. I know exactly how you must feel, but just know, these beautiful girls are your own flesh and blood. We truly are a real family!”
Riccan listened to his wife’s wise words. He felt his heart soften and knew he could love these girls no matter what, but now they were not a reminder of his wife’s past, they were also a part of his future. When he thought of all of the time he had missed out on their growing years, he felt his anger rise again. Then he thought it was a waste of time to lament the past; he had his entire future to get to know his children. He felt as though he were on a roller coaster of emotions.
Finally, he decided to make the best of an awkward situation, and he smiled at his children. He did not know what to say to such a revelation, and he could see they were equally affected by the news. The only thing which came to mind was to go over and hug his girls. He stood up, took the two strides to reach them, and dropped to his knees and said, “Welcome to the family.” Holding out his arms, the girls lunged forward to hug their father, unable to contain their tears of joy.
Amanda felt tears streaming down her cheeks at the powerful reunion playing out in front of her. She was glad she had decided to tell her husband everything she had discovered. If the girls had said they did not want to know, she was not sure how she would have told her husband the truth. Amanda was certain only good would come of this news.
Nena jumped up from her chair and hurriedly walked around the desk. She, too, knelt on the floor and wrapped her arms around her son and granddaughters. She had hard feelings for what Elder Vargen had done to her son, but she was even more thankful for the outcome.
Daven was pleased to see his son’s acceptance of the girls. He asked the next obvious question, “Where will the four of you live? We have room here.”
Nena lifted her head from her son’s back and added, “Absolutely. You can all stay here while we sort through the many details.”
Riccan shook his head and said, “I believe it’s time the girls saw the other part of their lives. We’ll take them back to our house on Earth. We need some time to get to know one another. While I have time off of work, I want to spend every waking moment with my new family.”
Nena could feel her influence slipping and said, “But you’ll wait a few days before you leave, right?” She desperately wanted to spend more time with the girls.
“I don’t think so,” Riccan began. He realized this decision was not his alone so he looked at Amanda to see what she wanted to do.
“I’ll abide by whatever decision you make, Riccan,” Amanda said simply.
“We’ll leave after dinner then,” Riccan announced.
“No, Riccan. Please reconsider!” Nena cried out.
“I’m sorry, Mom, this news changes everything. Please understand my needs in this matter as well. We will come back in a couple of weeks. I promise.” He kept his eyes on his mom. He understood her feelings, but he had to think of his own family first.
Nena stood up and looked down at her son and said, “I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t have to like it.” She turned around and walked back to her chair. She sat down and folded her arms across her chest. She shrugged off her husband’s consoling hand while her temper simmered.
Daven was embarrassed by his wife’s behavior and immediately asked, “Jena, Juila, why don’t you tell us about growing up on Acaim? Did you know I grew up there, too?”
The girls’ moods brightened, and Juila began to talk. “We were raised by our Aunt Barla. She treated us just like her own children, and we loved growing up at the dock. We would go to the port station and play on the docks. We learned how to fish and even how to sail in a small skiff. Our older foster-brother, Gravin, taught us how to use the elemy. He was a great teacher. We were so excited to begin school, but we knew we were prepared because of Gravin’s teachings.
“We didn’t know to limit our crystal knowledge during the initial evaluations, and then the school contacted Barla. She cried when they told her that we would be taken to live on Acaim. She had thought she would finally have girls to raise to adulthood, but it had not worked out that way for her. We were given two weeks to say goodbye. Arrangements were made for us to be raised by our cousin, Rasa, even though she was only eleven anons older than us, we were almost six. She was seventeen and very patient with all of our antics.” Juila turned and smiled at Jena as though they were having a private conversation remembering the past.
Jena continued the story, “We were like wild banshees when we first got to the island. Without Barla’s constant supervision, we invented new ways to get into trouble. Eventually, Rasa figured out all of our tricks, we still don’t know how, and then we started to calm down enough to begin our special schooling. During most of the mornings we went to school with all of the other children, but then we had several classes after school which taught us new skills with our birth crystals. These additional classes were the best part of our day. There are endless uses for the elemy, and we wanted to find them all!”
Juila reached up and touched her crystal lovingly.
Amanda remembered Jehoban’s comment about her children’s education and asked, “Jehoban mentioned you had completed your education, how far did you get?”
“We finished all of the levels of crystal study if that’s what you’re asking. We opted not to continue with post-study because we knew our future was still in limbo,” Juila replied.
Daven wondered at the last statement and asked, “Why would you say that?”
Juila realized they did not know a key piece of information and said, “We knew our mom was going to come and get us eventually. We wanted to be ready to go when she did.”
It was now Riccan’s turn to ask the next obvious questions, “How did you know about your mom? Did you know about me, too?”
Juila continued to answer, “We were told by Jehoban about our mom. We had dreams about her at night, and we experienced the same memories she had while we were sleeping. Jehoban wanted our mom to be a part of our lives. When we asked about our dad, it was a different story. Jehoban said it was to be revealed at a later time if it ever came to pass at all. We had learned to be content with Jehoban’s obscure answers because we knew He always wanted the best for us.”
Riccan could not help but feel as though he had been purposely separated from their lives. He did not like it at all. He felt left out and more than a little hurt by the omission. There was plenty of time for him to get to know them, but it would have been better if they could have had the memories.
Juila could see her answer had upset Riccan, and she added, “Jehoban did not know if Amanda would exercise her free will to meet and marr
y you. It was His plan, but Amanda had to do her part first. Amanda already knew about us, and that’s why we shared her memories of us, even though none of them was a reality for any of our lives. Since you were unaware of us, Jehoban did not want you to have strange dreams about twin girls in case you mistook us for the person who you should marry in the future.”
Riccan could see where she was going with her logic. It did not lessen the hurt of being excluded. He decided he would have to learn to accept it or get bitter from the disappointment. He plastered a smile on his face and determined to make the best of it as Jena continued their story.
“We finished school as early as we could in anticipation of reuniting with you.” She looked over at Amanda. She realized she still had a hard time calling her ‘mom’ since she had never had anyone to call by that title. In time, she knew it would become more natural.
Nena finally became calm enough to ask, “So now that you have been reunited, has it changed your educational plans? You really should consider continuing to post-study.”
Juila answered, “It depends on what Mom and Dad decide to do. We’d like to check out schools on Earth just to see how it differs from what we’ve already experienced.”
It struck Amanda that they now had to consider their children’s needs rather than their own. It was a new feeling of responsibility she was unused to having. “We should enroll them in the high school back home. The school year hasn’t started yet so they’ll have a few more weeks to get oriented before they begin.”
“Good point,” Riccan agreed. He was still reeling from being called ‘Dad’ for the first time. Jena had said it so offhandedly it had taken him a moment to realize she had been talking about himself.
Daven cleared his throat and said, “I think everybody is missing something very important.”
“What?” Amanda and Riccan spoke at the same time.
“We need to have a crystal ceremony linking the two parents to the two children. We should perform the ceremony immediately.”
Nena perked up at the idea of a ceremony. She wanted to be able to put together a lavish affair but knew it would not be accepted, so she did not even offer it. She stood up and said, “I’ll go get the staff ready. Maybe we should combine the crystal ceremony with a matrimonial.”
Riccan raised his eyes at his mother’s suggestion. It was actually a really good idea, and he turned to look at Amanda to see if she also agreed. When Amanda raised her eyebrows and tipped her head to indicate it was his decision, Riccan said, “That’s a perfect suggestion, Mom. Our children can be at our wedding and then we can have the crystal ceremony for our children. It’s a little on the late side, but I’d feel better knowing it was all taken care of before we went back to Earth.”
Daven said, “So, it’s all settled.” He waved his hands at the office’s occupants and said, “Why don’t you all run along now. I’ve got a lot of things to take care of before I can perform the ceremonies before dinner.”
Nena was already at the door and smiled at her husband. She turned, opened the door, and walked down the hall to gather the supplies Daven would need for the dual services. She stopped each of the staff she encountered and told them about the afternoon’s activities and to tell anyone else they encountered. She expected all of the household staff to be present for the big events.
Riccan resumed holding Amanda’s hand and offered his other to Juila. Amanda extended her hand for Jena’s and, as a family, they left the office behind and went to explore the grounds outside. Riccan felt a peacefulness descend upon him which he had never felt before. Even though it was accomplished by bizarre means, he had the family he had always wanted.
Chapter Four
NENA HAD ALL of the details put together in record time. The staff had gone into action, transforming the main reception room into the ceremonial room. Nena approved of all of the decorations as well as the light repast for the guests.
She had changed her outfit to one more appropriate to the occasion. When she was changing, she remembered the clothing Amanda had brought from her time on Tuala. At least now she had the answers for where the outfit had come from. She wondered if they should keep the clothes at the Residence as evidence of Elder Vargen’s transgression against both Amanda and Riccan. Nena decided to ask Daven about it before the children and grandchildren left.
Riccan and Amanda had gone to their room. Amanda changed into the same dress she had worn for her wedding in Reno, thankful now that she had thought to bring it along. She watched her husband dress in the same suit he had also worn before. She walked up beside him as he stood in front of the mirror adjusting his tie. They were a handsome couple. Riccan was tall with broad, muscular shoulders. He had short dark hair with the most expressive brown eyes she had ever seen. She was considerably shorter than he since she only came up to the middle of his chest. She felt positively small next to him.
Riccan brushed Amanda’s long, brown hair from her shoulder. He adored his wife. She was so fragile looking, but he knew it was a deceptive exterior to her steely resolve. Not only was she beautiful, she was also extremely intelligent, which he found equally exciting. He kissed the top of her head and looked at her face in the mirror as he asked, “Are you ready to marry me all over again?”
“Every day, if I had to!” Amanda replied and squirmed around in his arms to put her arms up around his neck and bring his face down to hers for a long, passionate kiss.
“Hey, now! Keep this up, and we’ll miss our own ceremony!” he laughed as he managed to pull himself away from her kiss. “Let’s go check on the girls. If they’re ready, we can all go down together.”
They stayed close to one another as they walked across the hall. Riccan knocked on the door and waited until he heard an invitation to enter. He opened the door, and they peered into the room. The girls were on the far side in front of the long mirror making sure their hair was perfectly positioned. Riccan thought they looked nervous. He realized he was as well.
“Are you two almost ready?” he asked with a grin. They looked perfect, and he could not see any difference in their appearance as they continued to fuss with their hair.
Juila threw her hands down and said, “I give up. Come on, Jena, let’s go.”
Jena smiled at her sister and turned to leave with her.
Amanda was so proud of her beautiful daughters she had to say, “You two look perfectly beautiful.”
They beamed with the praise and then said, “You two look pretty great yourselves.”
With the compliments finally taken care of they descended the stairs where Riccan led the way to the ceremonial room. They were the last to arrive. All of the room was filled with the household staff lining the walkway. Riccan and Amanda walked in first followed immediately by the girls. The four halted their forward progress when they stood directly in front of Elder Daven. They knelt on the floor, and Riccan looked up and smiled at his parents.
Elder Daven waited until his son and daughter-in-law were both seated on the floor in front of him before he began the wedding ceremony. With a return smile for his son, he began the ceremony.
“We have gathered here today to mark the special bond between our son, Riccan, and his newly betrothed, Amanda. As Riccan’s parents, we have an obligation to demonstrate the importance of a loving relationship and to teach both our son and his espoused to respect one another unconditionally. Each union blessed in this manner is to be held in the highest regard.
“Nena, as Riccan’s mother, do you promise to watch over this union and teach them to the best of your ability the rewards of a loving relationship?”
“I will.”
“And I, as Riccan’s father, do promise to guide this union into becoming productive partners of our world. I also have the responsibility as an Elder and representative of Jehoban to teach them to use their skills together in a manner which will benefit society and make us proud to call them our son and first-daughter. As the two of them join together in this union, I will m
ake sure they understand the position they hold in society and will prepare Riccan to also become an Elder when he is ready. I am equipped to undertake these tasks with love and devotion.”
Daven reached down and mixed several ingredients into a bowl and added a few dollops of liquid to make a paste. He used his finger to stir the contents until it was completely blended. With the green paste on his finger, he drew a line across Riccan’s forehead and then Amanda’s. He dipped his finger again into the bowl and then drew a circle on the backs of both of their hands.
He set aside the bowl and wiped his finger on a small towel. Next, he opened his ceremonial box, which was a beautifully ornate box with many gemstones set into an elaborate design of leaves and flowers, and pulled out two delicate rings with a clear diamond set flush into each one. He placed first one ring on the middle finger of Riccan’s right hand and then placed the other ring on the middle finger of Amanda’s left hand. “These rings symbolize the everlasting bond between them. If at this time, a new birth crystal should be required for either Amanda or Riccan I would ask that it be made clear that this is the wish of Jehoban.”
After waiting a few seconds to see if Jehoban would make a reply to his request, Daven announced, “With no indication of a change their crystals shall remain unchanged. By the power vested in me by the name of Jehoban, I declare these two citizens to be bonded for life.”
Riccan and Amanda kissed one another hastily, stood up, and then moved to the sides so their daughters could come forward and kneel directly in front of Elder Daven.
“Friends, family, and neighbors, we have also gathered together for the important task of linking the protective crystals for these two young ladies to their parents. Riccan and Amanda, as their parents, do you agree to allow me to look into your children’s minds to link their individual crystals to your own?” Daven waited for both Amanda and Riccan to reply before continuing.
Answering Ascension Page 4