Chapter 6: Family

Chapter 6: Family

A Chapter by Starlet Aidon

Chapter 6:

Family

 

“Good morning sleepy head.”  A velvet voice sang in my ear.  “Breakfast is ready.  Can’t you smell it?”  He continued grazing the back of his hand along my cheek.

I groaned and rolled over to bury my face into his chest.  “No.  Could we please stay here a bit longer?  I’m not quite ready to wake up just yet.”  I pleaded molding my body into the shape of his arms that were wrapped around me.  I lifted my head to look up at him.

“Ava slaved in the kitchen all morning to make us a bountiful breakfast.  I know you wouldn’t want to disappoint her by not coming downstairs.  Aren’t you hungry at all?”  He asked moving the hair out of my eyes and behind my ear.

I sighed.  Perfect.  Make me feel guilty.  Even more so since I am starving, but I’m too lazy and selfish to move away from you.  I’d rather stay in bed all day just like this.

“No, I’m not hungry right now.”  I lied smiling up at him praying he kept to his promise on giving me privacy.

“Well, I suppose we don’t have to get down there just yet.  Only Aden will be upset since my mom won’t let anyone eat until we’re down there.”  He smiled laughed as he squeezed me tighter to his body.

I giggled and pressed my face into his chest.  My lie had worked perfectly this time, and I was going to get exactly what I wanted.  The moment was relaxing, and there was no need for talking because everything was just as it should be.  It was just right until my impatient, starving stomach broke the tranquil silence.  Too embarrassed to look at him, I groaned knowing that my lie only gave me a few extra seconds instead of the hours I truly wanted.  James loosened his grip to look down at the source of the outlandish noise shaking his head he began to laugh.

“It seems you were not so truthful a few minutes ago.  Are you ready now because I think your stomach is?”  He asked with a playful smile.

I nodded.  In an instant, I was out the covers and into his arms at the doorway to my new room.  I kissed his cheek then settled my head on his shoulder as he cradled me in his arms.  I had barely blinked by the time we had reached the base of the steps and were passing the sunlit living room, and James slowed down to a normal paced walk as we went down the same hallway that I had blindly walked down just the night before. 

“Finally!”  I heard a booming shout from down the hall near the dining room.  “It’s about time you love birds flew the nest I’m starving because Mom has been holding the food hostage, and some of us are hungry!” 

By the end of Aden’s complaint, we had reached the opening to the dining room.  We turned the corner into the brightly lit room.  The sun’s light danced playfully off the brightly colored walls.  I looked up and down the long black table.  Joshua sat at the head of the table reading the mail with the newspaper underneath the small stack of letters; Ava sat to his right, on the side closest to us Stacie and Collin sat at the other end of the table talking with the backs to us barely acknowledging our presence.  Aden, who had called to us earlier, was now seated beside his mother with puppy dog eyes begging for food.

“I could not get her out of bed.”  James announced as he set me carefully to my feet taking my hand in his.

“Well, the bed is wonderful.  It is unimaginably comfortable.  However, had I been sleeping in James’s bed I would have been down here hours ago.”  I laughed.

“I’m glad you enjoy your bed.”  Ava said sweetly.

“Mom, could we please have breakfast now?”  Aden begged like a little child.

“Ok.  Since you have been anticipating the food so much, you can get it and set the table.  I’m so happy you moved out because I really do not think I could handle you anymore though now I’ll I need is for you to find yourself a girl then she can cook for you.”  She replied crossly.

Aden shrugged and was gone filling the table with food in seconds.  Muffins, pancakes, waffles, French toast, and just about every breakfast meat known to man spanned from corner to corner of the table convincing me that Ava must have been up for hours preparing it, which also me Aden had been up just after bothering her about it ever since.  I was in awe of the amount of food but knew all too well this would barely satisfy the boys whose eyes were wider than a kid in candy store.  James led me over to the table moving the chair out for me before he took the chair to the left of his father.  Stacie and Collin moved from their secluded corner at the other end, and she took the seat just beside me nudging me slightly with a smile.  After a short prayer, the food flew as the boys dug into the splendor of the meal.

Conversation was limited as everyone was quiet as they ate.  When everyone began to wrap up, Joshua slid a small open envelope to James with a tight expression. 

“A letter came for you this morning, James.  I’m afraid it’s time for another, well I suppose there are no secrets anymore are there?”  Joshua supposed winking at me.  “The Elders have called for you back to complete a mission.  Two weeks until you leave for Greece. It has been sometime since you’ve been there; you had to know they would be calling soon.”

“Did they hear already?”  James growled.

I was shocked at the hard tone of his voice.  I was unaware of anything that could cause such tension.

“Yes, they all have. Marcus will be eager to talk to you about your plans, especially about family plans.”  Joshua murmured.

“I’m sure he won’t be as eager as Carmen.”  Aden laughed through a mouthful of food.

“I’m sure she’ll really love to hear about family plans too.”  Stacie chimed laughing lightly.

“Isn’t that the truth?”  James scoffed slamming his fork loudly on his plate, leaning back in his chair, and pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Dude, it was a joke.  Chill.”  Aden said calmly.

“But, that is the truth.  She’ll never quit.  It’s ridiculous.”  James argued folding his arms across his chest.

“I don’t understand.  Have I missed something?”  I interjected.

“Did he tell you who Carmen is?”  Aden asked.

“Yes, she’s protects the so-called royal family of your world, right?”  I replied.

“Correct.  Ten points for Ellie in the Given trivia.”  Stacie laughed.

James leaned forward glaring down the table at her.  She recoiled and leaned back into Collin who wrapped his arms around her as we all awaited the rest of the story from Aden.

“Yes, you are right.  Is that all he told you?”  Aden asked looking from me to James and then back to me.

“Yes.”  I replied looking confusedly at James who then looked away from me.

“Well, Carmen is insanely beautiful.  She is just about your height with pin-straight platinum blonde hair.  She has a face of an angel that could make the coldest of hearts melt.”  Aden started.

“Too bad it doesn’t work on her heart.”  James interrupted still looking away from the rest of us.

Aden continued.  “True enough.  She feeds off of the attention she gets from men.  It’s how she gets her confidence and energy.  So, when James and I went for our first meeting with the Elders we of course met Carmen.  James paid her no attention at all because it was in fact just after he met you.  I, however, was practically drooling all over the floor.” 

“Yes, you were.  I thought we were all going to drown.”  James laughed his expression finally lightened up.  He slid his arm around my shoulders calming my nerves.

“Very funny.”  Aden said glowering at James.  “She was appalled by James.  She never had any man not be attracted to her, so she in turn thought that he would never be attracted to any female if he wasn’t attracted to her.  Well, she came to visit me after you two started dating, though you never met her.  It was at Addie’s wedding actually.  All of the Elders were there, but they kept to a low profile.   She saw how James never took his eyes off of you, and she became furious with jealousy. 

She’d never been prone to competition, and she didn’t understand what you had that made you so fascinating that he would choose you over her.  I’m sure this jealousy has only worsened now that she’s heard that you’re engaged.  But, she lives a pretty lonely life.  Her compassion left her when he, Donhalev, left her.  He was also a part of the Given.  But, he became greedy and obsessed with his power and even tried to get her to leave with him to create their own Given to rule above those who had no powers, but she refused then…”

There was an uncomfortable cough from Joshua ensuing Aden was going too far into it.

 “He simply left.”  Aden finished.

“Oh.  I hadn’t realized.  I feel sorry for her.”  I murmured.

“You really shouldn’t her past should not dictate how she acts now.  She is shallower than a puddle and nothing lies behind her face.  No true love.  No compassion.  No purity.”  James whispered stroking his hand along my cheek.

I smiled at James’s comforting hand and voice, but I could not help but think about her.  How terrible it must be to be consumed by vanity.  How such a lonely, hollow life could cause so much more pain and heartbreak.  Thankfully, Joshua broke the silence and my thoughts.

“Wonderful story time, Aden but back to business.  James, Adalyn and Emery will be accompanying you to Greece since they already have a meeting with the Order.  I’m not sure if they will continue on with you for the mission, but it is a possibility.  You all will leave May 31st at 11 am from our private airstrip and land in Athens.  You know how to get the rest of the way on your own, so I will shy away from the details.  Please be cautious as always.”  Joshua finished with a kind smile.

“And please don’t come back with anymore broken bones, they are much too hard to fix.”  Ava laughed.  “I hate to leave, but your father and I have to pick up his tuxedo and my dress for the opening at the end of the month for the new section in the art gallery.  I love you all! Joshua?”

“Yes, of course, how could I ever possibly forget about the fittings?  We will see you all for dinner then?”  Joshua asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it!  I think I’ll go for a run to make some room for the next course.” Aden exclaimed leaning back in his chair.

“We should still be here.”  Stacie said laughing at her older brother.

James replied with a silent nod, and Ava and Joshua were quickly out of the room.  In the distance the roar of the engine could be heard.  Everyone continued with their conversations except for me.  Ava’s words continued to roll through my head.

Broken bones?  I thought.  I thought this was supposed to be a simple mission.  No trouble or danger at all.  The danger my James could be in by doing this; this danger is real; this is not a fairy tale.  He could be injured or worse.  What if he did get hurt?  I can’t lose him. 

James wrapped his other arm around me giving my shoulders a light squeeze bringing my body closer to his.

“Would you like to go for a walk on the beach?”  He whispered gently in my ear.

I nodded as he lifted me off my seat and led me from the room, and I could not help but wonder if he possibly heard what I had been thinking. 

“Is your mission dangerous?”  I asked him.

He cleared his throat uncomfortably.  “No, of course not. It’ll be a piece of cake.” 

“Don’t lie to me James.”  I said sternly.

“There is a risk, there always is with any job.  But, there is nothing for you to be worrying about.”  He replied looking out at the ocean with his hands on the balcony.  “Why don’t we continue our walk, shall we?”

I nodded and followed him down the steps, but the scenarios came back followed by terrible thoughts:

            What if I asked him to stay?  Would he do it?  Maybe he could possibly sit this one out, just once?  Maybe I could go with him.  What if…

My mind trance stopped and the idea that had been sparked in my thoughts was simply washed away.  He had been listening, but how could he?  He said he would never invade my privacy as long as he could and then he does this, but it didn’t stop the selfish thoughts from continuing as he led me down the balcony steps.  I kept my head down as we crossed barefoot across the warm sunlit grass making our way to the beachside.  I tried to push the selfish thoughts from my mind though I wished whole-heartedly that they would in fact come true.  The selfish guilt settled in my heart made me ill, and I knew I had to get away—I needed to run and to push the selfish thoughts and feelings from me to prevent from forcing James into a corner and so my mind was set.

“Ellie,” He began, but it was already too late.

My hand slipped from his as I took off down the sandy beach.  I concentrated on the rhythm of my steps keeping time with the waves beside me.  I knew my run would be a wasted effort because he could easily cut me off at any moment, but as the seconds past I knew he was giving me time: time that I desperately needed though I no longer wanted to be alone.  I wanted him and nothing else.  I wanted to hold him and never let go.

My breaths began to shorten as small sobs escaped my chest as I slowed down nearly collapsing in tears when I finally looked up to find his face just in front of mine.  I stopped abruptly in front of him dropping my tear filled eyes back to my feet never meeting his worried gaze.  We stood silent for a moment before he pulled me into him wrapping me in a loving but desperate hug. 

“Ellie?”  He whispered breathlessly in my ear.  I kept silent with my head down in his chest.

He released his arms from around me and placed his hands on my shoulders staying close enough so that I could feel his breath on my head.

“Ask me.”  He begged lifting my chin up with his fingers.  “Please ask me.”

I was confused at first until I felt the guilt in my heart again.  He never needed me to ask him because he already knew my selfish desires; he knew what I wanted more than anything else.  I shook my head with tears streaming down my face causing me to shake, so I began to cry harder.

“No.”  I regrettably choked out past the large lump in my throat.  “I can’t do that.”

“Please Ellie.”  He replied pulling me close to him burying his face in my hair. 

My guilty tears came easily now staining his t-shirt while his pleading tears streamed down the strands of my hair, and I wished I could but this was too important.  His arms wrapped tightly around me refusing to let go, and I moved my arms from face and wrapped them around him clutching onto the neck of his shirt with all of my strength.  He kissed my hair as his tears stopped, but I could not find the strength to stop mine.  I quivered in his arms attempting to take deep breaths, but I could not stop my shaking tears.

Finally, when we had both calmed down enough to speak James released me from his grip to look me directly in the eyes placing his hands on my shoulders.  This time I met his gaze and refused to look away.  I tried to see the truth in his eyes he was not telling me.  What is was that made him worry; what made him beg me to convince him not to go.  There was something there that led me to believe this trip he was about to embark on was anything but simple and easy.  

“I promise you, Ellie, I will come home to you.  I will write to you each and every day that I’m away and call you every chance I get.  I love you.  I will return no matter what anyone may say.  No matter what you hear or see I will come back to you and marry you.  I love you with my whole heart and refuse to ever hurt you.  Would you make a promise to me, please?”  James pleaded.

“Anything.”  I replied through my tears.

“You must promise me that you will be careful why I am gone.  Please nothing too crazy; mostly stay away from standing on stools, but if you do plan on anything extreme make sure Aden or Stacie is with you.  And, please promise that you’ll forgive me for what I have to do and why I must leave.”

“I promise no bungee jumping or sky diving without Aden or Stacie.  And, I know you have to leave; it is part of who you are.  You have to do this, and I can’t stop you from doing what you have to do.”  I tried hopelessly to smile affectionately.

 “You have to know that I will come back to you, my one and only love.  I will return home in time for the wedding; I promise.  I love you.  Please know this.”  He beseeched of me.

“Of course, I know this.  I love you, too.  I know you’ll come home to me; you will be safe.  I trust you.  You will come home to me.  Promise me that, please promise me that again?”  I replied.

“I promise.” He assured.

He took my face in his hands and kissed me passionately.  It was filled with tension and desperation because there was only so much time until he would leave me.  I moved my hands to his shoulders: my finger gripped tightly on his shirt.  I could feel the faint trickle of tears coming from my eyes that passed down both our cheeks.  The kiss continued until neither of us could breathe—and the kiss he started he had to end.  He broke my face from his and wrapped his arms around my shoulders keeping me close.

“I promise to love you, Elliana, always and forever.”  He whispered gently in my ear.

“Always and forever.”  I repeated.

And that is the way it must always be.

♦♦♦

            How could two weeks passed so quickly?  Could it truly be May 31st already?  I looked to my large trunk that had been packed a few days earlier with my clothes and personal items.  My eyes filled with tears as I looked at the emptiness of the once bedroom.

            Due to the fact that James would be gone for some time, I had decided to stay with his family while he was away.  The dance academy that I taught at would be on summer break until the first week of September, so I would not need to come into the city for sometime.  We decided that the apartment was no longer useful to us seeing even after James moved back we had planned on moving into a house further from the coastal city, so the apartment was sold within a few days of it being put on the market.  Most of the furniture had been moved out and put into a storage center except the piano, which had been moved into a spare room in the Cormac house.  Nearly all of our belongings had been moved to the house excluding a few items we were still using that were now safely packed away.

            I closed my trunk to sit upon it and then buried my face into my hands.  Today, I would drop off James at the airport and be forced to say good-bye without knowing when he would return.  I sobbed, a girlish act to do, but today I was unashamed.  I wiped the tears from my face and slid on my favorite black converse and sighed.

            “Ellie, it’s time to go.”  James said mournfully from the door way.  

“I know.”  I replied rising to my feet.

He walked across the room with a model-like fashion standing just before me slowly pulling something from his jean’s pocket.  A long chain strung out and was placed around my neck.  I lifted the charm, which was a elegant silver heart with a music note draped onto its side.

“It’s simply beautiful, James.”  I smiled and bit my lip.  “I have something for you, too.”

I pulled from my pocket a black woven necklace with the key to the rooftop on the end rolling up onto my toes I placed it around his neck where it fit perfectly.

“I had a copy made, left it for the new tenants, and had the original put on this.  Now, not only do you have the key to my heart, but you also have a reminder of home: a piece of me.  This way you always be able to find your way back to me.”  I smiled.

“Thank you.  I will come back to you.”  He replied confidently then kissed my forehead. 

With us still close he whispered, “I love you.  But, we need to go now.”

I backed away, looked about the room once more, and shrugged my shoulders with a weary smile.  James easily helped me into his jacket.  With a shy smile, he lifted my trunk and was gone swiftly from the room.  I settled into his jacket taking in his sweet scent and smiled.  I walked from the bedroom and up the stairs to the garden for one last look.  It seemed to be a waste of such a beautiful place of serenity, but it was someone else’s paradise now.  Before I cried again, I ran back down the steps and through the living room where he was meeting me at the doorway to our apartment.  James held out his hand, and I slid my hand comfortably into his as I closed the door behind us for the last time, and we made our way down to the lobby. 

Leaving was the worst part; we had to make our way through the front doors for the last time.  This time I would say farewell to Fred with no plans to return. 

“Good-bye, Fred.  I’ll truly miss you.”  I cried giving him a hug.

“I’ll miss you too, Miss Ellie.”  The old man replied with tears sparkling in his eyes.  “Now you two; you be good to each other.”

“We will.  Take care, Fred.”  James said serenely.

James helped me into the Porsche, and I waved good-bye to Fred from the car as we drove off.  Driving to the airport was not long enough for I wished it would not have taken such a short time so that I would be given more time to spend with him.  He drove around to the private entrance to the Cormac’s personal airstrip and parked beside a small white hanger at the end of the drive where Adalyn and Emery sat outside their car waiting for us.   Adalyn waved when we got closer and elbowed Emery in the side to get him to do the same.  We parked along side them, and Emery unloaded James’s duffel bag, which looked as if it was housing a small human after I had finished packing it, from the trunk and headed toward the small private jet at the edge of the runway.  James got out of the car and leaned against the hood staring at the plane, but I was unable to open the door, unable to move.  My silent sorrow was soon broken by the opening of my door.

“Hello, Ellie!  I wish you could come with us!”  Adalyn said as she helped me from the Porsche.

“I’m going to miss you!  You just returned, and I feel like we hardly got to spend time together.”  I replied solemnly giving her a hug.

“I’ll keep him safe.  He’s my little brother, and I refuse to let anything happen to him on my watch.  He’ll come home.  I promise.”  She whispered in my ear.

“Thank you.”  I murmured through tears. 

“I should go help Emery on the plane.  I’ll let you alone now. Good-bye Ellie.  Take your time because we’ve got it all ready, James.”  She spoke loudly as she whisked away to the plane in a blur.

James stood motionless at the front of the car while I attempted to hold myself together using the passenger’s side door to hold myself up as my heart began to beat rapidly against my chest.  I stared at him waiting for his move but fearing that if I did not act he may disappear without a simple farewell.  Releasing my hand from its protective grip on the door, I began to walk around the car to where he stood when he turned to meet me halfway.  I collapsed into his arms and broke into tears; it was now impossible to not fall apart. But, I fought hard to control my sadness.  I continued to shake in his arms as he stroked my hair, and I wondered if he was crying too. 

“I’ll come home to you.  I promise.  I love you.”  He spoke low in my ear.

With our heads still close, he kissed my cheek and disappeared.  My hair blew around me, and I nearly fell to my knees with the sudden disappearance of his support.  He could not leave me like that.  I needed more—I needed him—and I would not be left standing on the tarmac alone without the good-bye we both needed to be strong.  I looked up to see him slow as he approached the jet.

“James.”  I said breathlessly, but his path didn’t change he continued on toward the plane.  “James!”  I shouted.

He stopped and looked over his shoulder, but I did not wait for him to come to me.  I broke into a sprint across the pavement not yielding when I came closer to him jumping into his open arms.  James wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me up, so I did not have to reach for him, and he pressed his lips hard to mine.  My hands moved quickly about his face as we locked together and then moved my hands to the back of his head.  I strained my fingers through the strands of his messy hair clenching onto this moment, this feeling refusing to let it end.  The kiss moved hurriedly but was frozen at the same time.  Tension and fear staggered our breathing as the kiss continued, and I could feel tears running down both of our faces though I was unable to distinguish whose were whose.  We were desperate for each other and neither of us wanted to stop because it felt right, it felt as if it should never end.  

This time it was I who needed to stop.  I needed to let him go, and though my heart began to break my mind had already realized what needed to happen and decided for me that it was time.  I slowly strained to extend my legs, so my toes could reach the blacktop.  Forcing my fingers to release their hold on his hair, I moved them down to each side of his face and gradually separated our lips. 

“You have to go now. I’ll be ok, and I’m ready now.  I love you.”  I spoke in soft short breaths.

His warm breath covered my face.  “Meet me there at our spot on the beach.  I love you, always and forever.”

I was left alone again on the tarmac, but I held myself together by thin strings.  Standing back a bit, I stood motionless as I watched the jet take off and fade into the distance still feeling the taste of his breath on my tongue.  I waved warily to the small birdlike figure as it disappeared.

Good-bye.  I mouthed tears streaming down my face.

I turned around and nearly fell apart when I saw the empty car: the car I would drive alone tonight.  I walked somberly the rest of the way back to the Porsche and slid into the warm leather seat.  His scent was still apparent when I leaned my head against the headrest and took a deep breath of it, which was immediately followed by broken sobs that I was barely able to control yet alone extinguish completely.  I gripped tight to the key and took deep breaths to calm myself before starting the car.  The roar of the engine placed a calm sensation over me, one that I felt only when he was here and I began to make the long, lonely drive back to Point Arena. 



© 2009 Starlet Aidon


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Added on November 6, 2009
Last Updated on November 12, 2009