Lovers and Reprisals (Lovers Series) (38 page)

Ona lowered her eyes and she tried to imagine her parent’s knee deep in her current situation.  When she had the image in her head, she lifted her eyes, fixing her mother with a questioning gaze.

Ona said...

“Did you fall in love with someone not like us?”

Her mother’s face held a cautious expression, then she stepped closer while saying...

“I have loved only one man in my lifetime.  And I married him, two months after I’d reached the age of consent.”

Ona stared at her confused and she stuttered saying...

“But...but--you just said...”

Aldeara broke in, bringing an end to her scattered chorus.  She’d sounded more like a friend, than a mother.

“My dear...I was speaking about our mission.  I was referring to our work as Samaritans.  Living and working outside of our commune with Non-Samaritans can tempt the strongest of our Sect.  When we stumble, living as they do, instead of practicing our way of life; that is when the Creed becomes important.  The Creed will redirect your path--showing you the way of the Lord, returning you to your Samaritan roots.”

Aldeara touched her shoulder when she said...

“He is a good man.  Geff that is.  He will be a good helpmate...and your father and I have given him our blessings.”

Ona heard the roar of her beating heart.  She couldn’t find the words to speak, so she stood silent.  Her mother spoke, making everything clear.

“Ona...your father and I approve of this match.  All that remains to happen is your approval.”

She felt as if the room was closing in on her.  More so when she didn’t hear any voices coming from the other room.  What had happened?  Had they bridged a gulf; deciding how best to deal with her?  Would her parents allow her to return to the Children’s Center alone or would one of her brothers accompany her, remaining by her side, like a chaperon, never allowing her a second of privacy?  She stared at her mother’s face, watching the rise of her arched brow.  After fifteen-seconds ticked and still her remark had remained unanswered, Aldeara drew her daughter in, then she kissed her on the side of her face. 

She said...

“Ona...I have every confidence in you.  I’m sure that you will make the correct decision.”

Ona didn’t see her choices as correct or wrong, primarily because she didn’t feel like she had much of a choice in the matter.  Her voice sounded weak when she said...

“I’ll do what is best.”

She waited, studying her mother’s subtle moves; all the while, she wanted to shrink back into the woodworks.  Seconds ticked before her mother finally said...

“Wear the dress that your father and I bought for you when we’d traveled through Johannesburg.  The colors are vibrant--and Geff said that the dress is one of his favorites.”

Ona recalled the dress but she’d never known that Geff admired her whenever she wore it for special occasions.  She recalled how for the past few months, she’d made an effort to dress, wearing clothes that might appeal to Lucien--and the dress from Johannesburg had been the only outfit in her closet that wasn’t blue, black or grey.  She’d worn that dress for Lucien, and she remembered the way that his eyes had lit with excitement.  That day had been special, and that had made the dress special too.  Now to learn that her dress had appealed to Geff as well; Ona would not allow him to spoil the only lasting memory that she could actually touch and hold close to her body.  When she’d been with him, wearing that dress; traces of Lucien’s cologne had sealed within the fibers.  If she wore the dress today, being around the smell of soap and food; she would risk losing Lucien’s scent.  She couldn’t do that.

Ona noticed her mother’s expression when she said...

“I’ll wear something suitable for the occasion.”

“Good.”  Her mother simply replied.

Ona heard the sound of an opening, then closing door.  She assumed that her brother’s had left, to go to their apartments to dress for the dinner.  She sighed, because she’d seen the slow approach of this day, and for years she’d purposely denied it.  For years Geff had cozied up to her parents and he’d become one of Noah’s closest friends.  Even though she’d known this, Ona had crafted a plan that would diffuse Geff’s offer without offending him or his parents.  But after the way things had played out at the Children’s Center, then enduring disappointment from her brothers and her parents; Ona couldn’t bring herself to put up a fight.  She’d hurt them in a way that she could never take back. 

In her minds eye, she pictured Geff, and she couldn’t imagine spending a lifetime, being his wife.  She just didn’t love him.  She wondered what it would feel like living with a man, all the while, wishing that she were with another.

Ona said...

“Mother...does Geff know?  Does he know about Lucien?”

“No he doesn’t.  And why should he know?”

Why indeed, she’d thought, because what good would come from knowing.  Geff had already made his intentions known, and he would disgrace his family if he retracted his word; the retraction would be viewed as deception, or a lie.  Even if Geff knew about Lucien or the time that she’d spent with him; the knowledge wouldn’t preclude their marriage.  She mulled the thought, until her mothers voice broke into her musing.

Aldeara forced a smile when she said...

“We shouldn’t be late dear.”

“No...we wouldn’t want to be late.”  Ona absentmindedly replied.

“Your father and I will wait for you”

Ona frowned, then she said...

“Please mother--don’t break with tradition on my behalf.  Go.  You’ll need to talk to Geff’s parents before I arrive.”

She couldn’t believe that she was encouraging this custom; but she had.  Following with tradition, tonights dinner ceremony will give Geff’s parent’s their opportunity to bless the union.  Soon after that, Ona’s parents would host a dinner party, doing the same.

Her mother stepped away, saying...

“Don’t delay dear.  You’ll need time to shower and change.”

Ona wanted to say more, but her brain filled with Lucien’s voice.  She could hear every word, and every compliment he’d ever given her.  She could see his face, and she could feel his gentle caressing touches.  She loved him.  But--they couldn’t be together.

Ona nodded her head, and when she’d acquiesced, this gesture had been an acceptance of her fate.

She said...

“I won’t be late mother.  I promise.”

**********

Chapter 19

Sit down.  Shush.  Get it right.

“It isn’t my fault daddy.  I just went there to talk to him.”
“Sit down, and shut up!”

Morpheus had chosen his two story library at his home in Maine to discuss this problem with a person who was the spitting image of him; and it galled him to admit that.  Fawn stalked over to one of the wing backed leather chairs, plopping her weight on the cushion, then she rolled her eyes.  Morpheus directed his attention on one of his attorney’s whose job it was to clean up his daughters legal messes.

Winston picked up where he’d left off, before Fawn had bursted out her rant, interrupting him.

“Mr. Gustafson, I have done my job.  I followed your explicit instructions.  I spoke to the District Attorney and she agreed to drop the charges.  After our discussion, she spoke to the arresting officer, and she assured me that as far as she is concerned, this incident never occurred."

Morpheus glared at him and he predictably restrained his bite, mainly because Mikita was present.  They were living together and she’d accepted his engagement ring.  He made a point to look in her direction and his expression had been apologetic.  Mikita rose, because she understood that parenthood was a lifetime job; from the womb to the grave, and as Fawn had pointedly stated on numerous occasions--she wasn’t her mother.  Therefore, she didn’t belong here and as such, she would leave, allowing Morpheus to manage yet another crisis in which Fawn had been the instigator. 

Mikita crossed the floor, and when she stood by his side, he touched her elbow lightly, prompting her to come closer.  She turned her back to the others in the room, to share a private word.

She spoke low when she said...

“Honey--I think I should leave.”

“No--please babe; stay.  I want you too.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.  You handle this, and I’ll wait for you in our bedroom.  We can say our goodbyes there in private.”

Morpheus had planned to leave earlier, but he’d delayed his departure after getting word from Winston.  Now, here he was knee deep, wading through his daughters shit; as usual.  When he looked at Mikita, the past few months rushed across his mind.  When Mikita had invited him to remain in Bermuda, he’d planned for an extended stay, and they had not expected the fast decline of her mothers health.  By the second week Ernestine could barely sit on the side of her bed.  Then a few days later, she had said that she was tired and wanted to take a nap; Morpheus had gone to her room to check on her, only to find that she’d slipped away, saving her daughter the pain of watching her mother die a slow and painful death.  For days, Mikita had been inconsolable, and seeing her now, he knew that she still missed her mother, but everyday she would say how happy she was to be with him, sharing his home.  She was happy, and the only thing that would make her happier would be to see him and their son, finally behaving as if they were indeed a true family.  He lowered his head, pressing his lips on Mikita’s and he didn’t give a damn that it made his daughter uncomfortable witnessing this.  When Mikita pulled away, he felt her slight stumble and he smirked because his kiss had been to blame for her unst
eadiness.  There were segments of his life that Mikita couldn’t be involved in; issues that have absolutely nothing to do with business.   Even though she knew certain things about him he couldn’t tell her where he was going or what this trip was about.

Mikita smiled at him and he returned her’s with one of his own, then she left the room.  As their distance grew, his anger towards his daughter gained in momentum.  Because of Fawn, she had fucked up his entire day.

Morpheus maintained a wide stance, directing his statement at Winston.

He said...

"It sounds to me like the district attorney has trashed the charges--and that's exactly what I wanted to happen.  But I guess there must be more to this because you're standing in my house.  So--what's the problem Winston?"

Winston Dubois was a brilliant man and he knew a trap when he saw one.  And this most definitely was a trap.  The worst kind of trap.  A Morpheus Gustafson trap.  The wise attorney employed one of his courtroom tactics.  He flipped the question back to his employer.

"What's the problem indeed.  You see sir, as I've said; I did my job, but your daughter doesn't seem to agree."

"Spit it out man"

Morpheus had had enough of this game and when his attorney smiled, he clearly heard 'gotcha' wailing in his head, because the focus was no longer aimed at Winston.  Now, he would be learning something about Fawn, and that she was the problem, and not his attorney. 

Winston said...

"There was a restraining order...and your daughter refuses to sign off on the document.  The D.A. bent over backwards completely ignoring the police report and the assault charges--mainly because Fawn's offenses towards the police officers occurred when she turned on them and resisted their arrest.  I spoke with the security guards at the art gallery; gave each of them their asking price and they signed documents affectively swearing never to seek legal or monetary actions for her assaults on them.  As for the owner of the art gallery, we've agreed to allow the insurance company to name their price, after the damages have been assessed.  However; until that occurs, a reasonable amount was advanced to begin repairs in the gallery.  However, as for Judd Marko--the D.A. spoke with him--and he isn't budging.  He won't change his mind and he won't recant his statements.  He insisted that the restraining order be put in place.  And in plain English sir, that leaves your daughter with no other options.  She has no other choice in this matter.  She must acknowledge the order."

"I don't understand.  Why is it so important that she sign the damn thing?  I thought that she just has to know that an order of protection exist."

"Well--yes, in general, that is correct.  However, Morpheus...I didn't explain the events that preceded her run-in with the officers.  Your daughter practically demolished every piece of artwork at Claudette Tautou Gallery.  She did this in front of a crowd of people, and it took hours to confiscate camera’s and every other recording device.  Then there was the damage to consider--as well as the other artist.  I am no expert sir, but when I totaled the cost in my head, the figure is well over eight million dollars in damages.  More to the point--she destroyed every sculpture created by Judd Marko.  And as I said sir--you needn’t worry on that account because I've taken care of that.  However--when I explained to the D.A. that I have assured all parties involved that they will be reimbursed for their losses--this explanation wasn't enough to satisfy the D.A..  You see--too many people were involved--and well, we are coming up on an election year.  In other words, her manipulation stops with the arresting officers.  She won’t consider strong-arming Judd to back off and since the restraining order isn't going away, the D.A. wants certain assurances."