More Than Scars (36 page)

Tears…always with me and tears! “You love your brother,” I whispered.

Ian smiled sadly and nodded. “And you love him too.” He reached across and squeezed my hand. “And I love you for that Nerissa. I’m going to miss you this holiday but you are going to be around for a lot more. I just have a feeling. So…I’ll let your family have you for this one. We get you for Christmas!”

A week with my Mom was heaven. It wasn’t like I had to escape from hard work at the Byrne home. I loved my work with the girls. Being with them was anything but work. But it was nice to just be me. There was no worry of running into Liam or explaining things to Ian. I spent most of my time in the spare room reading or watching old movies with my Mom. Al was there every day after work. It was a lot like old times.

The girls called me each day like clockwork. They always filled me in on the goings on of the household from Mary and Stewart to their Daddy. They always asked when I would be coming home…begging it be sooner than the time I always gave them. I missed them very much…and actually couldn’t wait to see them again!

The day of Thanksgiving we made our way to my Aunt Janice…my Father’s sister. There were cousins and other aunts and uncles. It felt good to be around them…to be reminded of older times. It was a bit scary…but not as scary as years past. There had been times we had to leave early because it would all be just too much for me. This time was different…I felt more confident going in. I chalked it up to my night with Liam. I had revisited that terrible time with him. There was no memory shocks or flash backs that often happened. I didn’t even need to take any medication to make it through the day.

Ian had been right…when I had been seeing someone I had not had one episode. I hadn’t felt as comfortable talking to a therapist about my problems as I had talking to them with Liam but it had helped. With Liam I had been able to pour my soul out to someone who understood. His arms had tightened just at the right times…his breath had deepened at the darkest moments…his lips had brushed my cheeks when the tears ran free. I had never given so much to one person ever.

He had done the same with me. I hope I had given him the great amount of comfort he had provided to me! He had needed it just as much. I would never forget the tremors that ran through his body as he described his attack…his fear. I would never forget how vulnerable he was to me. Did he think I could ever be repulsed by him because of that night…because I knew the scars that no one else saw?

It was good to away I kept telling myself but the longer I was away…the more I thought about the one I was avoiding. Needless to say…the week was a long one. I was ready to get back to my new additional family. I missed my crazy neurotic beautiful man. I was ready to break down more of the walls he had built up.

Saturday morning I punched my code into the door at the servant’s entrance and Mary was there to greet me. Her arms surrounded me tightly!

“You are here! Hurry! Make up Mr. Byrne’s coffee…he hasn’t taken a sip all week and he is a grouchy one that one!”

I laughed at the greeting and hung my coat at the door before slinging my purse into a chair. My suitcase was quickly swept up by Stewart.

“I will be down for his breakfast tray! We will see if he accepts his coffee this morning!” he threw over his shoulder.

I frowned. “Are you serious?”

Mary nodded. “He has sent back his coffee every morning untouched…but one sip. He said it did not taste right!” She shook her head. “Stewart says it is all in in his head but I think it is something more so we have a wager going. You make up Liam’s coffee. If it gets sent back…Stewart wins…if he says it’s okay…I win. You have some sort of magic over him Nerissa.” She smiled. “It’s not natural…but it’s beautiful.”

I blushed and went for his cup. “You made his cup for years and years! I don’t understand how…”

“I don’t either girl! There is a magic going on. There is no use denying it!”

I stirred his coffee carefully, took a sip, feeling satisfied it was
perfect, I set it beside his food. “All ready.”

Stewart entered the room, gave a nod and took the tray away.

I sat down to my own cup and gave Mary a smile. I loved the crazy of this house! It was good to be home!

“You have been missed,” she said gently. “Not just by the little ones…but by Mr. Byrne…terribly! The coffee thing was just one issue.”

I stared down at my coffee. “I’ve missed everyone! Did you and Stewart get to see family for Thanksgiving?”

She nodded. “Stewart only has but one brother living…and a niece. They stayed here this week. My daughter came for a few days…and I did spend Thursday evening with family. It was lovely.” She turned to the stove to prepare the girls breakfast.

“I’m glad,” I said sincerely, and glanced around the quiet kitchen. “Seems like the calm before the storm! It doesn’t seem like today is anything different!”

Mary laughed. “Around noon this place will be bustling with chefs starting
this evenings meals! I will be ousted out of my kitchen!”

I lifted my brows. “Are you going to sneak a peek at the party?”

Her eyes twinkled. “I’m glad you are back in time for the party! You have to go see the main hall where the party will be held! It’s beautiful! You won’t even recognize it!”

I sipped my coffee. “Tonight is going to be something I am sure I will never forget! I can’t believe I am invited!”

Mary smiled. “I can’t wait to see your dress! Is it true that Mr. Byrne chose it for you?”

I blushed and nodded. “A seamstress fitted it for me too. It is literally made for me. I have never had anything so fine in all of my life Mary…save the man.” My cheeks warmed. “Liam is worth more than the entire get up…” My heart rate picked up as my confession went on. “I can’t wait to see him tonight!”

Her happy smile spoke volumes. “I just knew the moment I met you that you would be all sorts of good for this house,” she said softly. “It’s why I trusted you with his coffee!”

She came over to pat my hand and it warmed my heart.

Stewart entered then with an empty tray. “He accepted the coffee,” he sighed.

Mary laughed with delight! “Did he know
Nerissa had returned?”

Stewart shook his head. “He asked me specifically to let him know when she arrived.”

I laughed and set my head in my hands. “I love that man,” I sighed and lifted my eyes to the two who looked at me with surprise and delight. “Yes, I love the strange crazy man…do you have a problem with that?” I again laughed and pulled out my phone. “I will let him know I am here…and I am going to see the girls! I have much to prepare for tonight!”

Stewart cleared his throat. “You have Kate coming to do your hair at five o’clock and Sarah at five thirty for your makeup. Ian set it up…his treat!”

I smiled, gave each a hug and fairly ran up the stairs, texting as I went. I hit send to Liam and threw the door open to the girls room. “Rise and shine my lovelies,” I called.

I was greeted with
shreaks of delight and hugs about the waist. It was good to be “home”

“You came back!” Brianne cried.

I wanted to burst into tears but refrained. “Of course I did little one…it was only vacation,” I comforted her. “I spent time with my family as you did with yours!”

“I missed you!”

Her cry nearly made me do just that…cry. I hugged them close. God forgive me, I don’t think I could stay this long away from them ever again!

I got them ready for breakfast and downstairs in record time. According to Stewart, Liam was on last minute calls with those who would not be making it to tonight’s festivities. It was his only job for the day. Stewart had also been informed that he had received my text and was to welcome me back.

I frowned at this. He couldn’t have just texted this back to me? Oh well, only made tonight’s happenings all the more interesting!

I spent the rest of the day catching up with my girls! I was almost sad they wouldn’t be part of tonight! They would be tucked up into their rooms, several guards at their post. Mary would be sitting in with them on my stead.

Kate showed up with a bunch of hair supplies and curling contraptions at exactly five o’clock. Her confident smile assured me I would be ready by seven when the masquerade began.

“Should I put the dress on now then?” I inquired, staring at the closet. I couldn’t wait to get into that dress!

The girls jumped up and down in approval.

“Let’s wait,” Kate said calmly. “Maybe put on the undergarments! We will get your hair and face in place and then the dress will be the final touch!” She smiled prettily.

I looked forlornly at the closet, and the girls groaned, but she was right. I got into the corset and undergarments designed just for the dress. They themselves were beautiful and skillfully made. Kate nodded approval and forced me to sit down so she could get to work.

I was informed my hair would be down and curled to the maximum…beautifully and romantically…as Kate put it. She stated that Ian said Liam preferred my hair down…so that was how it was to be! I was stunned into silence at this comment and with that…she started into work on my hair.

Amelia and Brianne sat cross legged on the floor as I was worked on. They remained in place when Sarah arrived to do my makeup. Perfect angels…oohing and awing as I was transformed.

Mary appeared to watch over the girls. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.

Shortly before six my mother showed up, her dress in tow. She was getting her hair and makeup done as well! Ian’s treat! He was still trying to play the hero!

Around six thirty I finally went into the bathroom to slip into my gown. My undergarments felt like a second skin by now. The dress slid effortlessly over them and the side zipper slid with finality. I slowly raised my head, peered into the mirror, and caught my breath. I didn’t even look like the same person. The elaborate eye makeup confused me, until I considered the mask I would be wearing as well.

I slipped on the gorgeous shoes I had been gifted and rentered the room. All of the females present gasped. I fought the tears that would ruin my makeup and did a turn for them. It was the most beautiful gown I had ever laid eyes on.

“Oh
Rissa,” my Mom sighed. Kate was busy putting the final touches on her hair at this moment.

Sarah approached me with the mask and a smile. She carefully tied the delicate black silk tie and came around to study her work. Her smile told it all. She had done very
very well.

“You look like a princess,” Amelia whispered. She then began to do her happy jig.

Mary and Brianne simply nodded.

I turned to the mirror…the full length mirror for effect and had to catch my breath. With mask in place I could not even recognize myself! The severe makeup that had confused me around my eyes made so much sense now in light of the mask. It was perfection!

The silver coloring worked well with my fair skin. The mermaid cut was exactly what my body type called for and the warm swirling blonde waves around my shoulders didn’t even seem to belong to me! I was a vision!

“Oh
Rissa,” Brianne said softly. She had gotten to her feet and now stood next to me. “You look beautiful!”

I wrapped an arm around her.

You know those moments when you get that happy bubbling up inside you and you don’t know what to do with yourself? I was having one of those moments. I literally did not know what to do with my hands, my words, my lungs.

Amelia did a little twirling dance around me and reached out to caress the dress. “Daddy did
good.”

That little comment broke the ice for me and I was able to pull in a breath to laugh. “Yes he did! I will have to thank him for me dress!” It was then that it hit me…I hadn’t thanked him for it in the first place! How had I forgotten to do that? Oh yeah…we had been too busy either avoiding each other or being so intimate little things like dresses and masquerades did not matter!

“Daddy is gonna look pretty tonight too,” she informed me.

Oh…I had thought of that. “Did you go wish your Daddy luck yet? Tonight is a big night for him! He will be facing a lot of people today!”

They shook their heads and continued to touch my dress reverently.

I smiled and moved to my vanity, picking up a box. I knelt before Brianne and smiled. “Could you give him this and ask him to wear it?” I opened it for her.

Brianne smiled brightly and touched the boutonniere. It was a simple white rose. She lifted her pretty blues and nodded. “Daddy will wear this for you.”

I gave her a hug. “Mary
take Brianne and Amelia to see their Daddy off. Ian should be coming to pick me up any minute!”

As if on cue he knocked at my door.

I scurried to it, anxious to get his reaction. Mary stopped me with a stern look.

“I will answer the door and then I will take the girls to their father,” she replied. She slowly opened the door.

Ian was a sight to behold himself in his tuxedo and dark mask. He looked like he had stepped straight out of a fashion magazine. His blue eyes were bold against the darkness of the mask.