Returning Pride (21 page)

Iian walked into the room from the back with a bag full of her new undergarments and a large goofy smile on his face.

“I didn’t know it was my birthday,” he smiled and set everything down in the suitcase he’d brought for her clothes.

Laughing she said, “I did buy you something special. If you’re good, I might just show you later tonight.”

“Woohoo!” He shouted and turned to gather the rest of her items from the back room like a kid in a candy store.

When they arrived back at the house, Robert was there waiting by his car.

“Evening,” he said, as they stepped out of the car. “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you both.”

“Sure, come on in.” They settled in the living room.

“Well, the bad news is, Kevin wasn’t at his place. We talked to his wife and she hasn’t seen him for several weeks. She thinks he went hunting shortly after she left him. I’ve got everyone out looking for him. We’re checking everywhere he usually goes. He has a cabin up on Gunner Hill, but it was empty and looked like he hadn’t been there for a while.”

“What about the tires and the fire?” Iian asked.

“We don’t have any proof that he was in Edgeview. Or that he started the fire that night. All we know is that we can’t account for him after you saw him at the park.”

“So basically you haven’t figured anything else out yet.” Iian stood and started pacing.

Later, after Robert left and as Iian cooked them dinner, she asked him about the trip to California.

“Ric called me the other day and asked me to go to San Diego for an art show this next weekend. Some of my art is going to be featured and I was wondering if you would like to go with me.”

She held her breath waiting for his reply.

He took his time replying. “Are you driving down there?”

“
No, I’ll be flying.”

“I’ve never flown before,” he signed back. “I’d love to go to your art show.” He walked over and kissed her lightly. “It’ll be nice to get out of town for the weekend.”

They sat and ate dinner in the living room while watching a movie. She could tell Iian got frustrated half way through it, trying to read the subtitles, so she grabbed the remote and switched it to a ball game. He smiled and they sat back and enjoyed the game together.

Two hours later he lay with Allison wrapped around him, the little see-through black lace she’d purchased just for him was somewhere on the floor. Seeing her in it had totally destroyed him.

He lay there feeling her steady breath on his shoulder and felt confident that he was armed with a plan. First thing in the morning he would start messaging his brother and brother-in-law. For the next few days, at least until they left for California, he’d make sure Allison wouldn’t be left alone.

The next morning, after his messages and making plans with his family, he’d jumped in the shower with her, but this time his mind was on getting clean and getting dressed. She’d tried several times to start something, but he was having none of it.

Tossing a large towel in her direction, he said, “Wrap this around yourself and come with me.” He grabbed a towel himself and hastily tied it around his hips. He didn’t even wait to see a response from her.

Walking down the hall, he looked over his shoulder in time to see her grab a terry robe from one of her bags.

He led her down the hallway where he’d placed a green ribbon on the door knob. He nodded for her to open it. He’d meant to show her what he’d made for her last night, but they’d been so busy it had been the last thing on his mind.

Now he watched her as she opened the door and pushed it wide. He saw the expression on her face go from confusion to excitement so quickly. Then she was running into the room looking around with complete and utter awe.

He could tell she was saying something, but she was running around touching everything, looking in every direction that he couldn’t see what she was saying. He sat back and watched her with a large smile on his face.

The room was more than she’d ever dreamed of. He had everything. There was a large easel in front of the huge bay windows. Canvases of every size leaned against one wall there was a desk full of paints and brushes of every variety. Some of them looked very old, but still in great condition.

Then she saw the drafting table. She walked over to it and ran her fingers along its aged wood. Everything she could ever hope for was here in this large room. Turning, she saw Iian standing in the doorway with the towel wrapped loosely around his hips. His arms were crossed over his chest.

“
You did this all for me?”

“No, I’m thinking of taking up painting.” He smiled and walked towards her.

“Iian, I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Some of these were my grandmother’s. I think she would be happy that they went to you instead of sitting in the attic collecting dust. I hope I didn’t miss anything. Lacey and Megan helped me pick out most of this stuff.” He walked over and toyed with a pen knife used to cut canvases.

He turned back to her in time to see her wipe a tear from her cheek.

“
Oh no!” he walked over to her, “My sisters assured me that this was a
no crying gift
.”

She laughed.

“I know everyone else in town gave you items to help replace what you lost. I wanted to do something for you as well.”

“Iian, it’s perfect. Thank you.” She took his face in her hands and kissed him.

“Mmmm, how about finishing that shower? I think I see a few spots we missed.” He started to pull her robe off her shoulders causing her to laugh again.

The rest of the week passed quickly. Allison had started painting in her new studio. She enjoyed the brightness of the room and the wonderful view out the large windows. She’d changed a few things around, moving the drafting table to the other wall with Iian’s help. She thought that it made the room flow better. Iian agreed.

She would spend a few hours up there every evening until Iian arrived home.

When she visited her mother in Edgeview, Iian had come along for the ride.

For some reason, over the last week, she felt like she was never left alone in the house by herself for too long. Someone was always over there for one reason or the other when Iian was at work.

Once, Megan and the kids had come over for a visit. She always had paper and colors for the kids to draw on and keep them entertained while they chatted.

Lacey came over and Allison forced her to sit in the living room with her feet up. They had watched an old movie, and Lacey had fallen asleep on the couch until her husband had come to take her home.

Once, Todd even came over and said he needed to use their home gym. She had gone up to her art room and worked while he worked out. An hour later, she had wanted a snack. When she went downstairs, she found him sitting on the couch in the living room watching a ball game.

That’s when she knew that everyone was watching out for her, and she knew it was all Iian’s doing.

How could she be mad at him for having his family watch out for her? She loved them even more for it.

Iian had a busy week before their weekend trip to California. He trusted his staff to take care of the place for the weekend, so that wasn’t a major concern.

He’d been rushing around the place, getting it ready for the Elk’s club annual dinner that night, when Lori and Jenny walked in. It appeared that they were having another “girls night out”. Not wanting to be stuck in the middle of that mess, he tried to escape to the back with no luck. Why did it seem the women had tentacles instead of hands when it came to touching him?

He couldn’t keep them from grabbing or pinching him, it really was becoming annoying. Finally, after pulling them to a more private area, he had firmly told them that he was involved with someone and was no longer on the “play” list.

Both women had looked at him as if he had physically dealt them a blow. The end result pleased him, as they stormed out of the doors and left him to finish setting the dining room up.

He thought of Allison, waiting at home for him, and smiled. How could he ever go back home and not expect her to be there waiting for him? He’d even started thinking of the old place as theirs, instead of his family’s. He now thought of his dad’s room as their room instead. She’d completed the place, she made it into a home.

W
hen the small plane had taken off, Iian had a quick moment of sheer terror. Then Allison had grabbed his hand and he’d focused on looking at her fingers wrapped in his. Slowly he started to relax so that by the time they had landed, he’d felt totally at ease and even a little eager to fly again.

When they reached the hotel, they had less than an hour until they were to be at the art show. He could see the tension building in her and tried to keep her calm so she could enjoy the evening. After she walked out of the bathroom in the little red dress, all he could think about was how to keep her in the room and all to himself.

When she had walked out of the bathroom, Iian gave her the strangest look. First she thought she’d gotten something on her dress. Then she thought he didn’t like the dress.

He stood across the room in his dark suit. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen him dress up. He was handsome in jeans and a t-shirt, but in a suit, he was a knock-out. His hair was slicked back to curl around his neck. His tie matched the silver in his eyes, eyes which were raking her up and down.

“Are you sure we have to go to this thing tonight? We could just stay here,” he signed as he started to walk across the room to her.

“Oh no!” She held up her hands to ward him off. Then she signed, “I didn’t get dressed up to stay in this hotel room. Plus, I’m starving.”

He grabbed her outstretched hands and took them to his lips, placing a soft kiss on both of them. Then he looked up at her and said, “You look beautiful. Let’s make it a short night, I want to get you back here and out of that dress as soon as possible.”

She felt the pull deep inside; she wanted that too. Shaking her head in agreement, she moistened her lips against the hunger she felt for him.

Ric Derby stood amongst the crowd of his people and knew the second his favorite artist walked in the door. Not only did the room fall almost silent, but the little red number she wore screamed, “
look at me
!”

In the two years he’d know Allison Adams, their relationship had grown to a brother-sister caliber. He’d never had this close of a relationship with any other artists before. It was probably due to the easy nature of Allison. Most artists he worked with were tortured souls. Ally was different. Wherever she went, sunshine was there. Her art truly reflected what was in her soul. Pureness.

Smiling, he handed an empty flute of champagne to a waiter and walked over to greet her. He could feel the eyes of the whole room watch as he walked up and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

“You look wonderful tonight, Ally. I’m so glad you could come,” he whispered in her ear.

Pulling back, he then noticed the man standing next to her. He’d met Iian Jordan on several occasions. The brother to Todd Jordan, whom he had been doing business with for many years, a man Ric truly admired and respected. Todd was the husband to Megan, a woman Ric admired and respected even more.

Stretching his hand out to shake Iian’s he remembered that Iian was deaf. Having learned sign language after he’d worked on a project with a deaf artist group several years back, he extended a welcome.

“Hello Iian, it’s good to see you again. I’m sorry I’m a little rusty with sign language, I hope you’ll overlook any mistakes. Please, come in, would you like anything to drink?”

Twenty minutes later, Ric watched as Iian and Allison wandered the room. He liked seeing Ally’s eyes light up when Iian would sign or say something to her. He noticed that Iian didn’t speak to anyone else, but would lean close to Ally and whisper something to her. He enjoyed watching the couple browse the room and felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy and loneliness sink in.

Iian watched as Allison melted into the crowd effortlessly. He looked around and realized this was where she belonged. Here amongst the high rollers who wore diamonds as easily as he wore a chef toque and uniform.

He looked across the room and saw Ric Derby, who was watching Allison with an eagle eye. Iian had a little moment of jealousy there, when he’d seen the man greet her at the door. The light kiss he had given her had caused some alarm, but then he remembered the New Year’s party Allison and Ric had attended together. Iian had kissed Ally that night and he knew they were just friends. Which didn’t ease the tension he tried to avoid when the man looked at her.

He turned and watched her talking to an older couple. He stood back almost in the shadows and just watched the crowd.

Then there was a light hand on his arm. Turning, he saw a woman with long blonde hair and the tightest dress he’d had the pleasure of experiencing. She was trying to talk to him, but he just wasn’t catching anything she was saying. She leaned forward and he could smell her soft breath on his face. He tried to take a step back, but realized he was up against the wall.

She continued to talk to him and started to put her body against his. He almost panicked.

“I’m sorry,” he started to say. Then he felt another hand on his shoulder and the woman backed up a few steps. Turning, he saw Ric standing to his side.

Ric signed to him, “Iian, this is Countess Regina. She is from Sweden. I’ve told her that you’re deaf. She would like to know what your thoughts are of this particular piece. She is in the market to purchase it, but is unsure and would like a man’s opinion, since she will be buying it for her husband.”

Iian turned and looked at the art in question. It was one of Allison’s pieces. The large canvas hosted a colorful scene of the waters off the shore of Pride, a white sail boat floated in the distance. Stepping closer he could see a storm brewing in the distance. Then he looked closer at the boat. “
Dawn-treader
” was etched on the side.

An image flashed in his mind of his father standing at the helm. It was so strong it almost knocked him back. Taking a breath he looked closer at the image before him. He could make out two forms on the boat. One at the helm and one manning the ropes at the front.

Closing his eyes on the pain, he steadied himself.

Then something else took over his thoughts. It wasn’t pain, but a calmness that started to spread through him. Opening his eyes, he looked at the piece with renewed interest.

Turning, he looked past the blonde woman and Ric.

Allison stood there watching him. Her eyes riveted to his.

He said, loud and clear. “It’s the most heart-warming thing I’ve seen in ten years. It brings to mind a life journey on calm and rough seas. Of loneliness, sorrow, and the joy of returning home. Any man would be honored to have such a wonderful piece of work hanging in his home.” He turned to the countess and realized that the woman was close to tears.

She said something else that with her accent he was unable to understand. He looked to Ric to see what was said.

“
That was beautiful. You have a way of expressing the unseen. Thank you for your wonderful words. My husband thanks you for his new piece of art,” Ric translated.

Ric smiled at Iian and then turned and took the countess and walked with her to complete the transaction.

“Well, I hope you’re happy. I’ve just sold this piece to a countess, no less,” he signed to Allison when she walked up to him.

“I’m happy, because you realized what it’s about. It’s not about the horrors that happened that day to you, but the joy of you coming home.” She stepped into his arms and said, “Iian, I’m so glad that you came home.” Then she kissed him right there, in front of her masterpiece.

“I want you. Now! Tell me we can get out of here,” he said against her lips.

She nodded her head. “Let me make my excuses. I’ll be just a moment.” She kissed him again and walked away.

He watched her go and felt something shift inside him. Looking back at the canvas, he walked closer and took another look. There in the bottom right corner was Allison’s signature with a date scribbled underneath. She’d painted this the same year he’d lost his hearing. He looked up at it again with renewed wonder. A seventeen-year-old Allison had painted something a countess from Sweden had just paid high six digits for.

He’d seen her other art and he liked the fairies and other creatures she’d painted. A lot of it had reminded him of his grandmother’s stuff that still hung on the walls of the Golden Oar. Making up his mind, he walked over to were Ric stood, still talking to the countess.

When Allison walked up to him a few minutes later, he was back in front of her painting smiling like he had a secret.

By the time they entered the lobby of the hotel, he couldn’t keep his hands off her. The dress stretched tight over her curves and he watched as her hips swayed with each step.