by Donna Raider
“And modest, too,” Mika laughed. “You’re the only woman in the Bible to reign as a monarch.”
“Yes, I was unbelievably cruel.” Leah frowned. “Cruelty was all I knew.”
“I…give me a minute.” Mika walked into the powder room and gained control of the emotions that raged inside her. The same emotions that had made her vomit after the slideshow Leah had put on for her. The scenes had been brief, fleeting images. The fact that this wonderful, loving woman had had been forced into the bed of a sadistic, aging king made her sick to her stomach.
Mika returned to her place on the sofa and gathered Leah into her arms, pulling her onto her lap and holding her like a child. “Reliving your past hurts me so much,” Mika spoke softly, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I know it hurts you!”
“I endured his pawing and grunting and total disregard for me for years. I couldn’t bear another night of his crushing weight on me.” Leah cried. “I had him killed.”
Mika couldn’t stand it anymore. She had Leah in her arms. She kissed her slowly, deeply, taking in the very essence of the woman she adored. She knew her happiness depended on Leah. Mika trembled as she tried to control the desire to merge with her. She wanted Leah so much. She loved her so much. Leah could never tell her anything that would change that. Leah was her addiction.
“I’m sorry,” Mika said slowly. “I assure you I don’t take what you have been through lightly. I just want you to know that what you were, who you were before we met, doesn’t matter to me. I love the woman you are now. I love the woman that is a wonderful mother. I love the woman that loves me with more passion than I ever knew existed in this world or any other.”
Leah smiled at her shyly, unaccustomed to such praise, and initiated another kiss. It was full of passion and promise that left Mika in breathless agony.
Leah’s eyes widened. Mika shrugged. “You can’t kiss me like that and not get a reaction. Sorry.” She hung her head in embarrassment.
Leah laughed, pleased that she affected her the way she did.
They sat in silence for a long time. Leah leaned her head against Mika’s breast, drinking in the clean, soft scent of her. She fought the desire to kiss her again, to move this to another level, but knew it wouldn’t be fair to either of them.
Mika, holding her close, reveled in the softness of her. Mika fought the desire to turn this into a more physical encounter but knew from experience that she might not be able to stop. Both were aching so badly. It was difficult to breathe.
##
The first rays of the morning sun crept through a small opening of the drapes and splashed awareness over Mika. She was lying on her back, in only her panties. The bed was warm and soft. She wanted to turn over and burrow down in the soft down comforter. Mika’s eyes opened wide as she realized Leah was draped across her. Leah’s head rested on her shoulder. Her arm was around Mika’s waist and her leg thrown over her. Panic froze Mika. How had she gotten into Leah’s bed? Thankfully, Leah had on pajama bottoms and a top.
Mika thought about waking her but knew how exhausted she had been last night, so she let her sleep. Mika’s mind began pulling up the horrendous pictures of things that had been done to Leah. It was a miracle she could even trust another human being, much less love one as she did her. Mika prayed for the strength to refrain from seeking revenge against those that had both hurt and betrayed Leah.
Mika thought about how wonderful it would be to wake beside her like this for the rest of her life. Mika knew she had been irritated with her for her reaction to the stories but had quickly been pleased when she explained that they in no way changed how Mika felt about her. Mika wanted her to know that nothing could change her love for her, not deep, dark secrets or well-known transgressions. She hoped Leah would feel the same about her. Mika knew that she would have to share the truth about her past at some point.
Mika had held her as she cried when talking about how others had treated her. Some had feared her. Others loathed her. The deepest hurt of all came from the ones Leah thought would provide her solace. They had been ashamed of her. No wonder she was teetering on the precipice of madness the first night Mika met her.
Leah snuggled into her, and Mika held her a little tighter, careful to avoid waking her. She loved her. Mika drifted back into a happy, contented sleep.
Leah moved to get closer to the warmth of Mika. Anguish shot through her as she realized she was lying in the priest’s arms. Mika was slumbering softly beneath her.
Leah stilled the beating of her heart as she remembered their decision to sleep together. Like so many past nights, Mika had fallen asleep sitting on the sofa. She had awakened with muscle spasms in her back and neck.
Leah had insisted that they sleep in her bed. She still needed Mika to hold her to ward off the nightmares that always haunted her after she delved into her past. Mika resisted but was too tired to put up much of a fight. They both had been too tired for anything else.
Lying beside Mika, feeling her warmth and the strength of her body, sent a surge of desire sweeping through Leah. She bit her bottom lip to suppress a moan. She pushed herself away from Mika and out of the bed. She couldn’t trust herself to be in Mika’s arms when she woke.
The sudden loss of warmth yanked Mika awake. She watched Leah as she moved about the room. She was every bit a queen, graceful, self-confident, and incredibly beautiful. She closed the bathroom door behind her, leaving Mika alone in a room that was suddenly cold and lonely.
When Leah brought warmth back into the room, Mika was sitting up, her back against the headboard. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” Leah said, “I just needed a shower.”
Mika patted the bed beside her. “Please sit with me for a while.”
“I am not sure we should do that,” Leah softly spoke as she moved toward the spot Mika was patting. “We’re both very rested now.”
“We’ll be okay.” Mika smiled. “I believe the last chapter of the book was about a Savior. Are you up to talking about it and we can put this all behind us?”
“How can you be so nonchalant about the things I have told you?” Leah questioned. “I don’t understand how someone like you could ever love someone like me.”
Leah settled herself beside Mika, facing her and leaning against her knees that were pulled up to give Leah support.
“You make my heart hurt.” Mika smiled a slow, sad smile. “You have no idea how wonderful you are. You are the most resilient mortal I have ever met.
“I have searched for someone like you for more years than you can imagine.” Mika leaned up and kissed her softly, sweetly. “I have scoured the world for a woman like you. You are loving, gentle, honest, and fiercely protective of those you love. I won’t even go into your beauty. You are a goddess. One would gladly give their soul for a woman like you. All I ask of my maker is that I get to spend eternity with you.”
Leah couldn’t take her eyes off Mika. Her eyes reminded her of the Caribbean blue waters she and Richie had seen on their cruise—so clear, so deep, so blue. Mika’s eyes seemed to gaze into her very soul. Leah smiled as she scrutinized Mika’s bed hair—soft blonde strands tickled her forehead, giving her a lovable, disheveled look. Leah fought the desire to tangle her hands in Mika’s hair and make love to her.
This woman, this kind, gentle, good woman, who surely must be a Greek goddess reincarnated, loves me, she thought.
“Emily Carver.” Mika raised a questioning eyebrow.
“Emily just showed up here one day claiming to be Samson and Delilah’s daughter and Richie’s mother.” Leah spoke clearly, never taking her eyes off Mika. “She told the townspeople that they were cursed and couldn’t leave this town because of me. No one had ever tried to leave the town, so it was a shock to them to discover they couldn’t. Emily made them remember who I really was, Queen Athaliah, a wicked witch and cruel ruler of Judah. When the townspeople realized what I had done, they wanted to behead me. Emily stopped them. She locked me in jail for my protection and
to keep me away from Richie.
“The townspeople thought she was the Savior foretold in the old testament. I thought she was going to take Richie away from me. He seemed to hate me, although I had never done anything but love him. I was frantic to get my son back. Emily was kind at first and let me see Richie often.
“Samson was the one that pulled the town together and made people understand their lives were so much better here with running water, heat, and electricity. Television!” She laughed. “Who would have ever believed that television would save my life? When Samson pointed out that they would have to give up television if they returned to the time of the Holy Lands, everyone voted to stay.
“No one knew how to manage a town, so I was allowed to continue acting as mayor. Of course, Delilah wanted the job, but quickly proved inept at running it, so it fell to me. It is much more difficult to be a mayor in America than queen of an entire realm.
“Emily’s job as sheriff kept her busy as people discovered who they were and began searching for their children and loved ones.” Leah frowned, recalling the bedlam when couples living together as husband and wife suddenly discovered they were sleeping with the wrong people. Children were with the wrong parents. She shook her head, trying to move past the image of Delilah sleeping with Dr. David and Samson sleeping with her friend Kathryn.
“Richie was allowed to return home with me.” Leah smiled. “Emily would drop by to see how we were doing, and one thing led to another. I thought if she was the Savior, perhaps that would extend to me, too. I thought that if we were together, I wouldn’t have to worry about losing Richie again.
“Richie and Emily believed that magic was the root of my evil, which, of course, isn’t true.” She shrugged. “They made me promise to cease using magic as a condition of them being in my life.”
She bowed her head. “I was so scared, so alone. When Emily came to my bed, I welcomed her. I thought she loved me. I soon realized that I was just her…something on the side, something of which she was ashamed. Richie quickly realized that I was the same mother that had raised him and that I hadn’t changed. Although he loved Emily, he turned to me for comfort and reassurance. He chose to live with me.
“When I caught Emily and Ruth together, I was devastated. I took Richie and left town for two weeks.” A fake smile twisted her lips. “I made up my mind to destroy the town. Then you arrived on the scene. You, Mika, you have been my redemption.”
“As much as I would like to take credit for such an amazing accomplishment,” Mika smiled, “I believe you have redeemed yourself. You are your own Savior, Leah. Your strength, your resilience, and your ability to love so deeply. You saved yourself.”
“Do you have any other questions?” Leah asked, blushing at her unexpected praise.
“I do.” She grinned. “Would you fix your great pancakes for me?”
“I can’t even tell you how much I will enjoy doing that.” Leah laughed as she leaned forward to kiss Mika lovingly.
##
After a late breakfast, Leah called Richie to see if he wanted to go ice-skating with them. They gathered everyone’s skates and arrived at the frozen rink a little after eleven. Richie was waiting for them on the benches. Mika helped the boy lace his skates, then watched him as he skated away to catch up with his friends.
Mika knelt to lace Leah’s skates. Leah couldn’t resist tracing her fingers down the side of Mika’s face to rest on her lips. Mika looked up at her, and she bent down to kiss her. She tried to contain the pure joy of just being with Mika, touching her. Mika put on her skates last then pulled Leah to her feet, holding her closely for a few moments.
They skated for the pure enjoyment of skating, holding hands and planning their upcoming wedding, kissing occasionally, as neither of them seemed to be able to go for very long without kissing the other.
The mayor had put up the Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving night, and they were even more spectacular than last year’s.
“I hope you will attend some of the services this month,” the priest said shyly, preparing to be turned down again. Leah had only been in the sanctuary twice. Both times had been in conjunction with the announcements of their pending nuptials. “We are having some extraordinary music this year,” she added quickly.
“I am not quite ready yet,” Leah murmured. “I’m not entirely comfortable being on consecrated ground.”
“You’re not evil.” Mika grinned at her. “You know you can’t use that excuse forever to keep from attending church.”
She shot Mika a look of dismay, unamused by her statement.
Oops, crossed the line, Mika thought, and rushed to soften her statement. “You know we will marry in the cathedral. You need to try to be comfortable with being in it.”
“I will, just not yet.”
Richie sped toward them, stopping just in time to spray ice on them. “I could sure use some hot chocolate.”
“Then hot chocolate it is.” His mother smiled.
##
The diner was almost deserted except for two couples on the far side of the counter. The Anthal family sat in their usual booth, sipping their chocolate and talking about the wedding.
“Have you decided on a best man?” Richie asked Mika.
“I have, but I need to discuss it with your mother before I make my final decision,” the priest answered.
“How about you, Mom, have you selected a bridesmaid?”
“I have,” Leah smiled, “but I need to discuss it with Mika.”
“I’m going to the game room and will play something loud,” the boy said with a grin. “You two talk. I’m dying to know who will be standing with me. Just so you know, Mom, Delilah seriously wants to be your bridesmaid.”
“Seriously?” She arched her eyebrow. “Not in this life!”
Richie shot her an understanding look as he headed toward the game room.
Mika exhaled slowly. “It is okay if you don’t like my selection for my best man. I can choose someone else if you aren’t in agreement.”
Leah raised her eyebrows questioningly. God, I love it when you do that, Mika thought.
“I would like to ask Samson,” the priest said softly. She watched her eyes carefully, to see if they went from soft brown to furious black. They didn’t.
“That’s acceptable.” Leah nodded. “Samson is a good man.
“I would like to ask Ruth to be my bridesmaid,” she whispered. “She has been a good friend to me and was truly devastated when she found out she had hurt me.”
Mika smiled broadly. “I think that is an excellent choice. Why don’t you ask her now in front of Richie? It will make him feel involved.”
Leah nodded. She liked the way the priest always found ways to include her son in their decisions.
Mika waved the boy back to their table. “We have a decision,” she chuckled as Richie slid in beside his mother.
Ruth placed fresh mugs of chocolate in front of them. “I figured you might need refills.”
“You are the best, Ruthie.” Richie grinned. “So, Mom, who?”
The mayor cleared her throat. “Ruth, I wondered if you would consider being my bridesmaid?” she asked hesitantly.
“Seriously?” Ruth and Richie both squealed in unison.
“Say yes!” Richie laughed.
“After what happened… I didn’t think… Yes! Yes!” Ruth laughed. “I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am that you asked me.”
Richie threw his arms around his friend. “Thank you,” Ruthie,” he giggled.
“Yes, thank you, Ruth.” Leah smiled.
“Now that that’s settled,” Richie grinned as if he had accomplished a great task, “may I finish my game?”
Leah nodded, and the boy ran to the game room.
“Um, we seriously need to talk about Richie.” Mika took a deep breath. “I am afraid that Emily is working hard to give him an unhealthy attitude about our relationship.”
Leah’s eyes widened as the priest spok
e.
“Of course he asked her about ‘carnival knowledge.’” Mika grinned as she recalled Richie’s misunderstanding of her speech in church. “She told him that it would be a circus if you and I were involved.”
Leah laughed softly. “She may be right.”
The priest blushed and continued uneasily, “She said you scream like a teenage girl on a roller coaster.”
“That was unnecessary.” Richie’s mother scowled. “Richie didn’t need to hear that.”
“Neither did I.” Mika grimaced.
“Leave it to the ever-eloquent sheriff to make everything tawdry,” Leah growled.
“Richie is almost thirteen,” Mika noted. “He’s noticing girls. What’s worse, girls are noticing him. He truly is very handsome.”
“Yes, he is,” Leah agreed, watching her son, who was teetering between a little boy and a teenager.
“I-I guess what I am trying to say is, um…” Mika stuttered, “has anyone had the ‘birds and bees’ talk with him?”
“The what!” Leah exclaimed loudly.
Mika regrouped, remembering that she wasn’t of this world and was unfamiliar with American colloquialisms. “The talk about sex,” she said softly.
Leah looked shocked, as if she had never thought about discussing sex with her son. “I haven’t.” Her voice cracked. “You call it the ‘birds and bees’ talk?” she asked incredulously.
“Ah, uh, it’s just a phrase Americans use instead of saying sex.” The priest blushed. “I’m not even sure I can get through this with you,” she exhaled. “My point is Richie lives with us. If you are that vocal, he’s going to want to know what I’m doing to his mother.” Mika could feel her face burn as the red color moved from her chest to the top of her head.
Leah leaned across the table and whispered into her ear, “Just what do you plan on doing to his mother?” She smiled seductively.
“You’re killing me,” Mika gasped. “I am trying to be serious about Richie.”
Leah realized that she had thrown off Mika’s equilibrium. She leaned away from her, smiling devilishly. Ah, yes. I am sure I will be screaming for this woman, she thought.
