by Turner, Lori
Ona remained silent, so Rachel continued….
“Ona…I am my own woman and as such, I can date whomever I damn well please. And please excuse my French.”
Since she’d understood every word, and she didn’t know how to speak French, Ona concluded that this was just another one of those sayings that she didn’t fully understand.
Rachel took a breath then she said…
“When Caleb gets back, I’m gonna put so much brown sugar on him—girl, when I get through with him, he won’t know if he’s coming or goin.”
Again, Ona was bemused by her friend and she’d prepared herself to say this when she heard the sound of footfalls.
Her heart joined in with the pitter-patter of rhythmic sounds. When she looked beyond Rachel, she noticed Lucien rounding the corner. Rachel didn’t have to turn to see the owner of those footfalls, because Ona’s face beamed like those Christmas Tree’s in Rockefeller Plaza. Ona blocked everything except one image; Lucien’s image. She didn’t even hear Rachel when she excused herself saying…
“I’ll go check on Sahara to see if she’s still in one piece”
She passed Lucien, and they acknowledged each other with a knowing nod. They were in the same boat, so they recognized signs that could only be defined as desperation.
Lucien couldn’t move fast enough. He took long steps to close the distance. Outdoors the city was readying itself for turkey, Thanksgiving and the return of Santa Claus. Halloween was a memory and no sign of that holiday remained. People had their sights on the future. They were thinking about travel and shopping; oh how he envied them because he was trapped in a bubble and everyone knew how fragile bubbles could be. He felt this way every time he saw her because there just weren’t enough minutes in the day and each day, their time spent together had to be measured in minutes but twice a week, they would have hours. This was one of those days; and Lucien had come to love Fridays for an entirely different reason. On Fridays the Children’s Center closed four hours earlier than on any other day. It was late afternoon and the ferry wouldn’t leave the dock until eight in the evening. Lucien wrapped his arms around her waist and in fluid motion he enveloped her and she felt the moistness on his wool coat. It had been snowing outside and a light dusting had wet his lapel. Snow in November was her thought, then she lifted her eyes to gain a better look at him. Lucien smiled, when he said…
“Hi you.”
She adored him and she echoed.
“Hi you.”
Being with him was like pocketing stolen magical minutes and she was simply Ona. Nothing mattered in this place. It was just Ona and Lucien; Lucien and Ona.
Lucien lowered his head, and she raised on tiptoes to meet his lips. She was getting better at this, he mused. She was beginning to express herself without him gently urging her. He felt delicate arms wrapping around the lower half of his waist and being near her produced a satisfied moan. He wanted her but he’d always had to be careful; he didn’t want to frighten her and he knew that he could. Lucien had built a wall to contain every emotion linked to Ona and he only released his feelings in drips and drabs. The cost for this kind of restraint had come in a number of forms. Countless cold showers and ice packs on swollen testicles. But hell, when he was with her, every pain that he’d endured had been worth it because he loved everything about this woman, and then some.
Lucien slowly drew back, kissing her softly on her lips. He smiled and he noticed that her eyes were still closed. When she raised her lids, he could see how much she loved him.
Lucien said…
“How was your day?”
“Not bad.”
“Did Judd’s girlfriend make a return visit?”
Ona shook her head because she’d learned about the argument second hand. She’d been in the room with Sahara, listening to the children playing music. Whatever happened, it had not been good. Two people had been called to escort Judd’s girlfriend out of the building to a waiting limousine. Later, Sahara had told her the woman’s name; a person called Fawn Gustafson. Sahara didn’t have much nice to say about her brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Lucien said…
“Are you sure that I can’t tempt you to accept my offer.”
After the Fawn and Judd incident, Lucien had suggested to Ona that she needed to hire security and that he would pay for it. Ona shook her head, then she smiled…
“Judd promised me that his girlfriend wouldn’t come back. But….” she sang the word, then she said… “This is supposed to be our time. I don’t want to talk about the center—angry ex-girlfriends or anything else.”
“Oh no?” He said, and when he smiled, Ona could have sworn that a chorus of angels sang.
Her mouth turned up forming a sly smile, and he told himself that this was not the woman that he’d first met in the hospital. This woman was a new person. This woman was his Ona; a woman in love.
“Are we staying here…or are we going back to your place?”
Lucien said…
“My place. Candle lit lunch and early dinner. In between the meals—I’m sure we’ll find something to occupy our time.”
Ona laughed, and she felt his strong arms pulling her close. When their lips met, they lost themselves in the kiss. Ona parted her lips and she thrilled when his tongue stroked, then flitted at her tongue, begging her to do the same, and she did. She mimicked him as if their tongues were engaged in swordplay and the only danger was that, if they continued, they would never make it out of the building. And that was a sincere possibility because Lucien had never experienced this degree of passion from her and he wanted more. He wanted to know her depths and her heights. They had never talked about that and feeling her touch and the inner moistness of her mouth; listening to her moan while pulling on his coat; he couldn’t bring himself to stop her.
They had been in their own little world. That bubble that Lucien had dubbed to be their secret world. They’d been shrouded by hapless zeal and fervor. They couldn’t get enough of each other. That should have been a good thing—but it wasn’t
A deep voice rumbled, and the noise sounded like a male clearing his throat. A throaty sound echoed and Ona and Lucien had been startled apart, turning in the direction of the noise.
Oh my God—dear Lord, why? This thought flashed across her brain because no other thought or expression came to mind. Standing in the hallway were Noah and Caleb. Noah—who was supposed to be in another state constructing a bridge and Caleb—who was supposed to be in Africa with their parents; but he wasn’t. They were here—and so was she and Lucien Delors.
Eyes bounced on faces but no words were exchanged.
Noah clinched his jaw, but Caleb was the first to speak.
“Step away from my sister.”
Ona lowered her eyes, taking stock of her body. When they’d heard the noise, their lips had parted, but their arms—they were still touching and the contact was inappropriate for an unmarried Samaritan woman.
Ona’s voiced sounded hoarse when she said…
“Noah—Caleb… What…what are you doing here?”
Noah was stoic and his restrained calm was a testament to a lifetime spent never straying from the Creeds. He addressed Ona, in an even voice.
“We’ve planned this for weeks and we’d hoped to surprise you. Actually it was mother’s idea. I spoke with our parents and I expressed my desire to offer Ester Downey my band. Her parents were assigned to my bridge project and they favored the union.”
Noah paused and for brief moment, he considered Lucien but the glance had been fleeting and he averted his eyes back on Ona.
“Ester’s parents are returning to Virginia to arrange for the family dinner when the engagement will become official.”
Along the crease of Noah’s mouth, she watched when his jaw clenched. There was more to be said…yet, Noah wouldn’t speak his mind with Lucien standing by her side. He would remain silent, and containing his judgment wouldn’t be easy. Sect matters were private and never discusse
d in the presence of outsiders. Lucien was an outsider and her heart ached because she couldn’t defend him. She couldn’t ask her brothers to be polite, because she was to blame for their behavior. Ona watched the bob on Noah’s throat, and when he swallowed he said…
“Geff was with me when I spoke to our parents and he asked if I would allow him to speak to them. He reminded them about the dinner—the dinner that had not occurred due to your accident. He requested that our families reschedule the dinner for a very important reason.”
Ona felt as if she would faint, because she knew what the important reason was, and when she felt Lucien’s arm brush hers, she knew that he understood as well.
Noah continued.
“With my upcoming engagement—and Geff’s dinner invitation; our parents didn’t want to delay any of these events.”
Ona swayed and if Lucien had not been standing so close to her, she would have toppled like a lumber-jacked tree. She didn’t even notice the added frown lines on Caleb’s face when she did this because she already knew what would follow.
Noah said…
“Our parents are at home—and so is Geff.”
Caleb had caged his anger as long as he could.
He shifted off the brake that had parked his tongue, and it was zero to fifty in under five-seconds.
“Geff and his parents are planning a dinner for YOU—and here you are, making a mockery of a good man and his family. Do you have any idea how difficult it had been when mom and dad left their project six weeks early. It broke their hearts saying goodbye to the villagers. Sure—the project was practically finished and the villagers can complete the rest—but it’s the principle. We came home, for you.”
Caleb’s eyes fixed on Lucien when he said…
“I knew I shouldn’t have left. This wouldn’t have happened had I stayed.”
Maybe—maybe not, she thought but she wouldn’t say that because she’d never seen her brother’s so visibly disappointed, angry and hurt. Especially, Noah. On the outside, her brother showed very little emotion but she’d grown up with him and his eyes always told the tale. She’d seen it and she also knew that nothing good would come from remaining here. She’d made this mess, she didn’t want Lucien, Rachel or Sahara to witness the downfall.
Ona lowered her head, avoiding eye contact when she addressed Lucien.
“I have to go.”
Lucien looked up, and in the background he spotted Sahara and Rachel; each of their expression said different things. Rachel’s expression said, “Come on Caleb, give your sister a break”. And Sahara’s smirk said, “The jig is up.”
When Ona stepped away from him, she was flanked by her brothers. As they walked away, Rachel joined Caleb, walking beside him and he couldn’t discern if she was trying to reason with him or if she was talking to Ona.
Lucien stood paralyzed and his inaction churned his gut like a grater. Every protective instinct entreated him to engage Noah and Caleb in conversation, and had it not been for Ona’s expression, he would have cornered them both, insisting that they talk. He stood idle for the sake of being in love with her. When he’d stared into her eyes, her rapidly batting eyes scuttled ideas that would end with Ona remaining with him. For months, he’d deceived himself to believe reason would prevail. Lucien still believed that but people have to talk if reason is to be had; and that was the problem. Ona’s brothers had arrived, and their return had been unexpected. They had found him with their sister and that had not occurred by design. In fact, their impromptu visit had complicated a situation unbalanced by countless sensitive topics. He blamed himself because he’d been lulled into a false sense of enchantment. His time spent with Ona had been wonderful; the best days of his life and he wasn’t ready for all that to end.
“This is all your fault”
The accusation came from his side. He lowered his gaze, seeing Sahara standing next to him. Her expression was fixed and hard. He furrowed his brows because he’d been lost in thought.
“Excuse me?” he said. Sahara pursed her lips, restating her words in terms that he would grasp.
“Whatever happens to her—you are to blame.”
Lucien was no fool. He’d seen Sahara’s attentions in the hospital and her fondness snowballed the longer she remained in Ona’s company. But on a day like today, he couldn’t be bothered with crushes or any other jealous nonsense.
He expelled a sudden force of air, then he said…
“Sahara…if you have something to say, then say it.”
This had been exactly what she’d wanted. For months she’d watched Lucien cozying up to Ona and the thought had made her sick.
She perched a hand on her hip, when she said…
“What did you think would happen when her family returned? You’d ride in on your white horse—or one of your limos. You’d hoist her up side saddle, then ride off into the sunset, and her family would share a meal with you at the dock?”
“I had imagined another scenario.”
“Oh yes—you’d thought that you would charm them—just like you charmed Ona.”
Lucien’s eyes narrowed and he didn’t dignify her comment with a response. Sahara snorted when she said…
“You’re delusional.”
“And what are you?” he should have left well enough alone because there were no winners in this game but he couldn’t abide her point of view.
Sahara rose one brow when she said…
“I’m thinking about converting.”
“What?!” he’d heard her but the word burst free without a second thought.
Sahara said…
“Ona and I have talked about it—and she says that it isn’t as difficult as one might think. Of course—one of the Samaritan families will have to adopt me…but I’m a brilliant musician and that shouldn’t be difficult to achieve.”
Lucien had thought, that she might be a brilliant musician but to his ears, she was beginning to sound a little crazy. She was uttering nonsense, and her fantasies weren’t worth his contemplation. Lucien began to walk away, but he stopped when she said…
“If they talk to you—I’m sure you know that it’ll only be a pity invite.”
Lucien turned on his heels, and he didn’t hide his anger.
His voice was abrupt when he said…
“Do you hate me that much?”
Sahara took a few steps closing the distance. Her lip curled up and the expression was anything but cute.
“You aren’t worth my hate.”
“Then what is it…because as I see it; I’ve never done anything to you.”
“You don’t like the fact that I’m not like Rachel. I don’t fawn all over you…saying, yes—yes Lucien; I’ll lie for you, if it means you’ll get to spend time with Ona. And Rachel is crazy if she thinks that Caleb will turn his back on the family that raised him. God…you’re both so pathetic.”
When he stared at her, an awareness struck him. He couldn’t prove it, but he was pretty sure that Sahara was to blame for Noah and Caleb finding him and Ona in her office. He was just about to say this when she spoke first.
“You know…there’s a big difference between me and you. I would give up my life for Ona—and that means giving up my music; and music means everything to me. I’m not a religious person, but I would become a Samaritan, like her; if it meant spending just a moment with her. And I know what that means. I’ll have to share her with the other members of the Sect. Then when she marries Geff—and you shouldn’t delude yourself, because their marriage is inevitable. When they are married, I’ll become her best friend, and everything will be as it should be because when women are in a loveless marriage, they rely on their girlfriends. And that’s where I’ll come in.”
She leaned in so close, Lucien could smell the breath mint that teetered on the tip of her tongue. Sahara’s eyes held an expression that would frighten most, and he included himself. There was something about this woman that was off-balanced. He didn’t have a degree in this area, but
her ideas didn’t come from a rational mind.
Sahara rose one brow when she said….
“I would give up everything to be with her. My life—my freedom—my music. Can you say the same? Would you give up everything to be with Ona Zelle?”
Lucien stared at this woman, and he realized that he’d underestimated her. She wasn’t just crazy—Sahara was obsessed and her obsession was fixed on the woman that he loved.
**********
Chapter 18
Happiness, heartache, woes
A wave of voices rose and fell with emotions. Each perspective lit her ears, and more than anything, Ona wished for quiet. The disagreements started the second she and her brother hit the streets outside of the Children’s Center. Noah’s had begun by reciting verses from the Creed. He’d maintained his normal level temperament, modulating his voice by subtle degrees to emphasize important points. Caleb on the other hand; no part of his diatribe had been restrained, and he didn’t care that his voice carried, calling attention to them. And the way he’d spoke to Rachel; she didn’t believe she’d ever forget the shock that rushed from her friends throat. Rachel had hurried down the street beside them, tugging on Caleb’s arm. She’d pleaded with him to leave Ona and Noah to talk, because it was obvious that he needed time to curb his anger. Ona hadn’t witnessed the outburst with her eyes but she’d heard it. Caleb had bellowed out words that sent a shutter coursing throughout her body. He had berated her, insisting that she return to her life. Ona had always believed Rachel to be a strong confident woman, but she also knew the cost of love; and Rachel dearly loved her brother, and the expense had been unthinkable. When Caleb charged ahead of her, in the rear she had heard Rachel’s pleading outcry. Her voice had cracked, and she’d begged him to see reason, but the only reason any of them noticed was his resolve and the sternness of a man who refused to look back. On the ferry, it had taken Noah’s suggestions to tame his tongue. But from the second they crossed through the door of their parent’s home, the only thing that slowed his rant was the fact that he had to stop, when his lungs would run out of air. What galled her more than the finger pointing was the fact that the men wouldn’t allow her to take part in their conversation. Her father had thought it best to speak with her brothers alone, since they had appeared the most disturbed by her actions; he’d left her mother to deal with her. For the past two hours, Ona and her mother moved around each other in the kitchen like two orbiting planets. Except for a few simple questions, Aldeara appeared more tired than upset. Seeing her mother this way pained her because according to Noah, they had traveled halfway around the world, and their return had been to celebrate two special occasions involving their children. Noah had made his intentions known to Ester’s parents, and soon they all would travel to Virginia. Geff had done the same, and her parents had been thrilled over the match. They had not even waited to hear if Ona would accept Geff’s offer of marriage because they’d all supposed that the time had come for her to marry. For Samaritan families, marital unions were a blessed occasion but she didn’t sense exhilaration in the house. Her parent’s home was a fog, shrouded by a bitter truth. For months, Ona had led a secret life, seeing a man outside of her Sect. A man that neither of her parent’s knew personally. And this action broke with tradition. She recalled the way her mothers face looked when Ona had said Lucien’s name. Each wrinkle that creased her forehead seemed to deepened as she detailed their encounters. When her mother asked if Lucien had asked things of her that were immoral; Ona had replied, saying that he had not forced her to do anything. She’d felt that it had been her duty to protect his character, then she told her mother that she had kissed him, more than a few times; but that was all that had happened. She’d pointedly stated, that no other part of her body had been touched. After that, the conversation ended and her mother busied herself, preparing a dish to compliment the meal at the dinner party. The casserole was one of Geff’s favorites, and she’d made it especially for him.
