The Rennillia Series: Volumes 1-5

by M. Sembera

  Narrowing his eyes, he started to ask, “If you say you do not belong to any…” before I cut him off, saying, “Stop right there.” Ignacio looked curious as I assured, “This is not a conversation you and I are going to have.”

  Without hesitation, he stated, “Yes ma’am.”

  And just like that, we were back to an appropriate tone.

  Chapter 15

  The next morning, as I got out of bed to check and see if Sophia was awake, I wondered if my conversation with Ignacio was intentionally swayed to something that would make me realize I was getting carried away with our agreement or if it just kind of happened on its own. Whatever the case, he had been right all along. Forever indebted and grateful to The Brothers, it was only a contract. A simple agreement of service and very soon it would end and I would no longer have contact with either of them.

  Deciding how never seeing The Brothers again was going to make me feel, I walked across the hall to Sophia’s room. Before I reached her door, Emerson popped out of his room. Smiling from ear to ear, he hugged me and at the same time lifted me off of my feet and into his room.

  Laughing, I said, “Well good morning to you too,” as he dropped me on the bed.

  Sitting down next to me, he leaned close and whispered, “I’m going to ask her to marry me.”

  My mouth hung open for several seconds before I swallowed and questioned, “Are you crazy?”

  Shaking his head, he assured, “No, I’m in love.”

  Throwing myself back on the bed, I placed my hands across my forehead.

  “Oh my gosh Em. What are you thinking? Are your even thinking? Your mother is going to have a fit. Not to mention …” I fussed, stopping when I saw a disappointed look spreading across his face.

  Sitting back up, I explained, “I’m sorry. It’s just the other day you said you ruined her life and now, you’re gonna marry her?”

  Giving me a look, he shooshed me before saying, “I’m only telling you. So be quiet. Ren, I love her.”

  Taking a deep breath, I said, “I know.”

  Rapping his arms around me, Em hugged me tight.

  When he finally let go, we were both a little teary eyed. Suddenly a thought occurred to me and I knew exactly what to do.

  “Do you have a ring?” I asked.

  Nodding, he replied, “I have my great grandmother’s ring. My mother gave it to me before they moved to Spain.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  With a little grin he replied, “One guess,” before reaching over and holding my hand.

  Smiling back, I laughed, “Oh yea, I forgot.”

  My stomach started to hurt as I thought of all the secrets that had been kept.

  “Em, I need to tell you something,” I said. Seeing the seriousness of my expression, he nodded before I asked, “You remember how you found out that your dad had an affair?”

  Scowling at me, he said, “Yes, Ren why would you…” before I held my hand up, stopping him.

  “She stopped seeing your father because she found out she was pregnant,” I informed.

  Staring at me, he asked, “How do you know that?”

  Swallowing hard, I answered, “Because she told me.”

  Confused, he questioned, “How do you know her? Why would she tell you?”

  After one more deep breath, I shared, “Because I’m married to her son.”

  Watching his expression carefully, I waited for him to react.

  When Emerson finally spoke, I was surprised to hear him say, “I understand now, he had another son. My brother.” As I softly smiled, seeing the peace settling over him, he asked, “Does he know?”

  “Yea,” I replied.

  “Maybe he would have said something if I had not been such an ass after our father died,” he admitted.

  Shrugging, I offered, “He doesn’t think of Mr. Roberts like that, he grew up with Charles as his father. Maybe when the time is right, ya’ll can talk about it.”

  “Thank you for telling me,” he said giving my hand a little squeeze.

  Feeling like I had done something good for him, I thought we should celebrate.

  “I’m having a dinner, tonight, Amila should join us?” I announced.

  Giving me a confused look, he questioned, “Are we dressing for dinner?”

  Nodding, I confirmed, “Yes we are.”

  “I don’t know if I am going to ask her tonight, I would like it to be romantic,” he said.

  Smiling wide, I replied, “Good, you know Amila deserves it to be really special. If you can wait a little while, I have an idea,” before I suggested, “When you do it, it should be big.”

  Smiling at me, Em gave me another hug before I left his room.

  I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon balancing Sophia and getting prepared for our dinner. After cooking and cleaning all day, I finally had the chance to get Sophia and I dressed. Thinking I could have used Fidora, I was proud to have done it all by myself.

  Hert walked in through the back door just as I was boxing up one of the two pies I made. Sliding the one I was sending out to the edge of the bar, I looked up at him and smiled.

  “Hey go shower and get dressed, we are having a dinner,” I said.

  Raising an eyebrow, he questioned, “Because?”

  “Because I want to,” I replied before saying, “How’s your nose?”

  With a smirk, Hert ran his finger down the crooked ridge of his nose as he answered, “Remind me not to pick a fight with him again.”

  Laughing, I said, “It’s just going to be you, me, Em and Amila for dinner so I think you’re safe.”

  Hert laughed back a little looking down at my pie.

  Making a face at it, he griped, “Gross is that egg pie?”

  “No,” I snapped before correcting, “Its Torta di ricotta.”

  Giving me a stupid look, he argued, “You can say it however you want but its egg pie and its gross.”

  “Have you ever even tried it?” I asked.

  Self-assured, he replied, “Yes I have,” before informing, “My mother used to make it once a year. I have no idea why. No one at my house ate it, including her.”

  “That’s weird,” I said. Seeing the questioning look on his face, I explained, “Well, Torta di ricotta was my father’s favorite but he hated the way my mother made it. I remember him complaining about how she made it wrong but he always had it on his birthday.”

  Hert and I stood there for a moment staring at each other, before he shook his head and shrugged.

  Shaking off the thought that Ms. Herterand used to make it for my father for his birthday, I watched Hert walk out of the kitchen to get ready for dinner. No way was that possible. My father hated Ms. Herterand and I was pretty sure, she wasn’t fond of him either. Thinking maybe she did it to help my mother out but that would be strange too, how did she even know how to make it? Finally, I decided to concentrate on more important things when there was a knock on the front door.

  Carrying the box with the extra pie in it, I walked through the living room and opened the front door. A man from the delivery service greeted me with a polite nod as I handed him the box and address it was to be delivered to. With another nod as I thanked him, he left. As I closed the door and headed back to the kitchen, I smiled to myself thinking about Ignacio. On the list of things that he found inappropriate, I was sure that would be one. It probably wasn’t nice but the previous day could have gone a whole different way if he hadn’t started talking to me about Jackson. If I was honest with myself, I would admit that I wanted to know what it was like to be with him. However, since I decided to obey the rules and behave myself with him, the note I slid under the pie that said, ‘Your five mistakes made a greater impression on me than you will ever know. Your Friend, Ren’, was my final act of disobedience.

  Amila arrived just before Hert and Emerson came down.

  She was standing in the kitchen with me holding Sophia when Hert walked in, saying, “Amila, thank you for coming, I apol
ogize if I upset you.”

  Handing Sophia back to me, she walked right up to him as Emerson stood next to me and stated, “You should be apologizing to Emerson for what you did to him.”

  Caught off guard, Hert replied, “I am… I mean I did, he…” before she cut him off, saying, “I don’t care what he did to you, you will not put your hands on him again. Do we understand each other.”

  While Hert stood there in awe of her, Em leaned down and whispered, “See why I love her?”

  Looking up at him, I whispered back, “Hell, I think I might be in love with her too.”

  As Emerson and I quietly snickered with each other, Hert said, “Yes, I’m sorry.”

  At dinner, Hert sat at the head of the table with Sophia and I at his right and Emerson and Amila on his left. I started to make a joke about seating myself at the head but decided not to, in case Amila would want to know what was going on. The dinner had started off a bit livelier than I had planned but quickly settled into small talk. Once it was over, Amila helped me clear the table. I could tell Emerson wanted to speak to Hert so I asked Amila if she would sit in the living room with me and left them in the dining room.

  In the living room, Amila and I sat on the couch as Sophia pulled up on the coffee table taking steps back and forth but not daring to let go.

  “She’s getting so big,” Amila said, smiling at Sophia.

  Nodding, I agreed, “I know, her birthday is coming up, I can’t believe she’s almost a year.”

  After glancing toward the kitchen, she jumped to a whole different subject, asking, “Is Hert the only man you have ever been with?”

  Almost choking at first, I replied, “Um, why?”

  “Sorry I’m not trying to be nosy or rude. I was hoping maybe you could give me some advice,” she explained.

  Thinking ‘oh my gosh’, I asked, “About sex?”

  Shrugging, she answered, “Romero was my first and the only one except for that one time with Emerson.” Then with genuine concern she asked, “What if it isn’t good?”

  Trying not to overreact, I concentrated hard on helping her without completely freaking out about the subject.

  “Well, what would make you think it wouldn’t be good? Was it bad that one time?” I questioned.

  Amila started to blush as she assured, “No, it was…unbelievably good.”

  Pretending like I wasn’t wildly uncomfortable about this, I said, “Okay,” before she shared, “It was good with Romero, I thought. There was no reason for me to feel any other way.”

  “So was he?” she asked.

  Shaking my head, I sighed, saying, “No, I was in a relationship before Hert.”

  “Jackson?” she asked before I shook my head again, saying, “We went out a little in high school but that was it. I was with someone after I graduated.”

  Appearing interested, she asked, “For how long?”

  Scowling, I mumbled, “Too long,” before sharing, “After my parents died, I lived with HIM. It lasted about six years and before you ask, the sex was exceptional but it wasn’t good, nothing with HIM was.”

  “So how did you know it was right with Hert then?” she asked.

  Shrugging, I answered, “I guess I just wanted to. I know it probably doesn’t make much sense but so much of my time with HIM was spent in that area that when I left and then Hert was here…” stopping to take a breath, I continued, saying, “Honestly, other than the very first time I ever did it, it’s always been good. I don’t think that’s what’s important though because neither of my relationships worked out.”

  “Oh Ren, I’m sorry, I forgot,” she apologized.

  Smiling at her, I said, “That’s okay,” before I asked, “Do you love Emerson?”

  Holding back a smile, she replied, “I think so.”

  Nodding my head at her, I took a long moment to think before I said, “Emerson was my first love. I never felt ‘that way’ about him but I do love him. I have seen girls come and go and they have hurt him every time. I want him to be happy and I want you to be happy too. Em’s still trying to find his way. He needs to be taken care of but at the same time, he needs to feel useful and needed. Just so we are clear, if you hurt him I will come after you and when I do, it will not be pretty.”

  Surprisingly enough, she leaned over and hugged me. Maybe I gave her confirmation that Emerson felt the same way about her. I hugged her back before she let go.

  Teary eyed, she whispered, “I do love him.”

  Smiling at her, I said, “Good,” as Hert and Emerson walked into the room.

  Emerson was smiling and Hert appeared pleasant as he motioned for me to come upstairs. I picked Sophia up, told Amila goodbye and hugged Em before heading upstairs after Hert. At the top of the stairs, Hert took Sophia from me before I followed him into his office. He closed the door behind me before he sat behind his desk with Sophia on his lap.

  “Do you mind if I spend some time with Sophia? I’ll put her to bed.” he asked.

  Giving him a soft smile, I replied, “Of course.”

  Returning my smile, he nodded before I let myself out of his office. Walking to my room, I could hear Emerson and Amila talking and laughing. He was trying to convince her to stay longer, while she was giggling and saying she needed to get home.

  They were in love and as happy as I was for them, it made me a little nauseous. Honestly, jealous was more like it. With a heavy sigh, I stepped into my room. After putting my pajamas on, I laid across my bed and worked on Ramsden’s file before going to bed.

  Chapter 16

  Over the next few weeks, Hert went to work, I continued putting together Ramsden’s file and other aspects of my plan, while Emerson worked on Amila. She was at the house every day and every night it was the same giggly battle to get her to stay the night. It got so annoying, Hert and I made gagging expressions at each other every time we saw them kiss, which was nearly every time we turned around. Apparently, Amila preferred to be here because that meant they weren’t alone. I on the other hand, wished they would go somewhere or just sleep together and get it over with. It’s hard to see people in love when you know you’re going to be alone.

  Sophia’s birthday and party came and went. The party was nice but a little on the awkward side. The Thomas’, Jackson, Amila, Gus and his family were all that attended along with Hert, Emerson and I. Gus and Sarah’s boys ran around the back yard, Penny and Sophia played, the grownups visited with each other and Jackson avoided me like I was the plague. It was so bad, I actually thought I was going to cry when Mrs. Thomas asked Jackson to stand next to me for a picture and he turned around and walked off. Aside from that, Sophia had a fun day and got a ton of presents. She was getting be a big girl and although she still wouldn’t walk all on her own, she was happy as long as she could hold onto something or someone.

  Things seemed to be moving faster once we received our court date in the mail for our divorce. I kept in constant contact with The Brothers but only over the phone. After finally working up the courage, I went back to Mr. Griffin’s office and asked him for help. He was hesitant at first but when I explained my situation, as best I could without providing too much information, he agreed to help. The offer I made on the house a few doors down from the Thomas’ was accepted and the papers were signed a few days later. I wasn’t moving until Hert did but I wanted it to be ready and it made me happy to have the keys to my very own home. All that was left was Erin arriving in two weeks and since the society was helping me organize a going away party for Hert, there wasn’t much for me to do but wait.

  Sophia had fallen asleep in the car on the way to drop her off with Mrs. Thomas, so I could visit Ms. Herterand. Jackson was waiting outside when I pulled up.

  Getting out of the car, I said, “She’s asleep.”

  “Do you want me to carry her in,” he offered before saying, “My mom is having lunch with my dad and I was going to take her to the park.”

  Opening the passenger door, I unfastened Sophia’s c
ar seat, saying, “I got her, can you get the door?”

  Jackson let me in and I carried Sophia into the house before laying her down in his old room. I looked over at him sitting in the den and decided to make the first move toward a truce.

  “Hey um, I’m having a going away party for Hert. We would really like it if you could come,” I offered.

  Looking up at me, he questioned, “Where’s he going?”

  Stepping to the couch, I replied, “Spain.”

  “For how long?” he asked with a curious expression.

  Shrugging a little, I said, “Um, forever I guess.”

  Quickly standing up in front of me, he asked, “He’s leaving, leaving?”

  Nodding, I answered, “When our divorce is final he will fly out that evening.”

  With an angry look on his face, Jackson fussed, “So he’s just bailing out on his daughter?”

  “Hey,” I snapped before informing, “He’s still going to come back and visit her and she still has me ya know.”

  Before he had a chance to say anything else, Mrs. Thomas walked in.

  I thanked her for watching Sophia and told her she was asleep. Mrs. Thomas asked if it was alright if they went to visit Penny while she had her and after I told her ‘of course’ I headed out to my car. Just a few steps outside the door, Jackson caught up with me.

  “I thought you were taking Sophia to the park,” I snapped without looking at him.

  “I’ll take her another day since they’re going out to Gus’,” he replied before asking, “Can you stop for a minute?”

  Stopping in the middle of the driveway, I refused to turn around.

  Walking around in front of me, he said, “This is hard.”

  Nodding, I agreed, “I know,” before asking, “Hey, I got the keys to my house, you wanna come check it out?”

  Glancing around, Jackson placed his hand behind his head as he replied, “Uh, sure.”

  Disappointed that this was as uncomfortable as it was, I motioned for him to follow me as I started down the side walk to my house.

  We reached the house and I unlocked the door. Stepping in, I felt a chill of excitement. The front door opened into a medium sized living room. A bar was at the end of the living room separating it from the kitchen. Flipping the light switch on, I was glad I had the utilities hooked up early.