She was in heaven!
She opened the medium sized suitcase to reveal clothes that were more Riana, three pairs of tennis shoes, two pairs of pumps, and five pairs of sandals.
Riana laughed when she showed no excitement for that suitcase. “Open the carry-on. You are going to love what’s inside.”
Loraine rubbed her hands together excitedly before she opened it. She didn’t rush this one. She opened it slowly, hoping what was inside would live up to her excitement. Once the zip was done, she slowly flipped it open and screamed.
Riana laughed, covering her ears. “Don’t wake Aurora up!”
Loraine stood up and pointed down at the contents of the suitcase. “Are these what I think they are?”
Riana nodded with a faint smile. “Clutch bags and jewelry. The more artsy fartsy jewelry in the wooden jewelry box were my picks. The rest in velvet boxes were his.”
Her voice faltered when she said ‘his’. Loraine could already see Riana was about to start crying. It hurt to see how sad Riana was.
“There are a lot of velvet boxes in here Riana. How did you get past airport security without getting detained?”
Riana blinked a few times before she swallowed and whispered, “It’s funny how things are easier when you buy a plane ticket under the Sinclair name. I even had an escort. From the door right into my first class seat on the plane…”
Loraine blinked back her own tears. She wanted to say something, do something that would lighten the load Riana carried. But there was nothing to do. Riana had to be the one to let go, to move on.
Loraine never believed such love existed until that very moment, watching the lost look in her eyes. Riana would never be able to get over Allan’s loss. But Aurora had helped. She was probably more of a motivation to wake up in the morning and do something than anything, giving Riana a few hours of joy and amnesia before the memory of the loss hit her like a freight train and made her collapse under its weight.
So if her daughter couldn’t pull her out of that hole, what can I do?
She sat down next to Riana and took her hand and held it. The only thing she could do was to be there for her and support her in any way Riana needed her.
Riana turned to Loraine with a shaky smile, tears at the brim of her eyes. “I haven’t told you about my trip to Italy, have I?”
Loraine shook her head. “I would love to hear about it, if you don’t mind.”
Riana turned to the open suitcases on the floor. She was quiet for a long while before Loraine heard her exhale. “He was such a pain. Buying me things I didn’t want.” She chuckled softly. “Always buying me gifts, surprising me with the corniest stuff straight out of a movie. They were corny, but still very romantic.”
Loraine chuckled. “If he bought me a suitcase full of diamonds, I’d find whatever he did, even pouring me a glass of water, romantic.”
Riana smiled leaning her head back against the couch. “For a guy who traveled so much he never stopped to enjoy everything around him.”
Loraine snorted. “He certainly enjoyed you. The two feet high hurricane with a deceivingly angelic face is proof of it. That kid is all him,” she sighed. “I’m dreading the moment she wakes up.”
Riana slapped Loraine’s thigh. “She’s the greatest gift he ever gave me.”
“I’ll take the diamonds.”
Riana shook her head and went on. “He took me everywhere I wanted to go, did everything I wanted to do. He was wonderful. He made me feel important. I mattered to him, even more than his work. He took care of me, and he’s still taking care of me and Aurora.”
Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Loraine shifted closer to her, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. Riana buried her face in her shoulder as she cried. “It hurts so badly, Loraine. I loved him so much…and I will always love him no matter how much it kills me.”
* * * *
Why this hotel?
Riana ran her hands nervously down her dress as she did her labor breathing. It didn’t work any better than when she was having Aurora.
Loraine grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Just relax, Riana. You’ll just speak to Melody and then we’ll leave.”
Riana turned to her friend. The last time they were here they were in uniform, and now they were dressed like they belonged. Riana was dressed in the exact same way the first night she went to dinner with Allan, right down to how she styled her hair.
Loraine borrowed the green, figure hugging, knee high dress Riana had worn to the restaurant at the beach when they were in Bari. They’d walked in the water that night, and it was the first time she’d convinced Allan to do something he would not normally do.
He had taken off his shoes, jacket and tie, rolled up his pant legs, and wadded in the water with her. She couldn’t remember what they talked about but she did remember how eased and relaxed they were, and the comfortable silence that followed when they sat on the beach for over an hour before they went back to the hotel.
She’d almost had an anxiety attack when she saw Loraine in it. Yes, she had agreed to lend it to her for the night, but seeing her in it…Riana was never going to let go of the things Allan gave her, no matter how many years passed or whether or if they didn’t fit anymore. They each had a memory of Allan she cherished.
The dress she was wearing however, didn’t hold a very happy memory. It was the dress she wore when they had their first fight, at their first dinner. Why did she wear it?
Because the memory it carried didn’t make her cry with longing.
“Riana, are you sure seeing Theresa won’t bother you?”
Riana was tossed into another memory. She wasn’t fond of with that question.
She had just arrived back in New York and a pounding on the door woke her up. She had opened it to find Theresa, her face tear stained, her mascara running as she glared at Riana.
Theresa slapped her and began yelling and the only words Riana caught were ‘Allan is dead and it’s your fault’. Riana was so shocked she hadn’t even notice when Theresa left. She’d sat on the floor in denial for almost an entire day before she got the courage to do a Google search.
There was a picture of the yacht in flames and a large letter block announcement ‘Allan Sinclair dead’ running across it.
Riana wasn’t exactly sure what she did next. She remembered blacking out and waking up to that picture. She then remembered picking up her handbag, going to the airport, and booking a flight to New Providence and all that was hazy, too. The only thing she remembered clearly was telling Reno that Allan was dead.
She blinked several times and tried to ignore the pain in her chest.
This wasn’t the time to cry. She needed to speak to Melody and she couldn’t fall apart. She wanted to tell her about Aurora, and ask why the charity’s name was Riana Albury.
“You can deal with Theresa if you want to, just don’t get any blood on the dress.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll borrow an apron.” Loraine tugged at her hand pulling her closer. “There she is, the brunette talking to that sexy guy. He’s got a nice ass!”
Riana turned to Loraine with a raised brow.
Loraine raised her shoulders. “What? He does.”
Riana sighed shaking her head. “Just get me to her before I turn tail and run.”
Loraine squeezed her hand. “You’ll be fine. Ready?”
Riana nodded even though the anxiety was beginning to choke her. She needed to do this for Aurora. Allan would have wanted his sister to meet his daughter. But the closer they got to Melody, the more nervous Riana got. She was already beginning to see black spots.
Oh God I’m going to faint!
Loraine lifted her hand and placed a thin glass rod in it. She then lifted her hand and touched something to Riana’s lips. “Drink. Now!”’
Riana gulped down the cool, bubbly liquid and Loraine took the glass from her replacing it with another. She held that up to her lips too and Riana flushed that down as well. It didn�
�t take long before she felt lightheaded.
“Take a deep breath.”
She did and her vision cleared, enough to reveal the worried look on Melody’s face. She looked so much like Allan. The resemblance made her chest hurt.
Why did he have to be dead?
“Are you all right?”
Riana wanted to respond but the lump in her throat choked her. She couldn’t do this! She needed to go home to her baby. Why did she even come?
Loraine pulled her closer and Riana turned her face down to the side to hide her unshed tears. She was glad Loraine was there. She would do this for her. At least start it off while Riana gathered her courage to continue.
“Melody, I’m Loraine Larson,” Loraine introduced herself.
Melody sighed. “You are the first one not to call me Miss Sinclair. Thank you. And you are?”
Riana knew that last bit was directed at her but she didn’t turn around nor respond. She hadn’t found her courage yet.
“My friend is a little emotional. Her name is Riana Albury.”
Riana heard a gasp and she felt the little courage that kept her standing there crumble. She was right. Melody must blame her for Allan’s death. She needed to leave. Right now!
She pulled away from Loraine to do just that when a hand clapped around her forearm.
“Wait! Don’t leave!”
Riana clenched and unclenched her hands as she struggled to keep her breathing normal.
Just turn around and get it over with. She won’t say anything you haven’t heard before. Then tell her about Aurora and hope for the best.
Riana slowly turned around. She had to blink a few times to make sure she was seeing clearly. Melody had tears in her eyes, and her lips were parted in a large grin.
“Please tell me you are the Riana Albury that went to Italy with my brother.”
Taken aback, Riana just nodded.
Melody threw her hands around Riana and held her in a tight hug. Riana just stood there, unsure of how to react. Loraine had the same puzzled look in her eyes.
Melody then quickly pulled away and grabbed her hand. “Come with me. There is someone I want you to see.”
Riana looked to Loraine for help. She just nodded. “I’ll be here if you need me.”
Riana let out a shaky breath and let Melody drag her away.
“I can’t believe it’s you!” she squealed happily, wiping her cheeks dry only for them to get wet again from her crying.
“Please don’t cry. It’s taking everything in me not to break down and your tears aren’t helping.”
Melody stopped and stared at Riana for a moment before she nodded her okay. “What happened in Italy?”
Riana immediately felt like she was suffocating again and began walking. Breathe, just breathe.
“When your brother…when he…” Oh God she still couldn’t say it.
“When he what Riana?”
Riana clenched her fists so tight they shook. She could do nothing about the tears but she wasn’t going to curl up on the ground in a fetal position and cry her heart out. Allan would want her to be strong and she was going to be.
“I know you must blame me for… If I had stayed with him, Allan would still be alive.”
Melody’s brows pulled together. She looked confused like she had no idea what Riana was talking about. How could she? She hadn’t been there.
“You think…” Her face relaxed when she started laughing. “Come with me, Riana.”
Riana was shocked and a hell of a lot confused by the change. Shouldn’t she be yelling, cursing her out for taking her brother away? For not being there to help Allan, escape Anthony?
What would she think when Riana told her Anthony had her safely taken to the airport before he torched the boat with her brother in it?
Melody would hate her for sure.
Should she confess now and get it over with?
Allan, help me!
Melody stopped walking and turned to her again. “Did you have the baby?”
“What?” How does she know about Aurora? Oh God, is she going to try and take her from me?
Riana felt her throat close just at the thought of it. She had barely survived Allan’s death. That final thread was going to snap if she lost Aurora.
“Riana, you don’t look so good. What’s wrong?”
“How do you know about Aurora?” Riana croaked.
Melody’s lips trembled as fresh tears ran down her cheeks. “You named her after our mother?”
Riana nodded. “I—”
“Riana!”
Riana felt her heart slam painfully against her ribs at the sound of his voice. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard it. It haunted her, day and night. She used to respond to it until a distant aunt told her she too would die if she kept answering the dead. She didn’t think it was such a bad idea until the moment she held Aurora for the first time in her arms.
Riana closed her eyes and whispered, “Allan, please don’t.”
She felt a warm hand on her bare shoulder and she jumped. She knew that hand. It was engraved on every inch of her body. Her mind was playing tricks on her again. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t handle it. She could bear only so much before she snapped.
“Please don’t do this to me.”
She let out a sigh of relief when the hand moved. Now she just needed a few minutes to compose herself before she could try and explain her few seconds of craziness to Melody.
Her skin went cold when she felt those same hands bracket her face. “Please look at me,” he pleaded.
“Allan, she thinks you are dead.”
Riana shoved the hands away and turned to Melody’s voice before she opened her eyes. “You can see…see him?” she spoke barely above a whisper.
Melody nodded. “He’s who I wanted you to meet. You two have being living for over two years thinking the other was dead. Riana, he truly is real.”
She felt his hand on her cheek and she leaned into the warmth as he turned her head to face him. She didn’t close her eyes. She stared straight into his eyes and her heart lurched.
Nothing about his face looked familiar. He had a beard and his long hair partially covered the parts of his face that were whisker free. But his eyes. She would know those eyes anywhere.
She lifted her hands and cupped his face. “Allan?”
He nodded, laughing and crying at the same time.
“You really are alive…I’m not imaging you?”
“No, just like I’m not imaging you. Riana, I’ve been so lost without you.”
The last thing Riana felt was the touch of his lips on hers before her world was flooded in darkness.
Chapter Thirteen
Allan laid Riana’s limp body on the bed, his eyes riveted on her face. She looked too peaceful, in fact. He had to press her chest against his on their way up to the suite just to feel her breathe and make sure she was unconscious and not dead.
He took off her shoes, and then proceeded to take off his own including his jacket and tie before he joined her on the bed.
He touched her face lightly, tracing its structure with his fingers. He wanted to make sure it really was her. Not a clone, or a look-alike, or a figment of his imagination. That Riana was really alive, here, lying in his arms, unconscious from the shock.
Where had she been for the last two and a half years? What had she been up to? He knew why she thought he was dead but…how was it she was still alive?
He pushed up on his elbow, supporting his head in his hand as he leaned down over Riana, moving so close he could make a perfect shade for her body.
How did she escape Anthony? He should have known better than to trust that liar. Two and a half years wasted because of that asshole!
It was a good thing he was already dead or Allan would have killed him all over again.
Two and a half years…my baby! Allan thought with a start.
He placed his hand on the little pouch at her waist.
�
��What happened to our baby, Riana?” he whispered to the unconscious form placing loving butterfly kisses on her temple.
Was it a boy or a girl? Did she have it, or was the thought of my death too taxing that…
Allan shut the thought down. He was in pain just thinking of the love child they might have lost all because he was a coward.
But she’s here, and we can have more babies.
He pressed his hand flat on her belly and whispered against her lips. “I love you, Riana. I’ll give you anything you want, admit to anything, if you’ll just forgive me.”
Allan pulled back when Riana groaned, her head slowly moving from side to side.
“Allan…” she murmured.
“Wake up, love.” He pressed his lips against hers. “I’m right here.”
He pulled away just in time to see her eyes flutter open. She smiled up at him for a moment then her face creased.
“Why did you leave me, Allan?” she cried, tears running down her temples.
Allan felt his stomach twist in knots as his throat burned. She had suffered as much as he had if not more.
He dug his hands under her, lifted her to a sitting position, and cradled her against his chest.
“Look at me, Riana. Feel me. I’m alive, just like you are.”
Riana blinked a few times and Allan could see the wheels turning in her head. She moved her shaking hands to his, moving them gingerly up to his arms, to his shoulders until they came to rest on his face. She then pulled his head down and pressed her trembling lips against his. Then, like she’d been stung, she jumped away, her eyes wide with recognition and confusion.
“Allan!”
“Yeah, honey, it’s me.”
* * * *
Am I awake?
Riana wasn’t sure. The only thing she was almost sure about was that Allan was sitting in front of her. That she’d touched her lips to his and felt like she was hit with a high voltage current.
She’d had a weird dream. That Allan was alive and he’d said he was lost without her. She remembered he kissed her then…things kind of went dark after that. But now she was sitting on a bed with him staring at her with so much love, hope and…she looked closer. Yes, she saw how anxious he was.
Her Venice Affair (The Albury Affairs) Page 20
