The Triad
Page 33
Mama grunted. “I suppose that’s true. But even if they were to go to the Reproductive Technology Centre tomorrow, they’d still have nine months to wait.”
Longer than nine months, actually, and they had decisions to make, such as who would carry their first daughter. But rather than bringing up these little details, Lesley changed the subject. “Everything went according to plan today. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful supper.” Lesley’s gaze took in both her parents, but Mama had done most of the work, and knew it.
“It was nothing,” she said, her face flushed with pleasure. When Mo and Jayne also murmured their thanks, Mama added, “Today we welcomed not one, but two new Thompsons. You’re both Thompsons now. You both have a strong family behind you.”
Mo and Jayne nodded, even though Mo must have understood that Mama’s last words were aimed at Jayne.
“We should go, before the band finishes,” Papa said.
Mama nodded. “We’ll see you in a few days.”
“Thanks for giving us the house to ourselves,” Mo said.
“Yes, thank you,” Lesley said. The triad wouldn’t experience its first night together while Mama and Papa were staying with her paternal grandparents, but she looked forward to the quiet time with her Chosens before her training continued at the Military Academy, and to the evening she and Mo would spend at the lake, watching the sun set. Jayne had insisted that they take one night for themselves, and they hadn’t put up much of an argument. “Oh, and when you’re back, I want to talk to you about a case you might want to take on. You’ll need to work with others, and you won’t want to start on it right away, but we’ll talk when you get back.”
Mama and Papa exchanged a glance. “We’ll look forward to it,” Papa said. “Good night.”
“Good night.” As soon as the door closed behind them, Lesley turned to Mo and Jayne. “Time to go home.”
“Home!” Mo squeaked. “I mean, I’ve always thought of your place as a second home, but now it’s official.”
Yes, it was, and though Lesley believed the triad would eventually find happiness, blind optimism would feel naïve, as if she were hoping everything would somehow work itself out. It wouldn’t; the day’s giddiness would soon give way to reality, with its jealousies and insecurities. They’d travelled far since their notification meetings, but their journey was far from over—perhaps it would never end. Lesley reminded herself of what Mama had said: she had two strong Chosens who cared about the harmony of the triad. They would travel the road together, supporting and encouraging each other, and catching each other when one stumbled. They would make it.
The muffled music stopped. Lesley swallowed. “We have to go.”
“Yeah, we better get out there before your mama has a fit.” Mo swept her arms toward the door. “Principal first.”
Jayne was being quiet, and looked sombre. On her way to open the door, Lesley smiled at her. Jayne’s answering smile didn’t reach her eyes. Perhaps she shared Lesley’s sense of the gravity of the moment, or reality was already eclipsing the day. Or…was she thinking about her parents?
Mama could wait another minute or two. Lesley turned back to Mo and Jayne. The reassuring words she’d intended to say fled her mind. She reached for Mo, held her close, then drew back and kissed her. Hoping Mo would understand, Lesley then embraced Jayne; her lips brushed Jayne’s cheek as she patted Jayne’s back. She let her go and faced her Chosens. “The Chosen Council did well,” she said, then pivoted and opened the door.
The reception hall was deadly quiet; everyone had returned to their tables and joined hands. Lesley climbed the steps to the stage, her Chosens right behind her. Mama and Papa beamed at them, and the five Thompsons formed a circle. Voices echoed around the hall as everyone gathered said the Words Every Rymellan Knows.
“Disobedience means death. Death to those who commit a Chosen Violation. Death to those who disobey. Death to those who violate the Way. Death to those who violate the Way. Death to those who violate the Way!”
Applause rang in Lesley’s ears. She let go of her Chosens’ hands to leave the stage, but grabbed them again when the triad reached the bottom of the steps. The floor shook beneath her feet as they walked the length of the hall, reverberating with the clapping around them. The doorway to the lobby loomed. Lesley tightened her grip on Mo’s and Jayne’s hands, and kept her eyes forward as the triad stepped over the threshold and into the rest of their lives.
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Other titles by Sarah Ettritch at Smashwords.com
The Salbine Sisters
Threaded Through Time, Book One
Threaded Through Time, Book Two
Connect with Sarah online at www.sarahettritch.com and www.facebook.com/settritch