Chapter Twenty-Three
“You are a shameless monopolizer of babies,” Callista pouted, reaching for her daughter in vain. Alec tucked the pink bundle more securely in the crook of his arm, refusing to surrender the baby to her mother. Foiled, Calli turned her attention to Tessa. “I still say if you free a Djinni, he owes you a wish. I saw this old show once—.”
“You watch entirely too much television,” Alec interrupted his sister with a grin. “And we’re leaving soon, so back off and let me enjoy my niece. It might be a while before I see her again.”
“Seriously, Alec, Kentucky?” Luca arched a brow. “All rolling green hills and bucolic serenity. You’ll be stir crazy in no time. I give you a month, tops.”
“Tessa loves teaching there,” Alec replied with a shrug. “And since I’ll still be working for Michael, as well as filling in per diem as a Defensori—because some people, you know, demand paternity leave—we’ll travel often enough. But, we’ll also have an actual home base to come back to. I think it’s about time, don’t you?” He winked at Tessa.
“Past time, I’d say,” Tessa concurred, crossing the room to slip her arm through Alec’s and gaze at the wondrous and perfect miniature person held so tenderly in his arms. “But, as I’ve told you more than once, my home is wherever you are. You need to come for a visit, Luca. You might discover you actually enjoy those rolling green hills and a little bucolic serenity.”
Baby Lilliana stared back at Tessa from enormous eyes the same brilliant blue as her mother’s, set in identical delicate features. From Luca, the tiny girl inherited the faint cleft in her chin, and her silky fair hair. But, then she smiled, and her deep dimples were pure Alec. Tessa’s breath caught in her throat imagining Alec cradling a child of his own.
“I think I want ten,” Alec laughed, reading her mind.
Heaven knows, they had enough room for ten children in the enormous white clapboard farmhouse Alec bought and renovated. Close to the conservatory, with an enormous wrap around porch, and oozing with character and charm, Tessa fell in love with the place on sight. After she added the pieces of her father’s she decided to keep, it truly was everything she’d ever dreamed of. Alec promised her a home, and he delivered.
“Let’s start with one and see how it goes.” Tessa laughed at Alec and cocked her head at her brother-in-law. “Really, you all should come. We’ve plenty of space, and when Lilliana gets a bit older, there’s even room for a pony.”
“Perhaps a little tranquility would be pleasant. Of course, I’d miss my wife. She and tranquility have never met.” Callista tugged a pillow from behind her back and whipped it at her husband’s head.
Luca caught it without even glancing in her direction. Then he crossed to the sofa, shoved the pillow behind her neck, and dropped down next to her. He reached for Callista’s hand, brushed his lips across her knuckles, and then rested their entwined fingers on his thigh.
Tessa shook her head. She still had trouble reconciling this domestic side of the Ice Warrior with the Luca she knew, but decided she liked it.
“So, a call-in Defensori? That’s a first,” Luca remarked. “You fight as well as anyone, Alec. Why limit yourself? A man with your strength and skill is valuable.”
“Funny, it’s what I always thought I wanted. It felt like not enlisting made me…less.” Alec mused. Then his face split in a wide grin. “Sure, I can fight as well as any of you, and I’m more than willing to step in when needed. But, the fact is, I can research rings around all of you and my research has pulled your ass out of more than one sticky situation.”
“And that’s a skill no less valuable. I’m happy you finally figured out what the rest of us have always known.” Luca grinned. “We don’t call you the Riddle King for nothing.”
“Someone has to do the thinking,” a deep voice interjected from the doorway.
“Michael.” Tessa smiled, slipping her arm from Alec’s, and stepped into the Archangel’s embrace. “I hoped we’d see you before we left. I know you rarely leave Rome, and I’m not sure how long it will be before we come back.”
“Kentucky.” Michael’s lips thinned and twisted. “I heard.”
“What on earth do you all have against Kentucky?” Tessa threw her hands in the air. “It’s beautiful there!”
“It’s so…tranquil,” Michael muttered.
“All the more reason for you to visit,” Tessa teased. “All war and no play make Michael a cranky archangel.”
“I didn’t start the battle, Contessa. But, make no mistake. I will finish it. It’s taken centuries, and it may take centuries more, but evil will not prevail. And I’m not cranky.”
Tessa shook her head as Michael strode across the room to peer at Lilliana. “She’s absolutely lovely Callista, in spite of her paternity,” he said. “Ah, well, one can’t pick one’s relatives.”
“Speaking of relatives, I assume you knew Galen isn’t simply descended from a Djinni, but is half Djinn himself?” Alec asked.
“Of course, I knew. It’s my business to know. He’s also half Earthbound, and that’s the side he chose to embrace.” Michael waggled a finger near the baby’s nose, his face lighting with a megawatt smile when she curled her tiny fingers around it and held fast. “He’s planning to spend some time with Mekonnen and his family in the Djinn realm, and then he’ll be back to work.”
“Would you like to hold her?” Callista asked softly.
Michael straightened, his eyes widening. Then the corners of his lips lifted. “Why, yes. I would.”
“I don’t think—” Luca half rose from the sofa, alarm flitting across his features.
“Sit down, Fiorelli,” Michael snapped. “I am a military commander, have directed the fight against evil on earth for millennia, signaled the end of plagues, and helped cast Lucifer from the heavens. I think I can handle a six pound baby.” Alec glanced at his sister, who bit back a smile, then nodded serenely. Supporting Lilliana’s downy head, he carefully transferred the pink-swathed little body into the thick arms of the Archangel.
“And don’t forget modest, Your Grace,” Luca groused, settling back near his wife. “You’re incredibly modest.”
“Facts are facts.” Michael shrugged. He lowered his face to the baby’s, smiling delightedly when she grabbed a handful of his golden curls.
“Is he cooing?” Alec stage whispered, his mouth dropping open.
“No,” Tessa smiled. “He’s communicating with her. It’s an Archangel thing. I can’t speak the language, but thanks to my Principalitie heritage, I can understand it.”
Michael glanced up with a frown. “Lilliana and I are having a private conversation, Contessa. Don’t feel compelled to translate, if you get my drift.”
“He warned her to never break her father’s heart,” Tessa continued in a choked voice, as though he hadn’t spoken. Hot tears pricked the backs of her lids. She blinked them away and turned toward the others. Michael might be a prince of the heavens and rule his army with an iron fist, but he’d always treated her like a beloved niece. Everyone, even Archangels, made poor decisions and did stupid things in the name of love. Tessa could certainly attest to that fact. They shouldn’t be judged for them forever. Michael would never explain himself to his men, or ask them to cut him some slack concerning his folly. But, Tessa could. “A father will do anything for love of a daughter, even foolish, forbidden things that bite him in the ass for centuries. He told me the same thing once upon a time. I didn’t understand it then.”
“As I recall, I also admonished you on more than one occasion to respect your elders. Apparently, that caveat continues to fall on deaf ears,” Michael muttered in a gruff tone. He cleared his throat, straightened, and handed Lilliana to her mother. “Furthermore, I told her she’s beautiful, and special, and will someday accomplish great things.”
“That should be obvious to everyone.” Madge stepped from the bottom of the stairs and breezed into the parlor in a cloud of designer fragrance. “She is my grand-da
ughter, after all.”
“You look lovely, Mother.” Callista smiled.
“What’s the occasion?” Alec asked.
“I’m going out for an early dinner,” Madge replied airily, slipping her hand into the crook of Michael’s arm. “I finally persuaded Michael to crawl out of that cold pile of stone he holes up in.”
“You’re going to dinner with him?” Alec gasped, his jaw hitting the floor. Luca wore a similar expression. Tessa swallowed a giggle when color stained Michael’s high cheekbones. Flustered was a completely new look for him.
“Magdalena needs to eat. I need to eat. Why shouldn’t we eat together?” Michael said. “You and Contessa are leaving presently. In fact,” He ducked his head to glance through the front window. “Your car just pulled up out front. And I’m sure Luca and Callista would appreciate some alone time with Lilliana.”
“But—”
“Off you go, dears.” Madge released the Archangel, and embraced Tessa. Then she turned and wrapped her arms around Alec, before pushing them both gently in the direction of the front door. “I love you. Have a safe flight, and text me when you land.”
“Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry,” Alec muttered, scooping his duffle bag from the floor of the foyer and slinging Tessa’s backpack over his arm.
“Come see us soon,” Tessa called as Alec pulled the door closed.
****
“What were you thinking?” Tessa yawned, slipping her backpack from her shoulders inside the front door and flicking on the lights. “Two layovers before we even left Europe. Why didn’t you book a non-stop flight?”
“None available.” Alec shrugged, dropping the rest of their bags next to hers. He stretched his arms over his head until his back gave a satisfactory crack, then gathered Tessa in his arms and rested his chin on top of her head. “And we’re home now, right?”
“Yes, we are.” Tessa yawned again. “Home. It has a nice ring, doesn’t it? Are you sure about this? I mean, I love it, but I know you prefer the city.”
“I prefer wherever you are, Tess. Besides, I still have the apartments in New York and Paris, and we’ll visit my mother in Rome. We aren’t exactly stranded in the middle of nowhere,” Alec chuckled.
“True. And Kassian and his wife will be here for a visit next week. I can’t wait to see him and meet Katrina. Any woman who can keep your brother in line must be pretty special,” Tessa laughed.
“Or half crazy. But, yeah, you’ll love her.” Alec squinted down the darkened hallway leading to the kitchen, trying to discern any hint of movement through the new French doors leading out to the patio.
“Everything ready?” He sent the message on the wavelength used exclusively by Defensori.
“Been ready for two hours. Just waiting on you, brother. Don’t think that second layover was strictly necessary,” Kassian responded dryly. Alec suppressed the urge to whoop. He pressed his lips to Tessa’s forehead instead. Damn, he actually pulled it off.
“I can’t wait to hop in the shower and become close personal friends with our new mattress.” Tessa propped her chin on his chest and gazed up at him. Her lids drooped with fatigue, and he suffered a momentary pang of guilt. Maybe planning this after sixteen hours of traveling hadn’t been the best idea. Nothing could erase the pain he caused her all those years ago, but now that they’d been gifted with a second chance, he never intended to let a day go by taking her love for granted again.
“Let’s check out the back deck before we go up. I want to make sure the contractor finished everything,” Alec suggested, releasing her from his arms. He grabbed her hand and tugged her down the hall in the direction of the darkened kitchen.
“Alec, it’s pitch black outside,” Tessa moaned, dragging her feet. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow? Preferably sometime after noon, since I have no intention of crawling out of bed until at least lunchtime.”
“Humor me.” Alec pulled her along behind him, then unlatched and slid open the door.
“Now.”
He stepped aside, allowing Tessa to precede him. His heart felt full enough to burst as she turned to him, her eyes widened and lips parted in surprise. Opposite the deck, a full orchestra with Tessa’s excited students scattered among them, sat in a semicircle with instruments poised. Galen and Mekonnen stepped from the darkness, revealing the source of the magic illuminating the trees with twinkling fairy lights. His mother and Michael, Kassian and Kat, Luca and Callista all sat on the far side of the deck, observing her reaction with wide grins. Baby Lilliana squirmed and squawked in her father’s arms.
“As I remember, your symphony is lovely enough to soothe a wild beast,” Luca observed laconically. “Fortunate, as it seems a certain member of your audience is getting restless,”
“My symphony?” Tessa whispered in a husky voice, turning to Alec with tear bright eyes. “You did all this? How?”
“I know it’s not the Royal Festival Hall, and it’s ten years overdue—” Alec began. She pressed her fingers to his lips, halting his words.
“It’s perfect.” Tessa croaked in a husky voice. She stepped into his arms and buried her face in his chest. Alec wrapped his arms around his wife, drawing her shuddering frame against him, struggling to find the words. He blinked away moisture and his throat tightened.
“If people learn from their mistakes, I should be a freaking genius by now,” he whispered into her hair. “Not everyone gets a second chance. And while it’s infinitely better to get it right the first time, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t squander it. I promise. I love you, Tessa.”
“I love you, too,” Tessa sniffed, stretching up on her toes to press her lips to his. “Calli was right, you know. Mekonnen did offer me a wish to repay me for his freedom. I turned him down.”
“Why?”
“You gave me your heart, you gave me a home.” Tessa looked beyond him at their audience, and the tears coursed freely down her cheeks as she returned her gaze to his. “You gave me a family. And now this…” The musicians took up their instruments and the opening strains of the overture—the melody she told Alec she heard in her mind the very first time she saw him—filled the night air. Tessa shook her head, reaching up to cup his cheek. Alec turned his face into her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. Then he buried his fingers in her silky curls and tilted her face to his. Sliding her hand up the plane of his chest, she linked her fingers behind his neck, and tugged his head down to hers.
“Everything my heart desires is right here,” Tessa murmured against his lips. “What more could I possibly wish for?”
A word about the author…
Sharon Saracino was born and raised in beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania. Always the girl with her nose in a book, a lifelong love of writing took a back seat to real life while she got married, raised a family, and finally decided what she wanted to be when she grew up! She frequently announced that someday she was going to write a book. One milestone birthday (we won’t discuss which one!) she decided someday would be here and gone if she didn’t get her butt in gear. She plans to win the lottery just as soon as she remembers to purchase a ticket, fantasizes about moving to Italy, brews limoncello, and believes there’s always magic to be found if you only take the time to look for it!
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An Angel's Song Page 18
