“Well, I still miss her.” Ruby sighed, calming down. “And he misses the boys.”
“Bubas!” Dirk blurted out. I didn’t even realize he was paying attention to us until he said it.
“Yes, your brothers. See? He knows exactly who I’m talking about.”
“Don’t worry, buddy.” I said. “You’ll see them in a few days.”
“And play?”
“Yup. Then you can play with them.”
Dirk turned his head back and got back to playing with the blocks, stacking them up and knocking them down.
“I think it’s almost bedtime.” Ruby said with a yawn.
“Nah. Let him play a little longer. Does he look tired to you?”
“I meant for me.”
I laughed and held a little tighter around her. “Don’t go to bed yet. I like sitting here with you.”
“All right but only if we can talk about it now.”
“Talk about what?” Ruby pointed to the wrapped ax by the fireplace and I sighed. “Oh. I still don’t like the idea of it.”
“Why? Because Trever gave it to us?”
“No. I’m Dirk’s father. I’m supposed to be the one to pick what weapon he gets to carry at sixteen.”
“So, agree and you’ll be picking it.”
“Not the same.”
“Well, do you think that there’s anything wrong with it? I mean, it’s Senian-made, completely perfect to match him and you know that he’ll be strong enough to wield it with his strength.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“But what?”
“I already told you.”
Ruby sighed and pulled away so she could look back. “Muscles, please.” She used a soft voice, almost begging with my pet name. “It’s a complete one-of-a-kind. There isn’t anything else in the world like it. I’d carry it if I didn’t have to be mad all the time to do it. It’s a beautiful piece and deserves to be used again by someone that can. It’s important, especially to me.”
Ruby seemed to really want this and I knew no matter how much I hated it, I couldn’t say no forever. “All right. If it’s that important to you then fine. Dirk will get it when he’s old enough.”
“Oh, thank you!”
“But I’ll be the one to give it to him.”
“That’s fair. You’re his father. You should.”
“Now, let’s forget about this.” I pulled her back so she was sitting comfortably like before. “There’s still a long time before that happens. Let’s not rush it. I know you especially should enjoy the time he’s young like this because it won’t last forever.”
“I know.” Ruby muttered with a hint of sadness on her tone. “It’s hard to believe he’s going to be two soon.”
“Time does go by fast and you’ll need to be prepared for it.”
“I’ll try to be. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Ruby smiled and rested her head on me. Peace was the atmosphere in which we sat that night and just watched our son play against the orange glow of the fire. Dirk never seemed to be getting tired but Ruby had fallen asleep in her relaxed position.
“Time for bed in a minute, buddy.” I whispered. “I’m going to put mama in bed.” Dirk only looked up for a second and got back to playing while I stood up with his mother. I carefully walked to the bed and moved the blankets so I could place Ruby down and covered her up. “All right, come on. Bed.”
Dirk dropped the blocks and put up his hands to be picked up.
I changed him and placed him down in his bed in his room next to ours. “Now, go to sleep. You can play more tomorrow. No more tonight.”
Dirk cuddled in the blanket around him and closed his eyes, listening to my instruction. I smiled to how easy it was and got myself into bed next to Ruby. I didn’t expect the others to return for almost a week and I was ready to enjoy every second I had like this with my family.
Chapter 28
Adele
We were finally returning home. Seth and Bryce were eager to get down and play, most importantly with Dirk. They squirmed and wiggled to get out of our arms when we saw the palace hit with the sun’s light. Even they knew what it meant.
“All right, all right, Seth. Let’s get inside first.” We took our horses into the stables but he never stopped trying. “Zayden, can you please take him before I drop him.”
Zayden smiled and approached my horse. “He’s just excited to be home. Come on, Seth. I’ll get you down.” He picked him up and set him down on the ground. “See? He’s probably just glad to stand again too. It was a long trip.”
“Well, I’m more than ready to end it.”
“We’ll all agree to that.” Troy smiled. “Think they’ll be surprised to see us?”
Jaylyn laughed. “Because we’re a few days early? We might have to shade our eyes going in.”
I let out an aggravated sigh. “I could have gone a few more days without that.”
“No you couldn’t have.” Zayden joked. “You miss Ruby too. Admit it.”
“I’d at least wait until their done before I stormed in. Troy, what are they doing?”
He laughed to my urgency. “It’s fine. They’re playing with Dirk.”
“Probably needing to keep him occupied.”
“Well, let’s go in and let them know we’re back. We’ll take care of the rest of this once we reunite the boys.” Zayden led the way out of the stables and we headed for the palace.
It seemed quiet when we entered until Dirk screamed with excitement, setting off Seth and Bryce to react with joy.
“Whoa!” Darius said, stopping him from running over. “What are you doing back?”
“The boys missed Dirk.” I explained. “Think he’s had enough separation?”
“Too much but hang on.” Darius turned and shouted up the stairwell. “Ruby! Guess who’s back!”
Footsteps raced down the stairs and Ruby had the biggest smile on her face. “Adele! Thank goodness!”
My eyes opened a little wider from the surprise of Ruby throwing her arms around me. “Hello to you too.”
“We’ve missed your cooking around here, no offense Darius.”
He laughed. “None taken. I only did it as means to survive after you gave up.”
“Well, we had to come back early.” I said. “The boys were not themselves.”
Ruby smiled and looked back at Dirk. “Told you it’d be soon. You can say hello. Gently.”
Dirk walked over slowly and took his mother’s hand, acting shy. “Hi.”
“Awe. That’s so cute.” Jaylyn smiled. “Bryce, you want to play?” He kicked his feet in excitement. “Okay. Go ahead.” She put him down and he went over to greet Dirk.
“No hugging, Dirk.” Darius said. “I don’t care if he would heal himself. Don’t hurt them. You’re older, lead by example.”
“Limit how you use the word lead.” Zayden replied.
“You know I didn’t mean it like that but when they’re this young, he should be showing them the proper ways to behave. Seth has full rights to take over when he’s good and ready.”
“Just making sure.”
“Okay.” I cut in. “Let’s get this going so we can unload the rest of the stuff.”
“Unload?” Ruby wondered. “What’d you bring?”
Eyes shifted around and they focused on me to explain. I did since it was my idea but started out slowly. “Ah, yeah. Trever packed up a bunch of stuff that—”
“Like my stuff? But I didn’t leave anything with him.”
“No, not your stuff. It’s just all the stuff he had that would remind him of you.”
A long pause followed and I was trying to figure out how this was making her feel.
Her face was blank but she slowly started to express something vocally. “He’s trying to forget about me?”
“It’s what’s best for everyone.”
“Yeah. Of course. I know. It is. Go ahead and bring it in and I’ll have a look. If it reminds
him of me which is something he’s trying not to have done then I’ll see if it means anything to me.”
I kept my eyes from shifting but heard the hesitation in her voice. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” It was a quick answer. “He was right to do it. He knows what’s best for him and this is it. I’m completely fine.”
She sat herself down in one of the chairs like she was waiting and I didn’t know what else to say. I looked back at the others and nodded, letting them head back outside.
Ruby sat still while the boys finally got the chance to play together again and wooden crates began to fill the open space. They played around them like a fun game with Rift acting like a puppy again but Ruby never moved.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Darius sat himself next to her with a gentle hand on her leg.
“Fine.” Her eyes never strayed from in front of her.
“You can tell us.” He glanced up at me, knowing I was in hearing distance but he knew she could tell me too. We’d all understand.
“I know you don’t care. I wouldn’t want to bother you with my pathetic feelings.”
“It’s not pathetic. You are upset.”
“No, I’m just surprised. I didn’t think he would do anything like this. I mean, look at all of this stuff. How could he possibly have anything left?”
Darius couldn’t help laughing, trying to keep it quiet behind his closed lips.
“It’s not funny!” Ruby said, trying not to laugh herself. “I’m serious! Does he really want to forget me that badly?” Her voice lowered toward the end and her smile faded with it.
Darius did the right thing and I let him be the one to comfort her. He acted caring towards her and made her see reason. “Maybe not forget, just think of you less often. He has Bianca now and should be focusing on his own life. You made the first step by leaving and he’s made the second.”
“Then is it my turn again?”
“If you decide it to be or you could do nothing and accept that he doesn’t need to be a part of your life to have one.”
“I know you don’t enjoy this.”
“Enjoy what?”
“Giving me advice about Trever.”
“I may not but it happens to be something you’re dealing with and I’m here for you.”
“Well, thank you. As much as you don’t care, I’m glad you’re being here for me.”
Darius smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
“This is the last thing.” Zayden was pulling a large crate across the floor to direct it while the other two pushed.
“What is that?” Ruby and Darius both rose to their feet.
Zayden stood completely with a smile and leaned against it with a deep breath. “This is definitely something special. Darius, you need to see it.”
Ruby looked over the crate, her eyes widening and she rushed towards it to stand by Zayden. “No, you shouldn’t!”
“You know what it is?” Zayden asked.
“You know what it is?”
“He showed us.”
“Us!”
“Just myself and Troy.”
Troy laughed, leaning forward on the crate. “Yeah. Very nice.”
Ruby sighed and moved away. “I guess there’s no point now. You can see them but I can’t watch.”
She walked back over to the chair and sat down.
“Well?” Zayden asked.
“Well what?” Darius replied.
“Want to see?”
He shrugged but stayed where he was as a sign that he was ready.
“Okay.” Zayden turned towards the crate and began to pry it open.
“Make sure they’re in order.” Troy said. “It’s how he should see them.”
“What are they?” I asked.
“Paintings.”
“Of Ruby?”
“Yup.”
“Oh, no.” Jaylyn muttered.
“It’s okay!” Ruby called from her chair. “Not like you think!”
“Well, not completely.” Troy whispered.
“Okay. Let’s see them.” I said. I was curious about this too.
Zayden did the honors after making sure they were arranged properly and shown us the first one of a young Ruby posing at a table.
“That’s really nice.” Jaylyn said.
“They get better.” Zayden replied. “Well, from a man’s perspective.”
“Of course.” I smiled jokingly. “But we still want to see them. Continue.”
Zayden pulled out the second painting of Ruby lounging in a circle chair dressed in a gold robe, exposing most of her legs while she had them bent up on some pillows.
My eyes widened a little more and Troy had to come around to get a look.
“Wow.” I muttered. “Ruby has always had great legs.”
“Thank you!”
Darius turned his head with a smile when she responded, knowing she heard my quiet remark. “It is quite nice.”
“They only get better.” Troy sounded pleased until he looked over at Jaylyn and tried giving an explanation. “Well, you know for him.”
“It’s okay.” Jaylyn smiled. “I’m well aware of what some of these will be containing. I’m not mad that you’ve seen them. What’s the next one, Zayden?”
He pulled out the third painting. Ruby was sitting on a large red pillow, her head turned to the left with her hair over her shoulder to expose her bare back all the way to her tailbone.
“This is the lovely elegant one.” Zayden said, staring at it.
“I guess.” Darius replied. “But I’m pretty familiar from seeing her at that angle.”
“I bet.”
“Next!” I shouted.
Zayden pulled out the fourth painting and my eyes widened again, this time even wider than before. Ruby stood facing forward, her head directed to her left. Her arms were bent up over her breasts while exposing cleavage between them and she only wore a red cloth that draped low around her hips.
“Now that one I like.” Darius said.
“Yeah, we thought that was going to be our favorite too.” Troy replied. “But boy, were we wrong. Show him the last one.”
Zayden pulled out the last painting. Ruby was laying on a bed of red rose pedals on her back, her naked body dusted with them but still barely covered while she held a full blossom in her hand. It was beautiful even in an elegant sort of way but still like Ruby in the sense that she wasn’t dressed. The rose pedals don’t count.
“Where should we hang it?” Darius asked.
“Funny.” I said. “Nowhere. That’s not something that the boys need to grow up seeing and Dirk would probably hate it.”
“I understand. It was just a joke but I do have one small, probably unimportant question.”
“What?”
“For two people never really being together, why did he have these?”
I looked around and realized that it wasn’t explained and it seemed no one knew who should.
“They’re his work.” Ruby was up from her chair and standing behind Darius. “He painted them.”
“Oh. Of course he did.”
“One every year for the last five years. It’s how we coped—with us. I’d do nothing and he’d paint with the silence but the more I think about it, he probably wasn’t thinking of me.”
“It’s okay. Despite their creator, they are nice because they’re of you. I won’t mind having them around.”
“They won’t exactly be around but you can look at them any time. We can keep them upstairs with us.”
“What about the rest of this stuff?” I asked. “It’s not staying here.”
Ruby looked around at all of the crates and the boys still playing among them with Rift. “Darius would love to take these all the way upstairs for us and I can go through them there.”
“Sure.” Darius replied. “But I’m not having Trever’s junk clutter our room.”
“It’s not junk. Trever never owned junk and that’s fine. You can put them in the spare roo
m on our floor. Better get started.”
Darius rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh to turn.
“Oh, wait!” Jaylyn’s excited voice halted him. “Before you do, you have to see ours.”
“Your what?”
“Troy, where is it? You didn’t lose it, did you?”
He laughed. “No. It’s right here.” He pulled a smaller canvas from beside a crate.
“Trever painted one of you?” I asked.
“Not of me.” Jaylyn skipped towards Troy with a smile. “Of us!”
“Uh oh. Do we even want to see it?”
“Not like that. He wouldn’t be able to paint me like that. He’s my brother and it’s not as good and lifelike like all of Ruby’s but he said he just had to paint it.”
“Okay. Let’s see it.” Ruby said.
Jaylyn happily took the painting from Troy and turned it towards the group. We reacted surprisingly to see the image. Jaylyn and Troy were underwater with tails instead of legs. Troy’s arms curled around Jaylyn’s back, her tail wrapped around his and her hair was spread out above them, floating freely in the water while they stared into each other’s eyes.
“Wow.” Ruby said. “And he just decided to paint this?”
Jaylyn’s voice got a little lower but she still sounded happy. “It was actually a dream Ellie told him about.”
Ruby tilted her head and looked at it some more. “Yes. I do see the child imagination here. She always did like to hear about love.”
“And mine is the best kind.” Jaylyn smiled, looking back at Troy.
“It’s neat and one you could actually hang somewhere. Now, let’s get these upstairs. I’ll help.”
She followed Darius, picking up her first heavy crate easily while her eyes turned red for the help.
I was just glad it was starting to get cleared out of here and no one continued a conversation so they’d do it.
Chapter 29
Ruby
It didn’t take us very long. With our combined strength, we managed to get everything upstairs quickly and even Dirk wanted to help.
“Dirk, no sweetie. We’re almost done. I don’t want you getting hurt. Go play.”
He ran back towards Seth and Bryce playing around Rift and I took the last small crate upstairs into a different room from my own.
Rising Sun (Fate's Intent Book 9) Page 14
