“I will.”
Jaylyn was at the door out of nowhere and Troy instantly looked worried like he wondered how long.
“That would be great.” I said. “She’ll be happy. It’s been hours.”
“How did you know Trever left?” Troy asked.
“Ryon just got back. He’s out there so he doesn’t do the appearing out of nowhere thing in front of the boys. I’ll go tell her. She’ll probably want to eat too.”
Troy became more worried and stepped towards her as if to stop her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I figured it had to of been because of her father possibly still being here. I doubt she would have run into him though. He was smarter than that not to walk the halls here.
“Why not?”
Ryon stepped through the door behind her, shaking his head like he was trying to say Bryce left.
“Nothing. I just thought you shouldn’t be the one to do it but more time had passed than I really realized.”
“Yes, it has and I told you I’m fine.”
“I’ll keep reminding myself. Go ahead and get her.”
Jaylyn still seemed a little curious about his behavior, it would have made anyone curious but she left anyway.
“She didn’t hear all of that, I hope."
“Well, she didn’t say anything about it.” Troy said. “And you know she would have.”
“Yes, I do but it’s okay. He’s gone for now but he’s still going to want to talk to you.”
“I know and I’m going to tell him where to go.”
Ryon looked at me and laughed slightly. “Good luck with that.”
“I don’t need luck.”
“All right.” I turned, juggling three plates. “Boys, come on. Table.”
They started to file out the actual door this time and Ruby was finally making an appearance after spending all day upstairs.
“Hey.” She said, taking a plate from me. “Hungry, baby?”
I laughed. “Of course he is. He broke through the wall to get it.”
“Dirk. What did we talk about? No breaking stuff.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” I said. “Ryon was able to fix it before Adele would have seen.”
“Phew. Good thing. I guess there are benefits to having him around.”
“I guess.”
We sat with the boys and stayed with them while they ate.
“So?” I looked over and Ruby was clearly hinting towards starting some kind of conversation.
“What?”
“Did he say anything about me?”
Trever. Of course. It’s not what I wanted to talk about but even after all this time she was still trying to cope with his decision.
“Not really.” I lied. “He was more or less talking to Troy about Bryce when I saw him.”
Ruby looked around and leaned into me with a quiet voice through her teeth. “Big one or little?”
“Big.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. Troy’s plan is to just tell him to stay out of our lives but without a flinch this time.”
She shivered. “I can’t even think about it without flinching.”
It was amusing. “Why are you so scared of him?”
“I’m not. I mean, he’s Bryce. He’s capable of anything. He’s not just going to leave because Troy tells him so. He’ll only leave when he’s satisfied and he never is when it comes to Jaylyn’s safety.”
“Where is she?”
“She went back into the study when I was coming down. She’s still dealing with the news. I know she is no matter what she says. Having Arianna as a mother is kind of a big deal.”
“Yeah. I know I was shocked. How does something like that stay hidden?”
“You don’t remember? Trever told the story of their mother and how Bryce had Madam Carla shield them from her mind. He just left out the part of who she was.”
“Oh yeah. I do remember that actually. My manor. That was a while ago.”
Ruby heightened her voice with a laugh. “It was. Long before these three.”
The boys were still eating and making a nice mess with it all over themselves.
“Time is a funny thing.”
“Why do you say that?”
Both our heads turned when Jaylyn entered.
“We were just talking about the boys.” Ruby said. “They’re getting big so fast.”
“I guess. It’s good though.” She sat with us and that’s when I noticed she had the journal with her. I looked over at Ruby and we were both unsure about why. “But we should still savor it.”
“Why do you have that?” Ruby asked when Jaylyn actually opened it and started looking through it.
“I’m honestly surprised that I still do. Trever said he was going to take it back.”
“Why?”
“There’s still some things in it he needs, he says. I’m not sure exactly what. It might be these pages.” She flipped the book around like she was reading it upside-down. “They’re mostly ancient stories and stuff, things for some reason Trever would care about, not me. I just wanted to read my father’s pages.” She turned the book back as if to look at those pages again and an envelope fell out of it. “What’s this?”
She picked it up and turned it over. Her eyes locked on it but she said nothing.
“Jaylyn?” Ruby asked. “What is it?”
“That’s strange. It’s from—my father.”
Ruby turned her wide eyes to me like she wanted me to do something.
“Maybe you shouldn’t read it.” I said.
“Why?”
“Haven’t you been through enough?”
“What more could there possibly be?” She ripped it open and started reading it to herself but the longer she sat still, the more I could see it was upsetting her.
Ruby nudged me and I knew there was really only one thing I could do. I had to find Troy.
I left the dining room and he was still in the kitchen with Ryon.
“Troy, you better come quick.”
“Why?”
“Jaylyn just found a letter in that journal addressed specifically to her.”
“From who?”
“Who do you think and I don’t think it was written before he died.”
His eyes widened but more in a fierce way and he followed me back.
“Jaylyn?”
She was still sitting at the table but she wasn’t exactly crying like I would have guessed. The letter was folded in her hand and she was just staring in front of her. “He’s been here, hasn’t he?”
Troy and I looked at each other.
“Who?” I asked.
Troy slowly took the letter from her and she let him only because that’s how unresponsive she was being.
He opened it in front of me and surprisingly, it was readable.
Chapter 38
Troy
I held the letter in my hand, my eyes nervous to look down at it but I did.
My Darling Jaylyn,
I write to you from another place. By now, you should know the truth and I am sorry that I could never tell you. You meant the world to me and I had to give up everything I had to protect you, that included my life but I’m okay now. I don’t want you to worry; I don’t want you to be sad. I’m always watching over you and I couldn’t be more proud of all your accomplishments. You helped create peace. I never would have dreamed that day would come but I enjoyed watching you succeed and your new family, they are growing beautifully with you.
I hope you will not regret anything that you read recently. I wanted you to know eventually. Your brother helped shield you from it until he felt he didn’t have to anymore and I see that time is now. Take this memory with you always. Don’t lock yourself away; don’t let it hurt you. I want you to continue on living as you always have in the hopeful light you bring to everyone you meet.
You are my daughter; you are my little Princess, always and I will see you again.<
br />
Forever with you,
Father
Now I didn’t know what to say. If we lied to her, would that have still worked? I doubt this time. She seemed to already know the answer to her own question.
“Why doesn’t he ever come to me?”
I knelt and tried to do this as cautiously as possible. “Maybe he knows you miss him too much. He would never want to bring that kind of pain to you.”
“You’ve seen him, haven’t you and talked to him?”
She hadn’t ever looked at me while she was asking all these questions but I knew I was in no position to lie about something she already seemed to know the answer to.
“Yes.”
“Will you see him again?”
“Troy, stop this.” Ryon said.
“I already know you see him.” Jaylyn said, finally shifting her eyes to him. “When is it ever going to be my turn?”
“You’re not ready.” He was sounding a lot like Trever in the way of trying to protect her.
“I’m tired of hearing that. I’m a grown person. I think it’s time that I start making my own decisions.”
“Not when it comes to this.”
“Why? You used to believe in me once. Remember?”
“Not when it comes to this. It’d be even more dangerous if he came to you because of your mother. She knows who you are now. Being away is the only thing that keeps her away so she doesn’t use you to get to Ellie.”
I wasn’t sure how much of what he was saying was true but I liked hearing it. It might be something she would understand and accept. Ellie hasn’t been mentioned around here in a while and hearing her name did something to Jaylyn like she knew it was the right thing to keep her safe.
“I suffer so she’s safe.”
“A sacrifice I’m sure you’re willing to make as someone has once done that for you.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” I couldn’t believe she was over it that quick and just needed to be sure.
“Yes. Okay. I can be grown up about it, see? I’ll always put my children before me. It’s how I’m like my father and nothing like the witch claimed to be my mother.”
Ryon laughed. “Yeah, she’s playing the role better these days.”
“Shut up!” Ruby snatched. “It’s not funny.”
“It’s okay.” Jaylyn said. “I think I’m getting over it. She’s not technically around anymore so it doesn’t matter if she was my mother or not.”
“Still.”
“I’m not sad about it, in fact, I’d gladly thank her for all she’s done.”
I think we all were looking at her strangely at this point. “Why?”
“Because she let me have the best mother of all; Gwen.”
Ruby smiled and took her hand in a short sentiment moment between the two of them. “And we got you.”
“See? Everyone’s happy. I wouldn’t change it.”
I was curious yet didn’t quite understand it myself. She really did seem like she was fine but how could she be? She knew her father has come here and that I’ve talked to him. I couldn’t see her just let that go but what would I really tell her if she asked, I sort of hate him at the moment? She’d surely hate to hear that. Apparently, he was never hated and saying that I did would break her heart. So, for the future conversation that might arise when I’m not ready, I had to go find a reason to like him.
I haven’t seen Zayden back down here yet so maybe they were locked in some kind of conversation that I could interrupt. If he was still around, it was to see me after all and I had to at least try.
My feet carried me swiftly upstairs where I would start my search but Zayden wasn’t up here, he was outside on the balcony with Adele and they were actually dueling happily rather than their usual way of fighting. It was good to see and I didn’t want to disturb them and change the mood so I headed back inside. I treaded faster down the stairs than up and Bryce appeared in front of me before I could have taken my last step on my floor.
It startled me of course but he seemed to find some amusement in it and smiled. “Been looking for me?”
“Not here.” I stepped off the stairs and entered the closest room that I knew he would follow me into.
“I won’t apologize about what you wish to speak to me about.”
I turned and was already annoyed that he knew. “The letter?”
“You can’t deny that it didn’t help. I already sense an eased change in her.”
“Perhaps but there are still consequences. She knows you come here now and that I’ve seen you without a mention of it.”
“It was not my intent to cause problems between you.”
“It doesn’t necessarily matter anymore. It’s been handled. Your time here is wasted and you’re no longer needed. I’m the one who takes care of her now.”
I heard that laugh come from him again; the one that made me nervous the last time and his voice that went along with it. “Is that so?”
I didn’t flinch. “Yes and if you didn’t believe that I could, I’m sure you would have removed me from the picture a long time ago. So, what are you waiting for? Take your boredom somewhere else and leave us to our lives. That’s your place, not here.”
The sound of my own voice never gave me so much pride and I stood firm to my words. I wasn’t sure what would truly become of this but it was never anything close to what did.
Bryce stepped into me with a long embrace like it was something he’s been waiting for. “Well-done. Your father has always been true to his reasons for being proud of you and now I can say I am too.”
I was completely confused and it was obvious on my voice when we parted. “Really?”
“Indeed. You’ve become everything we wanted. Left alive for him and my daughter’s happiness for me. You’ve earned it.”
“Thank you.”
“No. That won’t be necessary. Just—be there for her.”
“You don’t have to worry. I always will be.”
“Yes and now I know. Until the day we shall meet again.”
“It’ll be far off but I hear time is measured differently for you.”
“It’s still a distance but we can wait.”
He held out his hand to me and I looked down at it before taking it with a firm grip. I felt this faint pressure lift from me like I truly wouldn’t have to deal with it anymore when I touched him. I was glad but I knew it wasn’t over. Jaylyn was still going to ask questions, only this time I could answer them truthfully without regret.
Bryce indeed was great and I could never hate him for wanting to make sure his daughter had all the possible chances at a happy life. He now believed it was me and I will surpass his expectations to keep it that way.
“Really, Trever? You came all the way back for the journal already?”
Bryce’s hand gripped tighter in mine and I felt my heart begin to race. Jaylyn was in the room and worse, she could see him but it wasn’t Trever. How could this be hidden now? He couldn’t just disappear, she would have known for sure. He knew it too. I could see it in his eyes and I could also see how eager he was to actually turn around and see her face-to-face. I didn’t know if it was a good idea at all but what other choice did he have? She was standing with an annoyed expression, waiting for a response.
“Hello, my darling.”
Jaylyn’s features became worried and Bryce slowly turned. Her eyes instantly watered and her mouth gaped with the deepest longing to scream. “Daddy?”
“It’s all right. It’s just me.” He approached her carefully and held out his hand as a means to get her to come closer.
She didn’t hesitate then but she didn’t take his hand. She rushed into his arms like a child trying to hide themselves. Her arms were scrunched tight to her own body and her face was pressed against his chest. All he could do was hold her there and all I could do was let it happen.
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” Jaylyn muttered. She wasn’t crying but she could start at any moment.
“You know that I wanted to but you didn’t need that in your life. Now is different. You’re old enough to understand what had to be done.”
“But I’ve missed you, Daddy, so much.”
“I know but you grew beautifully. You’ve been stronger than what everyone believes and have made me proud. It’s all I could want.”
“Why has it taken me this long to see you?”
“I’m sure everyone has a different opinion but you truly weren’t ready.”
I was waiting for some kind of harsh reaction out of her but she never broke down like everyone always seemed to think she would. I was proud of her.
“But I think it’s what I always needed; to know. I know I won’t see you again.”
“And I’m sorry for that. I didn’t want it to be this way but you’re ready to let go.”
“I am?”
She backed away and looked at him again. Her eyes were the same and I’ve always hated seeing it.
“Of course you are. I’ve always believed in you. We’ll see each other again.”
Now she was going to cry. I didn’t know if I could take it.
“Whenever you want, if that’s what you choose.” I said.
She looked at me and Bryce turned with the same surprised expression. It was a real suggestion. She hasn’t completely lost it yet and I wasn’t sure if she was going to. If she needed Bryce around to be happy then I would approve.
“No.”
I was the one left surprised when she answered without hesitation.
“No?”
“I know that’s what you think I want but—” She met her father’s eyes and completed. “I know what’s right.”
Bryce smiled and touched her chin. “That’s my girl. Not everything can be forever. You know that now.”
“Well, almost everything.”
She stepped away from him and gently took my arm to join my side. I smiled while she was looking up at me with the very smile that lured me in those years ago. We were forever. That’s what she was saying and even Bryce agreed.
“Yes.” He said. “Almost. He has more than proven he’s earned you. We’re truly quite proud.”
“We?” Jaylyn asked it like she was really confused and I sought to answer.
Rising Sun (Fate's Intent Book 9) Page 22
