His Sister's Return

by Mary Goldberger

  Trace nodded his head blinking back tears as he told them, “It was actually Selma who started the scrap book and I just added to it over the years. We were both as proud of her as we were of our own son.”

  “So was Janice, but for a different reason,” Sarette said roughly. “Once Alina started making money, she started coming around more even when she got married two more times.”

  Delilah frowned as Trystan asked a question in his voice, “I thought she was only married four times.”

  “She recently got married again in the last few weeks according to what I understand,” Sarette said as Theadora blew out an irate breathe. “In fact, it wasn’t too long after I delivered the jewelries back to her third husband as Alina requested.”

  Theadora shook her head as she confided, “Alina knew why her mother was coming around, but she still helped her out and in the end her mother ruined her friendship with her best friend and business partner.”

  “What happened?” Trystan asked walking over to the only chair left in the room as Trace leaned forward with a frown.

  “About a year ago,” Theadora started glancing at Sarette who nodded his head, “Alina’s friend got engaged to a wealthy man although when they started dating neither Alina nor her friend knew that at that time. She loved him very much, but Alina unfortunately made the mistake of introducing Janice to him when she came by the restaurant during a busy time.”

  “Don’t tell me…” Trystan started as his mother’s eyes widened.

  “Janice seduced him,” Sarette continued for his wife, “but I will be honest and admit she chose her seduction at the right moment although it doesn’t totally excuse him.”

  Getting confused looks from the other three, Theadora explained, “His father died and Alina’s partner had been out of town at the moment due to an emergency that came up at one of their restaurant’s they had recently bought. The night he learned about it, he got drunk and Janice used it to her advantage. For some reason, Janice believed that their one night was the beginning of a relationship which I never truly understood because Janice was no naïve young woman, or at the least she thought, he would pay her to keep quiet about their one night stand.”

  “I’m guessing that he did the opposite of what she thought,” Trystan stated.

  Sarette nodded his head as he said, “He told his fiancée about it when she came back to town and they almost didn’t get married because of it. Alina was the one who finally talked to her friend and told her not to let Janice ruin her chance. After her friend admitted she was scared it would happen again, Alina told her she didn’t believe he would’ve been honest about it if he meant for it to happen again. He told her the truth and afterwards, he didn’t force her to immediately forgive him for his mistake. Alina became their go between until finally they got married four months ago about a week before Alina arrived back here.”

  “Before what happened, Alina was already thinking about selling her share of the business to her partner,” Sarette told them glancing over at Trace. “She was making plans to move here in a few years anyway, but Janice’s interference made Alina start thinking that maybe it was time for her to come home.”

  Theadora shifted her eyes to Delilah and said bluntly, “Just so you know, Alina isn’t broke far from it although if she keeps supporting her mother, she probably will be.”

  “Thea,” her husband said in exasperation although there was understanding in the tone.

  “You and I both know that when Janice finds out about what happened, she will call or come to see Alina knowing that she won’t be strong enough at the moment to stand up to her,” Trace stated in a weary tone leaning his head back.

  “Then,” Delilah said slowly, “we can be her strength if that time comes.”

  “Mom,” Trystan said his face and voice showing his surprise at her instant response.

  “I like her. She was honest even though she knew how it would look,” Delilah said sincerely. “She put her life on the line to help Marla and Samuel, and from what I’ve learned she had been doing it for some time since she arrived even from you, son.”

  Trystan scowled at the remainder although it disappeared when Sarette and Trace gave him narrowed looks themselves.

  “I was only protecting my sister,” Trystan admitted in a hard voice.

  “Maybe so, but you never really asked Alina, did you?” His mother asked him leaning forward putting her elbow on her crossed legs.

  “Not at first but I did later on just not directly,” Trystan told them.

  His mother sighed and said to him in a soft voice, “It was still the wrong time, wasn’t it?”

  Trystan’s face clenched in anger but he nodded his head in agreement understanding what his mother was getting at as he remembered a remark that Alina had made after the accident at the restaurant.

  Theadora seeing the look in his eyes decided to return back to the original topic as she asked in a rush, “So, Sarette, when do you think Janice will arrive?”

  Sarette frowned as he told her, “She called me the other day, but I didn’t mention anything about Alina. She will learn soon enough if she doesn’t know already especially since she can’t get in contact with Alina. We have at least a week in my estimation before Janice makes an appearance.”

  “At least?” Trystan said lifting an eyebrow at the phrase.

  “She could show up tomorrow,” Theadora told him. “Alina has been her money source in the last few years especially between divorces and men, or just when she ran short.”

  Delilah looked at her Trystan who said slowly, “So if she just got married then she might not contact Alina for a while then?”

  “Unfortunately,” Sarette said with a twist of his lips as humor danced in his eyes, “her latest husband isn’t as rich as she thought so sooner or later, she will contact Alina for help. When she finds out Alina is here, I can guarantee she will find a way here to find out what’s going on.”

  Trystan settled back in his chair after this comment as the others continued to talk around him and he hoped that they had another week for him to become a pillar for Alina to lean on when she faced her mother.

  In their own place, Samuel and Marla curled up on the bed as he ran his hand down Marla’s bare arm.

  “Are you worried about Alina?” She asked him tracing her hand across his chest.

  “Right now, she is weak physically and emotionally that her mother can stampede right over,” Samuel stated his voice low.

  “Then we will help her,” Marla told him eyes flashing with determination.

  Samuel glanced down at her and said, “You don’t mind that we put our honeymoon on hold for the time being?”

  He scanned the area around him as he continued, “We are staying in my apartment instead of looking for a house.”

  “I like your apartment,” Marla said with a giggle. “And I like your sister. I did the first time I met her without knowing she was the one who I believed you to be seeing. I owe her too because I asked Trystan to help distract her away from you.”

  “I don’t think your brother needed much encouragement,” Samuel said with a hard glint in his eyes.

  “I doubt he did, but I also think he didn’t do it solely for me either,” Marla told him thoughtfully.

  Samuel had to agree with that statement as they laid there in each other’s arms wondering what was going to happen next.

  Chapter 24

  The next morning, Alina was awake lying in bed when there was a knock on the door and she called out quietly, ‘come in’ as she stretched wincing slightly before she sat up. She glanced over as the door opened and she felt her heartbeat speed up at the sight of Trystan as he walked in the room.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said in a teasing rough voice that caressed her senses although she controlled the shiver that went through her at his voice.

  “Good morning,” she said giving him a smile before she lifted one eyebrow at him before glancing down at the shirt she still wor
e. Even though she woke up briefly yesterday and spent an hour or so with his mother, she hadn’t changed out of the shirt.

  “You were already asleep and I didn’t want to wake you in order for you to change,” he told her walking over to the bed already dressed for work minus the jacket to the suit he wore.

  Alina shifted her eyes over him before she smiled and said, “Thank you for taking care of me. Your mother explained yesterday when I spent some time with her.”

  His eyes glinted with mischief when he sat down on the bed and leaned forward resting his weight on one hand as he lifted the other to her face brushing back a strand of hair getting a startled look from her and he was pleased to see a flush come to her cheeks.

  “I will admit that the urge to look and discover what laid beneath those clothes was very tempting, but I will wait,” he told her allowing his fingers to drift across her flushed cheeks.

  “For what?” Alina asked a breathless note in her voice that surprised her and she cleared her throat as she scooted back on the bed away from his caressing hand.

  Trystan opened his mouth to respond before a roguish look crossed his face and shook his head telling her, “It’s something we will talk about later.”

  Alina couldn’t help the confused look that came to her eyes and stared out at him in speculation, but she didn’t comment as he changed the subject.

  “How are you feeling this morning?” He asked allowing his other hand to rest on the covers close to her legs.

  “Sore, but nothing I can’t handle,” she told him politely shifting her legs around so that they were bent in front of her away from the warmth of his hand.

  “I promise you, Alina,” Trystan said his voice serious as he stared at her “nothing inappropriate happened when I changed your clothes.”

  Alina stared at him in silence for a few seconds before she smiled resting her chin on her upraised knees. “I seriously doubt, Trystan, that you need to take advantage of an unconscious woman especially since I’m sure you have many women willing to share your bed anytime you need a bedmate.”

  He stilled slightly at her words before he chuckled and stood up straightening his cuffs as he told her, “True, I have plenty of willing females who wouldn’t mind sharing my bed but there is one problem with that.”

  “Choosing which one?” Alina said with a touch of laughter and sadness in her voice as she tilted her head back to stare up at him.

  Before she could move, Trystan leaned forward catching her lips in a hungry but soft kiss before he pulled back to whisper against them, “There’s only one that I want to share my bed.”

  He straightened up loving the bemused and passion that reflected in Alina’s eyes from the swift kiss, and he brushed a hand down her hair before resting it against her cheek.

  “I have to go to work now, but I will see you tonight,” he told her as he stepped back from the bed reluctantly. “Your father has a business meeting most of the day and asked if you could stay here another day so he will be picking you up tomorrow.”

  “Okay,” Alina said softly her eyes scanning his face. “Trystan…”

  He shook his head placing a finger against her lips as he said just as softly, “Let’s just say goodbye for now and we will see each other this evening.”

  Alina scanned his face wondering what he was thinking, but she was unable to read anything in those grey eyes of his so she nodded her head and told him, “Have a good day at work, Trystan.”

  “Thank you,” he replied smiling down at her before he leaned forward and kissed her briefly one more time. “Marla called and said she would bring you some clothes.”

  She flinched as she said dryly, “I hope that doesn’t mean dresses.”

  He winked at her as he said, “I personally asked for them.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him but a soft smile curved her lips as he brushed his fingertips across her cheek one last time before he walked out of the room giving her quiet ‘goodbye’.

  Alina shook her head as she watched him and as the door closed behind him, she sighed gently before she eased herself to the edge of the bed and off wincing slightly as her muscles protested the movement even though she was taking her time. She sighed when she finally got to her feet wondering if she could find the bathroom again remembering vaguely that Trystan’s mother had shown it to her yesterday.

  “I really need to go and staying in this room isn’t helping me,” she muttered to herself as she walked to the door and eased it open.

  She stumbled back when a young woman stood gaping in front of her with a tray of food.

  “Mrs. Tyeson asked me to bring you something to eat,” the young woman said quickly.

  Alina smiled as she leaned against the door and said, “I don’t mind going downstairs to eat, but first I really need to use the bathroom.”

  The young woman laughed as she put the tray down on the dresser inside the room before she indicated for Alina to follow her.

  “Thank you,” Alina muttered as she followed her glancing around. “Pretty house.”

  The young woman agreed and began to chatter away as Alina listened with interest as they headed for the bathroom.

  Downstairs, Trystan was going through his briefcase as his mother entered the room with some papers and a notebook.

  “Good morning, mom,” he said glancing up at her with a smile before returning his attention to zip up his briefcase.

  “Good morning,” she said making herself comfortable on the couch as she laid down her things on the table in front of it. “Have you checked on Alina this morning?”

  “I have,” Trystan told her as he lifted his head a smug smile lurking in his eyes although his face was passive. “I’ve already delivered the news that she will be staying another day.”

  He walked over and kissed his mother on the cheek before he straightened heading out the door. “See you, and Alina, this evening,” he called out as the front door closed behind him.

  Ten minutes later, Marla walked in the house a thoughtful look on her face and Delilah glanced up from her work with a soft smile.

  “Hi, honey,” she said putting aside her work as the young woman walked in with a tray of coffee. “Would you like some coffee?”

  Marla nodded her head as she sat down smiling at the young woman who smiled in return before leaving them alone.

  “Are you going to keep Mae around?” Marla asked referring to the young woman who just walked out of the woman.

  “I would like to but Mae leaves in a few weeks for college so I guess I will have to go back to helping myself,” Delilah said with a regretful sigh, and Marla laughed knowing her mother was more than capable of handling the house by herself although Trystan made sure that if she needed help it was always available.

  “So…” Marla began as she put down her cup and Delilah smiled shaking her head as she waited for her daughter to explain her visit.

  Upstairs back in the room she was given, Alina finished getting dressed as she sighed heavily sinking down on the bed.

  “You are sly, Trystan Tyeson,” she muttered to herself as she had been unable to forget the kisses, or his words, he gave her not too long ago.

  As she stood up, she didn’t voice aloud what was going through her head concerning Trystan and instead turned her attention to the worry of her mother. She wondered when her mother would make an appearance or if she would at this time.

  She headed for the door with a slight wince because knowing her mother she could never be sure of anything.

  As she reached the bottom stair, Marla and her mother walked out of the living room and they each smiled at her when they saw her.

  “Good morning, Alina. How are you feeling today?” Marla asked as they walked over to her.

  “Sore,” Alina told them without hesitation.

  Trystan’s mother laughed as she reached out a hand and laid it on Alina’s shoulder as she said, “Did you eat the food that I sent up for you?”

  “I did thank you, but
I could’ve came down for it all the same,” Alina told her honestly as the young woman who brought the tray to her came out and smiling headed up the stairs to get the tray Alina had left in the room.

  She frowned as she said, “I should’ve brought the tray down so she didn’t need to go get it.”

  “She doesn’t mind, dear,” Trystan’s mother said as she turned Alina and they headed to the kitchen.

  Alina nodded her head as she bit the inside of her lip thinking about Trystan of all people when the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Trystan’s mother said. “Marla, you and Alina, get yourself settle so we can talk about what you and I discussed.”

  Marla nodded her head as her mother walked out of the kitchen to answer the door, and Marla turned to Alina with a smile.

  “Did you see Trystan this morning?” Marla asked suddenly watching as a slight blush covered Alina’s cheeks although she answered calmly.

  “He came to check on me before he left for work,” Alina told her quietly as she reached for a newspaper that sat on the counter.

  “I think my brother has a thing for you,” Marla teased leaning against the counter only to be startled when a frown crossed Alina’s face.

  “I think your brother is feeling guilty,” Alina stated in a soft voice.

  “Guilty? What would he need to feel…?” Marla let the question drop off when reasoning took over and she flinched. “Alina, I don’t think that’s what is going through his head.”

  Alina gave her a steady look and her mouth had open to reply when another more sultry voice spoke up.

  “Personally, Marla, I think you are being too opportunistic.”

  Both Alina and Marla turned at the voice, and Bea smiled as she stepped further in the kitchen her eyes smirking at Alina.

  “I thought I would come over and check on you as Trystan told me you were staying here for today,” Bea stated walking over to where Alina sat and settled down in the chair next to her.

  Alina didn’t comment as Marla said with a touch of sarcasm, “I’m sure you did, Bea, and Alina, I’m sure, feels very touched by your concern.”