~Aleatha
Disclaimer
The CONSEQUENCES series contains dark adult content. Although excessive description and detail are not used, the content contains innuendos of kidnapping, rape, and abuse—physical and mental. If you’re unable to read this material, please do not purchase. If you can enter this world of fiction, welcome aboard and enjoy the ride!
Chapter One
Late December 2016
Claire
Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands.
—Jeff Cooper
Claire gently smoothed back Nichol’s fine dark hair, unable to break the connection with her daughter. The little girl was sound asleep with her head upon her mother’s lap as the drone of the engines filled the cabin of their airplane. Claire sighed contentedly, taking in the unusually full cabin. Never could she remember their private plane being occupied by this many people. There was a time when this would never—could never—have happened. However, that was long ago, a distant memory. Now things were different, and their family and friends were together.
Though the trip back to Iowa from their South Pacific island was not complete, they’d been flying for what seemed like days. Sometime during the still of night, with Claire’s patience and soothing, Nichol lost her valiant fight against sleep. Succumbing to the heavy lids, Nichol’s dark brown eyes—those that matched her father’s—disappeared behind thick lashes. Claire glanced toward her husband, seeing that his eyes too were uncharacteristically closed, and his chin bobbed near his chest. After all the turmoil that the Rawlings family had endured over the last few years, the serenity of the plane ride nearly brought Claire to tears.
Tony, Claire, and Nichol were sharing the flight home with their only family: Claire’s sister, Emily, brother-in-law, John, and nephew, Michael. Michael’s little body laid contentedly near Nichol’s, their heads resting at each end of the long sofa-like seat, on each of their mother’s laps. During their battle with sleep, the two children vied for their own space, often behaving more like siblings than cousins. Now, with the battle behind them, they rested peacefully, with the other near. Their closeness was to be expected after the way they’d grown up.
Sometimes, memories such as those would make Claire sad. The years lost were gone, never to be recaptured. However, she’d come to realize that she could spend her time mourning their loss or concentrate on the future. Seeing the children, hearing their excited squeals as they played together on the white sand in paradise, or watching their uncensored interaction, Claire decided the future was the best place to devote her energy: too much time had been lost in the past. She wasn’t willing to grant it any more.
Before she could give it much more thought, her husband was beside her, his large hand covering hers as they both gently caressed their daughter’s head. With her thoughts in paradise and its tropical beauty, and on the children, coupled with the distracting murmur of the engines, Claire hadn’t noticed Tony awaken or move from his earlier reclined seat.
“She finally gave in? It was about time,” he whispered, his deep baritone voice was low as to not awaken the others.
Despite her fatigue, Claire smiled as Tony’s long legs knelt beside them bringing his eyes to hers. Also, keeping her voice low, she replied, “Well, she does seem to have a stubborn streak.”
The dark brown of Tony’s eyes glistened knowingly.
“But,” Claire continued, “she did finally give in. She’s been asleep for a few hours, just like someone else I know.”
“Why don’t you let me take your place, and you go lay a chair back and get some sleep?”
Claire shook her head. “I don’t want to let her go, not even for a few hours.”
Small lines appeared near the corner of Tony’s eyes as his cheeks rose. “I think we know where she gets that stubborn streak. Don’t worry, Nichol’s not going anywhere and neither are you, except to get some much needed rest. This holiday in paradise has been great, but soon we’ll all be home. You need rest too.”
“Oh, Tony,” Claire’s whisper rose in volume. “It was wonderful having everyone together. I’m glad we were all there to celebrate Nichol’s birthday as well as Christmas. It was everything I’d hoped and more.” Tears teetered on her lids, threatening to coat her cheeks. “I can’t believe our daughter’s really three! I just wish—”
As she lowered her eyes, Tony lifted her chin. Kissing her lips, he interrupted her words. “I think we’ve learned that we can’t wish away the past. Instead, we need to enjoy each moment we have.”
Looking around the cabin, Claire confirmed their cloak of privacy. It was one created not by solitude, but by the sleeping state of the other passengers. Behind Emily, who was separated from Claire by the children, were John, Courtney, and Brent. The Simmonses’s children, Caleb, Julia, and Maryn, had all taken a different plane, as had Meredith, Jerry, and their children. Nodding, Claire continued her thought. “I wasn’t going to wish away our past. I know there are more than a few people who think I should. I was going to wish for more times like we just had. The time on the island surrounded by family and friends was amazing. I’ve always loved the security of the island. There’s something about being there that gives me peace.”
“Could that something be Madeline and Francis?”
Claire thought about his question. The caretakers of the island were definitely unique, comforting people. From the first time she’d met them, she was lulled into their loving aura. “I don’t know. I think it’s more our memories there. Those months we shared on our island were some of the best of my life. Those were the memories I relived over and over after I…”
It wasn’t Tony who interrupted her thoughts: it was Claire herself. She reached up and stroked Tony’s scratchy, stubbly cheek. Momentarily, she imagined the abrasiveness on more sensitive skin. With a glint in her green eyes, she continued, “It was there that we learned to truly trust one another.”
“Do you want to stay there? Did you not want to go home?”
“No!” Claire resumed her whisper. “I do want to go home. For the first time since I can remember, I want to be in Iowa in the winter. I want to build snowmen and make snow angels. I want to teach Nichol to love all the seasons: the warm and cold, the good and bad. They’re all important. Ones we enjoy less make us appreciate the ones we adore more. I want to be there as she experiences each and every moment. Like when she saw the island and we explained that it was where she was born… and when she met Madeline and Francis. I’m excited to hold her mitten-covered hand as we see the lake covered with ice. Emily said that she’s never ice skated. I’ve already ordered all of us skates.”
The sides of Tony’s lips moved upward. “All? Ha.” He shook his head playfully from side to side.
Claire’s brows rose in question.
Tony explained. “Though I recently lost my appreciation for winter, your excitement may help me learn to embrace the cold as well, but ice skate? I think you have more faith in my abilities than I do. I’ve never in my life ice skated.”
“Then, Mr. Rawlings, I’d say it’s time you learned.”
Looking from his wife to his daughter and back, Tony shrugged. “I suppose it is.”
Leaning closer, Claire’s lips grazed his. “I like that.”
Tony pressed forward and deepened their kiss. “I like that too,” he said with a devilish grin.
“Not that… although, I’m not complaining.”
“What then? What do you like?”
“The Anthony Rawlings who’s willing to learn new things and see new perspectives.” The emerald in Claire’s eyes shone through the dimmed cabin.
“Oh, Mrs. Rawlings, it’s true that I much prefer being the teacher, but I’ve learned many things since I brought you into my life. I’m up for learning more.”
Claire snickered as she eyed their friends and family. “Now is not a good time to be up.”
“No.” He shook his head. “It’s not. N
ow is a good time for you to get some rest. Let me sit with Nichol and you go lie back in one of the chairs.”
Though Claire was about to protest, she realized that not only was Tony concerned about her well-being, he wanted to spend time with their daughter too. No longer were his dark eyes focused on her, but on Nichol, as the tips of his fingers lightly caressed her exposed pink sun-kissed cheek. When he once again looked up, Claire saw in his eyes the sadness she’d been feeling, the sense of time lost with no way to retrieve it. The look only lasted for a millisecond and then it was gone, replaced with a conscious expression of authority. He’d told her that he wanted her to switch places, to get some sleep. At first, it may have been phrased like a question, but that was only for her benefit. At one time, Tony’s change in tenor and expression would have filled her with dread; that time, too, was long gone. Some memories were better left sleeping.
Claire concentrated on the micro-expression of sadness, the one she knew Tony wanted to hide. Not because he didn’t want to be honest or share, but because he didn’t want to feel the pain or add fuel to Claire’s sense of loss; nevertheless, she took it in. The expression didn’t make her pain worse. On the contrary, it eased it. They both had lost too much time. It was another one of their common bonds and shared goals. Together they’d work to fill the future with enough hope and love to overcome the past.
Summoning her smile, Claire nodded and acquiesced. “All right.”
Lightly kissing Tony’s lips, she lifted Nichol’s head and they simultaneously moved, as they’d done so many times, instinctively knowing the other’s action. This time they worked in unison not to disturb their sleeping daughter. Within moments, Tony was sitting with Nichol serenely snuggled into his lap. “She’ll be fine,” Tony whispered. “Now go—rest.”
“I know she will.” Stroking Tony’s arm, Claire whispered, “There’s nowhere that I feel safer than in your arms. She’ll know that feeling too. The way she just sighed, I’m pretty sure she already does.”
Tony’s dark eyes shone, taking in both of his ladies. “I wish we were home in our big bed so I could hold both of you.”
“Me too,” Claire admitted. “But I’ll settle for watching the two of you from over there, until I fall asleep.”
Before Claire could walk away, Tony reached for her hand. “Mrs. Rawlings, we can go back to paradise anytime you need that feeling of security. You just say the word, and we’ll be in the air.”
“Thank you. I may take you up on that. But if I do, it’s because I love the island, and I love Madeline and Francis, not because I need to be there to feel that way. Honestly, with you and Nichol, Eric and Phil, I know I’m safe. I know Nichol is safe. Besides,” she added with a snicker, “it’s difficult to make snowmen in the South Pacific.”
Tony grinned. “Hmmm, I think sand angels sound more appealing than snow ones.”
She squeezed his hand before making her way back to an empty seat beside John. As she buckled her seatbelt, Claire glanced back to see Tony’s eyes close. No longer did she see sadness or even the need to control. She saw peace: a quiet, accepting peace, as his fingers brushed Nichol’s fine hair. Contentedly, she followed suit and drifted off to sleep with visions of sand angels dancing through her dreams.
Hours later with snow falling and coating the Iowa ground in a blanket of white, the tired friends bid each other goodbye as their luggage was loaded into various cars at the Rawlings Industries private airstrip. While Eric and Phil warmed the car, Claire helped Nichol secure her winter coat, hat, and gloves.
“Momma?” Nichol asked. “Do you like warm or cold better?”
Claire giggled. “Oh, honey, I like warm.” Remembering her wish, she added, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t like cold.” She lifted her face to the sky. “Look how beautiful these snowflakes are. See how they shine and glisten?”
“Yes, but I like bathing suits instead of winter coats.”
“Look at your pretty pink coat. Don’t you like it?”
“I guess.” Nichol looked at her mother’s coat and her small voice rose. “You need a pink coat too. Then we can be twins.”
Just then, Emily came up behind Nichol. “A pink coat is definitely what you need, Claire.”
“Only if all three of us can match?”
Looking down at her growing midsection, Emily laughed. “Oh, I’d be a sight in pink.”
“Are you feeling all right? The travel wasn’t too much for you, was it?”
“I’m fine. I’m just tired,” Emily said. “I don’t think that it’s the pregnancy as much as the time difference. Thank you, sis, for this amazing getaway. We’ve had a fabulous time. The island was everything you said and more. I can’t believe you left that paradise for John and me…” Her voice trailed away until she straightened her shoulders and went on, “I’m sorry. These stupid hormones are making me sentimental.”
Reaching for her sister, Claire embraced Emily. Swallowing the growing lump in her throat, she replied, “We’re both so happy you could be there with us. The children had so much fun.”
Emily nodded. “I know we owe you both—”
“Stop that. We can never repay what you’ve done for us and for Nichol.”
“Well, thanks anyway. The getaway was great, and for such a long trip, traveling on your plane sure beats the heck out of flying commercially.”
“Having everyone together made Nichol’s birthday even that much more special.”
Emily bent down and hugged her niece. “I love you, sweetheart. Be good for your mommy and daddy.”
Nichol grinned. “I’m oways good.”
Emily’s brow rose as she peered up toward Claire.
“Mostly,” Claire corrected.
Nichol blew kisses at Emily. “Bye-bye, Aunt Em. See you later. Momma, I’m cold,” Nichol whined as she rushed toward Phil and the warm, waiting car.
“How about you?” Emily asked as the two women approached the cars. “Are you all right, being home? I know you don’t like winter much.”
Taking in the accumulating snow, Claire watched as white flakes melted upon the heads of Tony, Brent, and John as the three men shook hands and bid each other goodbye. Although the time away had been good for all of them, Claire was ready to be back to her intimate family. Two weeks in the presence of everyone had been a long time. Contemplating her sister’s question, Claire replied, “I am. We’ve enjoyed being with everyone; however, I’m happy to be home with Tony and Nichol.”
Emily smiled. “I understand. I’m ready for a little quiet time myself.”
Just then, Michael ran toward his mom, sliding his tiny feet upon the snow-covered runway. “Wheeee!” he yelled, as he held on to Emily’s leg for dear life.
Laughing, Claire said, “Good luck with that quiet time. You better enjoy it now. Once my little niece arrives, you’ll be pulled in every direction.”
“Two children aren’t that difficult,” Emily replied wistfully, peering toward Nichol. “I miss having two.”
The lump in Claire’s throat made its presence known once again. Unsure how to respond, Claire was saved by the sound of Phil’s voice.
“Claire, the car’s ready.”
Looking in his direction, she saw Tony sitting in the backseat, already talking on his phone, and Nichol beside him, her little booted feet swinging as she tended to the needs of her new doll. With full concentration she worked to wrap her prized possession in a blanket, protecting it from the frigid temperatures. Earlier, Nichol proclaimed that the doll was her favorite Christmas gift. Obviously she was concerned about its well-being. Claire had ordered the doll specially: the tiny replica looked identical to Nichol.
Turning back toward Emily, Claire gave her sister a parting hug, and, changing the subject, she said, “See, we’ve barely touched down and Tony’s already back to work. I think I’ll have plenty of that quiet time.”
“I’m sure John’s doing the same thing. His phone started vibrating the second he took it out of airplane mode.
”
“Thank you, Emily. I hope we can do more things together.”
Emily nodded. “Me too.”
“Mommy, we go home!” Michael proclaimed, as he tugged at Emily’s hand. “Bye-bye, Aunt Care.”
They said their goodbyes and moments later, Claire settled in the warmth of the waiting car and snuggled close to her daughter. “Are you cold, sweetie? Do you wish you were back on the island?”
Looking up to Tony and back to Claire, Nichol shook her head. “Uh-uh. The island doesn’t have pretty snowflakes, and I wanna be with you and Daddy.”
The car eased forward with Eric driving and Phil riding shotgun. Claire glanced toward Tony, expecting to see his concentration on the phone call at hand. Instead, at their daughter’s comment, their eyes met and he winked. Smiling, Claire helped Nichol with her doll’s blanket and replied, “We like that too, sweetheart.”
Chapter Two
Late December 2016
Claire
Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.
—Billy Graham
Though the house on the island always seemed large and remote, it was nowhere near as big as their new home on the Rawlings estate. The fact that the island retreat had been occupied by four families with a total of seventeen people for the last two weeks helped to make the estate feel that much more secluded and private. Well, quiet, except for Nichol’s happy glees at being reunited with her nanny, Shannon. It wasn’t that Shannon hadn’t been invited to the island: she had. Nichol’s nanny had chosen to spend the Christmas holiday with her family. Claire completely understood; besides, Claire enjoyed spending more one-on-one time with her daughter.
After Shannon had retired to her suite, Nichol had been tucked into bed, and the rest of the staff had left the main house to go to their own apartments, Claire settled into the nice, large bed Tony had mentioned earlier on the plane. As she rested on the soft sheets, every muscle in her body began to unwind and relax. The quiet bliss of their suite filled her with peace while outside a growing blanket of white snow frosted the panes of glass that covered one wall of their bedroom suite.
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