Chapter two: HOMECOMING
Evan and Lerrys were met at Avilla's great double doors by a clearly agitated Serran. Her long black skirt and tunic molded against her body and her curly chestnut hair was whipped about her face by the wind that entered with the two men, one her own son, the other Avon's grandson. She reached out for the younger version of her beloved father, becoming engulfed in Evan's arms, like coming home to a safe harbor. She hadn't the energy to spare to laugh at herself for that image. After all, she'd raised this tall, galaxy-traveling young man and his partner. Why should HE seem like a safe harbor to her?
"Oh, Evan, I'm so glad you're here," she said, giving herself over to the security of Evan's arms about her shoulders, wondering in some distant reach of her mind at how tall he'd gotten, how strong he felt, how glad she was that he'd finally arrived.
The catch in Serran's voice alarmed the two men. After exchanging a worried glance with Lerrys, Evan held her away from him, fixing her face with his own shadowed eyes. "What's happened, Aunt Serran?"
She gulped before answering. Usually the one who had to be strong, the one more and more in charge of the Avilla mansion these last few years, Serran was unaccustomed to needing or asking for help. And now, here she was, feeling totally inadequate when it mattered most. "It's Father," she admitted. "He just sits, staring in the library, at the fire. He won't talk to me and Mother isn't here yet. Please, see what you can do?"
Her pleading eyes touched Evan to the quick. He knew things must be bad for his normally so strong aunt to be this distracted. He gave her shoulders a comforting squeeze. Then, leaving Rys with their bags, he turned and strode across the marble-floored hall to the library.
Opening the double doors and slipping inside, the first thing Evan noticed was the darkness. It was daylight outside, but the heavy drapes were drawn, the only light coming from the fireplace. When last he had been home, the place had always been brightly lit, both because Vila disliked the dark and, lately, because of his failing eyesight.
As Evan's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw Avon seated on the ancient leather sofa before the fire. There was something curious about the way he sat that Evan couldn't' quite place, until he realized Avon's left hand was restlessly searching for Vila, who habitually sat on the warmly carpeted floor leaning against Avon's knees.
Evan crossed the great room quietly and sank down to sit in Vila's accustomed place on the floor. He sensed rather than felt Avon's startled reaction, before a hand came to gently lie on his shoulder. Evan heard the softest of sighs escape from his grandfather. Drawing his knees up, the young man wrapped his arms around them and rested his chin there, staring into the fire and waiting.
When the voice finally came, it was so very soft and raw with pain. "He's gone, Evan. He promised he would never leave me alone, but he's gone."
The words tore at Evan's heart. In an instant he was on the sofa beside Avon, hands tightly gripping his upper arms, gently shaking the grieving man. "That's not true, Grandfather! Listen to me!" Evan took a deep breath, calming himself slightly. "Do you remember when you sent me away to the city guards? You promised me that this would always be my home?" Avon nodded. "You said then that you'd never really had a home until Uncle Vila created Avilla for you." Avon watched his grandson, deep brown eyes still puzzled. "Don't you see, Grandfather, he's all around you. Avilla IS Uncle Vila."
Slowly, a smile of peace crept over Avon's face, though tears silently trailed down his face.
A time later, Avon turned from his silent thoughts, really looking at his grandson for the first time, commenting wryly, "I see you've grown a beard since you left." His expression softened. "I…tried a beard once, but Vila made me shave it off." A flash of a smile lit the lined face. "He said it tickled too much! Then he tried to grow one, to get back at me, I think, but he never could get it right."
After a moment, Evan proposed, "Come on, let's get out of this dark room. Aunt Serran is beside herself worrying about you and Rys would like to say hello, too. And I haven't had the chance to visit with Gabe and Liva and the kids yet." He offered his hand to Avon, who accepted the aid to rise from the sofa. Privately, Evan was appalled at how much Avon had aged since he was last home. He hoped, however, that the prospect of seeing his grand and great grandchildren would brighten his outlook and put some spark back into his grandfather. Something, anything, to keep him from retreating any further from life.