A true man never frets about his place in the world, but just slides into it by the gravitation of his nature, and swings there as easily as a star.
Edwin Hubbel Chapin

CHAPTER 39

Night had settled over the city as a light drizzle made the streets of London look sticky and kept the acrid smell of car exhaust close to the ground. I bound up the front steps of the townhouse as the limo pulled away from the curb. Exuberance swelled in my chest as I pressed the bell. Bouncing on my heals I impatiently waited for what seemed an eternity. A cautious eye peered through a small window. In quick succession locks were undone and before I knew what was happening Lyn nearly tackled me while covering my face with kisses.

"Whoa there; I missed you too Lyn." hugging her was good; adding cozy layers to my feelings of warmth and love. "You always make me smile Lyn, thank you."

She grabbed my hands and piloted me into the large but sparsely furnished parlor while rattling off question after question. "Oh Alex, why didn't you tell me you were coming? Can you stay long? Is anyone else with you? Father isn't coming is he? Have you been to exciting places? Are you ready….."

Lyn went on and on as we settled next to each other on the sofa. I tuned her out leaning back to just gaze at her. She looked amazing; happy and with that mother-to-be glow resonating just below the surface of her skin. There were no obvious signs of pregnancy and she looked very much the child she still was.

Blush traveled across her cheeks as she realized I was no longer hearing her words "What? What are you looking at? Why are you smiling at me? Do I have something stuck in my teeth?" Quickly her hand rose to her lips.

"No, no Lyn. You look perfect." A wide grin spread across my face I've never seen you quite so….. animated is all. I like it."

"Well, in case you couldn't tell I'm really glad to see you, Alex. In fact I was just thinking about you when the bell rang. How funny is that?" Absentmindedly she reached down and rubbed her still invisible belly. "Well, I guess not too funny since I think about you all the time."

"Yeah, well I'm sorry about that. I mean it is my fault you're here. Do you think…."

"Shhh!" she pressed a finger to my lips "I don't want to hear it. You have nothing to apologize for. Would you p-lease stop feeling guilty? I'm glad to be away from that house and I'm glad I'm able to be here for Vera." With the mention of Vera's name the glint in her eye faded ever so slightly as she dropped her head.

Inching closer I lifted her face with my fingertips "How is she doing? Any improvement?"

"I'm afraid that's impossible. Her heart is growing weaker by the day. I only hope she'll last through the birth. Vera is very excited to see her dear friend Edith with the child she has desired for so long."

"So that's what you've decided to do?"

A heavy sigh marked Lyn's words "Alex, to be honest I have absolutely no idea. Sometimes I kind of like the idea of taking care of a little baby and other times it scares the pants off me." Shaking her head she continued "I keep waiting for a sign to guide me down my chosen path. It will come; my faith tells me to be patient. Until then I will make no decisions. I take that back, I have made one; I will never go back to that house." She finished with a confident nod.

I don't know why these words stunned me but they did. "You do realize how difficult that will be; don't you? You are only safe as long as you are pregnant after that you become fair game. Bargaining with the devil only buys so much time and we all know Alexander takes what he wants."

"But he doesn't want me Alex. There is nothing I can offer him that he can't get from dozens of others."

"Maybe not now Lyn, but who knows what he'll want a month or a year from now. He'll never let you just walk away. He'll watch you and just when you feel safe and comfortable he'll pounce and you won't know what hit you. And to be perfectly honest Lyn you are a little to trusting for your own good."

She rose and walked across the room to the window. Peering through the curtain she spoke without looking at me "So what are you trying to say Alex; I shouldn't try? Resign myself to the fact that no one turns their back on Alexander Cambias and call it a day. I thought you of all people would understand." The curtain drifted back into place as she turned to face me. A solitary tear rested on her cheek.

"Believe me there's nothing I understand more Lyn." Her pleading glance penetrated to my core causing me to suck in a sharp breath. "Don't for one second think I don't sympathize. He's a vulture gnawing on a carcass; ripping at your flesh leaving you stripped of everything you hold dear."

"Well if you so clearly understand why don't you support me in this? Where's your encouragement? Where is your optimism?" There was an edge of desperation in her voice I'd never heard before.

"Optimism? I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else. There is no room for optimism in the Cambias family but encouragement…that you have. I just want to make sure this is what you really want; that you've thought this through. What about Michael or your Katherine? Are you sure you can walk away from them; never see them again?

Chuckling softly she shook her head. "My mother slipped away long ago leaving only Katherine in her wake." Lyn's soft eyes hardened as she continued "what's left is a pill popping drunk that I can't save and if I could I'm not sure I'd want to. I'll miss my mother whether I stay or go. And Michael….of course I'll miss Michael we share a connection Alex, no matter if we are together or apart but…. what we don't share is a heart. I love him but I'm afraid I see things in him; things I find disturbing. I fear he's more like our father than I'm comfortable with…" She raised her hand to stop my protest "I know you don't see it Alex but its there, of that I am certain." She paused to study my face for a moment "I've given this a lot of thought Alex."

"You've looked at all the angles? And your plan is what…exactly?"

"Well, I'll stay until the baby's born and then with Vera until she's………until she's gone. It's the least I can do she's been so wonderful all these years. Then" she spoke cautiously choosing her words slowly as if she was making it up as she went "I know father will be waiting for me at the cemetery; he'll be ready to take me back. But I won't be there; no, I'll be gone before she's in the ground. Won't he be surprised?" She looked at me with a satisfied smirk as I waited for the rest of her plan. Lyn remained silent looking at me expectantly.

Patiently waiting I finally realized there was no more. "That's it? You call that a plan?"

In all seriousness she replied "Yeah I call that a plan. The rest will fall into place." The tiniest crack of a smile began to appear at the corners of Lyn's mouth as she actually heard what she just said "I suppose I should look a little farther ahead huh?"

"It is a bit short sighted." I fought the urge to smile so as not to hurt Lyn's feelings but failed. She grabbed a ball of yarn from her basket and tossed it at me. I returned the volley.

We sat discussing the options available and came up with several possibilities but each time I came back to the same conclusion…Lyn needed the book. It was the only way her pure heart could escape the life sucking venom of being a Cambias. But each time I mentioned it she would flatly refuse saying it was not intended to be passed on but used by its rightful owner.

After my forth attempt Lyn rose swiftly from her seat. "Alex!" she spoke firmly "That is your path to freedom; not mine. Now, I am going upstairs to check on Vera and when I come back I don't want you to mention again. Am I understood?" She stood there looking at me her eyes pleading for me to agree. I don't think I'd ever seen her so angry.

"OK, OK Sis you win" I raised my hands in defeat "Not another word." I watched as she walked up the stairs. When she reached the top she turned to look at me offering a bittersweet smile. As soon as she was out of site I pulled the book from my bag and placed it in her knitting basket. Silently I walked out the door leaning against it once outside. How I longed to give her a final embrace, to tell her I loved her and to wish her all the best; but she knew all that. She also knew, deep down, that the book was her only path toward freedom and I could take care of myself.