Amaya successfully separated Emily from the herd before dinner was had. It was clear she wanted to talk. Especially when she brought Emily to her parents' reading room. But she was a little nervous about it.
So Emily humored her.
"What's up?" she asked after Amaya closed the door.
"Emelise," began Amaya. "You've been entrenched in the family history since the day you met JJ. How's that for wild?"
"Very. I love it, though."
Amaya laughed out of nerves. "Has JJ shown you the ring I gave her, when we were at dinner?"
Emily nodded. "Yes. The ring is extremely beautiful."
"I'm glad you think so. Obviously, I wasn't there when she tied the knot with my son, but I still wanted give her something special."
"JJ was glowing. She already loves you very much, so I know she'll cherish the ring forever." Emily said. "Your littlest won't be an adult for a long, long time. We don't have to worry about anything other than her being little."
Amaya smiled at Emily's use of 'we.' It meant she was as greatly interested in AJ's well-being as she was in Zion's. This woman was a keeper.
Emily spoke again, "What happened when Phoenix was engaged to Dagmar? Did she propose to her?"
Amaya shook head. "Other way. Dagmar asked her. She used a Buskirk ring. And Valentine proposed to Lilith using her grandmother's ring."
"Wow. And Will is already married to JJ, so of your adult children, it's Virginia left."
"Correct. She has never been proposed to before, and she has never loved anyone like she loves you. That means I can do this."
Amaya pulled from one pocket a most splendid ring. It was silver-banded and quite simple in design. Directly in the middle sat a bright sapphire stone, and encircling it were what looked like vines. Emily's favorite part was that the gem had been cut into the shape of a heart.
She turned back to Amaya. "I love it all."
"Thank you. It's my mother's engagement ring."
Emily fell quiet. The other woman's explanation was a big deal because she had been orphaned a young age.
"My mother gave me that ring not long before... it happened. She asked me to keep it safe." Amaya pressed the ring into Emily's hand and closed her fingers over it. "I was made an orphan about a week later. Somehow, I managed to hang on to it."
Amaya offered Emily a smile. She was trying to lighten the mood back up.
"Do you have any questions for me?"
"Yes. What were your parents' names?" Emily queried. "Will hasn't said."
"Only because he hasn't asked. Mother was called Lux. Father's name was Henry."
If Emily had been holding the ring just then, she would have dropped it.
"Lux is a gorgeous name." she finally managed. "And your dad's name was Henry?"
Amaya nodded. "And now I find my eldest and his wife gave that name to their firstborn. Dad would have loved that."
"And you never said their names because no one has asked." Emily marveled. "Am I the first?"
"Yep. Take the information as you will. Any more questions?"
Emily nodded. "What is the dynamic of last names on the Rainer side? Will has your ex's last name, but Virginia has your maiden name."
Amaya had her own epiphany. "This is you being curious about who took whose last name, where the twins and their wives are concerned. Am I correct?"
"Yes. It was a highlight not mentioned at dinner."
"Lilith took Dagmar's last name, so she's called Lilith Freyja Claire Buskirk."
"That is a fabulous name." Emily marveled. "And Freyja is Norse goddess of love and beauty, right?"
"Very good. And the name on "
"What a fabulous name on the whole." Emily marveled. "Freyja is the Norse goddess of love beauty, right?"
"Mhm. And Phoenix's full name is Phoenix Diana Belle Rainer. She fits into the mythos theme, too. Her wife became a Rainer."
Amaya looked Emily up and down.
"My friend, are you asking these things because you're your parents' only child?"
"Yes." Emily said in surprise. "How did you know?"
Amaya winked as she opened the room door up again. "I have always had very sharp intuition. But my daughter has been talking about you for quite some time."
Emily laughed and turned a shade of red before blurting out, "Would your parents have like me? And the others?"
"Both of them would have loved everyone. Including your parents."
Amaya physically turned Emily around and gave her a gentle push towards the door.
"Now go put that ring somewhere safe. Maybe freshen up?"
Emily heeded her future mother-in-law's words. "Good call. I will go do that."
She hugged Amaya in a heartfelt way before bowing herself out of the room.
Virginia was alone with Emily's parents in the kitchen. She saw through their plan right away. But it wasn't difficult. She knew Elizabeth and Fitzhugh quite well.
This was going to be fun.
Virginia arched an eyebrow at her friends as they sat together at the table on the far end of the kitchen.
"Well, the kids have gone to play. Amaya spirited your daughter off somewhere. Probably the reading room." the author ticked each item off on her fingers. "I bet she's initiating a chat with her. What have you two got up your sleeves today?"
Elizabeth went for it first. "We did not raise you, but… To say that we've seen you through a lot is an understatement. Majorly."
Fitzhugh nodded. "Bette is right. We've seen you through school, your literary career novel, all the other career changes, your injuries. Cross-country relocation. Rehabilitation. Pregnancy. The two of us are so proud of you."
Virginia's heart cartwheeled at Fitzhugh's unexpected praise. "That means a lot. I've certainly come a long way from being the teenage girl who came up here from Mississippi alone to ask you a question at a novelist conference."
"How very true." the patriarch turned to his other half. "Anything you'd like to add now?"
Elizabeth went for a freight train approach again as she said to her guest, "You're also in love with Emelise. Do be honest: when were you sure about knowing you want to marry her?"
"I've been smitten with Emelise for as long as I've been hearing stories about her," confessed Virginia. "But I've wanted to marry her from the second I realized who she was when Zion approached her at the bookstore."
"Amazing…" Elizabeth had not been expecting such a thoughtful reply.
Her husband spoke again. "How has Emelise been with helping you since your brother and his wife crossed your path?"
Virginia perked up. "Her support has been unconditional. Even when my feelings make me want to tank out."
"My daughter has always been an anchor for people she cares about. We also hear that she cares for Zion?"
"Yes! They're actually friends, and Emelise loves that boy like she carried him."
Elizabeth asked, "What do they like to do together?"
"She reads to him. Indulges him in just about any silly question he has. But Emelise also calmed Zion down during the recent storm. Gave him a shirt with her smell on it, distracted him, and held him until he was too tired to be worried."
Virginia turned thoughtful.
"Emelise is always happy to let Zion pick her brain, but he always listens with every time she talks to him about living around the globe. She gets him spellbound. Every time. Zion also regularly calls Emelise 'mama' now. She loves it."
Elizabeth felt awed. "I imagine this brings you such joy."
Virginia nodded. "More than I can say. And I love the baby that Emelise is carrying, the way she cares for Zion. I could never be with someone who doesn't love him."
"Good. All of that does my heart well. I appreciate your honesty."
Fitzhugh chimed in, "What do you think of the situation where the child's father is concerned?"
Virginia only just held back a sigh of dislike. "All of it breaks my heart. But I've told Emelise more than once that Andrew's loss is mine and Zion's gain. Because it's true."
"Outstanding. Is there anything else you want to share while she's not here?"
"We've agreed to not say Andrew's name until—or if—a situation arises. Her photo album of them is tucked away out of the penthouse for safekeeping. Just in case the baby gets curious one day. Neither of us have mentioned it to the other since."
Virginia traced the tattoo designs on the inside of one wrist as she remained very deep in thought.
"Andrew tanked Emelise's self-worth. A lot. I'm sad for her, but I'm doing all I can to rebuild it. And bring her joy for a better future."
Ambassador Elizabeth Prentiss felt so deeply moved that she could say nothing. The universe really had chosen the perfect person for her daughter. Her heart was full.
Fitzhugh voiced another thought on his mind. "Please tell us what Emelise makes of your differences."
"Emelise loves to learn about them, and she knows how they came about. Every one." Virginia now touched a hand to the spot where her mottled skin was. "Your daughter also respects me. And understands my capabilities."
Elizabeth remembered how to speak as she interjected with, "How about the reverse side?"
But Virginia didn't miss a beat. "Emelise is in incredibly patient. She also said that she will give me a hand if I ever need it. I haven't been with anyone since before I was shot. Your daughter makes me feel warm, loved, wanted, and so safe. I could never ask for more."
There was a beat of silence as Emily's parents took in their friend's profound words again. She clearly meant every word.
So Fitzhugh said, "Isn't one of your sisters carrying on the Rainer name? Via marriage?"
"Uh-huh," said Virginia. "And I guess my brother has been carrying on our dad's name. Is this about Emelise being the last Prentiss?"
"Very much so."
Elizabeth picked up the torch. "Virginia, Emelise is the only one of our children to make it out of the delivery room. We lost two sons before her."
"Oh," was all Virginia could say to this abruptly sobering information.
Elizabeth spoke firmly to keep Virginia in the present. "Would you take our family name?"
"If Emelise asked me." Virginia once again looked from one friend to the other. "Taking the name would be an honor for me. In more ways than one."
Emily's parents let out a collective sigh of relief. Their friend had passed this chat with flying colors. Neither had had any doubt of her failing it. But they had wanted to test the waters out. Such was a reason for tonight's impromptu meeting.
"Virginia, you have had our blessing to marry our daughter since the first time Emelise talked about you. She lit right up." Elizabeth said kindly. "I guess we just wanted to check it out for ourselves."
Fitzhugh said, "So to that end, this is for you."
He handed her from his shirt pocket an engagement ring. In the center of a golden band lay a ring of diamonds. Within it sat a one karat diamond. Star-shaped.
Virginia looked back to the Prentisses. "Oh, my word. This ring is dazzling."
"When I proposed to Bette, it was on her birthday."
She nodded. "One hundred percent correct. We also knew that this ring would one day be handed to Emelise's future-intended. We're over the moon it's you."
Extremely touched by the Prentiss' love now, Virginia began to cry. Her company understood.
Patiently so, Elizabeth and Fitzhugh showered her in affection. They also told her kind things. And dried her tears. Virginia needed it.
This was how Amaya found the other three. But she wasn't surprised.
Hers and the Prentiss' plan had fallen into place.
Amaya caressed Virginia's cheek. "Hey, sweetheart. What's happening over here?"
Virginia gave a shaky exhale as she turned her wheelchair about face. To Amaya.
"They gave me their blessing. And this."
Virginia showed Amaya the ring.
"It's beautiful. Emily is going to love it." Amaya remarked politely after a moment of observation. "Go clean up and find her. No doubt she's with Zion and AJ."
Virginia heard the wisdom in her mother's 'tempered' suggestion and left the room.
Amaya spoke to Emily's parents when her offspring was out of earshot.
"How have we not crossed paths before now?" she chuckled. "I have been loving every moment of this visit."
"Us, too." said the Prentisses in tandem.
Then Elizabeth said, "We gave my ring to Virginia. Did you hand your heirloom to Emily?"
"Mhm. When was she born?"
"Twelfth of October, 1970. What about your daughter?"
"Her birthday is in July. Emily should be ready to pop around then." Amaya grew conspiratorial in a silly manner. "Say the baby doesn't make its debut first: what if our daughters propose to each other? On Virginia's birthday? Either of you happy to take that bet for seventy-five dollars?
As it was an agreement between the grandparents that all betting money would be going to a fund for the baby, it was all in good fun. So Elizabeth and Fitzhugh agreed.
"I'm in." the ambassador chirped.
"So am I." said her husband.
"Excellent." Amaya responded happily.
The trio shook on their bet.
And just in time, too. Dinner was finally ready.
