Chapter Thirteen
It was the end of the first week of their new business and Alison couldn't believe how well things were going.
Lucy had helped her plan a grand opening party that had business pouring in almost too fast for them to keep up with.
Her sister was there working with them, serving up smoothies and living close by. Alison grinned to herself as she filed away membership forms. She couldn't believe it was true. Everything was finally falling into place.
She looked over at Rafe on the other side of the room - sighing as she always did at how handsome he looked. She worried about him - though. He seemed to have so much on his mind lately. He worried too much for his own good.
Alison heard the door open again and looked up. Her head began to ache. It was her mother.
I've put this off long enough, she thought. I'd better get it over with.
Both Rafe and Abby saw Elizabeth at the same time, their faces filled with worry. Alison stepped from behind the counter and greeted her mother - though not warmly.
"Hello, Mother."
"Hi. Sweetie. I'm sorry, I know you don't want me to call you that. Hi, Alison." Elizabeth said, still wracked with guilt.
"Did you come by to join?" Alison asked then, knowing full well that was hardly the case.
Elizabeth looked confused. "No. I came by to see if you would talk to me."
"OK" Alison sighed.. "Talk."
"Can we go upstairs? I don't think we need to do this out here in the open."
"Here is fine."
Elizabeth looked around nervously and began to speak. "OK. Alison - I am so sorry I kept that secret from you. I thought if you found out on your own it would be better."
"Better for who - Mother? You?" Alison snapped.
"I guess." Elizabeth said, not meeting Alison's gaze.
"You guess? Well, guess what? I wanted, more than anything, to meet my sister. Now that I know her - I can't believe how much time you've made us lose. Don't worry - we've more than made up for it.."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Despite everything, Alison gave her mother a quick hug - her eyes filling with tears. "I can't forget what you did, Mother - but I can try to forgive you. It's just going to take some time."
"I understand." Elizabeth replied, so relieved to have such a kind and forgiving daughter.
"Good." Alison felt Rafe come up behind her as she spoke those last words. She smiled a bit. She knew he'd not be able to stay away for long.
Rafe placed his hands on Alison's shoulders and stared at Elizabeth. He never trusted her not to do or say something to hurt Alison. He learned from experience. It looked like things were working out anyway.
Alison decided she wanted share their news with her mother. Despite everything, she was the only mother she had. She turned her head to look at Rafe, asking him with her eyes if he thought they should tell her. He nodded and kissed the top of her head in reply.
"Mother? You may have done a less than perfect job with me - but maybe you'll be able to be a good grandmother."
"What?" Elizabeth's head shot up at the news.
"You have about seven months to practice. Maybe you could read a book or something." Alison eyes sparkled as she began to grin. She couldn't help it. She was so incredibly overjoyed by it all.
"Alison, baby. Are you?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am." Alison said as her mother grabbed her and pulled her close.
Abby watched it all, smiling herself. It was all happening - just as she wished it would. This is why she needed to keep the ring. Caleb would only try to steal this happiness from them. She vowed again there and then not to ever let it happen.
************
Caleb could sense that the ring was close by. He knew the power it held. By mistake, he was sure that the one who held it would someday make a wish and that wish would come true. The first wish would probably be ignored as just good fortune, the second passed off as mere coincidence. A third wish would make the person suspicious and if they had any intelligence at all, they would deduce what exactly caused the wish to come true.
He could wait. He was done searching. He was sure now the ring would find it's way back to him.
It was the end of the first week of their new business and Alison couldn't believe how well things were going.
Lucy had helped her plan a grand opening party that had business pouring in almost too fast for them to keep up with.
Her sister was there working with them, serving up smoothies and living close by. Alison grinned to herself as she filed away membership forms. She couldn't believe it was true. Everything was finally falling into place.
She looked over at Rafe on the other side of the room - sighing as she always did at how handsome he looked. She worried about him - though. He seemed to have so much on his mind lately. He worried too much for his own good.
Alison heard the door open again and looked up. Her head began to ache. It was her mother.
I've put this off long enough, she thought. I'd better get it over with.
Both Rafe and Abby saw Elizabeth at the same time, their faces filled with worry. Alison stepped from behind the counter and greeted her mother - though not warmly.
"Hello, Mother."
"Hi. Sweetie. I'm sorry, I know you don't want me to call you that. Hi, Alison." Elizabeth said, still wracked with guilt.
"Did you come by to join?" Alison asked then, knowing full well that was hardly the case.
Elizabeth looked confused. "No. I came by to see if you would talk to me."
"OK" Alison sighed.. "Talk."
"Can we go upstairs? I don't think we need to do this out here in the open."
"Here is fine."
Elizabeth looked around nervously and began to speak. "OK. Alison - I am so sorry I kept that secret from you. I thought if you found out on your own it would be better."
"Better for who - Mother? You?" Alison snapped.
"I guess." Elizabeth said, not meeting Alison's gaze.
"You guess? Well, guess what? I wanted, more than anything, to meet my sister. Now that I know her - I can't believe how much time you've made us lose. Don't worry - we've more than made up for it.."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Despite everything, Alison gave her mother a quick hug - her eyes filling with tears. "I can't forget what you did, Mother - but I can try to forgive you. It's just going to take some time."
"I understand." Elizabeth replied, so relieved to have such a kind and forgiving daughter.
"Good." Alison felt Rafe come up behind her as she spoke those last words. She smiled a bit. She knew he'd not be able to stay away for long.
Rafe placed his hands on Alison's shoulders and stared at Elizabeth. He never trusted her not to do or say something to hurt Alison. He learned from experience. It looked like things were working out anyway.
Alison decided she wanted share their news with her mother. Despite everything, she was the only mother she had. She turned her head to look at Rafe, asking him with her eyes if he thought they should tell her. He nodded and kissed the top of her head in reply.
"Mother? You may have done a less than perfect job with me - but maybe you'll be able to be a good grandmother."
"What?" Elizabeth's head shot up at the news.
"You have about seven months to practice. Maybe you could read a book or something." Alison eyes sparkled as she began to grin. She couldn't help it. She was so incredibly overjoyed by it all.
"Alison, baby. Are you?" Elizabeth asked.
"I am." Alison said as her mother grabbed her and pulled her close.
Abby watched it all, smiling herself. It was all happening - just as she wished it would. This is why she needed to keep the ring. Caleb would only try to steal this happiness from them. She vowed again there and then not to ever let it happen.
************
Caleb could sense that the ring was close by. He knew the power it held. By mistake, he was sure that the one who held it would someday make a wish and that wish would come true. The first wish would probably be ignored as just good fortune, the second passed off as mere coincidence. A third wish would make the person suspicious and if they had any intelligence at all, they would deduce what exactly caused the wish to come true.
He could wait. He was done searching. He was sure now the ring would find it's way back to him.