"Dearest, are you ill?" Her husband had finally returned home from the village to find his wife in bed with an arm thrown over her eyes to block out everything and anything.
"We have to talk." Now there was something he had never before heard from his wife's lips. Not with that amount of seriousness to it.
"What's the matter? Adela gave the medicine to the baby…he's no worse…" Concerned the man moved over to his wife's side and sat beside her. Fingers found hers and intertwined them.
"Mama and papa want August, Adela, and me to visit them…" The arm was removed and her twin dark eyes stared up at the man with uncertainty clearly written on her face.
Confused and missing the point, a giant smile spread across his lips. "Well-well, that's splendid news! I always knew that if you and your parents just gave them a chance that-what is wrong? This is a good thing, no? They're finally accepting August and Adela! What could be so wrong?"
"Just your kids and me. My son and you were not invited. Just your kids and me." Exhausted from spending so much energy and time mulling over the small problem, she squeezed his hand lightly and sat up. He didn't understand. Didn't see the problem.
"Well…that is a little strange, but, my love, it's wonderful! They probably know the trip is too long for our little boy and I would have to stay home and care for him. I do not know the way there anyway, you do." The smile was still there beaming at his wife. It had turned out to be a wonderful day after all. Not only had her parent's been willing to help them, but they wanted to meet his children! Finally after three years they would finally all be a family! Why did she look go glum? Surely now with her parents acceptance of his son and daughter, she would give them more of a chance?
Not having seen it from that point of view, the woman thought about his words for a little while. Gaze left him to peer out a window in thought. "I suppose…but there would be no man to protect us…it's so far away and such a long ride…what if we were attacked? Two young, beautiful women left defenseless? Oh, my love, I could never go alone!" Tossing herself at her husband, she buried her face into his chest at the simple idea of bandits doing whatever they so well pleased with her…and that was nothing too pleasant on her part.
The smile lost most of its brilliance and now was simply kind and understanding. "Oh, my dearest wife…August is not a boy any more. He is eighteen years old. A man by society's standards and a good one at that. He would never let harm come to Adela or you. No matter how much he may seem to dislike you, he'd never let harm befall you. He's not an evil child, my love, just a little defiant at times." Arms were wrapped about the woman in a loving embrace, fingers gently combing through her dark hair in a soothing fashion.
Sniffling slightly, her head tilted back to look up at him. Well…she felt foolish. So torn apart at the idea of her parent's accepting the two monsters, she had recklessly unnoticed the holes in her perception. But she could never ask him why her parents were suddenly so willing to accept his children into the family. "I-I suppose that makes sense then…"
"Yes, it does. Now, come. Adela put together a nice supper. Let's eat and tell them of the adventure the three of you will soon be taking." Placing a soft kiss on her lips, he helped her off the bed. A family. That had a nice ring to it. One happy family. Something he hadn't dared called everyone since his wife was made part of his home. Family. What a beautiful word.
If the Alligator Lady had been shocked by the letter the reaction was nothing compared to August and Adela's. They, like Alligator Lady, could simply not comprehend why they would be invited over to her parent's house. Acceptance into the 'family' or not…why now? Though they faked smiles and 'that's wonderful' both simply kept stealing glances at each other mirroring the question and disbelief. They did not want to be apart of the 'family' that included her and her parents.
After the dinner dishes had been cleaned and their father and the woman retreated into the sitting room to rock the baby to sleep, August and Adela went outside onto the front porch to speak quietly of their concerns.
"I just don't understand why they would want to meet us. She's made no effort to hide from usthat she's writtenstories of how horrible we are to her parents. Knowing how terribly horrendous we both are, why in the world would they want to meet us? I can't believe they don't believe their daughter either…I mean…you saw what they were like at the wedding. She could do no wrong…" August was restlessly pacing up and down the length of the porch, hands clasped behind his back and deep in thought as he spoke.
Adela was sitting on the porch swing with a blanket pulled up to her chin to ward off the cool air. "Perhaps father was right, August, maybe she simply acts like that toward us so we will act better towards her. They are just empty threats and she really has said nothing of the sort to her parents. That is why they want to see us." At fifteen, Adela was still trying to defend the woman who kept her up all night watching a sick baby boy and then criticizing every other move she made. She was too good…too kind. An angel through and through.
"Oh, Adela…how can you be so…trusting? So, so…" Throwing his hands up in the air for lack of a better word to use, he moved over to the swing and sat beside her on the bench. "How do you believe that? How do you continue to be so kind and obedient to that woman when all she does is threaten and ridicule you? She takes everything from you and tosses her own baby boy into your care and yet you willingly accept. You never have once raised your voice or complained. Why? Lord knows I have never been able to do that."
A small, knowing smile spread across the young woman's pale pink lips. "I think the whole village knows that. You are certainly vocal enough with your complaints." Small shoulders shrugged slightly and she shifted herself closer to her brother, cuddling up next to him for warmth. "Papa says we should go…and I trust papa's judgments. I think mama would have wanted us to accept her. She is cruel towards everyone…it's just how she is. How can you hate someone for who they are? I forgive her."
The young man wrapped his arm around his sister and she laid her head with long, golden curls tumbling down her back lightly on his chest, her sky blue eyes fixed on the starry night sky. "You think we should go then?"
"I think papa knows what's best…" Was the simply reply as a cold shiver ran through Adela's slim body. "August, it's wintry out here…can we go back inside or do we need to speak more of this?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, of course, Adela, you can go in. I'm going to stay out here a little while longer to think." His sister hugged him then stood up, tenderly placing the blanket she had been using around him.
"Don't stay out too long, we do not you getting sick too." Turning she entered the cottage and left her brother alone to contemplate all that had been said. Maybe she was right after all. Maybe he was being too critical on the woman and her family.
"Promise me you'll write a letter as soon as you get there?" An anxious husband wrapped his arms tightly around his wife, who would be leaving at any moment with his two children to visit her parents.
"Of course, I promise. We'll be fine…like you said, August will protect me." Pulling back from him, she placed a kiss upon his lips. Her words comforted her husband, but did little to re-assure her self. August hated her, if they were attacked he'd make sure Adela was all right, but if it came between saving himself and her, he wouldn't have to think twice.
August glanced at his sister standing beside him afterhearing the Alligator Woman's words.
Shifting from his wife he moved to wrap his arms around his only daughter. "Be careful and try to keep August under control for me."
"Don't worry, I will, papa." Burying her pretty face into the crook of his neck taking in his pine scent, she hugged him tightly. The young woman had never left home without her father close-by.
"That's my angel." Pulling away he patted her arm lightly then moved over to his grown son. "I trust you will keep a close watch on your sister and my wife."
"As always I'll do my best." The dark haired man with his father's eyes nodded.
Embracing his son, hands lightly patted him on the back. "You always make me proud, son. Just try and stay civil for this journey."
Nodding still the young man took a step back as both pulled away. Adela wiped a tear from her eye.
"All right, let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we will be back. Where's my boy at? I have to give him another hug." As the woman embraced her son one last time, Adela stepped inside the packed carriage while August got in the driver's seat and picked up the reins.
"Have a safe trip! Say hello to your parents for me, dearest." The man started to wave after the woman had entered the carriage to sit beside Adela and the horses had started to move. "Say good-bye, son." He spoke to the baby boy in his arms who found the scene amusing through his eyes and giggled as his father picked up his small arm and waved it. "And don't forget to write!" The man watched as slowly the carriage faded from distance with the sight of his wife and daughter's arms hanging out the window waving back at him.
A month was too long.
((I fixed the previous chapter's errors, soa thank you to InChrist-Billios for pointing them out. I use Mircosoft Word so I catch most of the spelling errors, but sometimes an error results in a complete other word. And a learning experience as well, I learned what a buddle is. Also thank you to everyone else who's commented I really, really appreciate it. :) ))