A Full Rich Life

Chapter Four: Family Moments and Memories

Alannah looked around as a knock came on the door, calling out, and "Come in!" Helen entered and Alannah gave her a soft smile. "I was wondering when you would appear. Did Tarrant drive you here?"

Helen nodded, then came into the cottage and sat at the table, glaring at her daughters. "I don't have to make too much effort to know what you two are here for. So may I assume you already know what is wrong with me?"

Margaret and Alice gulped and nodded, and Alannah spoke, seeing their distress. "Helen, I did not tell them, they figured it out for themselves and came to see me. You have exceptionally intelligent daughters."

Helen sighed. "I know, and I can't blame anyone but myself for that." She smiled warmly at her daughters. "You were both always so good at figuring things out. I'm just sorry that I couldn't tell you sooner, but every time I tried my tongue would seize up and I'd end up talking about the little and trivial things. I know that this is a blow to you both, and I am sorry for that."

Alannah turned at a sound behind her, smiling at her somewhat bewildered and still sleepy husband. "Morning, love. There's a pot of tea on the stove if you want."

Ilosovic nodded, waving to the Kingsley women, and went into the kitchen to make himself a cup of tea. He poured the tea, added his three heaping spoonfuls of sugar, and then began opening and closing cupboards, peering deep into their dark recesses. Alannah watched, torn between amusement and exasperation. "Ilosovic what on earth are you looking for?"

"Where are the cinnamon tarts?"

Alannah sighed. "In the cold cupboard, third shelf behind the butter. Put them in the stove for about five minutes to warm them up."

Ilosovic located the tarts, popping them in the oven, then came and sat next to her, giving her a chaste good morning kiss before turning to their guests. "And a good morning to the three of you as well. I think I can guess why you are here, and I am sorry. But I am also a bit envious."

Helen stared at him. "Envious of what?"

Ilosovic sighed and took a sip of his tea. "Because you have such a strong relationship. Even Alannah, who was estranged from both parents, managed to reconcile with them, and her relationship with Elias is quite strong now. I disowned my parents when Michael was Fiona's age."

Alice and Margaret gazed at him in sympathy, remembering that night. Helen made a sympathetic noise. "Oh, that's terrible! Did you try at all to reconcile with them?"

"I tried numerous times, but they hated me from birth. I think the only reason my mother didn't throw me in the Black River was because she didn't want people to talk." He looked over at Alannah. "I never told anyone, but the biggest reason I never learned to swim as a child was because I was utterly terrified of water. The river flowed right behind Stayne Manor, and once, when I disobeyed my father-which for him could range from making an innocent expression that he took wrong or not finishing an impossible task in an impossible amount of time-he made me strip naked and stand in the river for five hours. And not on the bank. I was nearly in the middle, barely able to touch bottom, and I had to stand at attention. The best part? This was in the middle of winter, and I had to break the ice first. I was sick as death for a month, and my parents' way of caring for me was to lock me in my room with a basin and bring me meager meals when they remembered they had a son. I would have died if not for the kitchen maid. She snuck into town and bought me a tonic." He gave a mirthless laugh. "Mother found out and had her whipped before throwing her out of the house. My parents went through servants rather quickly."

Helen looked appalled. "That poor girl!"

Alice made a disgusted face. "I only saw your parents for a brief moment years ago, but I was quite appalled by their superior and condescending attitudes."

Ilosovic retrieved the tarts from the oven, placed them on a plate and brought them over to the table. After everyone had taken one, he looked over at Alice. "You know that one of the reasons I liked Iracebeth at first was because she was kind to me? She treated me with dignity, and never talked down to me. Her and Mirana both. Of course, after…things changed, Iracebeth wasn't so friendly and warm anymore. But she could still have her moments in the beginning, before her paranoia and jealousy overwhelmed everything else. I was caught between Scylla and Charybdis for years. My family hated me, and if I tried to run to Marmoreal I'd be brought back and executed."

Alice frowned deeply. "I never thought about that when I was here. Of course, I was convinced that everything was a dream for the longest time. The Queen really had you in a bind, didn't she?"

Ilosovic nodded, and Alannah huffed a strand of hair out of her eyes and decided to change the subject before the day turned bleak. "Alice, are you looking forward to the weddings?"

Alice gave her a slight smirk, recognizing the subtle hint, and nodded. "Oh yes, very much. Josiah's outfit is quite nice. He's going to be wearing purple. For some reason the Hightopp men look positively dashing in purple. What about your girls? What will they be wearing?"

Alannah smiled. "Katarina is going to be wearing a dark blue dress with no sleeves and a blue wrap to cover her shoulders, and Vicki will most likely wear the dress Ari made for her for the Ball. She told me that since it was the dress she received her first kiss in, which meant that it was perfect for her wedding gown. I've a feeling Erik is going to be dressed in his finest uniform."

At that moment, a knock came at the door, and Ilosovic and Alannah looked at each other. "We certainly are getting quite a lot of visitors this morning," Ilosovic said with a slight laugh before going to answer the door. He grinned widely at their newest visitor. "Hello Elias."

Alannah's head shot up. "DA!" She ran to the door, pulling her father into a tight hug. "I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow!"

Elias hugged and kissed his daughter. "Well, I smelled cinnamon tarts, and I knew that only my daughter could make those delicious things, so I rowed all the way from the middle of the White Sea. I do hope there's some left."

Alannah gave him an affectionate smack on the shoulder. "Da, you are a horrible liar."

Elias frowned. "You're right; I wasn't in the middle of the Sea. I was visiting the mermaids. But I smelled those scones and swam here as quickly as I could. May I join you for a late breakfast?"

Alannah laughed. "Of course, come in."

Elias entered, bowing to Helen. "Mrs. Kingsley, I am glad to see you again. How are you doing this fine and wonderful day?"

Helen grinned at him. "I'm doing well, Captain. Are you looking forward to seeing your granddaughter marry your First Mate?"

Elias nodded, sitting at the table. "I am, and I've got a wonderful present for him." He glanced around at the people seated at the table. "Now, I know all of you are trustworthy and able to keep confidences, so I know that none of you will tell Erik about the gift I'm presenting to him." He reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a folded sheaf of papers and handed them to Alannah. She unfolded them, her eyes going wide and her jaw dropping at the contents.

"Da, are you serious?"

Elias nodded. "I'm getting a bit too old to be running around at sea. I've got enough saved up to live comfortably, and Sullivan Hall is still in good shape. It's time, love."

Ilosovic looked over. "What's he giving them?"

Alannah turned the papers towards him. "He's giving Erik the business and the Bird."

Elias smiled, shaking his head. "No, I'm giving Erik the Bird. I'm giving Sullivan Mercantile to Erik and Katarina. They are both equal owners. I've also given Vicki a large share. She'll be able to open her very own café if she wishes." He turned to his daughter. "Do you think that's a good present?"

Alannah smiled. "Da, it's a perfect present. I might have to help Rina out with some of the business aspects for a bit, but she'll figure it out quickly enough."

Elias nodded. "That's why I named you major shareholder. Any big decisions that Erik or Rina make will be looked over by you before they're implemented. That's what I did with my men. I made sure that I wasn't going on a wild goose chase. You've got a good head for business, and you'll be able to tell what's good for the company." He took a bite of his tart. "Delicious. I've never known anyone that can make a cinnamon tart quite like you." Alannah grinned, and Elias finished eating and stuffed the papers back in his pocket before standing up. "I'd love to stay longer, but I have a few things I need to do in town. Alannah, I'll see you later this afternoon, I hope."

Alannah stood and walked him outside. "I wish you weren't leaving, Da."

Elias kissed her. "I have to go buy one more item in town. You'll see me this afternoon, I promise." He looked towards the cottage door, and then spoke in a low voice. "Is Helen ill?"

Alannah nodded, tears forming in her eyes. "She's in the final stages of consumption. I can't do anything to cure her, not at this late stage. But she's determined to last until after the weddings, and she's stubborn enough to hold off Death until she's ready for him."

Elias shook his head in admiration. "A remarkable woman. Fairfarren, Alannah."

"Fairfarren, Da. And I agree, Helen is remarkable."

She turned and walked back to the cottage, sat at the table, and poured herself another cup of tea. As she drank the smoky liquid, she thought back to the weddings she had attended and participated in. She remembered the butterflies in her stomach as she stood in the Hall of Marmoreal, waiting for Ilosovic to enter, and the rush of love that had gone through her at the sight of him in his finest. She remembered their first kiss as man and wife, and how no kiss since had quite compared to it. She remembered the look of utter love and adoration on Tarrant's face when he saw his Alice in her light blue wedding gown, already three months gone with the twins. She remembered how Alice had blushed deeply at a remark that Tarrant had whispered to her before Mirana began the Ceremony. She remembered how joyous Meggie had looked when she came to the realization that she was marrying a man who truly loved her and not just her position in Society, and the look of joyous disbelief on Thomas' face when he realized he was marrying a truly remarkable woman. She remembered the way Michael had kept his eyes glued to Arianna the entire time Mirana was speaking to them, and feeling her mother's presence at the wedding. She remembered the rush of pride that had gone through her when Michael and Arianna had their first kiss as man and wife, Michael dipping his Ari just as Ilosovic had dipped her all those years ago.

She smiled, looking over at Ilosovic, who was talking with Meggie, a smile on his face as he recounted a story about Vicki. Alannah gave him an affectionate smile.

With each passing day, she was reminded of just why she loved him so.