Chapter 8

On The Road Again

Thursday arrived without incident. Leah had agreed to watch the farm for Sariel while she was gone. They'd spent a few hours going over the list of where everything was and what to do.

Sariel was now curled up on her couch relaxing before getting ready to make the drive back to Zuzu City. She was reading a book and jumped at the soft knock on her door. Yet another cup of steaming hot coffee sat on her table near her. She unfurled herself from her position and wrapped her blanket around her shoulders. She opened the door and smiled brightly when she saw Elliott on the other side.

"Hi, Rinn." Elliott stated warmly.

"Hello, Elliott. Come in." Sariel replied.

Sariel stepped away from the door and motioned for Elliott to come inside. As he cleared the entrance she gently shut the door behind him and resumed her position on the couch. The warm scent of fresh apple pie filled the air.

"Rinn?" Elliott asked as he joined her on the couch.

"Mm?" Sariel replied as she focused on her book again.

Elliott pulled her to him and his heart softened when she snuggled against him. He smiled when she replaced her bookmark and threw the blanket over the both of them. He wrapped his right arm around her and pulled her onto his lap.

Sariel nestled herself against him and the two sat quite comfortably. She laid her head on Elliott's shoulder and fought the urge to drift asleep. She draped her arms loosely around his shoulders.

"Much better." Elliott stated warmly.

"Agreed. Will you be all right while I'm gone?" Sariel asked quietly.

"Yes, darling, I'll be okay. I shall miss you of course, but I did live here over a year before I met you." Elliott gently replied.

"As long as you're sure." Sariel said weakly.

"Rinn, this isn't like you. Is something wrong?" Elliott asked softly.

"I'm… It's just… hard. To go back, I mean. I thought I'd hate it here, but this is home. I have a lot of fond memories of Zuzu City, but it's a raging battlefield of emotions for me now. I wasn't anticipating being so overcome with emotion regarding going back." Sariel replied sadly.

"It's not just Lucian, is it?" Elliott asked.

"No. I think part of me still loves Drake. He and Lilly were the silver lining around the depressing cloud that was Lucian. This time of year always hurts. I never thought I'd be able to care for someone else like I cared for Drake." Sariel blurted out unintentionally.

Elliott's heart dropped. Surely he'd misheard what she'd said. Was she implying she loved him? Could it be? His brain fogged with the thoughts of happiness regarding her possible declaration. Though he was older than Sariel, he'd been romantically unattached for well over two years now.

"Do you care for me, Rinn?" Elliott asked gracefully.

"Very much so, Elliott. Why?" Sariel replied softly.

"I care for you a great deal as well. You deserve to know that." Elliott purred softly.

Sariel groaned when she heard her phone buzzing on the table. The constant bzzzt sound drove her insane. She was apprehensive to answer the device, given the ordeal that happened the last time.

"Rinn, it's your parents." Elliott stated softly.

Sariel groaned and slid her arm out from under the blanket and grabbed the phone. She tucked her arm back beneath the blanket and brought the phone to her ear. She quickly answered it and audibly sighed at her mother.

"Rinn, are you with or near Elliott, by chance?" Evynne asked softly.

"Why?" Sariel asked curiously.

"Put the phone on speaker, darling." Evynne stated.

"Not doing that until you tell me why you want to talk to my boyfriend, Mom." Sariel stated defiantly.

"Sari, darling, I just have a question for him, that's all. Completely innocent, I promise." Evynne stated sweetly.

Sariel quickly muted the phone and audibly groaned. She rolled her eyes and focused on Elliott. She looked up into his eyes and smiled softly.

"My mom wants to talk to you." Sariel spoke gently.

"I see. Is something wrong?" Elliott asked cautiously.

"I don't think so. I'll be honest, I have no idea what she's planning." Sariel replied.

"I understand. Go ahead, I'll speak with her." Elliott stated gently.

Sariel unmuted the device and bore her mother's wrath for the moment. She laughed slightly and felt Elliott's hand tighten on her side. He pulled her closer to him and nuzzled the top of her head. Sariel quickly activated the speakerphone and held the phone away from her while Evynne spoke.

"Elliott, I trust you remember me?" Evynne asked.

"Of course, Mrs. Shade. How could I forget your lovely radiance? I see the same in Sariel." Elliott purred.

"Thank you Mr. McCoy. I'm hoping Sari told you of her trip to visit us this weekend." Evynne replied.

"She did. I shall miss her while she's gone. She's become a large presence in my life lately." Elliott stated sadly.

"Peter and I would like to invite you to dinner with us tomorrow evening. Sari will be there, as will her friend Lilly and Lilly's girlfriend, Audrey." Evynne stated politely.

"Mother!" Sariel screamed.

"Yes, darling?" Evynne replied.

"We haven't even been dating for a month yet! Can't you let me enjoy this first before you mess it up?" Sariel spat out.

"Darling, your father wants to meet him. I spoke of him highly after I came back from visiting you." Evynne stated happily.

"Ugh. Mom… I might as well end things with Elliott now, then. You know when you do this my relationships never last." Sariel's voice dripped with acid as she spoke.

"Sariel Lia Shade, you will not speak to me like that. We only want what's best for you, darling. I can see that Elliott cares a great deal for you. Do you think he'd be easily intimidated by us?" Evynne fired back.

"Mother, of the four long-term relationships I've had, only ONE wasn't intimidated by you, because you refused to meet him, and that was Lucian. We all know how well that turned out." Sariel spat out angrily.

"Rinn… Darling, that was harsh." Elliott whispered in her ear.

"Lia, do you… blame me for Lucian?" Evynne's voice wavered as she spoke.

"God, no, Mom. I'm sorry. That wasn't fair to you." Sariel lamented.

"Lia, you're my only child. I'd move mountains for you if I could. You'll never know how deeply knowing Lucian was hurting you affected us." Evynne replied.

"I'm just under a lot of stress, Mom. You know Lucian has the ability to mess with me mentally. I'm scared to go visit Drake, Mom." Sariel barely whispered out.

"Take me off speaker for a moment, Lia." Evynne whispered softly.

"Yeah, Mom?" Sariel asked.

"Lilly thought it would be nice to have Elliott meet Drake. You're in love with him, we can all tell. He probably can too, he's just not said anything yet. If you're serious about wanting a relationship with Elliott, he deserves all of your attention. If you can't do that because you still harbor feelings for Drake, you need to let him know. It's… excruciatingly painful to love someone while they're in love with someone else." Evynne replied morosely.

"Ellie?" Sariel asked softly.

"Yes, darling?" Elliott replied gently.

"Would you like to join my family for dinner tomorrow? We're dining at The Peachtree. Formal attire is preferred." Sariel whispered.

"I'd be delighted to join you." Elliott replied as he nibbled on her earlobe.

"Mom, Elliott'll be there. I'm gonna get off the phone now, because it's getting close to when I need to leave. I love you. I'll see you guys in a few hours." Sariel stated as she disconnected the phone.

"You don't have to do this." Sariel stated flatly.

"I want to." Elliott replied.

"It's a decent drive home from Zuzu, and dinner will probably run late tomorrow. Would… you? Ah, nevermind." Sariel cut herself off.

"Would I like to what, Rinn?" Elliott prodded.

"Like to travel with me and stay the weekend." Sariel whispered so faintly she hoped Elliott didn't hear her.

Elliott leaned his head down and gently bit the tender flesh beneath her right ear. He purred seductively and growled when Sariel shifted on his lap. He smiled when she kissed his cheek.

"I would." He purred in her ear.

Shivers shot down her spine and goosebumps formed on her chest and arms. She was absolutely certain her heart no longer resided in her chest. She swore she felt her brain cease to function.

Sariel slid off Elliott's lap and stood up. She casually tossed the blanket towards the end of the couch and marched into her bedroom. All of her luggage was packed already and lined the wall. She was trying to find the courage to make it through a four-hour road trip with Elliott. She slipped her flats on and drew a breath in her lungs.

She was drawn to the soft knocking on the jamb of her bedroom door. She turned and saw Elliott standing there watching her intently. His face was soft and gentle.

"Rinn, are you all right?" He asked quietly.

"Y-yeah. Just ready to tell Drake goodbye." Sariel replied sadly.

Elliott closed the distance between them and softly pulled her into his arms. He cradled her head to his chest and tried to soothe her discomfort as best as he could. He'd read a plethora of stories about people dealing with grief and heartache, but he'd never experienced it first hand.

"Sariel, look at me." Elliott commanded gently.

Sariel took a step back and turned her gaze towards Elliott's eyes. Tears were forming in her eyes and she knew the dam of her emotional control was about to break. It had been four years since Drake's death and the pain hadn't gotten any easier.

"I would like to ask you a question. I want your honest answer, please." Elliott stated.

"Okay." Sariel replied shakily.

"Do you still love Drake?" Elliott asked.

"No. Not anymore. I think a part of me will always love him, but not like I…" Sariel stopped before she finished her sentence.

"Not like what?" Elliott inquired.

"Not like I care for you. I thought after Lucian and I broke up the last time I'd manage to find my happily ever after with Drake. The timing never worked out. He'd be in a relationship when I was single and the reverse was true. When he died, I gave up on love. I thought Yoba had cursed me. Then I moved here and met you." Sariel admitted.

"I see. That's very reassuring to know. Thank you. I care for you a great deal, too, Sariel." Elliott replied softly.

"I'll call Mom and get you a hotel room for the weekend. Would you like a ride into town, so you can pack?" Sariel asked tentatively.

"That would be lovely." Elliott answered.

Sariel hugged him tightly and stepped away from him. She quickly fished her phone from her pocket and dialed the number to the Peachtree. Sariel smiled when the receptionist answered and announced his name as Hugo.

"Thank you for calling The Peachtree Hotel and Spa. My name is Hugo, how may I direct your call?" He stated.

"Hello, Hugo. This is Sariel Shade, is my mother around?" Sariel spoke softly.

"Ms. Shade! Of course. Let me connect you to her directly. Please hold." Hugo exclaimed.

The phone trilled softly as the call was transferred. Moments ticked by and Sariel grew inpatient. Finally her mother answered the phone.

"You've reached Evynne Shade, how may I help you?" Evynne's voice was soft.

"Hi Mom. Do you have a room for Elliott?" Sariel asked gently.

"Of course darling. I'll get it on the booking calendar. There's no one in the Penthouse this weekend. Is that acceptable?" Evynne asked.

"I think so. Thanks Mom. I'm driving Elliott into town so he can pack and then we're on our way. I'll drop his things off at the Hotel then head to Lilly's and check in with her, then come to the house, is that all right?" Sariel asked trepidatiously.

"Of course. Have a safe drive. We'll see you soon. Love you." Evynne replied.

"Thank you Mom. Love you too." Sariel stated as she ended the call.

"Rinn, what was that about?" Elliott asked shyly.

"Oh. I, uh, hadn't mentioned it before, but my Mom owns the Peachtree Hotel and Spa, where we'll be dining at, too." Sariel stated flippantly.

"And she can just assign me a room?" Elliott inquired.

"She can, and she has. It's been a long standing rule in our family - if you need somewhere to go, or a place to stay, call my Mom. She'll give you a reservation at the hotel. In your case, she booked the Penthouse as it's currently not in use. Is that okay? I can call her back and tell her to cancel the reservation, if you'd like." Sariel spoke sadly.

"Rinn, darling, it's perfect, thank you." Elliott stated gently.

He lightly cupped Sariel's face in his left hand and stroked her cheek softly. His heart warmed when she smiled and slipped her hand to his waist. He nuzzled her nose with his and rested his forehead against hers.

"I have everything ready, if you're ready, El." Sariel whispered softly.

"Mm, that I am, darling." Elliott replied.

He reluctantly broke their embrace and stepped around Sariel to grab her luggage. She followed him and slung her small duffel bag over her shoulder and grabbed her Violin case. They gently loaded her luggage into the back of the truck and Elliott climbed into the passenger seat.

Sariel bounded back inside the farmhouse and pulled the pie from the cooling rack and set it inside the fridge. She quickly scrawled out a note to Leah explaining there was a pie in the fridge for her, and that Elliott would be joining her on the trip. She made a dash through all the rooms to make sure she'd turned everything off and locked the farmhouse behind her.

She darted to the truck and tossed herself behind the wheel. She inserted the key in the ignition and smiled when her vehicle started faithfully. She turned the truck's radio onto a weather report. She eased her way into town and quickly made the short drive to the road near the beach.

As Sariel parked the truck she sighed deeply. She felt Elliott rest his hand gently over hers and he started rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. She rolled her shoulders and smiled slightly.

"Sariel, it's all right to feel scared. I have been fortunate to not lose anyone I am close to in my life. I cannot fathom the agony and anguish you are feeling. I want you to know that I care for you and I'm not going anywhere." Elliott whispered softly.

"Thanks, Ellie. I'm oddly okay. Do you need help packing?" Sariel replied.

"No, I think I can handle that." Elliott smiled.

"Okay. I'm going to head over to Pierre's and get some stuff to snack on during the drive. Want anything?" Sariel asked gently.

"Hm. Water, dark chocolate, fruit. Things like that. Do you mind if I read on the drive?" Elliott asked.

"Of course not. I'm quite used to driving alone, so if you want peace and quiet while reading that's fine, too. I'm going to leave the truck here and walk to Pierre's. I'll leave the keys with you, so if you get done before I'm back feel free to drive over." Sariel stated as she climbed out of the truck.

She hugged Elliott lightly and bounded off towards Pierre's. She looked over her shoulder as she ran and beamed when she caught Elliott staring at her. She rounded the corner behind the Saloon and disappeared from sight.

Elliott smiled brightly. He firmly believed Sariel was amazing. In sheer talent she possessed and every way she challenged him and rose to meet his own challenges. He murmured a quick salvation to Yoba, thanking him for bringing Sariel into his life.

He gracefully walked across the sun-bleached sands of the beach and fished the key to his Cabin from his pocket. He slowly turned the key in the lock and let himself inside. The warm salty air clung to his skin. He set about packing a weekend's worth of essentials into his suitcase. Pleased with what he packed, he lugged the heavy case out of his cabin and towards Sariel's truck.

Sariel smiled brightly as she climbed in the back of the truck. Her body was slender enough she could easily conceal herself in the bed. She'd made a speedy run through Pierre's and smiled when her entire trip took twenty minutes to finish. Elliott still had not finished packing yet.

She heard the familiar footfalls of Elliott's dress shoes on the cobblestone road and giggled slightly. She pressed her body against the side of the truck bed and covered her mouth with her hand. She spied Elliott walking around the back of the truck and she laughed loudly, scaring him.

"Rinn!" Elliott exclaimed.

"Yes?" Sariel replied.

"Dear Yoba. How long have you been hiding?" Elliott asked shakily.

"Only a few minutes. I got you everything you asked for." Sariel replied in a sing-song voice.

Sariel rolled out of the truck and landed gracefully on her feet. She smiled when Elliott offered her his hand and helped her stand. As she rose to her feet she pressed her body against Elliott.

"Hi." Sariel whispered.

"Hi yourself." Elliott replied gently.

He slipped his luggage in the back of the truck and pulled Sariel against him with his right hand. Her loose ponytail was allowing tendrils of her hair to frame her face. That was when Elliott noticed her hair was naturally wavy, much like his own. He gently tipped her chin upwards with his left hand and kissed her. His right hand slid up her back and pulled her closer to him. He whimpered when Sariel deepened the kiss and pressed herself against him as closely as she could.

They stood at the tailgate of her truck, locked together, for what seemed like eternity. Sariel reluctantly broke their kiss and hugged Elliott. She loved the way he always smelled like the sea and books. She ran her thumb over Elliott's lips and wiped away the remnants of the lip balm she left.

"Ready to go, Ellie?" Sariel asked jovially.

"I do believe I am." Elliott replied.

"Yay! Let's get this show on the road!" Sariel cheerfully exclaimed.

Elliott obliged and climbed into the passenger's side of the her truck. He slipped his waistcoat off and fastened the seatbelt. He smiled when he saw the bags of items Sariel had purchased at Pierre's. Sticking out of the paper bag closest to him was a bottle of Pomegranate juice and dark chocolate.

Sariel slid into the truck and effortlessly buckled herself in and flipped the radio on to a spa sounds station. She fished out a piece of cheese from her bag of snacks and held it between her teeth as she navigated the silver vehicle out of Pelican Town and towards the highway. When she finally merged onto the thoroughfare, she finally released the death grip on the piece of cheese and nibbled on it.

"Cheese. It's a tasty, delicious vice of mine." Sariel said between mouthfuls.

"I can see that." Elliott chuckled warmly.

"So… I feel like I should prepare you for visiting my parents, and Drake." Sariel stated as she ate.

"All right. What can I do?" Elliott asked.

"Here's the thing. I'm an only child. My parents are a bit overbearing on good days. I understand why, I mean, with all the bullshit Lucian put me through and all, but they mean well. Their hearts are in the right place. My Mom is probably going to attempt to intimidate you. More than likely by throwing her wealth around. My dad is the softy. Tell him you plan on treating me right and he'll warm up to you quick enough. Following me so far?" Sariel asked cautiously.

"Ah, yes, I believe I am. As for Drake?" Elliott asked gently.

"Yeah… He's interred in Zuzu City. His resting place is very nice. I, uh… designed it for his family. It's accessible by walkway, mainly. You can take a boat there too." Sariel answered.

"A… boat?" Elliott blinked slowly at Sariel as he asked the question.

"Yeah, he's buried on a small island in the cemetery. He loved water and Lotus flowers. He tried to keep that last part a secret, but some of his family knew. I would plant a new Lotus flower every year on the anniversary of his death. My contribution to the plot was the design and moonflowers. They're my favorite flower, as you know. I planted a whole ton of 'em around his tombstone. Lilly helped me design the garden." Sariel replied.

"Drake is buried on an island with a garden?" Elliott asked cautiously.

Sariel tugged a bottle of water free from the bag and took a long sip of the clear liquid. She cleared her throat and swallowed a few more gulps of water. She deftly peeled a banana with her right hand while she steered.

"Yes. His tombstone is centered in a Moon garden. All the plants in the garden are white and most bloom at night. It's softly lit with ever-burning Lampposts, too. Its really peaceful and serene. The walkway is paved with stones that glow blue at night. It's what he would have wanted." Sariel replied solemnly.

Elliott noticed a few tears were falling down Sariel's cheeks and he swiftly reached out to her and wiped them from her face. He laid her hand on her arm and softly stroked her shoulder. He felt a bit better when he saw Sariel smile.

"Ellie, really, I'm okay. It's time. Drake wouldn't want me to keep hurting. What does it accomplish? I want to let love and hope and light into my heart. I can't do that if I'm still sad because he's gone. It's not like I have a time machine and can go back and change things. What good would that do? I'm not Yoba. That's not anyone else's decision to make." Sariel stated firmly.

"For what comfort it may give you, I am looking forward to meeting Drake. Thank you for arranging this." Elliott stated lovingly.

"I wish I could take the credit. It was Mom's idea. It's a good idea, too. You mean the world to me. You're… uhm… the first person I've been involved with, since then." Sariel blushed furiously.

"Rinn, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Everyone grieves differently. You went through an emotional ordeal. It is completely logical, and nearly expected of you to close your heart to protect it. Thank you for trusting me enough to let me in." Elliott responded.

"Of course, Elliott. Thank you for coming with me." Sariel beamed.

The sun was setting now. Sariel quickly flicked the headlights on and continued on the road towards Zuzu City. She would occasionally glance at Elliott who was engrossed in a novel. For the first time in years her heart felt free from grief and agony.