TO WAKE FROM DREAMING: By Lori Titus
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011The Marradith Ryder Series: The Art of Shadows, Part 52
Fiona had forgotten what it felt like to have an infant in her care.
Terrance was only days old when he was taken from her, and she’d barely had time to bond with him at all. Of course, on an intellectual level, she knew there would be nights with only a few hours sleep, anxiety, weariness. But going through it was a different thing. At the same time she felt better than she had in years. This new little person—Ciara— was going to change her life forever.
Fiona wondered what Keiko would have thought about her raising her daughter.
Nora had made it clear that Scott knew nothing of the child, and that she wanted it kept that way. There were those in the Circle who might one day seek her out. It was of the utmost importance that Percival never find out.
Percival was a high ranking member within the Circle, and he and Nora shared a messy history . Fiona knew very well about those times. Despite how Nora felt about Rafael she was still Fiona’s best friend, and she would keep her confidence.
With Ciara to tend to, she found herself thinking less of Rafael.
Fiona was guilty about it, but distraction was a relief. It had been two weeks since Rafael was conscious, but the time dragged like an eternity. When she sat at his bedside she couldn’t help to think that the man that lay in the hospital bed was only the shell of her husband. His spirit was elsewhere.
There was nothing the doctors had told her to make her think this; as a matter of fact, they affirmed that his body was working normally, that there was indeed normal brain activity. It was something that she felt.
One morning, Fiona decided to leave the Compound and take the baby to the park. She sat under a tree with the baby , enjoying the mild sunshine. Gently rolling the baby’s stroller back and forth, she was nearly dozing when she heard her phone vibrate. It was buried deep in her purse, and if the park hadn’t been so quiet, she wouldn’t have heard it at all. She pulled it out and put it to her ear, sighing as she did so.
“Fi, where are you?” Justin said.
The sound of his voice alarmed her. “What is it, what’s wrong?” She already had the idea that she knew. Clutching the phone close to her ear, her fingernails bit into her palm.
“Marradith was trying to find you earlier this morning. We thought you were still on the grounds. She almost missed her flight. Where did you go?”
“Not far. A park a few miles away.”
“Well you’d better get back here,” Justin replied. “Your husband is awake.”
***
When she got there, Rafael was sitting up in bed, pillows propped up behind his back.
“Hold your niece,” she said brusquely, and put Ciara in his arms. Justin held the baby as if he wasn’t sure if he might break her or not. He stood uneasilly in the doorway, watching Fiona and Rafael’s reunion.
“Fi,” Rafael said. He reached out to her.
Fiona embraced him, finding it hard to hold back her tears. She sat down on his bed and told him everything she could think of about how he had been found, beaten and tortured, and how they were still looking for the people behind his abduction. He listened patiently, nodding in acknowledgement. Fiona saw the worried look in his eyes. He hadn’t said much–there was something that he was holding back.
“Darling,” he finally said. “Miranda Vega may have been holding me, but she’s not the person you need to worry about. She was being used. The one we want to find is a woman named Xia, and it won’t be easy.”
Justin said, ” If we find Miranda Vega first we will dispatch of her . You know the rules.”
“The Vegas were on our side until recently,” Rafael replied coolly. “There might be a reason to take that into consideration.”
Justin shrugged. He looked down at Ciara, who had made herself comfortable in his arms. “We have more than that to talk about, while you’re feeling so generous,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Like how it is you were in communication with Syd when Marradith and I were on the run.”
“Do we have to do this now?” Fiona pleaded.
“Yes, we do,” Justin replied coldly. “You put Marradith’s life in jeopardy, and that is not something that I am ready to forgive.”
Rafael sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I can explain why, but it’s a long story.”
“I am curious,” Justin said. “But I’m not going to promise that knowing why you did it will do you any good.”
Fiona stood, rubbing Rafael’s shoulder protectively. “He just woke up. Surely there is a better time. Maybe tommorow? At least let him rest today?”
“I’ve had enough rest,” Rafael said, taking Fiona’s hand in his own. “If Justin wants to hear the truth, I am ready to tell it.”
Justin crossed the room and sat down on the windowsill. Ciara was sleeping, and he made no move to give her back to Fiona. With a baby in his arms, he won’t be so fast to get up and strike someone, Fiona thought. So she sat down beside Rafael and braced herself for what she was about to hear.
“It’s a long story,” Rafael said. “Have someone get me a glass of water and I’ll tell you everything.”
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©2011 Lori Titus
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