Bloodstone Heart (33 page)

When all the guests had greeted the guests of honor, Dominic stood up with a glass of champagne for a toast. "Thank you all for coming and celebrating such a happy occasion with us.
 
Darby, we are thrilled to call you and yours, family.
 
You've brought a ray of sunshine into this sad old house and hope into this dusty old heart," he said this as he put his hand over his heart. "Devon, we are so happy this saint of a girl never gave up on you for a second. I can't speak for everyone here, but I know I regret having had my doubts. Your mother, Gail, would be giving me such an earful if she were alive. But we have you back because of Darby and I won't ever make such a horrendous mistake again. I hope you two will have many years of happiness and joy as Mr. and Mrs. Bloomington. Congratulations!"

The room roared, "Congratulations!"

Dancing, drinking, laughing, and sheer merriment best described the evening's events.
 
Rowan and Sally were the first to descend on Darby once the initial greetings were made and talk died down a bit. Rowan was giddy with excitement, yet somewhat reluctant to initiate a conversation, but Sally took care of that by dragging her and telling her it was for her own good.

Darby and Rowan stood looking at one another for a moment before they both burst into tears.
 
Darby hugged Rowan tightly and Rowan gushed with apologies and tears for doubting her sister’s cause in finding Devon.
 

Darby pulled her away to look at her face and said, "Rowan, it's okay. It hurt at first and it was terribly lonely, but as time went on, I had my doubts too. I know how it looked. I had a lot of time to see it from everyone's point of view and it did look to be what you all assumed. Somehow though, I knew he was in trouble and he needed me.
 
Maybe he was psychically calling to me or maybe it was something else, but I knew what I had to do. I wouldn't have wanted you to give up school to come out and help me.
 
You were so close to graduating and you and Blake were settling into something wonderful, I couldn't have asked you even if I wanted to. I think it had to be done this way. I have no bad feelings about it, Rowan. I love you just as I always have."

"I can't tell you what a relief it is to hear you say that," Rowan said as tears poured down her face.

"See.... I told you!" Sally said. "Really Darby, she's been beating herself up since you left, Blake too. But we're all so glad to see you both safe and together and now engaged. I can't think of two people more deserving of one another."

"Thank you, Sally. Boy, I missed all of you so much. There were times I was so close to just calling Anton and having him send me the money to fly home, but something wouldn't let me. I'm sure glad I didn't. You should have seen him, Rowan, when we found him.
 
You wouldn't have recognized him. He was so close to death, I think if we had come ten minutes later, he surely would have been gone."

"Blake told us it was terrible. The things she did to him. Well, it's just horrible," Sally said.

"You have no idea, Sally.
 
Truly, when Blake saw him, he looked downright great, compared to when Dominic and I found him chained to that bed. I swear, I would have ripped her limb from limb if she had walked in that room. I've never felt such hate towards another person, not even Terrence Paine."

Rowan felt for her sister and hugged her once more then pulled away and said, "Now let me see that ring!"

Darby beamed and held her left hand in front of her for the girls to see.
 
She told them, "Devon said it was the ring that Nathaniel gave Abby when he asked her to marry him. Isn't it lovely?"

"It's beautiful," Sally said.

"It's so you, Darby. He couldn't have bought one that looks more like you if he tried. It's absolutely perfect," Rowan said.

"It is, isn't it?" Darby giggled. The three women looked like three teenage girls about to burst from excitement.
 
From across the room, Devon, Blake, and Dean laughed at their juvenile display of giddiness.
      
Dean looked at Devon and said, "You do realize you've set a precedent here that Blake and I are going to have to hear about until we do the same thing."

Devon said, "Oh? What's that?"

"Engagement rings...marriage...Sally and Rowan have been jumping up and down and squealing like teenagers for days now.
 
It hurts my ears. Next they'll be asking Blake and me what our plans are."

Blake turned from staring at the beautiful sight of Rowan's happy face across the room. "Do... Huh... What?... You're... No... Married? ...Uhhhghhh..." Devon laughed at his brother, who looked as if he was going to be sick. Blake then blurted, "Why? Why would you say that, Dean?"

Dean said, "Blake, Blake, Blake...You may be older than I am, but apparently I know women better than you."
 

Blake replied, "Pfffft. Right!"

"Seriously, man. You get one girl engaged in a group of friends and you will find the others wondering why they aren't engaged yet. It's like knocking down dominoes."

Blake looked to his brother for comfort only to see him smirking and nodding. "He's right, Blake. I'm afraid I've caused a chain reaction, little brother."

Blake looked sick again much to Dean and Devon’s enjoyment. That's when Blake grabbed a passing Mark to ask him if this phenomenon was indeed a fact. Mark's face went as white as Blake's had gone. "Oh no, no, no, that can't be right. Devon, I'm going to have to beat you senseless if this is true." Dean and Devon nodded.
 
Mark mumbled to himself, shaking his head.

Dean and Devon laughed at him as he meandered back to Alyssa through the crowd, then Blake said, "What are you laughing about, Dean? You're in the same boat with me and Mark." As if lightning had struck him, his face slackened with shock and Blake found comfort in that.

Devon said, "Guys, I'm sorry to have made your lives more difficult, but it couldn't be helped. Come on, the woman saved me when no one else even believed I was in danger. I was pretty sure she was the one before we came to Connecticut, but after all that's happened, there is absolutely no confusion about it, so why waste any more time?"

Dean coughed saying, "Whipped!" under the cough to disguise it.
 
Blake laughed and so did Devon, who responded, “Look at her, she's gorgeous - and sweet, and smart.... come on...if I'm going to be whipped, I want her to do it."

Blake and Dean raised their glasses of champagne and said, "I'll drink to that."
 

Devon said, "Cheers. And by the way, you two aren't doing too badly in that department either; if push comes to shove and the pressure is on for marriage, you both could do a lot worse.
 
Sally and Rowan are pretty amazing in their own rights and beautiful to boot."

"I'll say," Blake concurred.

"I know. Sometimes I still don't know how I landed such a hottie," Dean said shaking his head.

Devon said, "Just lucky, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess. But that doesn't mean I don't want to see Mark's girlfriend Alyssa do a couple back flips in that dress."

"You are such a dog, Dean."

"That's D..A..W..G..to you, fang boy."

"It never ends with you, fuzz face; you've always got to have the last word, don't you?"

"Yes...yes, I do," Dean said matter-of-factly. All three of them laughed.
 

Behind them a familiar voice said, "Boys...how are you?" They all turned to see Dr. Rowe.

"Dr. Rowe! So glad you could come," Blake said, shaking his hand. "Dean, I don't think you've had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Rowe. He's been our family's doctor for as long as I can remember. He and Dominic have been great friends for even longer."

Dean replied as he offered his hand, "It's a pleasure, Sir."

Dr. Rowe looked down at his hand and then back up to Dean's eyes with a curious expression. Still gripping Dean's hand he whispered, "A werewolf?" He then looked at Blake and Devon who along with Dean nodded.
 

Dr. Rowe said, "Fascinating! I'd love to sit down with you and pick your brain."

Dean answered, "Sure, as long as you don't mean that in the literal sense." Dr. Rowe burst out a boisterous "Hoo-Ha" laugh that caught all the men off guard, but they followed in suit and laughed along with Dr. Rowe.

After a moment, Dr. Rowe said, "Devon, I hear congratulations are in order. Darby seems to be a lovely girl."

"Then you've met?"

"Why yes, son.
 
She was in the hospital under my care a few times. Don't you remember?"

"I'm sorry, Dr. Rowe, I don't. I was a bit tied up, I suppose."

"Indeed. Nasty one that Libby turned out to be. Just glad she and Anton never procreated."

"Huh. Never thought of that. That certainly would have complicated things."

"Indeed."

"Please, Dr. Rowe, there's a ton of food and drink. Help yourself," Devon said.

"Thank you son, I will."

Dr. Rowe continued on into the room, stopping to greet Dominic on his way.

On the dance floor, Jules and Anton were happily dancing under the dripping twinkle lights. They had taken a walk to see the pond with all its illuminated orbs bobbing on the ripples made by the wind. Like in the elevator, when Jules had finally dropped her guard, they had a long talk, getting to know one another, finding every little tidbit of information as a tiny gift to be treasured. He learned that when she was human, her mother had died when she was very young and she had to raise her twin brothers who grew to be huge, feared men that kept anyone who might be interested in her far, far away. Her father had been lost when his wife died and for Julianna, it had been much like taking care of three big babies.

Anton could tell that she looked back on these memories with great fondness, but she never spoke of being turned.
 
He sensed something very wrong had happened and she still seemed angry about it, even after so many years. He wondered what could have made her so angry, but he also knew from experience that she had a hot temper and he didn't want to push the issue. Maybe someday she would open up to him.

On the dance floor with her close to him, he told her how his mother had died giving birth to him and how guilty he felt about that.
 
Dominic wouldn't talk about it and after a while Anton quit asking. The only remembrance he had of his mother was the large portrait of her at the head of the stairs. Jules listened to his story intently as if reliving her own mother’s death. Anton sensed they had a lot of things in common. Her eyes had welled up at the end of his story and he was touched at her display of emotion. Their eyes lingered for a moment on each other’s as if they were searching each other's soul, when the song they were dancing to ended and reality poured back into their tiny bubble.

"Can we sit the next one out?" Jules asked.

"Anything you want. Can I get you a drink?"

"That would be lovely. Champagne?" she said.

"As you wish," he said as he walked her back to a small table in the corner where he thought they could continue to talk privately. He held out the chair as she sat down and smiled at him. "I'll be back in a flash!"

He quickly moved to the table of stacked champagne glasses, grabbing two and an open bottle. When he turned he bumped into Dominic and Dr. Rowe.
 

"Dr. Rowe, so nice of you to join us.
 
I hope you are having a good time," Anton said.
 

"I always have a wonderful time when your father and I get together.
 
Two old gents talking about good old times and the trouble we used to get into."

"Great. I'm so glad.
 
Dad, you've outdone yourself.
 
The party is perfect. Darby and Devon seem to be having a great time."

"Thank you, Son. I'm glad.
 
They certainly deserve some happiness."
 

Dr. Rowe nodded. "Indeed."

"And when will I get to meet your beautiful date? You seem to be keeping her all to yourself," Dominic asked.
 

"You're right, I am being selfish," Anton said. "Soon, I promise, but speaking of that, I promised her some champagne and I don't want to break my promise, so I need to scoot."

Dominic laughed and Dr. Rowe looked around in hopes of catching a glimpse of this beauty Dominic had mentioned. Anton turned and worked his way through the crowd of people. Once he got through to the cozy corner table, he found it empty with no sign of Jules anywhere. He set the glasses and the bottle on the table and headed for the pond, thinking she was just getting a bit of fresh air, but there was no sign of her. He headed through the crowd again towards the French doors to the house, still not finding her. He fully checked the house, thinking maybe she hadn't felt well and went to lie down on one of the beds or gone to a restroom, but the house was empty besides Sammy who was lying at the foot of the stairs in his little tuxedo, and Mr. Chow, the Himalayan cat that was snoozing on a blanket in the study on a big leather chair.