Box Set: The ArringtonTrilogy (99 page)

“We will. Let’s invite them here, for a
celebration. Won’t it be wonderful, to have the family back
together again? And Heath . . . we’ll of course invite him and his
fiancée, Sarah.”

I didn’t mention my unpleasant reunion with
Heath; I couldn’t bear to remember how badly I was treated. I was
perplexed as to why Heath never told Ayden where I was all these
years, but cared not to explore the reasons. None of it really
mattered any longer. Heath didn’t matter any longer.

Before the sunset, we designated a few hours
to rest as husband and wife and remained wholesome, again spent in
separate bedrooms under one roof. Ayden and I parted at my bedroom
door with a loving kiss and then I slipped into my room for a much
needed rest. The excitement suddenly caught up to me - the thrill
of the new life I was making on an island for which I dreamed of
returning to for so long, and becoming the wife of a man I was
fortunate to have truly, unequivocally love me.

That late day I remember falling asleep to
sweet dreams, to candy coated images of our future together, woke
with a smile on my face, and a burning desire to be with Ayden. It
was a feeling of being lost without him for the few hours I
dozed.

The sun had just set and the moon painted in
the brilliant deep blue sky. Stars began to twinkle high above the
warm glow of the beacon. Ayden was in the watch room. He hadn’t
noticed me, and I enjoyed watching him pull up the weights, using
the strength in his strapping arms and chest. I saw the passion for
his trade in the way he attentively carried out each task. And, he
did it with a smile, only his smile grew wider when he spotted me
standing in the doorway to the tower. “Come and stand by my side
and watch the night with me,” Ayden invited, extending his hand out
to me.

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” I
whispered softly leaning into him.

“Or with anyone else?” he murmured.

“Not anyone,” I assured him. Ayden knew of
loves lost, my bruised and battered heart, and the brother who won
my heart long ago.

“I saw the way you used to gaze with great
fondness for Heath when he was doing a chore, or even just sitting
and eating supper. I thought Heath was the luckiest boy in the
world…to have your interest and I could never understand why he
didn’t pursue your affections. In any case, I’m glad he didn’t,” my
husband confessed and kissed my cheek.

My heart sank with the mention of Heath and
memories of how much in love with him I had once been. I had no
idea Ayden was so aware. At the time, I believed he was young and
immature, incapable of noticing my benevolent love for his older
brother. However, I was wrong. He was very much aware and possibly
that was why he was so jealous of Heath. I thought it was over
Heath’s intelligence, his striving to be something greater than
Jasper Island. It became clear in his brief acknowledgment that my
infatuation with Heath was the root of their rivalry.

“So am I. I’m glad Heath didn’t turn to me
and ask me for my hand. Then you and I would never have been able
to find true love. That is what you and I have, Ayden, true love.
The kind my Momma and Daddy had, the kind that knows no rules, no
boundaries. We have a love only a few are fortunate enough to
experience, and I will treasure your love. You do believe me, don’t
you Ayden?” I cried. My words came out as a plea and not only to
Ayden. I too wanted to believe we had acquired such a gift because
it was written in the stars, meant to be. It was destiny. I wasn’t
meant to be with Heath; he wasn’t my soul mate after all.

I looked deep into Ayden’s eyes and saw a
shadow, a small sliver of doubt cast in them that made me shudder.
However, Ayden couldn’t tell I was aware; the slight hesitation,
the diminutive misgiving, the subtle doubt that I would treasure
him and only him.

Spring nights came and went without one
single storm. There was no havoc, no clash with Mother Nature. Most
evenings were clear and star
-
filled. Occasionally a small
band of rain showers would pass quickly over, but nothing to
threaten any of the passing vessels.

Days we retired to our quarters after
breakfast with a sweet hug and tender, innocent kiss. Sometimes I
was almost too tired to fall asleep, so I would open one of my
dozen or so books and read for a while, causing my lids to finally
weigh down and sleep to prevail. I usually woke before Ayden to do
the washing and cooking. I quickly, happily, became to homemaker.
Ayden then woke, had coffee and I lovingly catered to him. He loved
my cooking, devoured my food, always complimenting me. “Your
cooking is as fine as Mothers,” he said, after polishing off
supper. Then, Ayden went up to the tower for the long night
ahead.

Summer began to unleash subtle storms, none
of which amounted to much. Thunder and lightning pounded the region
and sea swells were treacherous but not so much so to sink a ship
into the darkness of night. Both Ayden and I were always grateful
for a safe, rather uneventful night as we shared ideas and thoughts
of things to come.

Opal and Edward wrote back that they were
thrilled to hear our splendid news, and would arrive on Jasper
Island by the Fourth of July.

“We will have a party with cake and homemade
ice cream and fireworks. How much fun will that be?” I asked Ayden
as I served him eggs and sausage.

“We will celebrate America’s independence and
our mutual dependence,” Ayden joked. I playfully smacked his arm
and he laughed so hard he nearly fell off his chair.

“And I couldn’t be more delighted about it,
dear wife,” he said more seriously and kissed my hand as he stood
to go up to bed. And before he made it to the top of the stairs, he
turned and announced, “And, Heath won’t be coming.”

“No?” I gulped.

“Actually, I hadn’t received a reply, so I
just assume so. None the less, it will be a fine celebration.”

I breathed a sigh of relief knowing Heath was
staying far away from the lighthouse. Ayden and I didn’t need his
endorsement and well wishes of our marriage, if in fact, he cared
to bestow them upon us. Just the thought of Heath and Sarah coming
to our island made me feel ill. Too many bad memories it would
bring.
No, Heath Dalton, stay far away from Ayden’s, and my
blessed, happy union.

The Daltons arrived a few days before the
celebration, and of course, brought along young Elizabeth.
Instantly, as soon as their shoes reached the shore, I ran to them,
greeting them with desperate hugs of affection.

“Lillian, how you have grown into such a
lovely woman,” Opal remarked. Edward stepped in and hugged me, then
added, “I must second that.”

I drew away and giggled, for Edward was a
father figure to me and now even more special - my father-in-law.
Elizabeth stood back glancing around, trying desperately to place
the lighthouse from way back in her early memories. Opal signed
something to her that made her smile. I was rusty on my sign
language and couldn’t make out what she signed.

“I told Elizabeth this is where she was
born.”

Ayden’s young sister had grown into a sweet,
pretty girl. Her curly hair was the color of Heath’s as a boy and
she had Ayden’s deep blue sapphire eyes. I knelt down and signed
“hello,” which I easily remembered, and she signed, “Hello” back,
then threw her thin arms around me and squeezed tight.

Ayden came from behind, gathered Elizabeth up
into his strong arms, and delicately placed kisses on each of her
rosy cheeks. She eagerly returned his kisses and smiled wide. I
could see she was thrilled to be in the arms of her brother.

After placing Elizabeth back down, he warmly
greeted his mother and shook hands with his father. I could easily
see the pride in Edwards face. Ayden was indeed distinguished in
his keeper’s uniform.

“How are things, Son?” Edward asked as we
hiked up to the house where I had a lunch already prepared for
everyone.

“Fine, Father, especially since Lillian
returned and agreed to be my bride,” Ayden replied while staring
lovingly over at me.

“And your brother, will he be coming? I
haven’t heard word from him.”

“No, I suspect not. He hadn’t replied to my
invitation.”

Opal wore a mask of concern on her face, but
it quickly vanished when she saw the table set with all the food.
“You did this all yourself? And the apple pie, your mother’s
special recipe?” she asked while bringing me to her side in a
motherly gesture.

I wiped a small tear that escaped and nodded,
so overwhelmed with emotion, enamored with all the love they
expressed toward me. To my relief I could easily see I was special
to them, accepted as one of their own, remembered with profound
fondness. I forgot how good it felt, forgot what it was like to be
a part of a real family.

Choked up with emotion, I excused myself and
hurried to my bedroom to catch my breath and dry my tears. Ayden
noticed my hasty departure and came after me, to make certain I was
all right.

“Are you ill?” he asked through the door.

“No, I’m fine,” I sniffled.

“Then why are you up here? Come outside. It’s
a beautiful day, the food looks scrumptious.”

I opened the door. He was surprised to see me
in tears. “What is it?” he cried and pulled me into his arms. “What
has got you so sad?”

“They are tears of joy,” I sobbed onto his
chest.

“Oh, I see,” he said softly and kissed the
top of my head. “I’m glad that is all.”

“All right, I’m ready to go back. Let’s have
a celebration, let’s share our joy with your family.”

“Our family, Lillian. Our family.”

I sat beside my husband while we ate and
drank and talked about old times. Edward brought up stories of
ferocious storms and incredible rescues and he even mentioned
Daddy. Daddy’s last days at the lighthouse station were full of
turmoil. Daddy was drinking too much and Edward was disgusted with
him. However, it appeared time healed old wounds and memories were
far sweeter than actuality. “Your father was an extraordinary
lighthouse keeper, legendary in the industry,” Edward said and
tenderly touched my hand. “You should be proud to be his
daughter.”

Ayden instantly shot me a look of concern.
Was I going to confess to my new family that my father, Garrett
Arrington, was really my half uncle that he and Momma lived a lie
as husband and wife, and I was a product of a horrific rape? It
pained me to no end to have the truth always come to light, just
the way the sun rose every day. However, it was more important for
me to try to remember Garrett Arrington for the man who raised me,
loved me as his very own, even after he abandoned me. I still loved
him unconditionally.

“Thank you, Edward,” I said through my tears.
Ayden signed, and the fret instantly left his brow.

While we spoke, Opal signed to Elizabeth so
she understood what we were all saying. She was bright, as
remarkable of a girl as she was as a baby. It was easy to recall
the moment of her birth, when Heath brought her out in his arms
after the delivery and announced his baby sister to the world.

Elizabeth looked to me while we conversed,
studying my hair, my face. And after we finished with pie, she
signed to Opal. “She says when she grows up; she wants to look just
like you.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth,” I mouthed as she read
my lips with natural ease. Just don’t grow up and make all the
terrible mistakes I did, I thought to myself
.

Later that afternoon, after cleaning up, Opal
and I, along with Elizabeth, prepared supper. Ayden and his father
set out for a row to the village for supplies. It gave Opal and me
some much needed private time. She even sent Elizabeth up to my
room to read a book, giving us a chance to catch up on lost
time.

Opal had not aged much; she looked so much
the same that I struggled not to cry. My return home caused such
overwhelming emotion it swelled up inside me. Opal was always
astute, saw my tear filled eyes, and instantly gave me a warm,
comforting hug. “It’s good to have you back, Lillian, and more than
that, it’s a pleasure to have you as my daughter-in-law. You know I
always thought of you as I would any child of mine. When you left
with your father, I was very depressed. There was no word where you
had gone. We were all devastated, especially Heath.”

“We weren’t on very good terms at that time,”
I confessed.

“And Ayden, well he seemed to grow even more
withdrawn. Elizabeth cried for you for months. Do you realize how
we mourned for you?” she asked as tears streamed down her face.

“I hoped I wasn’t forgotten. All the years I
so wanted to come home. It just seemed life wasn’t going to allow
me, planted obstacles in my way, preventing me from being truly
happy. But, finally the day came when I told myself it was time,
regardless of the obstacles; I was going home.”

“All I can say is we are all glad you did.
When Heath receives word, he will be relieved too. I just don’t
understand where he is. Edward has sent letters and telegrams with
no response. I admit I am worried.”

I didn’t know why Heath never mentioned our
objectionable reunion to his parents or Ayden. They all were
concerned for me, had no idea where I had gone. Yet, Heath knew,
and withheld that information, allowing everyone to continue to
suffer. And even after he learned I was back at the lighthouse
station and married to Ayden, he still chose to ignore me.

Out of the need to ease Opals fears, I
decided I would tell her and only her about what happened between
Heath and me at his engagement party.

“He knew you, yet pretended not to? All that
time he said nothing to us!” Opal cried. “How could he! And
why?”

“Opal, you have to understand. I wasn’t in a
very good place; Heath has always been rather judgmental. But I
don’t particularly blame him,” I said sadly. “Ayden doesn’t know,
and I don’t want him to find out.”