And then
her eyes finally saw past her daughter-in-law, sweeping over the bare room.
Well, bare in comparison to what it had been just a not so long ago when she
had last been in the house.
But Layla
took another step, drawing a shuddering breath, not answering.
“Hello?”
Sabria repeated. “Layla? How are you?” Waving her hand behind Layla’s back
didn’t really make anything better, but she felt like she was making more of an
effort to get attention.
When it
didn’t work she repeated her first question.
“Who was
that that just left? What did he want?”
Finally,
Layla stopped her pacing.
“That was
Matthew,” she said in a small voice. “You know, he’s the one who runs the
consignment store where I sell what I find.”
Sabria
took a step nearer to hear her better. Layla had been much quieter since her
return and didn’t realize when it was difficult for others to catch the words
she spoke so softly.
“Well?”
Sabria asked. Matthew and Layla had always had a wonderful rapport according to
both Layla and Ignacio. Though Layla wasn’t as close to Matthew as Raul was.
“Iggy says
the gems and things lying around aren’t good for Mariah when she’s on the floor
so much,” Layla admitted slowly. “So I had Matthew over to help me sort things,
and then he’ll sell them for us.”
“I see,”
Sabria rolled her eyes a little. Whatever Layla wanted to blame the lack of
clutter on, so long as it wasn’t in the house anymore.
“It just
feels, so-” Layla faltered.
Sabria
took another look around the room feeling there was still plenty of ‘stuff’
lying around if that’s what had Layla so nervous.
“Empty,”
she finished. “It doesn’t feel right.”
“It will,”
Sabria said. “Just give it time. You’ll get used to it. And Iggy is right that
it wasn’t good for Mariah to be around all of that.”
Layla
nodded slowly.
“Come on,”
said Sabria. “Go get Mariah and let’s go to the park. We need to talk.”
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Because
she hadn’t heard what had happened from her daughter-in-law yet, Sabria decided
to begin with that immediately asking what had happened to Phedra. Mariah had
found a fire truck and played happily in the sandbox in front of them.
Since
she’d been home Layla had been in touch with both of her brothers trying to
figure out exactly what had happened. The answers they received were piecemeal
at best, but it was all anyone would ever know. Phedra and George had gone on a
flight with two of the scientists within the expedition. They never returned.
Bits and pieces of what was
thought to be the airplane had washed up ashore around the islands, but nothing
that could be positively identified. Henry was officially the ward of Cyrus and
Olivia, and as the teen had never known any other parents it wasn’t the loss it
might otherwise have been. He was saddened, but he would be able to move on.
Mariah had
driven her fire truck farther than she could reach, making her wriggle sideways
to be able to grab the toy again. Layla watched her with unseeing eyes. Sabria,
knowing Layla needed another moment, waited, keeping her peace.
“It’s over
now.” Layla finished. When she had
returned she’d spent days crying in her room, finally letting everything wash
over her. Once her grief was spent, she’d come out different, broken. It
saddened Sabria to see her in such a state when the first blush of marriage
should have been joyful. Ignacio and Layla had opted for a private marriage in
front of a Sim of the Peace just a few days earlier.
Sabria
nodded sagely. It was over. Time to
move on. A marriage should herald a new beginning, one she was anxious for.
“I’d like
to thank you,” she began quietly. It might not have been entirely in line with
the topic, but it would help her ease into what she felt she needed to say. “You’ve
taught my son a lot of patience.”
“I’ve
taught Ignacio, a lot,” Layla repeated slowly. “A lot of patience?” The words said ‘insult,’ the tone did not, and
her confusion was clear as she narrowed her eyes a little quizzically.
“Yes,”
answered Sabria. “Yes, you have.”
Layla
decided to take it as a rebuke, but one she deserved. Looking away she tried to
form the apology she knew she ought to make, but Sabria interrupted this line
of thought.
“Iggy had
known for a very long time that there would be someone who would come into his
life that would trust him implicitly, immediately.
And that person would be incredibly important to him. From what he’s told me
that’s exactly what happened when he met you.
And then he screwed it up; first, by being so nervous, surprised and excited
that he couldn’t find the right words to say. And secondly, by being a little
overconfident. By expecting it to just happen. He’d waited for so long and
could hardly bear to wait longer.
Once he
realized his mistake he had to work even harder to even be able to befriend you.
I don’t think even you realize all the ways he tried to do nothing more than
get under your skin, hoping you’d pay attention.
Layla
blinked in confusion. Could that really be why he’d acted that way? He’d sat
there, silently listening as she spilled secrets about her time spent
traveling before coming to Appaloosa Plains. Then he’d attempted to blackmail
her for a date. Not to forget crashing the date she was on with Ned. And making
sure her brother got a job; his family, a house. Showing up to give her a gift
so she could pretend to grow a garden. All of it, because he could barely stand
to wait for her to wake up.
“And if he
hadn’t learned that patience,” Sabria continued. “I’m not at all sure what he
would have done when-”
Layla
ducked her head again, cheeks flaming, when Sabria broke off.
“Well,”
she clucked. “You know. But it’s come into use for him with other things as
well. Such as his tolerance for my gifts. In particular, related to a vision I’ve
had for a long time now.
You know
how he doesn’t like it when I ‘Butt In,’ as he says. And he hasn’t let me for a
long time. Until recent events, when he allowed me to See if I could comfort
him.”
Knowing that Sabria was still dancing around her flight,
Layla closed her eyes, trying to listen. Trying to ignore that it was her fault
that Ignacio had allowed himself to be put in such a spot. He’d been so
desperate to make sure she was alright, that she was going to return home, he’d
allowed his mother to use him to See. And Sabria Saw, she’d Seen everything he
had worked to keep private. Layla would make it up to him though. She’d make it
all better if she could.
Sabria
noted her discomfort and paused. Her intent was not to hurt her new daughter-in-law,
but to give information and to see what she knew.
“I’ve
started in the wrong spot,” said Sabria. “Let me begin again. A long time ago,
I had a flash of a vision with Ignacio lying dead on a floor.
“As the
years have gone on, the same scene has revisited me at different times.
Sometimes there are subtle changes. Sometimes, sometimes, my son is alive. Sometimes there are people in the room with
him. While he was in his teens I made him take steps toward protection even. But
I’m now having the vision more often and the changes are becoming less.
Something is solidifying, and what I learned by using Ignacio as my medium
leads me to that conclusion. Though I’m still missing something. Maybe you
could help me.”
“When Raul was in high school, we allowed him
to travel abroad as an exchange student. He became very close with his host
family and had already put in a request to go back the following year when a
military coup took place. Sim Nation decided to punish the newly appointed
military dictator by placing embargos on all imports to the country and Raul
was brought home along with all other Sim Nationals.
“But he
kept in touch with his other family and learned of the hardships they were
being forced to endure due to Sim Nations’ hardline stance against the country.
He felt very bad for the innocent people being punished for something they
could not control and the moment he was out of school he looked for ways to
help the family he had left behind.”
“Eventually, he found a way
to get supplies to them. And with a little effort, and some organization, he
managed to set up a supply chain to get basic supplies in to help not just his
other family, but all others in need while not alerting Sim Nation to his
activities.
“For one
of the basic necessities, food, Ignacio agreed to supply all the fish he could.
Lottie cured and dried the fish ready for shipping. Matthew organized the
shipments. Raul made sure they arrived safely. He made a small amount, enough
to ensure they could afford to continue their efforts, but not much more.”
Layla’s
interest was truly piqued, it was an interesting story. But this sounded like a
noble and charitable endeavor to her. She’d thought it had been shady when
she’d asked about what he really did with Raul so long ago. They’d snuck
around, talking in whispers in shady corners, brows lowered, glowering at
anyone who dared get too close. When Ignacio had refused to answer her
questions about what the two were up to, evading her questions instead, she’d
exploded, assuming the worst. She was ashamed of her past behavior, a fierce
pride in her husband making her eyes mist. Why was Sabria concerned over this?
“But
lately I’ve noticed a change,” Sabria continued. “I live with Raul and Lottie.
I know what they make in their day jobs. But what they are bringing home and
spending is wildly different, as are their attitudes and actions. Something
about what they are doing has changed and I’m afraid Ignacio may not know what
it is. This change could also be what has him in such danger. I know that if it
goes on much longer there could be a significant chance that my son’s life will
be on the line. You have to help me convince him to change his path.”
“You have a daughter together, and you’ve helped raise his other daughter,” Sabria said quietly, her voice low and urgent. “You’ve been married for mere days and your world is still upside down… But please. Please, listen. Please, don’t let him die.”
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Welcome back ladies and gents! I know that was a lot to
take in right off the top, but I did warn you that we’d be hitting the ground
running when I had finished taking a small break (because writers block had
settled right in.) And so we are! Get ready folks, because we’re getting ready
to run!
A few notes: I kind of broke Layla. She’s still a little broken and might be for a while. I did, however, finally allow her and Ignacio to fulfill their wishes to get married to the other. It thrilled Ignacio. Like really. It’s so funny to see him. He’s forever doing that “Jump Into Arms” interaction on Layla. Giddy little schoolgirl that he is. Lol.
There is a new pose pack up under the downloads tab. Girls sitting on the ground talking. I can tell you definitely that was not the hold up on this one coming out. lol.
And a huge THANK YOU! to Gemma and Misty for helping me work past the block I had on this chapter and the upcoming storyline. You two rock!
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