Calling for a Miracle [The Order of Vampyres 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (49 page)

She followed her mother into her childhood home, which had an odd empty feeling compared to what it once was with six of them living under its roof. There was a stampede of movement and a squeal as Larissa found herself being thrown off balance as her younger sister Gracie catapulted herself into her arms.

“You’re back! I knew you would be back! Oh, how I have missed you, Sister!”

Larissa laughed joyfully and hugged her sister’s smaller form tightly to her. “Oh, Grace, I have missed you dreadfully. You look exactly the same.”

“Did you expect me to change?”

“No, I just…I guess I just feel as though I have been away for so long that something should be different.”

“Larissa.” She turned at her mother’s concerned voice. She had lost weight. Her cheeks were gaunt and her eyes heavily shadowed. It seemed Eleazar was correct.

Larissa turned to her mother and asked. “Is it true? Has Father…”

Her mother shut her eyes and pressed her lips firmly together and nodded. “It is. Your father has gone to claim his mate.”

“Oh, Mother…”

“There is nothing to be done for it. He needed to go. I sent him, knowing full well I was giving away a piece of my soul I will never have back.”

“But…Father must come back.”

“He cannot.”

“How can you say that?”

“I know your father. He intends to resolve this situation and return as if nothing has changed. He will see when that day comes that he cannot face me.”

“Would you hold this against him? If he chose you, would you tell him no?”

“I will never have to make that choice, Larissa. He will not be able to live with his choice so long as I am by his side. He will be overwrought with guilt every time he looks at me and that is not how a marriage should be.”

“But he is your husband.”

“And he is another female’s mate. He belongs to her more than he will ever belong to me. In truth, I am not sure, once they bond, if our marriage could hold a candle to what he will feel for her. It is best that I let him go. I love him enough to give him this last blessing.”

Larissa looked to her sister who was listening with sad, downcast eyes as if she had already heard her mother speak such words. How could this have happened? She had no words, so she did the only thing she could and walked to her mother and hugged her tightly. She could feel her bones through her gown and flesh. She was not taking care of herself.

After a few moments she pressed her away and clapped her hands together with feigned optimism. “Let me make your morning meal while we catch up. I am sure there is plenty that I must be caught up on. How is Adam’s new wife?”

Larissa busied herself at the cook stove while Gracie chattered about Annalise and Adam’s marriage, their expected son, and how well Annalise was adapting to Amish life. Her mother did not contribute too much of the conversation. Larissa was overjoyed at the thought of having a nephew. Gracie was certain the baby was a male. Larissa imagined he would have silver-blue eyes just as Adam and Cain had.

When breakfast was prepared the three women sat and ate as they chatted about the weather, the price of fabric, and, again, Adam’s son. Annalise was expected to deliver early spring.

As they finished eating Larissa mindfully took note of her mother’s plate. Her food was barely touched, but she was grateful her mother had at least eaten a few bites. There was no doubt in Larissa’s mind that if she had not prepared breakfast, her mother would have skipped the morning meal entirely.

“Tell me about Bishop King,” her mother requested casually.

Before Larissa could announce her news, Gracie blurted, “Ugh, must we speak of that old codger?” Larissa turned to her sister sharply. “What? You know he’s an old goat.”

“Eleazar is not an old goat, Gracie!”

“Eleazar? You had better watch, Sister. If he hears you call him by his Christian name, and I have no doubt that fossil can hear an acorn fall from a million miles away, you will find yourself in trouble.”

“Stop that, Gracie. You have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Wow, he must have chastised you good when he found you.”

“He did not
chastise
me!”

Gracie fought a smirk and held her hands up in surrender. “My apologies. I had no idea you were so fond of antiques.”

“For someone who is fearful of him overhearing, you sure have a loose tongue,” Larissa snapped. “Do be quiet.”

“What has gotten in to you, Larissa? He is a grumpy old rooster. Since when do you care for what I say of him?”

“I do care. He is not as grumpy as everyone thinks. Perhaps if others would take the time to know him rather than simply use him for their own personal gains, they would see that! You have no right to say such things about him. No right!” She felt herself moving toward tears and angrily stood to clear the table. Once she carried the plates to the sink, she placed her palms on the cool porcelain and took a calming breath. When she turned back to her mother and sister, they were staring at her like a pair of trout with their mouths hung wide. “What?”

Abilene was the first to recover. “Larissa, where is Silus?”

She screwed her lips together then mumbled, “The council has agreed to give me an annulment.”

“I see,” her mother said.

Gracie, on the other hand, shouted, “What? How is that possible? They would only let you be rid of that horrible man if you or he were called
to your true mate. I know for a fact Silus wasn’t called
.
I have the misfortune of seeing him lurking around every day, wondering if I have somehow smuggled you back onto the farm. He would never abide an annulment. The only way that would be possible is if he had no say in it. You would have had to of been—Oh, my God…”

“Is this true, Larissa?” her mother asked in a much calmer voice than her sister had used. Larissa nodded. “Is it our bishop God has called
to you?”

“It is.”

“Why can I not have one fun brother-in-law?”

“Gracie, hush,” Abilene chided. “Are you pleased with this match, Larissa?”

She felt blood rush to her cheeks. “I am. Eleazar is not who I believed he was. He is good and honorable. True, he places his duty above almost everything else. I know he can be rigid, but he must set an example for the rest of us. He sacrifices much of his own happiness to always do what is right for the greater good and that is a noble trait a
frau
can be proud of. He will protect me, I believe, and he is kind.”

Gracie grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. All humor was gone from her expression. “Larissa, are you sure? I know…I can only imagine what a marriage to Silus entailed. Do not sentence yourself to another overbearing authoritarian.”

She smiled and gave her sister’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I am sure, Grace. Eleazar is kind. He is gentle and loving and cares for not only my well-being, but my happiness as well. We are still adjusting and I am learning as we go. Where my husband would have…ignored my comforts in all marital matters, Eleazar will not. If I am not comfortable or happy, he is unsatisfied. He will not ignore me as Silus did. I…I trust him.”

“Has Silus been informed?” Abilene asked, her concern clear.

“Yes. We returned two days ago. Eleazar called a meeting and yesterday I had to sit on trial before the Elder’s Council. Oh, Mother, it was so frightening being in there. I hope I never have to walk into that room again. But I did and Eleazar told the council what had happened. Silus became very agitated and there was a bit of a scene. They asked me questions and I can barely recall answering them I was so nervous, but before I knew what was happening, the council was granting me an annulment. Silus was so angry. I was frightened he would retaliate, but then he tried to approach me after the trial and Adriel Schrock—do you know her, Mother? She is a fascinating female—anyway, she stopped Silus. He was quite humiliated when she was finished rebuking him. I doubt he will bother with me again. Once the paperwork is signed, Eleazar and I can be married and I never have to deal with that rotten man again.”

Her mother’s lips trembled as if she wanted to smile. “Well then, I suppose I had better begin sewing you a new dress. In this weather I will never be able to grow celery in time—”

“Oh no, Mother. I do not wish for another wedding. I only want to say my vows to my husband with my family and God as our witness and perhaps Adriel Schrock, since she is one of Eleazar’s closest friends. He is a very private male and I do not wish to burden him with an overdone ceremony and celebration. I simply want to marry him so that we can begin our life.”

Gracie, who had been quiet for some time, puzzled, “You are the third. How is it possible that in my twenty-one years on this earth, not a single member of The Order was called, yet in the past four months, three of my kin have been? It is a miracle.”

“Or a curse,” Abilene asserted.

Larissa and Gracie looked to their mother with sad eyes. “Do not give up hope, Mother. God’s grace is seen in uncountable actions. You must believe that miracles are possible and perhaps you will find your own. Father may pull through this somehow. It is not for us to determine. All you can do is hope and pray that God will call on a miracle for you.”

Chapter 33

As the day drew on, Larissa fondly spoke of her new mate and decided that what was in the past should stay buried. She grew more and more anxious to begin her future with Eleazar. Her mother and sister came to terms with her newfound happiness and they passed the day laughing and speaking of mostly good things, avoiding the more painful topics.

Larissa was grateful for the small moments when she caught her mother smiling. It seemed her face had grown used to not showing such expression. It was as if she needed to relearn how to experience joy. This made Larissa sad, but she tried to remain hopeful that it would not always be this way.

Late that afternoon Annalise came by. Larissa was glad to have the time with her new sister-in-law. She had only had a small chance to talk to her while she was being courted by Adam. Now she was a part of their family and glowing with life. Her belly was beginning to swell and, while Larissa was happy for her brother and sister-in-law’s blessing, she was also envious.

She found herself, for the first time, worrying over the fact that she had not conceived once in the year of her marriage. She knew it did not always happen right away, but a year with no results seemed troublesome to her mind. Although she was grateful she did not carry Silus’s young, she hoped there was no reason for concern. Her mother had had several miscarriages since the time Larissa was born. She had been pregnant eight times and only carried three pregnancies to term. Larissa wondered if their inability to deliver children had to do with the fact that they were being bedded by males who were not their true mates.

As the sun began to set, Larissa grew impatient waiting for her brother to come for Annalise so that he could take her back to the bishop’s house. She supposed she should begin calling it her home. Larissa went to the window and listened for any children running about. It seemed everyone had gone home for the day, not that it was a good day for frolicking outside. It had been gloomy and cold for most of the sunlight hours. The air was wet and chilling to the bone. She imagined being warm under the covers with Eleazar and found the idea all too tempting.