Family Reunion (45 page)

She
began swinging, swatting; and yanking at her hair, her screams piercing the air and the hearts of those who witnessed her coming undone before their eyes, she staggered gasping out of control until she collapsed into a black void, out cold.

"Mama! Mama-a-a!" Hope screamed, sobbing, as Lena buckled.

Gaitsu caught her as Manny rushed to them, taking her from him and lifting her quickly. He carried her to the bunk with Gaitsu right beside him.

"Gaitsu!?" Manny cried his name, begging for the fix.

"She faint! Better she do, too frightened! Could not get in head – somethin’ else in head boss."

"My God, what's happened to my mother!? What's happened to my mother?" Mike agonized.

Rory looked at him, calmly explaning, "She'll be alright. She gets like that sometimes. Been like that since she came back from Dustinhurst. Just… leave that light on when she has those fits. Few days, she'll be fine. Don't lock this door, and … you need to get rid of those mice." He instructed, gazing up at Manny. He looked over at her laying on the bed, next to his sister, his brother and back to his father; they were all staring at him in stunned silence. He shrugged with nothing more to say, he turned and left the room. The room was so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Sitting on the bed beside her, Manny fought back a need to cry out in agony, feeling punched in the stomach, he bent over, laying his head on her stomach.

Some time later…

Lena found herself staring into soft, loving aqua blue eyes and though she felt overly warm, she had to smile. Doing so, she realized the room was lit very brightly; she turned her head to see around her. She was cozy and comfortable, lying in bed. She glanced down toward the end of the bed where her daughter sat smiling at her.

"She's awake now." She heard Hope announce softly. "You feel better now?" Manny asked gently. Confused, Lena looked back up at him. "Of course I do, no reason why I shouldn't feel better." Next, Mike came into view, behind Hope, at the end of the bed. Lena looked down at him. "
Why
- are you all looking at me like that?" She asked.

"We were worried about you mama." Hope answered.

Lena's brows came together not understanding, looking back at Manny, her memory of what happened earlier came back to her. With a groan of utter embarrassment, she covered her face and turned away from them.

"Oh nooo – nooo I
can't believe I did it again. I'm so sorry; you
all
must think that I am mad!"

"No – we don't. We love you." Manny told her.

"That's right. What we think is that from this moment on, we are going to have to take better care of you, starting with, ridding this ship from bow to stern of any mice." Mike spoke up.

Lena slowly turned back to them, looking sheepish and hesitant.

"We're going to leave you now mama, so you can get some rest."

Hope said rising from the bed, walking around her father, who hadn't left her mother's side the entire time. She lowered and kissed her mother on the cheek. "Goodnight mama."

Mike followed, repeating the same.

All had grown silent again as she found herself once more, alone with Manny. "Forgive me? I am so sorry; I never meant to hurt you. I would have never done that if I had known, I would never hurt you Lena, I would sooner cut off my own arm."

"Shhh, I know that, it's not your fault." She braced herself to sit back and up but pain in her shoulder made her wince. “Everything that has happened to you, since you were mine, is my fault, I will not deny what is mine.” Manny returned in quiet tones as he stood and helped her, propping her pillow behind her.

"Thank you." She murmured, once in position. Once more, it was happening, his softly spoken words were a power unto themselves in how they affected her. He returned to his place beside her, staring at her, wondering at the horror she had suffered from Dustinhurst and how was it that she had spent time there? "I know it's been a long time…but…you can talk to me you know. You can tell me anything. Is there - anything you want to...talk about?" Lena shook her head lowering her gaze.

Manny ran his hand over his face again as he inhaled deeply. Reaching forward, he took her small hand in his. "Gloria was nothing more than someone eagerly wanting to hook me. The engagement has been over for some time. I had no idea invitations went out. I wouldn't have married her. I couldn't have married her. I wish - I could make you see – and know - how much - I really love you. And…I will. All I ask is that you give me a chance.”

“
All I ask is that you don't leave me. I – I cannot bear you not being here. I'm frightened beyond what is normal – to let you out of my sight." Tears filled his eyes, making Lena regret everything. "I beg you, don't – don't leave, stay here, with me, please!?" Manny didn’t care that with her, he always seemed to be in a position of pleading, he needed her.

Lena
reached over and wiped at his tears. Suddenly it seemed to her that they'd never been apart. Her thumb stroked over his moist skin as their eyes locked. He made no attempt to mask his feelings. In her heart, she knew he loved her. Hearing of Gloria, she had been glad she had her to use to say no to him and with good reason, in truth, Gloria was not the problem; not really. There was something dark and ugly in her past that he knew nothing of. Facing him now, she knew that it was something she must confess and then what? How would he feel about her then? She wasn't sure, but for now, she knew she didn't have the heart to leave him; more than anything she wanted to feel his arms about her, guarding her from all harm as he had done so many years before.

"If you wish that I stay Manny, I will stay. You have my word."

Manny shook his head. "If? Lena, with you, there is no such thing as if. I want you here with me, because here with me is where you belong. You may not know this now, but I know it. You are my life; that will never change Lena - that will never change."

Her arm dropped away from him as she gave him a soft smile, followed by a yawn.

"It's been a long day for you. Time for you to get some sleep, it’s almost two in the morning."

"It's so bright in here you can't tell. I thought it was morning." She smiled. Manny leaned forward and caressed her cheek with his hand.

"Get some sleep okay?"

Lena nodded as he rose from her bed, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. Lena tilted her head back to look into his eyes; he lowered and softly kissed her lips. He couldn't stand to linger there for long, or else he'd be tempted to climb in with her. He rose and ordered softly. "To sleep now, I'll leave a candle burning okay?" Lena nodded and moved down in her bed, her head on her pillow. He pulled her door leaving it slightly ajar and was gone.

After boarding the ship, Leon walked by Manny's office cabin, he saw a light shinning and peaked in. Manny was burning the midnight oil again and he slipped in to speak with him, as was his habit. Right away, as any father would, Manny made an enquiry about his activities.

“
Just where did you slip off to after dinner?”

Taking a seat before Manny’s desk, Leon wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Having been with Manny for so long, he could tell the mood he was in. Since Manny's persistent stare continued, he answered with a shrug. "I was at Mattalaine's, why… has something happened?"

"No, not exactly
, but I don't like the idea of you wandering about at night. The last thing now is for some free snatcher to get a hold of you! This family has been through hell and is finally come together again; God knows I don't need you disappearing!" Manny scolded, slamming the drawers of his desk looking for one of his ledgers. Leon made no reply, something was wrong, he only need wait a moment to find out what but until then, Manny finished his admonishment with. "I know you have your needs to see to but have a care and leave the night to those who thrive on it. Either stay with Mattalaine all night or here with your family. You ask me, I say it's time you start thinking on finding a wife for yourself, and getting started on having a few kids. You put much thought into that?" Manny asked.

"No sir, I can't say as I have."

"Well it's time you did. Mike's got you beat by five already and another on the way." He went on. "Don't give me that look, you know I'm right."

Leon nodded humbly, waiting for more, giving Manny his half grin look with the lift of one brow. Manny sighed and tossing the quill aside, threw his weight back into his chair, then, after a few moments of silence, said. "I'm starting to sound like Morris aren't I?"

"You sound like a father to me."

"Ah, yes, a father, you know – it is not all it's cracked up to be."

"What's wrong?" Leon finally asked.

Manny sat forward placing his elbows on his desk with his fingers entwined, as he rested his chin there, and answered. "Lena."

Leon sat forward. "What happened?"

Manny raked his hands through his hair. "We argued."

Leon looked stunned. "Already? About what?"

Manny shook his head. "I asked her to marry me?"

Leon smiled brightly and then it faded as he became confused. "Why would that start an argument?"

Manny grunted, "It's a long story Leon, but in the end, she said no."

"No - what?"

"No, she would not marry me!"

Leon's mouth fell open in surprise. "Miss Lena told you - no!"

Manny nodded. "Most emphatically."

Leon had to grin, he couldn't help it.

"Well I'm glad you think that's funny!" Manny shot sarcastically.

"I'm sorry of course it's not, so tell me, why the no?"

Manny's hands fell to the desk. "Because my son Mike, challenged me in protection of her honor and then, she knew of Gloria West."

Leon's eyes widened. "He did what? Gloria West!? Oh no, he told
her about Gloria?"

"Nooo, oh I don't know. She said she read it on an invite! Obviously Miss West wasted no time in announcing my stupidity and so, we argued. The worst of it is.... I, as usual, got a little carried away." Manny admitted quietly.

"Uh oh, what happened – what did you do?" Leon asked hesitantly.

"I tried to…I threatened to…lock her in one of the cabins. She saw a mouse, and ... went into a hysteria and - God Leon, she scared the hell out of me."

Leon sat back feeling sorry for Manny as always. No one, besides Jordan, understood him as he did. He knew that all Manny had ever wanted was what was best for everyone. Even when he did things that turned out not to be for the best, his heart was in the right place, his nature was sound. Blessing him and his life, Leon knew that God had placed him in good hands, while losing one father…he replaced him with one to be proud of.

"Anyway…" Manny continued, "…after it all happened, Rory said she's been like that since Dustinhurst. You and I never got the chance-…"

Just then Mike peeked in, saw the two sitting and talking quietly, "Umm, I couldn't sleep. Mind if – I join you?" He asked quietly.

Manny stared at his son, holding no grudges, because he simply could not, he nodded for him to enter. Leon turned around to look at him, saw his mouth and laughed out. "I'm not even going to ask."

"Good, then don't." Mike returned petulantly, darting timid glances at his father.

"I was about to ask Leon about Dustinhurst."

"Well as you both know, she was there…" Leon started, he really didn't care for repeating the things she'd gone through while there, “…and basically Manny, I only learned what you already know."

"Something happened to her in that place, I want to know what."

"Manny we have her back now, she's safe-…"

"I said - I want to know! Not only that, I want to know why? Why was she there?"

Mike sat at attention, saying nothing as Leon drew a deep breath, then answered. "Why she was there, I cannot tell you-…"

"Leon!"

"Manny – because I don't know
why!
" Leon returned, raising his hands. "The woman I talked to, Francis, she didn't know why. All she knew for sure was that Lena was there."

"Then tell me what happened to her."

"Fine, you wanna know
; after being there a while, Lena began teaching a few of the women how to read. One in particular latched on to Lena because she liked her. She stole paper, ink and quills for Lena to write stories. She got caught, and they punished her ... and Lena. Manny, they punish the women there by ... by locking them in a coffin like box in the ground. They locked Lena in there, for three days ... spiders, bugs, mice and rats had access to that box. When she came out, she was unable to speak from having screamed so much, and ... the white streak that you see in her hair had manifest."

All three sat quietly, Mike leaned forward with his face hidden in his hands; Manny sat, staring past Leon into nothing. After a few moments of silence, Leon spoke up. "Manny."

His eyes shifted, focusing on Leon. "The woman Francis, I want her out of there, tomorrow. I'll no doubt have to pay a large price for her, but I'm willing. They keep the women there by holding a large unpaid debt over their heads. So I'll probably need quite a bit of my savings for this."