Remembered (21 page)

The young other woman stood beside them, moisture gathered
in the corner of her eyes. Annie looked at her cautiously.

“Annie, this is your sister-in-law, Zifini,” Cora explained
through broken sobs.

“Zifini…” Annie echoed quietly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you
finally,” she added, realizing how insignificant that greeting seemed after her
disappearance.

“Annella…I’m at a loss for words,” Zifini said, dragging the
cuffs of her sweater across her wet cheeks.

Annie walked forward and hugged Zifini affectionately.

“Zifini, Cora, what’s going on?” An attractive, older woman
with light-brown, shoulder-length hair stood at the front door, looking
inquisitively in Annie’s direction.

“Mother, Annella is back,” Zifini called out, her voice
breaking with emotion.

“What are you saying, Zifini?” the older woman asked,
slowing walking down the porch steps, assessing Annie as she moved.

“Sara, this is my sister,” Cora interjected, sniffing
loudly.

Sara stopped short and looked Annie up and down twice—hard.
Shock colored her face. “Oh, child,” she cried and began jogging down the hill
towards the younger women. She reached Annie and pulled her into a tight
embrace. “Oh, Annella, this is a miracle…an absolute miracle,” she said,
rubbing Annie’s back. She pulled away from her and placed both hands on Annie’s
face, her eyes flying over her features. One tear rested on her cheek. “You are
every bit as beautiful as my son said.”

Annie stiffened. Was he here?

“Come inside, child,” Sara urged, “Come into the house and
make yourself at home.” She scuttled back up the hill in front of the younger
women, mumbling something about miracles and the most joyous of days.

Annie grabbed Cora around the waist. She was going nowhere
without her sister.

Cora threw her arm over Annie’s shoulder and led her up the
porch steps, through the front door, and into a large, extravagant living room.
Two plush velvet couches sat face to face in full view of a fireplace
surrounded with a marble mantle and frame, large enough for a person to stand
in. All around the room were tiny tables and pedestals with vases and other
expensive looking ornaments.

The four women stood in a square, three sets of eyes gazing
at Annie in wonder.

“Where’s Max?” Annie asked, looking around as though he
would appear out of nowhere.

“He works on the farm with Markum,” Cora replied. “They will
be back before dinner time.” She threw both arms around her sister once more and
buried her face in Annie’s neck. “I can’t believe you’re really here,” she
sobbed.

Annie rubbed circles into Cora’s back for a long moment then
gently pried her away. “Sara,” she said timidly, turning to face her
mother-in-law. “I cannot thank you enough for taking care of Max and Cora. From
the bottom of my heart, I am forever grateful.”

“It’s been a real pleasure,” Sara said, dabbing the end of
her nose with a white handkerchief. “They have both been enjoyable additions to
our family.”

Annie nodded, registering how Sara referred to the twins as
family.

“My son had an obligation to them when you went missing,”
Sara explained. “He was their closest living relative, and they are not yet
fully adults. We would not have left them alone.”

Annie felt her eyes sting. “Of course,” she replied. She
knew that they were still considered children, although older than she had been
when she became their guardian. Of course, Kellus would do the noble thing.

“Welcome home, Annie,” Zifini said out of the blue, making a
wide, circular gesture with her right arm and smiling warmly.

“Thank you,” Annie replied, feeling humbled by the warmth
and kindness radiating from her sister-in-law.

“What can I do for you?” Sara asked. “I cannot begin to
imagine what an ordeal you’ve been through. Is there anything you need right
away?”

Annie shook her head; emotion and exhaustion engulfed her.
“Maybe I should lie down for a while. I’ve had an overwhelming morning.”

“Of course, dear,” Sara replied, touching Annie’s cheek. “Cora,
would you please show Annella to her bedroom?”

Cora put her arm around Annie’s shoulders again, Zifini
grabbed her hand, and together they led her from the living room.

“I have a bedroom?” Annie asked, walking up an opulent, oak
staircase centered in a grand foyer.

“Yes, of course,” Zifini replied, “my brother’s bedroom …well…Kellus
and
yours, I suppose.”

The thought of sharing a bedroom with Kellus again sent
goosebumps racing to Annie’s arms.

They led her up two flights of stairs to a long hallway with
four doors.

“Your bedroom is at the bottom, next to the bathroom,”
Zifini said. “This is Max’s room,” she pointed to a door on the left, “and
Markum’s is the one facing his.”

“Where do you sleep?’ Annie asked Cora.

“The second and third floors are laid out exactly alike,”
Cora replied. “Tol and Sara’s bedroom is directly under yours. I have the room
below Max’s, and Zifini’s is under Markum’s.”

Zifini pushed into Kellus’s room ahead of Annie and Cora.

It was a large room with a big double bed centered at the
far wall. A green and blue comforter adorned the bed, with six pillows in
matching design, all complementing a thick, lush, green and blue carpet. A
wooden desk sat in the far left corner, and a large set of drawers was
stylishly angled between the desk and wardrobe. Up against the wall to the
right, between two bay-windows, was a bookshelf filled to capacity with books.

“We have other duvets and covers you may prefer,” Zifini
said kindly as Annie slowly looked around the room. “Perhaps you would like
flowered patterns, or something more colorful and feminine.”

“No, this is perfect,” Annie replied. She sat down on the
foot of the bed, noting the extraordinary quality, and continued to let her
eyes take in every detail.

“We also have pretty lace curtains that no one is using,”
Zifini persisted.

“Kellus must prefer the room the way it is,” Annie answered.

Zifini and Cora shared a nervous glance, and then Zifini
looked down at the floor while Cora bit on her thumbnail.

“What?” Annie asked, looking back and forth between both
girls. They were both obviously reluctant to say anymore.

“What?” Annie asked again, this time louder and more
forceful.

“Annie…Kellus doesn’t live here,” Zifini replied quietly,
regretfully.

Finally, she could ask the question that burned on her
tongue since she walked into the house. “Where is he?” she inquired, feeling a
wave of panic hit her. She tightened her muscles against the impact of the news
she would hear.

“He went back to the Citadom,” Zifini answered softly.

Annie’s heart sank right to her feet. Kellus was, once
again, off limits to her. She stared at the blue and green carpet and felt
tears stinging her eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Cora asked, worried.

“I hoped that he’d be here and that he would still want me
after our time apart,” Annie said, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Zifini sat down on the floor in front of her sister-in-law.
“What are you trying to say?” She placed both hands on Annie’s knees, looking
very confused.

Annie was now sobbing. “I just wished that he still loved
me.” She tried to make her voice as audible as possible through the sobs.

“Oh no, Annie, no, no, no,” Zifini said. “You misunderstood
me. He went back to the Citadom, after you disappeared, because it was too hard
on him here. Nordorum came here personally and convinced him to go back. It was
suggested as a way to try to take his mind off his grief.”

Annie wiped her tears with her cuff and smiled sadly. “But…”
she trailed off, shaking her head.

“Annie, Kellus
does
still love you,” Zifini added,
smiling sadly. “He will
always
love you.”

“Really?” Annie asked, feeling a spark of hope.

“Annie, this is Kellus we’re talking about, correct?” Cora
piped in, rolling her eyes. “How the hell could you ever doubt that?”

“I’m sorry,” Annie said, gasping for air. “I’ve had the
strangest day. I feel like I’m going to explode.” And then the floodgates
really opened. The sobbing turned into uncontrollable wailing; the effects of
the day finally taking its toll. The shock of her true identity, the fear that
she’d lost the twins, the realization that she’d been married to the man of her
dreams, all came pouring out of her.

Cora and Zifini looked on, horrified.

“What can I do for you?” Cora asked, her voice breaking as
tears began to gather in her eyes again.

“I’ll be fine, Cora,” Annie answered, trying to sound
reassuring. “I just need some time alone to absorb all that’s happened to me.”

Both girls hugged her, one more time, before departing.

The afternoon wore on as she lay in Kellus’s bed alone. She
cried until the tears ran dry, until she began to feel pure joy replace the
shock. She drifted off into peaceful sleep.

After some time, she became aware of a man’s voice coming
from two stories down.

Eager to see Max, she got up and made her way to the stairs.
She could hear the conversation clearly from the second floor staircase.

“Do you know where she’s been?” The man asked.

“No, we didn’t want to push her, not knowing how traumatic
it was,” Cora answered.  “I’m sure she’ll talk when she’s ready.”

“Is she ill? Has she been mistreated?” Annie suddenly
recognized Tol’s voice.

“She’s not ill,” Cora replied. “But I can’t answer the rest
of your question. She was more distraught than I’ve ever seen her when we left
her to sleep.”

“Poor child,” Sara piped in.

“She gave no indication of her condition?” Tol pressed.

“All we know is that she is eager to see Kellus,” Cora
responded.

“Does she know that he’s back at the Citadom?” Tol asked.

“Yes, I know,” Annie said, walking into the kitchen.

Tol stiffened. “Annella!” he exclaimed. He stood absolutely
still and stared at her, his expression filled with emotion. “Annella,” he said
again. He crossed the floor, gathered her to his chest, placing one hand on the
back of her head. “I cannot begin to convey my joy,” he pulled her back and
kissed both her cheeks. “You cannot imagine how wonderful it is to have you
home, finally,” He added, his eyes watering.

“Thank you, Tol,” she replied bashfully.

Sara stood next to her husband and ran her fingers through
the top of Annie’s hair. “My poor child,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Overcome with emotion, Annie grabbed on to her mother-in-law
and hugged both her and Tol together.

Sara glanced at the kitchen window and addressed Cora. “Max
and Markum are arriving. Go break the news to him before he sees her. The shock
may be too much.”

Cora darted out the backdoor.

Annie let go of Tol and Sara and walked to the back of the
kitchen. She stood on the tips of her toes to get a look at Max through the
window. His curly hair was long and tied behind his neck with a string, as
usual, but his shoulders seemed fuller, and he was definitely taller. Like
Cora, he no longer had any features that were childlike, no semblance to the
boy she had raised alone. Max was a man.

He put his hands on Cora’s shoulders and leaned forward,
listening intently as she spoke. Seconds later, he was running towards the
house.

Annie ran to the kitchen door to meet him, and they collided
into each other. They embraced in the doorway. Once again, Annie felt tears
flowing.

“Annie…” Max trailed off saying nothing else, he simply held
on to her, stroking her hair, sniffling into her ear. She could feel his chest
heaving with silent tears.

After a long moment, she pulled away from him and turned to
greet who could only be Markum. He was very like Kellus, but an inch or two
taller, much more muscular, and with darker hair, almost black.

He glared at her with a combination of disgust and
suspicion, causing her to recoil slightly. “Hello,” she said shyly, sure that
she must have misinterpreted his expression.

“So you’re Annella,” he said without the pretense of being
polite. “I suppose I should welcome you home.” He looked anything but
welcoming. It seemed Annie’s brother-in-law had taken an instant dislike to
her.

She observed Tol and Sara share a troubled glance. They had
noticed her less than cordial reception.

Sara quickly asked Markum to help her retrieve dishes from
the top shelf—Annie was positive that it was meant as a distraction—and asked
the others to go into the dining room for dinner.

“May I help you with something?” Annie questioned.

“No, not at all,” Sara replied. “Tonight we celebrate your
homecoming. You will be the guest of honor for the evening.”

Markum rolled his eyes.

Annie walked into the formal dining room with Tol’s arm
firmly around her shoulders. He pulled out one of the twelve chairs that
surrounded the large mahogany table, gestured for her to sit, and took the seat
to her right.

Cora and Zifini set the table, Max poured wine and water
into glasses, and Sara and Markum carried in trays of food.

When everyone was seated, Tol lifted his glass into the air.
“To Annella,” he said.

“To Annella,” four people replied with overwhelming emotion.
Markum, however, made a disgusted sound with the back of his throat. Annie’s
eyes flashed to him. What was his problem?

“Mind your manners, Markum,” Sara scolded.

Markum pursed his lips and said nothing.

Annie knew she should keep her mouth shut—she was in his
house, after all—but after all she’d been through, she was eager to get to the
bottom of his hostility. “Have I offended you somehow?” she asked.

“No, you haven’t offended me,” he replied. “But I’m curious
as to where you’ve been all this time.” His glare would have cut glass easily.