Four Brothers and a Bride

Chapter 233: Chapter 233

DEMI

I scrunch my nose at the smell of the strange metallic scent of travel that clings to every terminal in the world. Anna and I are seated in one of the chairs at the airport, near Gate 14. While she sits calmly, I stare at the huge window that looks out over the runway. My foot taps uncontrollably against the floor, like it has a life of its own.

My run my sweaty palms over my jeans and heave a breath. Why does every second feel like agony? When Anna notices how tensed I am, her hand lands on my thigh in a soft, steady pat.

"Hey," she murmurs, squeezing gently. "You’re going to drill a hole through the floor at this rate."

"I can’t help it," I whisper. My voice sounds less confident than I meant it to.

Lucien stands a few feet away, arms folded across his chest, eyes sweeping the terminal with a quiet alertness I wish I could muster. Even dressed casually in dark jeans and a jacket, he still looks like a bodyguard; broad shoulders, sharp gaze, the kind of presence that makes people give him space without understanding why.

I swallow hard and glance at the departure board. I’ve got twenty minutes until I leave Danvarr behind. The reality check makes my chest tighten.

Danvarr.

I had lived most of my childhood in Melville, a coastal city far away from here but somehow Danvarr became home in a way Melville never did.

Maybe because it was the one place I always thought about since my mom worked there and spent so much time away from me. Or maybe because it was where I met Ashton and where our complicated relationship was birthed.

My fingers curl against my knees. The thought of him presses into my chest like a bruise.

"You’re holding your breath again," Anna says softly.

I turn to her. Her dark hair is pulled into a messy bun, and she’s watching me with that same worried expression she’s worn ever since I told her my plan.

"You don’t have to do this," she adds quietly.

"Yes, I do." I reply sharply, almost trying to convince myself more than anyone else.

Anna sighs, still rubbing my thigh in slow circles. "Running away isn’t the same as healing, Demi."

"I’m not running."

"You booked a one-way flight to a town with less than a thousand people."

I give her a small look.

"Okay," she corrects herself, lifting a hand. "Maybe not running. Let’s call it... emotional relocation."

Despite everything, a small laugh escapes me but sadly, fades just as quickly.

"I need space," I say, staring at the runway again. "From Danvarr, from the Rollins family." I roll my eyes at that one. "From all the... memories."

Ultimately, Anna is right. I am basically running from Ashton. My throat tightens at the silent admission. He represents the bridge between my hurtful past and my bittersweet future. No matter what version of me I opt for after regaining my memory, Ashton will always be in it, physically if I let him and mentally if I don’t.

I can’t keep blaming him and making him suffer. I need to fight my demons. I need to face my fears; the guilt of not avenging my parents’ deaths, of falling in love with the man directly responsible for it and for being unable to stop loving him.

It scares me how my feelings have becoming so overwhelmingly strong that putting thousands of miles between us seems to be the only way I can clear my head and think straight.

I look down at my foot and it’s calm and still

"You love him," Anna mutters.

I exhale deeply. "I do but that’s the problem. Loving Ashton isn’t easy, Anna. It mostly feels like loving a storm. It’s beautiful, powerful and capable of destroying everything in its path. And I’ve lost more than enough; my family, my conscience, my memory at some point. I just...need a break."

His family destroyed mine. His love could still destroy me even if he looks at me like I am the only thing keeping his world from falling apart. Guilt twists inside me.

The boarding announcement crackles faintly over the speakers. My heart rate spikes. It’s not my flight, not yet.

Anna studies my face for a long moment. "You’re sure this will help?" she asks quietly.

I hesitate "Yes. I need this. The distance and the silence will make for a great fresh start." Then I finish the rest in my head, "I have to try even if heart feels like someone is slowly pulling apart."

Anna nods, but I can see it on her face. She’s worried. She doesn’t believe this is the best option. And honestly...I’m not sure I do either.

My foot starts tapping again.

"Demi." Anna squeezes my thigh again.

I realize I’ve been staring at the entrance to the terminal. My stomach flips each time someone in a sleek black jacket walks by.

"Stop that," Anna cautions me softly.

"Stop what?"

"Looking at the door like you expect someone to come bursting through."

Heat rushes to my cheeks. "I’m not waiting for anyone."

She raises an eyebrow. "Okay, that lie was so clumsy it physically hurt me."

"I’m not lying, Anna."

"You’ve glanced at that door nine times in the last two minutes."

"I was just... looking around."

Anna leans closer, lowering her voice. "You’re hoping he’ll show up. It’s okay to admit that if you already admitted to being in love with him."

My heart clenches painfully. "I’m not waiting for him. I just hope he doesn’t show up and...stop me. I don’t think I could refuse him even when I know I’d regret not making this move." I glance at Anna. "That’s why I am watching the door."

But somewhere deep inside me, a tiny reckless part of my heart is imagining it. I imagine Ashton running through those doors, breathless and furious, shouting my name across the terminal like they do in those ridiculous romantic movie scenes.

The boarding announcement for my flight finally echoes across the terminal. My entire body goes cold.

"Passengers for Flight 762 to Willowridge, please begin boarding."

"That’s me." I surge to my feet. This is it. My chest tightens so sharply it almost hurts to breathe.

I turn to Anna suddenly, grabbing her arm. "Tell me I’m doing the right thing." The doubt spills out before I can stop myself. "Please," I whisper with bi, doe eyes.

Anna’s face crumples for a split second but then she nods slowly.

"You are. You’re doing what you need to heal. I may not like it but I already watched you struggle to heal fully while staying with me. If this trip is what it’ll take to get us back to the good place we were, I support you."

Relief floods me. I beam at her with glassy eyes. "Thank you."

Lucien steps forward immediately, picking up my small suitcase. "Ready?" he asks.

I nod. Subconsciously, my eyes drift to the terminal entrance again. There’s no one rushing in, least of all a guy with curly black hair and a devastatingly handsome face befitting of a Greek god.

I shake my head. Why would he come? He doesn’t even know I’m leaving because I expressly swore Anna to secrecy.

Anna clears her throat as if she had read my thought.

"Actually..."

"What?"

She shifts awkwardly. "I’m so sorry but I may have told Ashton."

My head snaps toward her. "You did what?"

"Before you murder me," she says quickly, holding up her hands, "I did it for you. Demi, lie all you want but I know you’d hate to leave without seeing him one last time or knowing he came to see you off. A goodbye may be painful so I made him promise something."

"You made him promise what?"

"That he wouldn’t stop you unless you wanted him to."

My heart begins pounding wildly. "He’s here?" My head whips around sharply. So, I wasn’t imagining it. When I thought someone had looked like Ashton from a distance, could that have been Ashton for real?

Anna glances around the terminal. "He is somewhere around here. He is more than content to see you off even from a distance."

The world seems to tilt. He came to see me off? I struggle to breathe. "Where is he?"

"I don’t know," she admits. "But I told him if you wanted to talk, all you had to do was wave. He’ll step forward once you do."

My eyes scan the terminal. Every face, every tall figure that might be him but...nothing. Where could he possibly be watching me from? My heart sinks. Maybe he left. The thought hurts more than I expected.

Anna touches my arm. "Do you want to see him?"

My chest aches as I imagine it for a second. Ashton standing in front of me with those gorgeous blue eyes. Hearing his voice. No, I wouldn’t be able to leave. I know it.

"I can’t," I whisper to Anna.

Anna studies me sadly. "Then how do you want him to know how you feel? You know he’s here. It’ll be brutal for you to just walk through that gate without so much as a word or a sign to assure him what you had meant something."

"I don’t know what to do. He wasn’t supposed to be here." I fume at her.

She gestures vaguely toward the terminal. "Well, he is and you knew I’d tell him. Heck, you hoped I’d tell him. I know a part of you is delighted to know he came. So, just say it."

"What?"

"Whatever it is you want him to know before you walk out of his world into another. Just say it. He’ll hear."

I laugh weakly. "You think he has supernatural hearing?"

"No," she says. "But I think sometimes when we love someone that deeply, we pay close attention and pick up meanings other people might miss. Go for it."

I glance around one last time. No Ashton. Still...my chest heaves with warmth.

"I love you," I whisper under my breath. The words tremble as they leave me. Then I turn quickly before I can change my mind and walk toward the boarding gate.

Just before stepping through, I glance back one final time and for a split second...I swear I see him standing near the far wall; Tall, still and silent.

My breath catches but someone walks between my view of him and when the space clears, he’s gone, almost like he was never there.

I stand frozen for a moment.

"Bye Demi!" Anna calls out to me.

I blink severally. Maybe I imagined him. I take a shaky breath and step through the gate.

The plane ride feels like a strange dream. My heart pounds the entire time but eventually exhaustion wins and I give into the gentle lull of sleep. When I wake up, we’re descending toward Willowridge.

The town looks tiny from the sky. I recall the aerial picture of the clusters of houses and an endless forest. I especially love the thin river winding through everything like a ribbon of silver.

The moment I step off the plane, the air feels different. The town feels quieter. Life seems to move slower here like the world forgot how to rush.

The drive to the cabin takes ten minutes. Although I was too young to recall my last visit here, everything still feels somewhat familiar, welcoming and safe.

By the time I finally reach the old property, the sun is dipping low behind the trees. My family’s cabin stands small and wooden in the middle of the land. I stare at it for a long moment and hum the only word that ties in neatly with how I am feeling;

"Home,"

The first thing I do is open every window. Dust swirls in the golden light of the lamps. The place smells typically like old wood and if I’m being truthful to myself...forgotten memories.

I spend the next hour cleaning, trying to get as much done as I can before jet lag hits me. With some music playing and serving as a fantastic distraction, I vacuum, wipe, drag old sheets off furniture, spray surfaces and wipe etc.

At one point I pause and lean against the kitchen counter, staring at the empty room. My uncle would absolutely lose his mind if he knew I left Danvarr, which is exactly why I didn’t tell him. You’d think he’d be used to me pulling the wool over his eyes when it comes to making plans.

He barely stayed in touch anyway. He is always disappearing on me just when I need him the most. A flicker of anger rises in my chest. I actively refuse to feel guilty over my decision to keep him in the dark. Henceforth, I’m going to do my best to not expect much from people or depend heavily on them. After all, people will always care more about themselves, and that’s okay.

I grab my phone and call Anna. She answers like she’s had her phone in her hand, waiting for it to ring.

"Oh, thank God," she says. "I was about to start tracking your phone like a paranoid girlfriend."

"I made it."

"Ah, I already miss you."

"Yeah, I already miss you too."

We talk for a while. I try not to circle back to Ashton or the airport. Instead, I let her scold me like a mother wood, caution me on how to keep a low profile or avoid dangerous people.

"No one knows me here, Anna. It’s not like in Danvarr. I bet they don’t give a damn about the Rollins quads either."

"They don’t need to know your affiliations with that billionaire family before they might want to invade your space or worse...hurt you. People can be crazy. You’re a beautiful woman who just moved into their small town. Everyone will notice. I just need you to be extremely careful. Call me everyday and tell me if you think someone is watching or tailing you. Always lock your doors and be observant on the street..."

"Okay. Okay. Jeez, you sound like my...mom." The last part breaks my heart.

By the time we hang up, night has fallen. My stomach growls as I set my cleaning supplies aside and plunk down on the plump couch.

Right. Food. How did I forget that? Mustering the energy, I take a walk down the street towards a grocery store I had spotted on my way in. Anna’s words weigh heavily in my mind as I walk the dimly lit street.

Inside the store, the aisles are small and quiet. Few persons are also shopping. I grab random things—bread, milk, pasta. Suddenly, my ear twitches with the not-so-subtle whispers around me. When I turn, people are indeed staring. They don’t even have the decency to look away or pretend when I meet their eyes.

I inhale sharply and continue tossing things into my cart but with every curve or turn I make; there’s a man or woman whispering and stabbing a finger my way, like they’re trying to place me. I grind my teeth. Seriously? Do these people know nothing about being subtle or discreet?

I finally reach the counter where the elderly woman smiles kindly.

"You must be Camille’s girl."

My heart stutters. She remembers my mom? I swallow hard.

"You knew my mom?"

"Yes, sweetheart. Wow, you look just like her when she was about your age."

I turn and find a few shoppers still staring. "Is that why everyone’s staring at me? They knew her too?"

"It’s a small town. We mostly grew up knowing everyone’s name as well as their pets."

I nod with understanding. "Well, my parents passed away years ago."

Her face softens. "Oh honey. I...I mean, we all heard about that. I’m so sorry."

"Thank you." I rake a hand through my hair. This is a little too much for me. I had come here hoping to be unknown and invisible, to meld with the people and start anew. If they already know everything about me and my family, that defeats the purpose of this trip. Will I have to move now? I don’t think I have enough in my savings account to afford a house elsewhere.

She rings up my groceries slowly. Then she says something that makes my stomach twist.

"Your uncle was at the cabin a couple days ago."

My head jerks up. "What?"

"Marcel. He didn’t stay long."

Confusion swirls through me. Why wouldn’t he mention that to me? I always thought he hated coming down here. And how is it that he was here only a few days ago and never bothered to tidy up? What did he stop by for?

The woman pats my hand. "Don’t feel like you’re alone here, dear. You’re not alone, not here or in the world generally."

"I’m not alone." I reply with a smile. "I’ve got my uncle."

She shakes her head affirmatively. "And you’ve also got us, and your brother too."

My entire body goes still. "My... what?"

"Your brother."

I stare at her. "Ma’am, I don’t have a brother."

She frowns slightly. "Yes, you do. I helped Camille when she had that baby boy." Something dark flitters across her face as recognition kicks in. "You never met...oh."

But now she looks too composed and calculating that dismissing her words seems...difficult. What did she just say to me?

"You helped my mum have another baby? Ma’am, what do you mean by..."

Before I can finish, a man appears behind her. He probably is her husband judging by the possessive hand that he drapes over her shoulder, gently guiding her away from the register so he can step forward instead.

"Lena darling, your meds are next to your dinner in the back room. I’ll take over."

The lady nods and shuffles away. Then the man turns to me.

"I’m sorry. My wife gets confused sometimes." He glances back just as she disappears behind a back door. "Please don’t mind her. Everyone in town knows of her condition. I guess you’re new around here." He finishes ringing up my groceries and I pay.

But as I walk out of the store carrying my groceries, one thought refuses to leave my mind. Something about that conversation with Lena felt wrong.

Very wrong.