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The drive to the train station was quiet in comparison to how it had been when they picked Jaira up. So much had changed in the past two days and the tension was palpable.
They walked together on the ramp to await the train's arrival, Lachlan and Aziel sitting on the bench.
"I'm sorry for everything," Arlana hugged her sister knowing she may never see her sibling again.
"Me too. It's just too much to take in and I just want to be home. You know, William isn't so bad after this. At least he loves me."
Arlana nodded, unsure of what to say. She blew her sister a kiss as the train slowly pulled away from the station.
****
"THERE'S A RALLY IN the States I need to cover tomorrow, so I will be heading home after this. I need to drive all night." Lachlan paused, searching her eyes, "I don't want to have to leave so soon after the funeral...will you be okay? You have my cell number if you need anything...and there is Rivkah..."
His voice caught in his throat. Who this separation was going to be harder on he couldn't tell but voted for himself. He shouldn't have let himself become so attached to her and Aziel. There could be no future for them, so why put himself through this heartache? Time away from each other might be the best thing for them, well, at least for him.
"I need to know you are going to be okay and your sister's words are troubling. Talk to me Lass," he slipped into a thicker Scott's burr the more he exposed his heart, "I'm here for you."
Absently, he brushed a wisp of hair from her forehead, his touch beyond tender.
"I haven't been able to wrap my mind around everything that happened this weekend," she replied honestly, looking away.
The leaves were turning colour and swayed gently in the autumn breeze as though performing a final waltz.
"I will never hurt you or betray you. Don't you know that?" he continued when she was silent.
His tenderness was her undoing, unleashing a torrent of fresh tears.
"Oh, Sweetheart..." He pulled her into his embrace, wrapping his arms around her.
"My uncles are big men - you saw them! Yet they were weeping as they showed me scars! They want me to do something," her fingers clutched his arm, drawing on his strength, "I feel so overwhelmed, not sure where to even start....and I haven't mourned my grandfather's death yet! Not a single tear!"
"Don't think less of yourself Arlana," His voice patient and consoling, "Everyone grieves differently. I have a few contacts that I can ask about this matter for you. I'll be discrete..."
"Thank you, Lachlan. I feel time isn't on our side," she sighed.
"If you need anything, I'm a text away and will return to you as soon as this rally is over," his brow was furrowed with concern, "I believe you need to play your cards right and not get ahead of yourself. Otherwise, everything could be jeopardized..." his words hung in the air between them.
"Will you stay for dinner?"
"I can't. I have to hit the road as soon as I drop you guys off."
Arlana nodded.
"Thank you for everything," she sighed, looking into his eyes once they'd reached her driveway.
She didn't want to stall him but it was so hard to see him go. The silence was heavy and a little more than awkward.
"See you later son. Be a good boy for your Mamma."
Lachlan watched mother and son walk to the house, hand in hand, then turn and wave.
****
"HAVE YOU CONTACTED the police yet?" Amy sent her boyfriend's niece a text. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "You need to write down every detail you can remember, and I mean everything. Take your list straight to the police."
Amy wasn't wrong. She had recently retired from the police force, however, unlike Arlana, she didn't have the same emotional investment in this delicate situation.
Mark was turning seventy years old. He wasn't a saint by any stretch of the imagination, yet Arlana cringed at the thought of facing her father in court - of being the one who put the white-haired man behind bars.
"I am not sure if I am doing the right thing," Arlana's reply conveyed her hesitation.
"You know you have to do this..."
"I'll start working on it from my end," Arlana promised.
"Great. Oh, and I would strongly suggest not discussing this with Jaira. We talked after you left and were in agreement that it was too much for her."
"Okay."
Arlana reached for a piece of paper and pen, determined to begin her list. Everything in her spirit warned her not to, though, as she stared at the blank sheet of paper. If she went through with it, she would be solely responsible for destroying what remained of her father's life.
All these years she'd looked up to him as a saviour who would protect her. Now that she knew her father was as bad - worse - after all these years of desperation to make him proud of her...the ground had opened under her feet creating a free fall into darkness.
Arlana knew her mother would come at her with everything she had, determined to destroy her daughter. Arlana had a lot to lose.
What to do?
****
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG for Jaira to message Arlana after she'd reached home. Quick messages in between binge drinking - a desperate attempt to forget reality.
"Are you going to the police?"
"William said he is going to take me. We're going to drop my letter off anonymously, but this weekend he is taking me camping. I'm going to get my drunk on lol."
How was Arlana to respond? Her own conscience condemned her.
"Oh, have you heard from any of Dad's family?"
"Ya, I was just talking with Amy this morning, and you?" Arlana replied.
"I knew it! They are purposely ignoring me. You've always been the favourite, well, not this time!"
Arlana wouldn't have said anything if she had known the extended family had broken all contact with Jaira. It had never been Arlana's intention to rub it in Jaira's face.
"I'd like to see if I can be a plan 'B' in case something goes wrong and your plan fails. I think having a backup plan is wise."
"Oh hell no! Back off, get it?"
A rapping at the door interrupted the sisters' argument. The timing couldn't have been better.
"I have to go. Someone's at the door," Arlana shot off a message as she rose from the chair.
"Ya, go! Good excuse!" Jaira snapped unreasonably.
Rivkah stood at the door. "I saw your light on when we were driving by. I wasn't sure if you'd returned yet," she reached out, hugging the young woman, "Are you alright?"
"Come in," Arlana smiled at the pleasant surprise.
Shaul was with his mother and smiled a greeting before taking the seat she offered.
"Aziel's napping," Arlana explained the absence of her son.
"How are you doing?" Shaul leaned forward. He looked so much like Josiah.
Arlana wasn't sure what to say, looking down at her hands.
"Now that you are back, we need to continue your training in earnest. We only have two weeks left then need to plan your wedding, and I feel that you are not quite ready."
How little he knew the depth of her unreadiness. An ice-cold fog had crept over her soul.
Arlana avoided Shaul's gaze, turning instead to offer her guests tea which they gladly accepted.
Shaul sat back in the chair, sipping the steamy liquid while Rivkah continued, her voice soft and matronly.
Arlana ached to know a mother's affection which Rivkah offered although she seemed completely unaware of how much her thoughtfulness meant to Arlana.