Two Years Earlier
Zoe's Dad pulled to the guard station outside the Childress Estate. He handed his family's invitation and all their IDs to the guard on duty. Since they were well known at the estate, it only took a minute before the gate swung open. As always, the magnificent three-story manor amazed and awed Zoe. She remembered the first time her father had visited shortly after his marriage to Fawn, when the Beowolfs had hosted a small wedding reception for the newlyweds. The happy event had been attended by Mr. and Mrs. Childress and the families of Steve Brenner and Jim Mathewson, who were coworkers at Rainey's lab and had worked with Fawn. The Beowolfs had also flown in Mr. and Mrs. Porter and the ranch hands of Dream Catcher Ranch: Schmitt, Tate, Bud, Macho, and Pierre.
To this day, among the remaining ranch hands—Schmitt having died a couple of years back and Macho returning to Mexico City—the event was still a topic of conversation that the remaining hands liked to brag about to the new ones. The elderly Porters were also wont to bring it up often.
Of course, at the reception baby Davide had captured everyone's hearts with his angelic smiles. Zoe would never forget the look on her father's face when he'd held Davide, realizing he was holding the prophesied Shapeling Prince. Her father's words while gently stroking the baby's silky black hair had been, "So you're the one causing all the raucous." Zoe had watched him lift loving eyes to Fawn and give her a special smile. Now, of course, she understood the smile that had often passed between them. They had wanted a child of their own. Sadly, it had never happened.
Wade parked in the Childress drive and Zoe got butterflies in her stomach. She hadn't seen Davide for six months. A year previous she had been approached by the European Nomadic Symphony Orchestra, also known as The Nomads, with an offer to become their lead violinist. The company was smaller than the London based symphony she was with, but more prestigious. She had gladly accepted the offer after they agreed to the same stipulation written into her contract as with the London orchestra—that she would have the week of Davide's birthday off every year.
Beth McGovern, the ancient cook for the Childress household, who was also considered family because of her long term relationship with them and her role in raising Rainey, answered their ring.
"Come in, come in. It's so good to see you, Wade and Fawn and Zoe. The party's not the same without you." She winked at Zoe. "Davide's been waiting impatiently for your arrival."
The butterflies in Zoe's stomach tried to fly into her throat. Maybe Davide had finally realized they were meant to be together as husband and wife. Although there was an age difference of seven years, she had never doubted the words of the "pretty" voice emanating from sipapus at Anasazi ruins, telling her she was Davide's Princess.
Zoe had always loved Davide, but it wasn't until he'd turned eighteen and she was twenty-five, that she'd lost her heart to him. Today he was twenty-three. Had he finally realized that she was the woman destined to become his princess? She inhaled deeply, and shivered at tingles running up her spine.
Her family followed Beth to the library decorated with crepe paper and balloons and a huge cake. A table near the entrance was overflowing with beautifully wrapped gifts. Rainey always went overboard for her son's birthdays. Zoe grinned and scanned the crowded room for him. She spotted his ten year old sister giggling with a girlfriend and remembered how excited Roth and Rainey had been after finding out they were expecting another child after years of wanting one. Lilly saw her and ran to meet her. "Hi, Zoe. This is my friend, Peggy."
"Hello Lilly and Peggy. Looks like another fun birthday party." She was about to ask if they knew where Davide was, when Lilly pointed to a boy about her own age near the hors d'oeuvres table. Peggy whispered in Lilly's ear and they both giggled.
"We gotta run, Zoe. See ya later." They dashed toward the boy.
Zoe glanced around the room again. Executives of Childress Enterprises always attended Davide's birthdays, as well as friends from the exclusive schools he'd attended. Recently graduated with a master's degree in philosophy from Harvard, more than once he had confided to Zoe that he'd chosen that field hoping it would shed light on the mysteries of life. Often, he had expressed his frustration over the fact that he was believed to be the Great Shapeling Prince by the Thirteen co-Princes. He also knew that Zoe had once been kidnapped because of her ability to hear voices coming from Anasazi ruins that also spoke of a coming Prince. In exasperation, he'd once told her, "There has to be a mistake; a mix-up. I've been told all my life that I'm the 'Great Prince'." He made quote marks with his fingers, a habit he'd picked up from his mother. "And yet, I have no shifting ability. It's a damn mistake, I tell you."
Still searching the room, Zoe honed in on the intimidating presence of Roth Beowolf and his full-figured wife, Rainey, standing near the fireplace. They were holding hands and talking to Rainey's mother and father, Stella and Hank Childress. Stella, tall and beautiful, didn't look a day over forty and everyone attributed her youthful appearance to Botox and plastic surgeries. Of course, Mr. Childress, now in his late seventies, looked his age, but distinguished. Zoe chuckled. She knew Stella did everything she could to look older. She'd even had silver highlights added to her hair because being a shapeling, her lifespan far exceeded that of humans.
Zoe's father and Fawn were faced with the same issue as Stella and Hank, but in reverse. Although her father appeared much younger than his fifty-seven years, which she attributed to his happiness with Fawn, it did not erase the fact that Fawn would outlive them by thousands of years. When he and Zoe had recently discussed the topic of Fawn's longevity, they had both agreed that they would have made the same choice to have her in their lives, regardless. In fact, they knew their choice was much simpler than hers.
Roth spotted Zoe and motioned her over. Her parents were also walking in that direction after having been waylaid with welcomes. She reached her host and hostess at the same time as her parents.
"So good to see you dear friends; you should visit more often," said Roth and gave her father a friendly clap on the back. Then he, Rainey, and Stella took turns hugging Fawn and Zoe. Mr. Childress joined in with handshakes.
Zoe scanned the room still looking for Davide.
"He was here a few minutes ago," said Rainey, seeing her look around. Maybe he decided to enjoy this lovely spring day. Why don't you look on the terrace?"
"Thanks, Rainey." To the group she said, "Excuse me while I go hug the birthday boy." She laughed and skirted around guests until she reached the terrace doors. Opening one of the French doors, she stepped into the cool afternoon. The smell of jasmine permeated the air and the promise of spring filled her heart with joy. Spring—new beginnings. Would Davide fulfill the words of the "pretty" voice by finally viewing her differently—as his soul mate and lover?
She glanced around the terrace and into the gardens. Other than a few guests milling at the edge of the terrace or walking the lovely gardens that Rainey and Roth had designed and planted with their own hands years earlier, the grounds were empty of him. She looked toward the field of wild flowers that Rainey adamantly refused taming and glimpsed a tall figure with black hair and a golden aura enter the woods beyond. Davide loved the woods! No doubt he was enjoying the solitude before the festivities began. Although friendly and easy going, she knew him better than anyone. While his father had an outgoing manner, Davide was more introverted and enjoyed time alone.
She decided to surprise him and jogged across the cut grass and then the field of wild flowers. At the edge of the field and the beginning of the woods, she paused, inexplicably overwhelmed by a sense of foreboding. Shaking her head, she willed the feeling to leave. What could be foreboding about seeing Davide again? Knowing she was so close to him made the butterflies in her stomach go wild. She stepped beyond the tree line, pausing and listening. She heard a snap and turned toward the sound, silently edging toward it. Grinning, she figured she'd come up behind him and sing happy birthday. She couldn't carry a tune and he always razzed her about it.
She heard another snap. He was nearby. She stepped behind a thick, gnarly tree and peeked around it. At the same time she heard a woman say, "Oh, Davide, you're so sexy you drive me crazy."
Davide laughed a husky sound and pressed his body against a woman backed against a tree. Her hands were entwined around his neck and their bodies were positioned so that Zoe could see his mouth descend hungrily onto the black-haired beauty's pouty one. He reached to grasp her buttocks and pull her tightly against him.
To Zoe's horror, she unintentionally gasped. Startled, Davide and the woman turned to see her peeking around the tree like a voyeur.
Davide grinned and stepped away from the woman.
"Zoe! My God, I haven't seen you in six months. Come here and give me a hug. I want you to meet Mandy. We've been…well, I guess you can see what we've been up to." He winked.
In that instant, Zoe mourned the death of all her girlish fantasies of marrying her prince. He did not, and never would, see her in the same light as she saw him. She would always be his older childhood friend. She bit her cheek to keep from crying and stepped from behind the tree. "I'm really sorry to interrupt. I feel like such an idiot. It's nice to meet you Mandy. I'll leave you two alone now."
She turned and fled.
"Zoe, wait!" Davide called.
She ignored him and ran back through the forest and the field of flowers. Only at the edge of the field did she pause and bend over from the pain in her side caused by the full out run. The pain in her heart, however, overshadowed any physical pain, and she wanted to fall to the ground weeping. Biting the inside of her cheek so hard she could taste blood, she forced herself not to cry. She would pretend happiness for the sake of Davide and his family, but after today, she would never attend another birthday party or seek him out. Her heart could not survive seeing him with another woman.