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Arlana instantly regretted going up into the loft on her own, clinging to the ladder with a death grip, frozen with fear.
Warm hands encircled her ribs, lifting her down from the precarious height, ignoring the hammering of her heart and gasp as he swept her into his arms, pinning her against his chest. Josiah lowered his mouth onto hers, kissing her tenderly before reluctantly setting her down.
"You look lovely," he murmured, his voice hoarse with emotion, then looked away. "I forgot to bring over your suitcase last night. The door was open..."
Arlana had left the door open to air out the house, letting in the fresh scent of spring.
He traced her lower lip with his thumb before kissing her once more, Arlana sighing when he deepened the kiss. Josiah wasn't supposed to be alone with her or even as much as touch her, yet if she hadn't run away, they would be fully married by now and he'd have her completely. Knowing it was forbidden to be kissing her, he raised his head, forcing himself to be satisfied with that tease.
"I brought you something else," he whispered, pulling a white tichel from his pocket, holding out the lacy fabric with one hand, suddenly shy.
Arlana flushed, but held her hand out for the cloth, knowing she was once again showing the world she was a married woman. Josiah watched her wind the fabric around her hair.
"Beautiful," his eyes held an expression she'd never seen before. Turning to leave, he pulled her against him one last time, kissing her with all the pain and passion he had pent up over the last six months. It would be impossible for her to forget the kiss, sadness mingling with raging desire then tender and patient as she sighed, clinging to her husband, deeply regretting ever leaving his arms.
Tears pooled in Arlana's eyes as Josiah continued to kiss her for what seemed like an eternity, although she most definitely wasn't complaining. His tenderness was her undoing, his gentleness tearing down the frost around her heart. How could he still love her - still desire her - after she had left him for so long? What made her still worthy of love in his eyes when she did not deserve a man like him even before she had run?
Tilting her chin, he searched her eyes, "Talk to me, Arlana. I'm your husband."
"I'm so lost," she breathed, tears choking her throat, her forehead resting on his chest in utter defeat.
"I'm here now," he murmured, holding her even closer if that were possible, as though his strength could shield her heart and tormented spirit.
Impossible.
"Hello, hello, hello," a rumbling voice called out from the other side of the screen door.
"Grandpa!" Aziel yelled, overjoyed as he raced to the door, holding it open wide, before wrapping his arms around his grandfather's legs.
Mark patted the child's head taking in the sight of Arlana still in Josiah's arms. He dropped his eyes to her engorged stomach, "Well, well, what do we have here?"
****
ARLANA CLUNG TO HER husband as Aziel shrieked, "They're here! They're really here!"
Josiah wrapped his arm around Arlana, feeling her body trembling, but led her toward the door to greet her father.
Sheila was the last to leave the car, fiddling with something that wasn't all that important. Was the feeling over their meeting again mutual?
Jaira's children stood beside the car, shy, but smiled at their exuberant cousin.
Within a second, Aziel was embracing them both at the same time, "Come in my room, I want to show you my Lego. Do you like Lego too?"
Peter's eyes lit up, "I love it! I have a pirate set, do you?" The two boys squeezed past Mark who stood in the doorway, racing to Aziel's bedroom.
Amber, his older sister, lingered, unsure if she should go with the children or stay with the adults. She was between both worlds, still enjoying toys yet already developing into a lovely young woman.
"Hello, Dad," Arlana's voice was breathless, but she chose to focus on Amber, holding out her hand to her niece that bore an uncanny resemblance to her.
Arlana smiled, remembering that age. She held out her hand to Amber which the younger girl accepted with a smile, skipping up the stairs with long, slender legs, before slipping her hand into her aunt's.
"Welcome to my home," Arlana's mouth was suddenly sawdust dry, "Would you like to come in?"
Her father hesitated, looking around instead.
"This is quite the place you have here," he remarked, looking toward the field where horses grazed.
Amber hadn't paid attention till now and gasped, "I just love horses! How many do you have?"
Sheila interrupted, stepping out of the car, "I bought some clothes for Aziel that Peter outgrew. I hope you can make use of them." She opened the trunk of the car, Josiah stepping forward. She didn't look at him, indicating with her hand the bags that were for her grandson.
Josiah, unlike Lachlan, wasn't ruggedly brawny, yet he grabbed the huge bags with one hand, setting them on the porch before rejoining the others.
"Thank you," Arlana murmured, following her father toward the barn as he explored her land. The boys had left the Lego behind, racing out over the hill to catch up. Childhood laughter filled the air, innocent, without a care in the world.
Josiah had no idea how hard she had worked to be able to have money saved up for this - the children here with her. Arlana paused, taking in the view of Amber standing on the fence, the breeze whipping her waist-length blonde hair in a frenzy as she watched the horses running free. The boys were on the impossible quest of catching a barn cat.
At that very moment, her goal seemed so close, yet still so impossible.
Josiah gave her father a tour of the barn before coming again to stand beside Arlana, his hand gently stroking her lower back, easing her tense, stress-clenched muscles. Arlana sighed, leaning against his touch.
"How many acres do you have here?" Her father asked holding out a blade of grass for a mare ready to foal. He clucked softly, coaxing her to approach.
"Three hundred and fifty," Arlana replied, not sure why that was important.
"Hmm, well, you should come to visit us sometime on the island," he wiggled the blade of grass between his fingers.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Arlana offered, "There's food in the house as well..."
"No, we're good. We stopped at McDonald's on the way here," Mark waved his hand, "And we are going to Adelaide's for supper."
Sheila glanced at the barn, laughter echoing among the rafters.
"I'm Mark," he turned again to Josiah, "Arlana's dad and you've met my wife, Sheila."
Josiah needed to be introduced. It would be rude not to. Josiah stood so close to her, Arlana could feel his beating heart against her back, watching as if in slow motion as he held out his hand, "I'm Josiah, Arlana's husband."
Mark's face blanched and Sheila's mouth hardened into a straight line, her gaze steely condemnation.
Arlana had married a Christ-Killer. That wasn't going to go over well.
Josiah knew...well, at least he had been prepared for their reaction. Without getting to know him, he was considered no better than a disease.
Arlana stood taller. It was now or never and she wouldn't turn her back on Josiah in front of her parents. Holding his hand, she used her other to smooth the fabric of her white dress, exposing the undeniable fruit of their union - her very, very pregnant condition. She didn't see the pride in Josiah's eyes but faced her parents head-on. After all, they'd rejected Aziel for years, it wouldn't hurt so deep when they rejected this grandchild as well. She was used to their rejection by now.
Mark clenched his jaw, looking away.
Eyes narrowed, Sheila spoke first, "Well, I am surprised you never said anything Arlana." She chose to ignore Josiah, at least for the moment, until she could talk to her sister and Adelaide. "When are you due?"
Josiah raised an eyebrow, looking down at Arlana. He'd never thought to ask.
The due date was very important, a ticking time bomb. Although he forgave her, Arlana's leaving had caused a huge delay.
"Within two weeks," Arlana murmured.
Josiah instinctively drew her closer, linking his fingers with hers. They were almost out of time.
Sheila frowned, watching the exchange, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
"I am surprised you just got married without telling anyone," Mark finally spoke, leaning against the fence, "Why wouldn't you tell the family?"
Josiah spoke for them, "Our customs are different. We are married but have not yet had our wedding. It would be an honour to have you at the ceremony."
Mark huffed but was temporarily appeased.
"Call the kids, we have to get going," he bellowed, "Adelaide has made supper," he glanced at the watch he'd had for years, Arlana surprised it still kept time.
Relieved the visit was over, they walked together towards the vehicles. Josiah matched her steps, not releasing his hold on her. Arlana savoured his support.
Just as they reached the driveway, Lachlan pulled in, parking his car. He searched Arlana's eyes, avoiding eye contact with Josiah. He hadn't expected Arlana to have company.
Stepping forward he introduced himself to Sheila first, then her husband, "Hello, I'm Lachlan."
Sheila raised an eyebrow, but she immediately liked Lachlan.
A muscle clenched in Josiah's jaw but he kept silent as Arlana's parents introduced themselves to the newcomer.
Lachlan's arrival put Arlana in an awkward position, tensions already high between the two men.
Amber stepped closer to her aunt, tentatively reaching her hand out to touch Arlana's stomach where the baby's movements were clearly visible. "I'm so excited to meet my little cousin. Is it a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know yet," Arlana was thankful for the distraction.
"Will you visit us when it gets here so I can see him?"
Josiah listened to the exchange, "I'm sure we can arrange a visit," he agreed.
Lachlan glared. There was no way he would take Arlana anywhere near that family. Either Josiah didn't know the truth or he simply didn't care. Lachlan wasn't sure which was the situation, but there was no way he was going to sit back and allow Arlana to endure that trip. The problem was that he had very little say in the matter and he knew it.
"Well, we have to get going," Mark repeated himself, eager to get to Ottawa and the feast that he imagined was waiting. Adelaide usually outdid herself. "Call Peter, we have to go," he instructed Amber.
Amber started to run but then slowed her steps remembering the tall Scotsman a few feet away. He appeared to be single and she would show she was a lady.
"Peter, Grandpa wants you to come immediately," she spoke in the most mature voice she could muster. After all, Amber was a woman.
"You are still coming to Renfrew with us," Sheila focused on her eldest daughter, "I've already booked the motel." She reached for the car door, "You're welcome to join us guys," she said to both men, but her eyes were on Lachlan. "Didn't you get my letter? I'd written to you about it... Well, it doesn't matter now."
Arlana cringed, realizing she should have opened the letter last night.
"Thank you," Josiah stepped forward, "Your offer is very gracious."
They stood in the doorway watching as the cousins hugged while the adults settled into the car.
Mark rolled down the window, "Be there before noon. We'll meet at the hotel."
Sheila didn't look up, already sending text messages. Her sister, Debbie and Adelaide needed to know what she had just learned.