Ben (The Sherwood)

“It can’t be,” she said.

“Disa, baby, what is it?”

“Bella Michaels is my aunt. Jasmine’s mother.”

I turned and faced Merci. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “How did you not know her name?”

“I didn’t,” she cried.

Disa grabbed my arm and held it tight. I gave Asia to Mom. “What baby, what is it?” I asked her.

“Merci wouldn’t know her. I didn’t know Jasmine or my aunt’s name until Jasmine showed up on my doorstep when she was eighteen.”

“Is he Jasmine’s father?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she cried. “I don’t know much about my aunt other than I look like her and so does Merci.”

“Heath,” Matt called to him.

He sauntered into the kitchen which was becoming crowded and filled with complication. I just wanted to go home and hide from this ever, growing mess.

Mom explained what we knew. He looked around me at Disa and then at Merci. “Now this is getting interesting,” he said.

He had a few questions. Things I had never thought of. “How do you and Jasmine have the same last name?” He asked. “I thought from the letter to Ben that I read her mother never married her father.”

“She did marry. She was married to my Dad’s brother, Davy Riley for a short period. He left the compound before Jasmine was born when he realized that the child she carried couldn’t possibly be his.”

Now things were starting to make sense. “How do you know this and not know you had an aunt or a cousin until Jasmine showed up at your doorstep?” Mom asked.

“Mom explained it.” She hung her head. “When she went grocery shopping every Wednesday at four, we secretly met for coffee. I could never tell anyone. If anyone at the compound found out, my mother would have been punished. I told her about Jasmine. She told me everything she knew about my aunt Bella, her mother.”

“Did she know Jasmine’s father?” Heath asked.

“No,” Disa replied. “They all thought my father’s brother was Bella’s baby’s father. It sent him into a tailspin.” She took my hand.

“My mother didn’t like Ron Parson from the beginning. She didn’t like the unnatural attention he paid to me and Merci. She encouraged me to leave when he asked my father for my hand in marriage.” She looked at me. “My mother knew how I felt about Ben. She always knew my secrets when I had no one else but her and Danni to tell them to.” I squeezed her hand.

“Is this helpful?” I asked.

“Could be,” Heath replied. “My friend, Jace is coming to Sherwood. Should be here tomorrow or the next. We’ll start investigating Ron Parson. See if we can find a connection between him and Bella Michaels.” He looked at Lilah. “Until then we go back into hiding. Let’s go ladies. Back to my cabin.”

Disa stepped away from me and hugged Merci. “I’ll see you soon.”

“No, you won’t. It’s too dangerous.” She glared at Heath. Then she chewed on her lip.

“What about my wedding to Ben?” She asked.

He rolled his eyes at her. “I’ll facetime her, so she can see it.”

She stepped over to my rather large brother. “You’re heartless, Heath. Do you know that?” Then she left the kitchen.

Heath turned his head and watched her go then he turned back to us. “Yeah, I am. You haven’t seen what I’ve seen. Let’s go, Lilah.”

Matt got up from the floor. He extended a hand to her. Her eyes traveled up to his face. “Get up,” he said. “Take my hand and get up.”

She slipped her hand in his and he lifted her from the kitchen floor. Matt guided her out the back door. I watched from the hallway. Heath followed behind with Merci bringing up the rear. She looked back at me and mouthed the words, “Take care of my sister.”