In fact, at least when the girls were small, it was used primarily as home base during games of tag and hide-and-go-seek, or as the throne for whichever sister had earned the honor of Chief Noble Warrior Princess on any given day.
Now they sat side-by-side on the bench. The burbling creek offered a comforting, familiar sound as Shani composed herself. Nina sat quietly, a small smile lifting her lips as she regarded the clear water rushing over the smooth stones. It was time for Shani to tell her mother what had really happened.
“I wanted to talk to you about why I left last year,” Shani finally began. “I mean,” she hurried on, “I told you part of the story—that I had a bad breakup and a good opportunity for a resort job. But I didn’t tell you what really happened…” She paused, shame at having let things go so far with Brandon washing over her.
Nina turned to her, the small smile still in place, though her eyes were sad. “You didn’t have to, daughter. I could see. A man had hurt you. Hurt you bad. There were no outward bruises or broken bones, but I saw the bruised spirit and the broken heart.” She reached out her hand and gently stroked Shani’s shorn head. “You have been grieving, daughter, for the loss of your innocence and the betrayal of your trust. And now the time for grief is over. I knew you would come back home—when you regained your courage and your strength—when you were ready.”
Relief flooded through Shani, while tears leaped to her eyes. Nina had known all the time. Of course she had. None of them had ever been able to keep secrets from Mama. “Yes,” she admitted simply. “You’re right on all counts, as usual. I needed the time away. But I’m back now. I’m ready to come home.”
Nina’s gentle smile broadened to a wide grin. She took Shani’s hand in hers and squeezed. “I’m so glad, daughter. We’ve missed you.”
~*~
Adam looked around the full table at the end of another delicious meal, content to watch and listen. The two little boys had been excused to go outside to play, their little limbs fairly vibrating with repressed energy. Naira was asleep in her grandmother’s lap, her round cheeks rosy, her dark lashes brushing her cheeks. Shani’s brothers-in-law, George and Jacy, were arguing good-naturedly about their favorite sports teams while the sisters were chatting animatedly about everything from local politics to Shani’s G-rated version of her time on an island resort to which of the remaining single sisters would marry next. Their eyes kept sliding to Adam as they talked, knowing smiles on their pretty faces. Shani’s eyes were shining, happiness radiating from her like sunlight. When she met his gaze, her smile lit up Adam’s heart.
He had never thought he’d marry again. He’d always enjoyed the variety of submissive and masochistic women he scened with during his constant travels for his work. But the play had always been just that. It was fun and sexy, but when it was over, Adam moved on, his mind already on the next thing.
But now, everything had changed. For the first time in his life, he was in love. Sure, he’d loved his first wife, Joanie, as much as he’d been capable of love back then. But everything had always been so complicated, and so fraught with conflict, confusion and secret shame.
With Shani, from the second they’d met, it had been different. Easy. Right. Perfect.
Yes, he understood that they hadn’t known each other long, and that there would be bumps along the road of their developing relationship. But there was an underlying surety—a deep sense of peace and profound joy—that made him certain they would be up to any challenge, as long as they faced it together.
The meal over, George and Jacy headed outside to change Nina’s flat tire. Yareli took the sleeping child from Nina’s arms and carried her from the room while the other sisters began to clear the table.
When Adam stood to help, Nina said, “The girls will take care of all that. Would you like to take a walk with me down to the creek?”
“Sure,” Adam said, catching Shani’s eye. Shani, carrying a stack of dirty dishes, nodded and smiled.
Adam walked with Nina past the boys, who were racing wildly around the little yard, whooping and laughing as they hurled a Frisbee between them.
Nina and he sat down on the wooden bench. Though Shani’s mom didn’t speak right away, Adam sensed she had something she wanted to say. He liked her stillness, so different from his own flighty mother, who would ramble incessantly about nothing very much while his father stared off into space, totally ignoring her.
Eventually, Nina said, “Shani’s been through a lot, Adam.” She fixed him with a penetrating gaze. “She’s very taken with you. I’ve never seen her like this. I can see that you mean well, but you’re young and things change. I don’t think I could bear to have my girl hurt again.”