"Until Max caught up with them," Judith said, hardly able to get the words out around her laughter.
"He chased Benito all over the house. The girls and I couldn't help laughing hysterically," Airiana admitted. "I didn't tell Max, but I think Lucia may have been the mastermind behind the red lights. The little girls thought they came up with the idea of the sirens, and Benito graciously and in the face of Max's wrath allowed them to take credit for it. Clearly, all of them had discussed it and were just waiting for us to sneak out."
"Bet that didn't take long," Rikki said.
Another round of laughter erupted.
"We have to sneak out," Airiana defended. "Those little monsters sleep in our room. We're hoping when we get the puppy, they'll all take to sleeping in Lucia's room."
"Most likely the puppy will be sleeping in your room along with the children," Lissa said, keeping a straight face.
Airiana groaned and covered her eyes. "So true. Just remember that if any of you are thinking about having children. They are exhausting."
"Not me," Rikki said. "I'm going to be the favorite auntie."
"That's my job," Blythe objected. "I'll be the old spinster with five cats."
Judith snorted. "Like you have a chance of that happening." She paused. Took a breath. "I didn't think I'd want children, but Stefan is so wonderful and he's going to be one of those hands-on fathers that helps. I like having Benito hanging around the house doing art with me. Nicia and Siena are darling children. Even Lucia, although she rarely comes over, is sweet. Stefan and I decided to try."
There was a shocked silence.
"Really?" Blythe asked. "That's wonderful. I love the idea of children growing up happy here on the farm."
"That's a good thing," Judith said, "because Airiana is pregnant. I have no idea when she was going to confess, but I can clearly see that she is. Her aura gives her away."
Airiana looked shocked. "I am not." She sat up straight, put her teacup on the table and glared at Judith. "I have four children. That's plenty. I couldn't possibly have a baby, I'm too tired all time."
"That's why you're tired, silly," Judith pointed out. "Didn't you know? Really?"
Airiana scowled at her. "As long as I didn't take a test or say it out loud, I thought I could dodge the bullet. We weren't exactly careful in the beginning. And sometimes we aren't all that careful now."
"I wouldn't worry about it," Judith said. "The horse left the barn and there's no need to close the doors."
"That ship has sailed," Blythe said.
"I hate you all," Airiana said. "Stop laughing at me. Now, Gavriil has this puppy that I'll end up having to take care of right along with crazy Benito and the girls. I'm so not looking forward to the next few months. Puking and wishing I could sleep."
"Lucia will look after the puppy," Lexi said. "She's learning already to care for them and she's very good at it. She has a natural talent. I think it will be good for her, and you should tell her you're pregnant, she'll help you."
Airiana shook her head, sudden tears welling up. Instantly the laughter was gone from their circle.
Blythe reached out and took her hand. "What is it, honey? You're complaining, but you love the children, and you know Lucia needs the puppy. You don't object to that. Are you really ill?"
Airiana shook her head and then shrugged. "I have morning sickness, but it isn't bad. I just am careful what I eat in the morning. It's Lucia and the others. I want them to feel loved. To know they have a home. They've been through so much. Losing their parents in a car bombing. Their little sister murdered. That awful ship. The things that happened to them on it. They need to feel as if they have a secure home with Max. With me. That we're going to love them and be their parents."
"Of course they know that," Blythe assured gently. "There will be an adjustment, but they'll accept and want the baby too."
Airiana shook her head. "I don't want them to think for one moment that by having a baby, we'll push them aside. I want this baby. Max's child, but I love all four of those children as if they were mine. I know Lucia in particular has a difficult time. They need time. I haven't said anything because I think the longer they have with us without a new baby, the better it will be for them, but then I think if they get used to the idea, the better it will be that way." She threw her arms into the air. "I have no idea what to do."
"What does Max say?"
Airiana bit her lip.
Lissa gasped. "You didn't tell him? Are you nuts? Max will kill you for withholding that kind of information. What were you thinking?"
"That he'll get even more protective than he already is. He can make me crazy, Lissa. They all can make me crazy, and lately I haven't had the tolerance and the humor I need to deal with him turning into a macho protective nutcase. All I want to do is cry or throw things."
"Honey, you're pregnant," Blythe said. "That's to be expected."
"Your hormones are all over the place," Judith added gently. "Sweetheart, you need to tell him. You do. You can't keep something like this to yourself. Tell him and then talk over the best course of action to take with the children. You'll feel so much better."
Lissa nodded. "And then we need to put the whammy on Judith so she gets pregnant and the children can be best friends." She nudged Lexi. "What about you? Do you foresee that man of yours giving you a gaggle of children?"
Lexi laughed. "Not a gaggle exactly, but we've talked about it."
Lissa shook her head. "I'm so getting out of this madness. The next thing I know, I'll get pregnant by proxy." She stood up. "I'd better get on the road. It's four hours to the airport."
The women immediately stood and surrounded her. She could feel their warmth. Their love. She had to struggle not to cry. This was her family. She had come to love them more than she could ever have thought she would be able to. She had never shared who she was with them, nor had she introduced them to the one member of her family still alive, but they were her world. She didn't expect to come back to them, but she was going to ensure their safety because they were everything to her.
Each and every one of them had had their lives ripped apart by violence. They had lost the ability to ever live in the world without fear. A home was supposed to be a sanctuary, yet these women knew a home could be violated at any time. She hated that for them.
She would never have the chance to fall in love with a man, but that was her choice. She would never have children, but again, she was making that choice. She knew she was making that choice for these women, all so very precious to her. They held one another in their tight circle the way they did to show solidarity, sisterhood, to show strength and love. Lissa planned on carrying that feeling of love and support with her everywhere she went.
"We'll see you when you get back," Lexi said, breaking the circle to hold her close. She hugged Lissa hard. "I love you. I want you back."
"I love you too, little sister," Lissa replied, meaning it. Feeling it. Fighting emotion when she was usually so good at pushing it down. "Take care of one another. And listen to the Prakenskiis when it comes to your security. I mean it. I'll be upset with all of you if you don't."
She hugged each of them hard, turned and nearly ran from the room, out into the rising wind. The storm was closing in on Sea Haven, coming in off the ocean, and she felt that was an ominous portent of things to come in her future. Her bags were already in the car and she had to get on the road if she was going to catch her plane. She drove away from the farm, from her place of peace, and never once looked back. She didn't dare.
The ocean raged, the relentless wind whipping the waves into a towering frenzy. Water swelled high, forming a series of walls, some a good thirty feet. The waves rushed toward shore, breaking in white foamy crests up high on the rocks and cliffs. The constant roar and boom added even more drama to the wild sprays as they shot into the sky, retreated and burst against the stacks again and again as if trying to destroy them.
"It's a good night for it," Lev Prakenskii