Page 56

CHAPTER 56

Officer Guerrero finished taking statements from Dante and Maarja, Connor and Nate, Raine and Andere, and was now packing her briefcase. She looked around them, seated at the large conference table in the dining room/Dante’s office, then focused on Octavia and Alex. “Mrs. Maldovitch, the Oakland police see a lot of violence, but this is the first time I’ve dealt with two killings in one house on one wedding day.”

“And one resurrection!” Octavia said brightly. “I know Mrs. Arundel—”

“Call me Raine, dear,” Mrs. Arundel said.

Octavia switched smoothly. “Raine and I will be best friends. I like a woman who’s prepared to take care of herself and her family!”

The officer replied carefully, diplomatically, “We in the force frown on people handling potential murder with their own weapons, but—yes, she certainly reacted quickly and with great precision. Fedelma Arundel was shot through the heart. Twice.”

Maarja knew Raine had shot only once. Dante had also shot. When the police department performed the autopsy, if they performed the autopsy (the department was woefully underfunded), bullets from different pistols would be revealed. She didn’t feel obligated to point that out, or that in this crowd Fedelma had been lucky to be shot only twice.

Octavia took Officer Guerrero’s hand. “Won’t you join us as we celebrate this marvelous, healing marriage? We’re dancing and drinking and eating, and you deserve a happy time after your duties today.”

“Unfortunately, I’m on duty, but…” Officer Guerrero looked out into the backyard where the folding chairs had been cleared away, a temporary dance floor laid down, fairy lights lit the scene, and a battered rock band played a barrage of music from the World War II years all the way to the current war. “I’m off at ten.”

“We’ll see you then.” Octavia smiled until she heard the door shut, then sagged in her chair. In a tone of reproach, she said, “Maarja, you used to be the easy child!”

“Ha!” Alex gloated. “I’m Mom’s favorite now!”

“You were always my favorite, dear. As are Maarja, Chrispin, and Emma.” Octavia turned to Nate as if she could see him. “I’d love to dance while I’m spry enough.”

He rose easily to his feet, and Maarja noted that after the crisis today, he seemed to have shed injuries, years, and cares. He put Octavia’s hand on his arm and led her out to the sounds of music and laughter.

Alex viewed the table from beneath lowered lashes, and recognized it was time to make an exit. “I don’t think I can dance, but I can eat.” She turned to Owen and Connor. “Maybe you could help me to the buffet before the neighbors and the Arundels come to blows over the cheesecake.”

Before she could finish the sentence, the two guys were on their feet and helping her out of her chair.

That left Dante and Maarja alone at the table with Raine and Andere.

Maarja glanced at Dante, but he shook his head. The die was cast, a child was on its way. They had to have faith that despite the heavy weight of the Arundel genes it possessed, with love and good intentions, somehow they would pull this off.

Raine beamed at them. “A baby. I’m so excited about a grandchild. I know you two are wondering about nature versus nurture, and whether the little girl will be an incarnation of Benoit. Especially—” with a tilt of her head, she indicated the backyard where Fedelma had held them hostage “—after this.”

Dante gravely nodded. “It’s true, Mère. I want this baby with Maarja, and at the same time I think—am I resurrecting Be-noit Arundel? Or, God forbid, èrthu, first lord of the Arundels?”

Maarja put her hand to her belly. “We’ll be good parents. We’ll make all the difference.”

“Of course you will!” Andere agreed. “But…listen to what Raine has to say.”

Raine leaned forward, intent on imparting some great news. “Maarja, you know I have Arundel blood flowing in my veins.”

“Yes. I had gathered you were part of Benoit’s breeding program.” Maarja winced.

“Blunt, but true. I am an Arundel. I have my share of the wiliness and determination and, when needed, the ruthlessness.” Raine focused on Dante. “The man who captured and claimed me did not sire my child.”

It took Dante a moment for that to sink in.

Dante gaped, as stunned and singed as if struck by lightning. “What? Me? Not… I’m not…”

“Benoit is not your father.” Raine formed every word to make an impact.

“Wow,” Maarja breathed. She had not seen that coming.

“So worry no more about whether the babe will be the embodiment of evil.” Raine smiled at the newlyweds, enjoying their astonishment and knowing she had given them the gift of fearlessness in the face of looming parenthood. “The baby will be all we wished; assertive, intelligent, forceful, and inventive. My dear boy, I predict she’ll rule our world.”

“Of course she will.” Upright and proper with his old-world courtesy, Andere said, “Allow me to offer my congratulations on your marriage and the upcoming happy arrival. I currently have no gift to present, so let me offer this; please feel free to call on me at any time to babysit. As you both know, I love children.” Reaching into his pocket, he brought forth a handful of French lemon candies and placed them in the center of the table as a reminder of who he’d been to them, and a hint of his place in their lives.

In Maarja’s mind, the missing piece of the puzzle had been placed on the table, and at last the pieces clicked into place. She took them apart and put them together again. She looked at Dante, wanting to know if his comprehension matched hers.

His lips were pale, his jaw clenched. Shock still held him wound tightly in a tangle of emotions. So…yes.

Maarja recovered first. “Thank you, Andere. The baby, whatever its gender, will be privileged to have both of you in its life.”

“I’m glad you understand,” Raine said. She exchanged a smiling glance with Andere.

He picked up her hand and kissed her fingers. “ Ma chérie , you’ve come so far in these past weeks, working with the trainer. After this arduous day, are you too tired, or would you like to put the therapy to the test and sway to the music?”

“What a wonderful thought. It’s been so long since I’ve danced with you. Yes, let’s do that.” Raine allowed Andere to assist her out of her chair and guide her toward the dance floor.

As the older man passed, he paused and pressed his hand on Dante’s shoulder.

Dante recovered enough to put his hand over Andere’s and press back.

His acceptance was enough to bring emotional tears to Maarja’s eyes. So many changes! Good changes, mostly. Healing changes. Challenging changes. But she was up to the tasks, and of course, she trusted that Dante would lead the way through every difficulty.

When they sat alone, Maarja unwrapped a candy and handed it to Dante. “Sugar will help with the trauma.”

He put it in his mouth and let it dissolve. He closed his eyes and took a long full breath as if it were the first one in many minutes. “I… He… She… Did you comprehend what they…?” He couldn’t seem to articulate his thoughts.

Fine. Maarja could help him. “Yes. Benoit Arundel is not your biological father. Your mother, a wise and determined woman, chose a different man, one you and I know to be honest and upright. That does relieve any pressure I feel about carrying a child born with evil welded into its bones.”

He nodded numbly.

“I like Andere. He’s strong but not vicious, willing to stay in the background until needed, then he steps up to help. Doesn’t need to drive a hot car or a big truck. You said he could always do what needed to be done. He’s a quiet hero who has nothing to prove.” She studied Dante. “Now that I know, I can see him in you.”

Dante opened his eyes and stared at her. Touched his own face as if seeking the similarity.

“Not your looks, so much, but, honey, that car that’s parked at the curb…that’s the antithesis of a hot car.”

Dante grinned. “Yeah. But it moves! When it’s not stuck in traffic.”

Enough of dealing with a topic that would require thoughtful adjustment over months and perhaps years. Time to go out and join the celebration. She stood. “It’s our wedding. Can we dance? Before we have to take up the onerous task of allowing all the Arundels to kiss our rings?” She looked at her finger. “So much slobber!”

“I’d like that. The dancing, I mean.” He glanced up, looked her over as if seeing her for the first time today, stood, and took her arm. “Have I told you how lovely you are?”

“Not yet. But I’m sure you will.”

He ushered her out into the backyard. Cheers erupted—wine had been flowing freely—and as they made their way across the lawn, they shook hands while responding to calls of congratulations.

“Now that we know it was Fedelma, Connor has nailed her for the embezzling.” Dante talked into Maarja’s ear, keeping her entertained while people did indeed slobber on her hand. “Fedelma was stocking up for her takeover of the family.”

As they stepped onto the portable dance floor, the band switched to a love song, and Dante pulled her close. He led well, of course, and in a moment they moved together as if they’d been practicing for this dance all their lives. He murmured, “You weren’t as surprised about my mother’s appearance as I thought you’d be.”

“I had my suspicions.”

He leaned back and looked into her face. “What gave it away?”

“You said you trusted two people, and I was one.”

“Damn,” he said softly.

“That made me wonder…who else could the other person be? The only possibility was your mother.” Looking back, she was surprised she hadn’t realized the truth as the events occurred. “You never grieved. Never were angry with whoever had caused the explosion. Never put all your heart and mind into discovering who’d killed her. That’s not like you, Dante.”

He rubbed his forehead. “I’m not going to win an Academy Award, am I?”

“Ha! Not you.” She liked that about him. He was direct, didn’t bother with pretense, and she would always know where she stood with him. “I started thinking back, about how she was alive after the explosion and alive when you carried her down the stairs. Suddenly, you announced she was dead and you held me back from her body. People were on the property, recording everything that happened. I couldn’t figure out how the reporters had arrived so swiftly, but they weren’t reporters, and if I hadn’t been in shock, I would have realized it. They were your people, documenting her death for proof to your suspicious pain-in-the-butt relatives.”

His expression was both chagrin and pride. “When you discovered the deception, I thought you were going to punch me. And I would have to let you.”

“I would have. I still might take the opportunity. But I knew if what I suspected was the truth, you and she had created the explosion to fool the unknowns who were trying to kill her, to keep her safe and seize the initiative. You knew with her death, they would have to make a move and reveal themselves. I am right, aren’t I?” She saw the answer in his face. “Ha! You’re going to have to work to stay ahead of me, Dante Arundel!”

He spun her in a slow smooth move. “Instead of staying ahead of you, I’ll walk at your side all the days of our lives.”

She put her head on his shoulder. “Okay. If you insist. We’ll do it your way.”