Louisa wrings her hands, “What if they can’t forgive me? What if it’s too late?” she pleads.
“Nonsense. Patrick’s Christmas wish was for you to try to get to know the woman he loves. I think if you spend time with Mena, you will be surprised by what you learn.”
“Truly?” she asks.
“They arrive on the train tomorrow evening at five. I imagine they could use a ride to their hotel. Perhaps dinner with his Mother?”
“What will Mena think?”
“Mena will cry and hug you,” Aiylin laughs, “she’s very emotional that way.”
They laugh softly together and sit to talk over fresh tea. “Tell me about my sister. How is Elizabeth?”
“She’s lonely.” Aiylin watches her face, and she can feel her compassion. “I understand that,” she sniffs.
“Sebastian worries for her. He’s trying to get her to live with him, but she won’t leave the house.” Aiylin sighs.
“I will go visit her soon. Perhaps a kick in the pants is what she needs.”
Aiylin laughs, “Precisely.”
“How long have you been in love with my nephew?” she asks.
“I… I’m not, I didn’t say it was Sebastian,” she stammers.
“You didn’t need to. You’ve come here with fire in your eyes to protect those you love. Tell me why you ran instead of fighting for them?” she demands.
Aiylin gaps and stares at her. “Langdon said horrible things, he was going to kill me and go after them next. I brought that danger to your family. How could he ever forgive me?” she swipes angrily at her tears.
“You seem like a smart woman. You know that Langdon’s choices were his own.” She sighs heavily, “Just once I’d like to see a woman stay and fight for them. It’s always the two of them fighting alone. They deserve more. The question is, are you the woman to do that?”
“I want to be,” she whispers, “but I’m afraid.” She glances up at Louisa, “What if I’m not what he wants?”
“Then you will cry and grieve the loss, but you don’t get to run.” She sighs when she looks at the indecision on Aiylin’s face. “I may be a bitter old woman, but I never run from what I believe in. Judging from your trip here, neither do you.”
She grips Louisa’s hands, “What do I do?”
“I’ve decided we should spend Christmas with Elizabeth. Will you accompany me?” she decides suddenly.
“Yes,” she sobs and covers her face with her hands while Louisa laughs and hugs her. She starts shouting orders to her staff.
“I need a telegram sent to my sister Elizabeth, tell her I’m coming for Christmas and bringing guests.”
Chapter 27
“And so it was… that she,
having waited long
and endured patiently
realized and obtained
what God had promised.”
Hebrew 6:15
Elizabeth is beside herself with excitement when Stanley hands her the telegram. “Oh!” she sits down and smiles. Sebastian and Tinley have been lost without Aiylin, and she decides not to tell them. Surprises are good for the soul. Instead, she works with the cook to plan for extra guests. The staff cleans the house, and the presents are wrapped and placed beneath the tree.
Stanley is sent for more supplies and Sebastian is too concerned over Tinley to even notice. She’s refusing to leave her room. The first day he told her that Aiylin needed to go see her family after the attack and Tinley thought that meant she was coming back. He couldn’t leave Tinley to go after Aiylin. Not in this state.
The second day she cried her eyes out, and by the third day, she refused to leave her room. “Christmas wishes aren’t true,” she grumbles when Elizabeth tries to cheer her up.
“Darling, you know that I told you sometimes wishes take time,” Elizabeth tries to explain.
“Yes, Oma.” All her excitement is gone.
“Christmas is in three days. Won’t you please come sit with me by the fire?”
“I think we are going to take a walk, Mother,” Sebastian says from the door. “Come on, Tinley.”
“I don’t want to,” she murmurs and stares in the distance.
“I can see that, but I need to take a walk, and you don’t want me to get lonely, do you?” he teases.
“No, Daddy,” she whispers and follows him from the room. Elizabeth is beginning to question her judgment. Perhaps she should tell them? She watches them leave and moves to the window. The lantern is glittering in the yard, as usual. “If only I had a wish left.”
The lantern flickers and Elizabeth gasps and grins. “I’ll be patient. What’s one more day?” she whispers.
“Charles! Have you lost your mind? We can’t just show up at their house for Christmas!”
Aiylin walks into the house and hears her parents shouting at each other. Shock ripples through her and she runs upstairs.
“What’s wrong?” she demands “Is Mena okay?”
“Mena’s fine, but your Father is clearly not,” her mother snaps and steps in front of him.
“Tell her!”
“We’re going away for Christmas?” he snaps.
“Where are you going?” she asks softly.
“To Nazareth,” he says, shoving clothes into a bag.
“What!” she gasps and doubles over. Her body is shaking, and her mother runs to her.
“See what you did, Charles!”
Aiylin lifts her face and shocks them both by wiping her tears. She points and can’t stop laughing.
“Oh, Lord, you broke her!” her Mother gasps.
“No, I’m fine,” she takes a deep breath and stops laughing. “Tell me what’s going on.”
Charles sits on the edge of his bed, “I received an interesting letter today from
