“Will do.” I hit end call and laid my head back and closed my eyes.
This was apparently my new normal.
Donovan
The following morning, Tulya met me in the common area and we headed down to the car without a word spoken. It was devoid of any pomp or circumstance too—the tether binding us the afternoon before long broken.
She’d stood by the bar and listened when Magnum called; he’d been yelling up a storm, saying Valerie was furious with him. She was losing her shit over us meeting Blake. I’d not-so-politely told him that Valerie should’ve thought about that before running away, and like the fool Magnum could be, my brother admitted she was back at home with her daughter. Tulya overheard this and her face fell. I understood her sadness. She knew her task was upon her. Almost immediately, Tulya had retreated to her room, and I didn’t see her again until she appeared for her coffee an hour ago. I’d told her we had to go see Valerie, and the only response I received was a short nod.
It wasn’t exactly how I’d wanted or expected the previous night to go, but such was my life, steeped in family responsibility and doing what was right for Rubia.
Tulya didn’t seem to understand we couldn’t be together indefinitely or forever, whatever kind of whimsical ideas she had, so it was for the greater good.
Except when my lips were on hers, I didn’t get it either.
“Are you sure we should go? What if we scare off Valerie before Magnum and Cinder get here? It could be a while.” Tulya spoke softly in the car, her voice full of trepidation.
“You heard?” I asked, and she confirmed.
“My sister told me Cinder is giving your brother a hard time. She didn’t mean it as gossip,” Tulya quickly added the last part.
“I know.”
We drove along, and I took a quick glance at Tulya’s profile. Today, she wore her hair back in a sleek ponytail. With the sunlight hitting it through the window, it sparkled like a ripe cherry. Her creamy skin complemented the brightness in just the right way, whatever it was, and I wanted to run my tongue all along it. I ached to be with this woman in ways that didn’t make sense.
“I’m hoping he gets her to change her mind quickly, while I’m hoping to get Valerie used to the idea of Blake coming with us…”
“You may have a better chance at getting pigs to fly.”
I couldn’t help the laugh rumbling out of me.
“Seriously,” Tulya added. “No mother is just going to say bye-bye to their baby, and ‘Have a good life, I’m never going to see you again.’” She stared out the passenger window, presumably fuming.
“I’m sorry this is so upsetting to you, but there is no other way.”
“There is.” She whipped her face toward me, her mouth in a tight line. “Blake could have visits with Valerie. Valerie couldcome to Rubia. She clearly knows all about us, so who cares? Her daughter will be living there. She’s not going to risk anyone getting hurt or discovered.”
I turned the car onto the street with the small bungalow we’d visited yesterday, and a rock began to form in my stomach. In my heart, I knew all of this was wrong, but what could I do? “How about this—you ask the Minister.”
“Fine, I will.” She had the door open before I even shifted the car into park and was trekking the sidewalk to the front door.
I jogged to catch up with her and we rang the doorbell.
The door swung open and a short brunette in a pair of jean cutoffs and a skimpy red tank stepped out, barefoot. “No! Go away. I didn’t invite you here,” she said, giving me a death stare. “Especially you.” She turned her focus to Tulya and then she spat, the spittle landing on the ground, making it clear my brother had shared more than we even considered.
I watched the rude gesture hit equal to a slap in the face, as Tulya turned her head abruptly to the side as if she’d been smacked.
“Valerie,” I said in as soothing of a voice as I could.
“Nope, don’tValerieme,” she mocked, mimicking my tone. “I don’t know what kind of voodoo you want to practice on me, but not today, not now, or ever,” she said, stumbling over her words, jamming her finger in Tulya’s face.
I started to think Tulya had been right—this was a mistake.
“And as for you, Donovan.” She said my name as if we’d been introduced. “Your brother let me know your plan, and my answer is a firm no. Blake will stay right the fuck here with me, and so will your brother if he wants to see his daughter.”
I caught a look of shock on Tulya’s face at Valerie’s using such a vile swear word. Only a few days with Tulya, and I knew that wasn’t her style.
Clearing my throat, I considered telling Valerie to calm down, but I wasn’t foolish enough to think it would work. She would come at me for mansplaining and I wasn’t up for the lecture. Instead, I asked, “Can we go inside?” I didn’t think she would oblige, but this wasn’t the type of conversation I wanted to have outside.
