“Sure you are,” Dad stated dryly, depositing us in two seats in the corner of the lobby—unfortunately, not too far away from where he had yanked us away. Everyone was staring, and I sunk back into the chair and rested my forehead on my hand. My stomach rolled, now decidedly queasy. This was mortifying.
“Now, would you two care to explain why my daughter was fighting?” Mom asked calmly, crossing her arms. “Maybe, we can help work this issue out.”
Ember stabbed a finger in my direction. “She started it.” Good God. My parents did it to everyone. Gone was the strong, deadly woman I knew her to be. That woman had been replaced by a naughty child standing before a scary-ass principal.
I stayed silent, rubbing my forehead and staring at my lap.
“I didn’t ask who started it. I asked what the issue was about,” my mother said slowly as if she were talking to a halfwit.
Ember’s mouth shut, finally following my cue.
This would go a lot smoother if Ember kept it up.
A half minute passed in silence, and then my father dropped to his haunches, staring up at us since we were both looking down. “I know this is embarrassing, but we’re just trying to help. From what we saw on that video… That type of hostility and hate isn’t good for the mind, body, and soul…” And he was off. Lecturing and teaching all at the same time.
We took it silently. All fifteen minutes of it. I had heard this all before, but he directed as much of his sermon to Ember as he did me. He spoke calmly and patiently, but I knew he wasn’t because he kept running his hand through his graying blond hair and fiddling with his gold cross necklace hanging over his white button up shirt.
My mother bent down when my father stood, and spoke to us of the dangerous hazards of letting violence, hatred, and prejudice enter your heart and mind. This went on for at least ten more minutes. I knew the tour bus was going to be arriving soon, so I kept that in mind as my salvation as she droned on. Her voice powerful and commanding made it hard to ignore. But after twenty-eight years of hearing it, she only sounded like Mom to me and I could tune her out with the best of them.
When she stood, I breathed a tiny sigh of relief, still picking at my dress and started rubbing my forehead again. Then Dad stated, “Your mother and I will be staying here for the next few days, so if either of you want to come and speak to us privately about anything we just discussed, our door is open.”
I instantly flinched. They were going to be here for a few days?
Thank the Lord above we were leaving tonight.
“We won’t interfere with your work, sweetie. And we know your flight is scheduled for tomorrow.” My old flight had been scheduled for then. I had canceled it, taking Daniil’s private jet home tonight. I was fucked. Mom mistook my reaction and patted the air. “We’re just taking a small vacation with the added benefit of being here for you if you need us.”
Sure they were.
“Ms. Lerrus, we’re done here. You can go.” Dad paused. “And again, thank you for your incredible generosity.”
Ember popped up from her seat even faster than I had seen her move in the ring, nodding and quickly darting away to her group. I stared after her in envy. The group had started to quietly talk again, but when they saw Ember coming toward them, they all shut-up and watched her arrive, then started speaking to her. Ember’s face was blank, kind of shell-shocked, and it didn’t look like she replied to any of them. Yeah, I got that.
Dad said, “What are your plans for today?”
I looked at him directly for the first time in almost a half-hour. “I’m working. Going to the Hemingway House to see if I can get a story.” Not really the story bit, but it would keep them from tagging along with—
My mother’s face lit up. “Wonderful! I’ve always wanted to visit there.”
I groaned, my head falling back onto my palm. And then a thought occurred. “It’s a reserved event.”
She waved her hand. “We’ll drive ourselves. And we won’t bother you.”
This was bad.
A tour guide walked into the lobby. “The bus to The Hemingway House & Museum is waiting outside for anyone who’s attending.”
I jumped up, putting my purse over my shoulder. “Gotta go.”
“We’ll see you there.” Dad grabbed my hand and stopped me. His eyes glanced at the Lion Security group that was beginning to make its way to the entrance—Daniil was covertly watching me, along with most of his children, and Ember and Zane. “Are those the type of people you’re hanging around now? Because I can tell you, sweetie, those are not the type to bring anything good into your life.” He was watching me closely.
“They’re the story I hope to get,” I stated. I really hated lying to my parents.
His eyes flicked to my fading hickey, and I had to mentally stop myself from covering it with my hand. “If you say so.” He smiled, and it was…something…I wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t one he normally gave me. “We’ll see you there.”
I rushed off, flying out the doors of the resort as fast as I could. I climbed the stairs to the bus and glanced around for a seat, more than embarrassed for my parents’ interaction. Daniil sat in the back of the bus with a seat empty next to him. There were others closer to the front, and I really debated sitting in one…until Daniil’s eyebrows rose in a mocking gesture when I glanced at him again.
Fine. I wouldn’t wuss out from shame. Trekking my way down the aisle, a few teasing comments pinged in my direction from Lion Security’s group. But when I started to pass Ember, she threw her right arm out, stopping me. Staring at the back of the seat where her arm was a barrier in front of me, she stated quietly, “I don’t owe you any longer.”
