Family Reunion (25 page)

Manny shook his head. "Nothing son, Leon you go back Tuesday and then we will see." Leon nodded. He knew why Manny looked as he did; the same worries were going through his own mind. Manny took a deep breath and knew he had to remain calm for Mike and Hope's sake, he would not show them how his fears were on the increase.

"Daddy are you all right?!" Hope asked worriedly.

"Sure I am. Everyone, it seems we have until Tuesday, no sense in sitting around, we have work to do. If we stay busy the next four days will be over before we know it. Leon, the Sea Wolf has just docked." Leon nodded, rose and left.

"And Joe, I need you to meet with Mr. William Griffith at the Hampton. We were supposed to meet for lunch to discuss his shipyard in Boston. You and I have already gone over what I expect from him as far as the yard itself is concerned, I'm in no mood to talk business today, so I'm leaving it up to you to handle."

Joe nodded, feeling a little nervous. He stood, kissed his wife's forehead and left.

"You son, you need to head for the Princess. Thomas Sandoval will be there waiting to talk to you and Maria about the children and school."

"Yes, I know. Hope, don't let him stay in this office working late." Mike ordered, standing to leave behind the others.

"Don't you worry, I plan on taking good care of him ... we'll be at the ship on time for dinner...won't we daddy?!" Hope asked. Manny smiled and nodded, "Sure we will."

Satisfied, Mike left.

Manny wanted to be alone, his eyes were burning, his mind was
sending crazy messages of doom and the last person he wanted to see him so shaken was his daughter, he felt a lump in his throat that he could not swallow. Hope stood from her chair and walked around his desk to where he sat, placing her hand on his shoulder, she squeezed and spoke softly.

"You scared daddy?"

Manny looked up at her, "Wouldn't you like to go shopping or something? Maybe, meet with Josey? Buy yourself something new?"

"I already have everything I want. I want to be with you."

"I have a lot to do and-…"

"Daddy, don't be afraid." Hope reached down and hugged him; he pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly. She was so much like his Lena.

"She's okay you know, you've got to believe that, we're right on the verge of finding mother, I just know it." She said, still holding him close.

"Dustinhurst…if you only knew."

"I don't need to know. You worry too much, you need to relax and be calm."

"I need to know where your mother is. I need to know-…" He stopped, his jaw clenched.

"I know what you need, and that’s to let me tell you a story." Hope smiled, looking down at him. Manny groaned and then chuckled. "You're going to tell
me
a story?" He asked, uncertain.

"I most certainly am...so now, I want you to sit back, relax and listen. Are you comfortable, or should I move?"

"Ho-o-ope!" Manny whined her name and laughed feeling silly at the idea of his daughter telling him a story at a time when everything inside of him writhed with fear.

"Ah ah ah, I want you to listen, would you like me to move?" She asked again, Manny shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Go ahead then, tell your daddy a story, is it a happy one?"

"Yes it is, I used to tell this story to the kids when we were in Mike's camp, they loved it. I've even improved it a bit since then, finishing it with a little rhyme at the conclusion. I get to try it out on you first, this new version…now listen."

Manny chuckled, shaking his head, "I'm all ears."

"Okay, once upon a time, there lived a little princess on a beautiful Island. And this little princess had a strong handsome father who loved her very much. One day, this little princess was being very mischievous and went against her father's word and ventured out to play on the beach with her older brother.”

“
Well, as they were playing a big ship came along with a mean looking captain and took her away from her beautiful Island home and from her father whom she loved so much. Off she went, to a far off place in a strange new land."

Hope let out a dramatic sigh and shook her head in sympathy, making faces to interpret the tale. "The little princess cried and cried and cried telling everyone that she, was a princess and that she wanted to go back home to her father. But no one would listen to the little princess. Instead she was taken further within this strange new land to a little village. As she stood frightened, wondering what she would do, in rode this tall handsome knight. The tall knight took one look at the frightened little princess and fell hopelessly in love with her right then and there, determined that she would be his."

"You made this up?" Manny asked, it was hitting so close to the real life account of him and Lena.

"Yeah…well…kind of…for reasons I can't explain, it's always been in my head. The more I tell it, the clearer it becomes…now don't interrupt anymore…let me finish."

Manny nodded, "Carry on."

"Now…the problem was that the people of his village thought her different. Because this little princess had come from another land whose people were different from them. They all decided that they did not like her.

The tall knight ignored the people, he didn't care about where she came from or that she was different, he was already a prisoner of his love for her. Discarding what the people thought of her, the tall knight rode his mighty stallion fast through the throng and scooped up the frightened little princess before him on his glorious horse and rode like the wind, taking her off to his own private little world. In his kingdom, he knew that his people would like her and take care of her. They too would love her as he did. At first, the little princess was afraid of the tall knight but after she learned how gentle he was, her fear of him vanished to be replaced by love."

Hope looked at her father; he was watching and waiting for her next words. "Still wish to hear more?" He gave a quick nod with wide eyes wishing to hear more; satisfied she went on.

"Well, let me tell you, that tall knight was
so
happy. For his little princess loved him till he was bursting with joy and he kept her in his castle where he protected her from all of those of the outside world he feared might do her harm.”

“
Together they were happy. Sad to say, this did not last forever. No-o-o-o, you see - a wicked, wicked woman from the outside world snuck inside his kingdom, right in the midst of their happy world and tore the two apart. Sending the little princess away into a world she did not know, all happening while her tall knight was away conquering other kingdoms and gaining great treasures for his little princess."

Manny's brows drew together in worry. "Hope, your mother told you this story. I remember it, I told her she was silly for telling such a tale, because I – I would never let…" Manny looked away, remembering Lena telling Hope the story, so dramatic and animated in her telling, her arms gesturing wide, her body moving high and low, her face changing expressions, her voice switching pitches to bring out each character and villain. He had lain in bed with Hope sitting in his arms as Lena entertained them, him laughing and Hope clapping her hands loving every minute of her mother's solo performance. He had fallen deeper in love with her that night, watching her interaction with their daughter, unabashed with her story telling.

"I wondered where it came from; it's always been in my mind. Do you wish me to continue?" She asked her father.

"Yes please…I want to hear how it ends."

"Daddy, don’t you know how it ends?” She asked softly.

With moisture in his eyes that he was unable to hide, he repeated once more, “I want to know how it ends.”

Swallowing her own fears, determined to see only the light and not the darkness, something it had taken her years to grow out of being afraid of. “Okay…well when the tall knight returned to find his little princess had been chased away, he searched out the wicked woman, forced her from his kingdom and warned that if she ever returned, it would be ... off with her head!!”

Manny jumped startled by her sudden booming voice and gesture, making Hope grin, because she liked that part but her father made a face. "Off with her head, Hope?"

"Off with her head! Yes!" Hope nodded insistently.

"Okay, then it's off with her head." He conceded.

"Following that, the tall knight went in search of his little princess. He searched and searched, near and far but could not find her. Just as he was to give up all hope and return heartbroken to his castle, he went to a pond…not just any pond no-o-o-o, but the very pond where he and the little princess had often loved each other and played. As he stood there gazing, dreaming of his little princess. As he looked at the water an amazing thing happened.”

Hope paused, “Wanna know what?”

“
Yes, of course, please – what amazing thing happened?”

“
Well, the water began to bubble and boil and from it rose a tiny spirit sprite who asked in its tiny voice. - Oh tall handsome knight, why does thy look so sad? In amazement he answered. I have lost my little princess, I feel so forlorn and to bring her back to me, this I have sworn. Yet, I have searched far and wide, as far as the sea, still there is no sign of her, so I am sad, as you can see. And the little spirit sprite said in its little voice. – Tall knight do not fear, have faith in this you must, for your princess is waiting, in that you can trust, though things now look gloomy, impossible extreme, remember tall knight, things aren't always what they seem-...”

Manny shuddered as once again those words went straight to his heart, shaking up his soul. Hope smiled down, unaware of the effect her words were having on him.

"Daddy are you listening? You must pay attention."

"I'm sorry…you have my full attention."

She continued with, “…-so have faith tall knight, have faith that is true. The little princess that you love, she is waiting for you. And the spirit began to fade away. Panicking, the tall knight ran into the pond calling out in great distress, Spirit sprite, spirit sprite! From me do not depart! Where should I look, where do I start? -Your heart tall knight, start from what you feel in your heart...- The fading voice of the spirit sprite said as it faded from sight."

Manny sat listening and was spellbound.

"Wasting not another moment, the tall knight began his search anew. He tried to figure out what the spirit meant by follow your heart but the riddle he could not figure. All he knew for sure was, in his heart he loved her and she loved him. Certain of that and knowing what they had between them was special, like no other love in the world to be found, he refused to give in this time. No wicked woman nor long distance would ever destroy their love. He knew that wherever she was, she awaited him. All he needed to do was remember to have faith. So the tall knight returned to his private kingdom and summoned all of his male subjects before him, he bade them go near, he bade them go far, they should spread the words from his heart so she would hear, -My little princess, please hear my cry, there's no need to keep quiet, there's no need that you hide. The wicked woman I've banished, never to return. Just call for me, my love …call for me... Was his plea - out the word was sent, to every corner of the outside world. After a few days, he left his castle to go for a walk and found himself at the pond looking to its center.”

“
As if it had been summoned, the tiny spirit sprite did appear, dancing and flying upon the water before the tall knight. At once he stood in full attention before the sprite, who began singing."

-Tall knight, you were wise and did as I said. You followed your heart with the message you spread. For your love is true and your word she did meet, the circle you started, now is complete! All things at the start feel right at the time but when love is involved, harsh struggles entwine. The test you did pass and your love’s proven strong, so the reward that you seek… she now… comes along. Saying nothing more, the sprite disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The tall knight stood at the slope of the ponds edge confused. Suddenly, he heard a sound from behind him. Quickly he spun to see the joy of all joys, his little princess – emerging from the forest walking to him she said. -Tall knight, I am here if you want me to be, never again…shall I leave you, for my heart is with thee. -The tall knight was so happy, he ran and picked up his little princess, dancing around in circles as he hugged her and laughed out happily. He took her back to his kingdom, and there… they lived happily - ever after…the end."

Manny smiled, caressing his daughter's cheek, "I like that ending."

"Good, then keep that in your mind and nothing else. Remember daddy, you must have faith…hey…what if you did that daddy? Put an ad in the paper…that might work!"

"Sweetheart, I wish it was that easy. First, there's no guarantee she would see it depending on where she is. Second, I'm not the only one looking for her, so if she did see it, she would probably fear answering it and those looking for her would be alerted and would watch us like hawks. Also, it might catch the unwanted attention of a certain society I'd just as soon avoid. Believe me, if it was that simple, I would have done so long ago."

Hope sighed accepting his reasons saying, "It doesn't matter. She's waiting for you daddy. I've never been surer of anything before. I'd never seen my brother, yet…we found each other. My husband believed that I was to be his and look at us now. You, after so many years, finally found Mike and now I'm here." She bent down and kissed his brow, leaning away she declared, "Tall Knight, Princess Ces alena is your destiny. She's waiting for you…if you have faith in nothing else, have faith in that."