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More Than Darkness	By : SaMe Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time In Mexico Views: 4591 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the movie that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-1
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-11
- 12-12
- 13-13
- 14-14
- 15-15
- 16-16
- 17-17
- 18-18
- 19-19
- 20-20
- 21-21
- 22-22
- 23-23
- 24-24
- 25-25
- 26-26
- 27-27
- 28-28
- 29-29
- 30-30
- 31-31
- 32-32
- 33-33
- 34-34
- 35-35
- 36-36
- 37-37
- 38-38
- 39-39
- 40-40
- 41-41
- 42-42
- 43-43
- 44-44
- 45-45
- 46-46
- 47-47
- 48-48
- 49-49
- 50-50
- 51-51
- 52-52
- 53-53
- 54-54
- 55-55
- 56-56
- 57-57
- 58-58
- 59-59
- 60-60
- 61-61
- 62-62
- 63-63
- 64-64
- 65-65
- 66-66
- 67-67
- 68-68
- 69-69
- 70-70
- 71-71
- 72-72
- 73-73
- 74-74
- 75-75
- 76-76
- 77-77
- 78-78
- 79-79
- 80-80
- 81-81
- 82-82
- 83-83
- 84-84
- 85-85
- 86-86
- 87-87
- 88-88
- 89-89
- 58
- 59
- 60
"Ready to go in?" Aida
asked, taking Sands' hand in hers as they sat in the car. Even as she asked it
though, she wasn't sure if she was directing the question to him or to
herself. Everything was just
so...unchanged. The house still looked worn but solid. The old oak tree was
still taking up most of the front yard. Her father's truck - which hadn't run
since she could remember - was still parked in front of the garage. It was hard to believe that she'd ever left.
�I suppose,� he murmured. �We can�t just sit out here
forever.� He couldn�t keep from thinking how normal everything looked. He didn�t know quite what he had been
expecting, but it wasn�t this.
"Just sitting here might get a little suspicious,"
Aida agreed. Distractedly, she reached up and readjusted her wig. It wasn't
red, and it wasn't curly; the shop she'd gotten it at hadn't had much of a
selection. But the rich auburn didn't look horrible on her, and she's decided
that she might as well get used to the idea that her hair might be looking very
different in the future.
�Just a little,� he murmured. His face fell
a little as the door opened and a man stepped out. �Too
late.�
"Cheer up," she whispered, leaning over to kiss
his cheek. "United we stand,
remember?"
�Divided we fall,� he murmured. �Alright.
I�m cheery. I�m a bucket full of cheer.�
"I'd settle for resigned, but I'll take what I can get.
Come on." Aida opened her door and stepped out of the car, waiting on her
side for her husband to join her. Once he had, she took his hand in hers again
and led him up to the door.
"Hello, Papa," she said shyly, letting go of her
husband to receive her fathers tight embrace. It was a little uncomfortable for
her, but so worth it.
When she stepped back, he ran his hand along her hair.
"Don't you look all grown up."
Aida smiled ruefully. "Curls are cute on little girls,
Papa. They're annoying for grown women."
"If you say so, Firefly. Well,
are you going to introduce me to your husband?"
Aida looked to Sands, making sure he wasn't going to bolt, then performed the formalities. "Sands, this is my
father. Papa, this is Sands. My husband."
�Mr. Grant,� Sands said with a nod and a tentative
outstretched hand.
"Please. Call me Jack."
Before Sands could reply, Aida interrupted. "Were you
going to let us come in, Papa? It's a little warm out here."
"Of course." He stepped
away from the door and the couple came in. Looking around Aida saw that the
living room was cleaner than it'd ever been when she and her siblings had been
younger. How quiet the house was!
"Where's Mama?" Aida asked as she led Sands to the
couch so they could have a seat.
"Shopping. We weren't
expecting you for another hour and she didn't have all she needed for dinner.
You know your mother."
Yes, she did. Before nostalgia could take her over
completely though, she noticed the look in her father's eye, and she sighed. "Alright,
go ahead and start the interrogation.
Just take it easy on us. We've had a long trip."
"Now what makes you think -"
"Papa..."
Jack Grant chuckled. "Alright.
Your mother will kill me for not waiting for her though." Shaking his head, he sat down in a chair
across from his daughter and her husband. "So, what changed your minds
about coming here instead of us coming to you?"
Sands didn�t hesitate. �We wanted to get out of the city for
awhile and Aida suggested that we come here. The rest is history.�
"It was getting just a bit swampy. And since I'm not
going to be out of work if I take a bit of a vacation, I though it might be
nice to take a trip. Besides, Sands wanted to see where I grew up. We were
going to spend part of tomorrow poking around town." They hadn't actually
been planning to do that, but Aida thought it might be a good idea. It'd give
Sands some time to recover his equilibrium at least.
�I�m still relatively new to the area, as you might notice,�
he said, referring to his accent. �I figured who else could be better than to
show me around but Aida? And she�s right, I was curious about where she came
from.�
Jack was going to reply, but the slamming of a car door
outside made him close his mouth.
"Momma?" Aida asked,
standing up. Jack nodded as the back door opened.
"Are they here?" The breathless question was clear
before the woman asking it could see the answer for herself. When she did, she
set down her groceries and ran across the room to envelop her daughter in a
hug.
Sands stood up only because Aida did, trying to cover the
fact that he had jumped when he had heard the car door slam. He told himself to
calm down. It was almost working. He stood silently, waiting for Aida�s mother
to notice him.
"I can't breathe, Momma." Aida very gently
disentangled herself from her mother, then reached out
to wipe away the tears on her cheeks, only pausing when she realized the look
on her mother's face wasn't one of joy.
"How long?" Susan Grant
asked softly. "How long have you been sick?"
Aida just stood there with her mouth open.
Sands frowned a little for Aida�s sake, but he wasn�t all
that surprised that her mother had seen through her attempted ruse. Aida was so
thin-gaunt would have been a better word-that it was obvious to anyone who
looked at her that she was either sick or malnourished. Mrs. Grant merely choose the more realistic option. �A pleasure to meet you,
Mrs. Grant,� he cut in smoothly, attempting to give Aida a moment to reclaim
her wits. �I�m Sands. Your�� he hesitated. �son-in-law.�
Now didn�t that just make him fucking
uncomfortable to say? Fuck this. I don�t
want to be anyone�s son. Not anymore. But he had no choice. It was far too
late for doubts or second thoughts. �Pleasure to meet you,� he continued after
a moment.
Susan Grant knew a distraction when she saw one, but she
could see just as well as this young man in front of her that her daughter
needed a moment. �Susan Grant, Sands. It�s a pleasure to meet you as well after
only hearing your voice on the phone. I must say, from the looks of you, my
daughter is a very lucky woman,� she attempted to joke to lift some tension
from the moment.
Sands gave her a crooked smile at that. �I�m the lucky one,
ma�am.�
�Good answer, young man,� Susan Grant said with a smile. She
turned back to Aida. �I understand your reasons for not telling us, I just wish
you would have, sweetheart.�
"You understand?" Aida asked hesitantly. That
seemed to make things even worse. Like
when she'd been in school and done something wrong and instead of getting mad,
her mom had gotten disappointed.
�Yes, I understand. I understand not wanting to tell your
own mother something like that over the telephone.� Susan sighed a little and
calmed herself. �I�m sorry, Aida. That was unfair of me. I�m sure you had your
reasons for not telling us. I�m just glad you�re here now.� Her eyes grew a
little wide and she turned to Sands who looked startled to have such abrupt
notice placed upon him. �Should she be here? Should she even be out of bed?�
�She�s�� Aida cut him off gently, wanting to answer the
question for herself.
"'She's' fine, Momma. I
finished my last round of chemo and radiation last week. I was getting
stir-crazy."
�And�and are you ok now? Did it work?� She asked with
begging eyes.
"Yeah. It did." Aida
slung one arm around her father who'd stood up in support of his wife and the other around her own
husband. "I've got a clean bill of health. And a case of cabin fever. Sands
would have done anything to keep me in bed for awhile still."
Sands felt a bit uncomfortable in the circle of familial
love, but bore it with as much grace and charm as he could muster. �Believe me
I tried. She�s hard to ague with once she�s set her ways though. Especially when it came to that. You�� he addressed Aida�s parents
equally. �You would be proud of her. She never gave up fighting, and she never
let herself become an invalid. She�ll probably tell you differently, but
believe me, it�s the truth.�
"That's my girl." Jack leaned over and placed a
kiss on his daughter's forehead.
"Go ahead and use the nickname," Aida muttered,
blushing furiously. "Sands already knows the
story."
Sands smirked.
�She actually told you the story of how she came to be
called Firefly? Well then, it must be love,� Susan Grant said with a smile.
�She only told me under duress,� he said wryly.
"Yes. He blackmailed me. Please. Sit back down."
Aida made the first move and reclaimed her seat. Then she tugged Sands down.
"I'm fine. Really. As long as I
don't try to run a marathon. Not that Sands
would let me."
�Why would you even want to?� Sands murmured. He wasn�t much
a fan of running. Unless he was being chased which
unfortunately happened far too often for his liking.
Susan nodded, seeming to accept her daughter�s assurances on
the surface at least. Jack directed her towards the chair he had been occupying
and moved one of the chairs from against the wall over to her so that they
could sit next to each other across from Aida and Sands. �I�m very glad to hear
that, Firefly. I can�t tell you how much.�
"I think I know anyway." Aida smiled and leaned
her head against Sands' shoulder. "So, tell me. What are you two up to now
that the entire flock is out of the nest?"
Susan and Jack looked at each other, apparently deciding who
would go first. Jack must have won.
"Well, I started my own roofing firm a few years back,
and your mother has been doing all the bookkeeping and payroll. The first year
was a little rough, but since we weren�t supporting any of you any more, we
made it."
"Daddy, that's wonderful," Aida said sincerely.
Sands nodded politely, biting back the urge to say the one
of his own family had done much the same thing-started
their own business-many years ago. He didn�t really feel like making small talk
with these people.
�I went back to school to take business classes at night to
help your father out. You know he�d be lost without me,� Susan said with a fond
smile in Jack�s direction.
Sands just blinked, unused to the fact that a two such
married people could show such love to each other with just one look when his own parents could usually hardly stand to be in the same
wing of the house, let alone love each other. The fact that he and Aida were such a married couple that genuinely loved each other
didn�t occur to him.
"And that's why you said yes," Aida and her father
chorused before laughing. "You're such a trooper, Momma."
"What about you, Firefly? What have you been
doing?"
"Well...working. Working a lot.
It paid off though. My last role was Katherine in The
Taming of the Shrew. It was going to show at one of New Orleans top
theaters. The kind where the patrons don't talk through the
entire show." Aida's face fell a little as she realize
she'd left behind all her playbills.
�There will be other plays, Aida,� Mrs. Grant said softly,
misinterpreting Aida�s sadness as disappointment that she hadn�t been able to
be in the play.
"Of course there will. Once I kick the
a...the um, butts...of all the upstart actresses that think they can
take me on."
Sands smirked at her almost slip, amused by the fact that he
hadn�t cursed once and she had. Especially considering she
had strictly warned him beforehand to watch his language. �No contest,�
he murmured in response to her question. �You�ll knock �em
dead.�
"Actually Momma, one of the reasons we came is to let
you know that we're going to be moving. Sands needs to
be closer to DC because of the family business." They'd talked about this
for some time and decided this would be the best thing to tell the Grants, even
if Aida did feel a bit guilty about lying to her parents. It was just that they
might be a bit safer from the law if they truly didn't know where their
daughter and son-in-law were going to be.
�Oh,� Mrs. Grant said softly. It was clear to those who knew
her that she was saddened by this information, but she hid it well. �Just what
does your family do, Sands? I don�t recall you having told me.�
�Oh. Um, my father was the head of an investment firm. At
the advent of his death, I inherited it. It�s run by my uncles and some of my
father�s old friends.�
�So you�re what, a banker?� Susan asked curiously. �No,
that�s right. You said you were independently wealthy and didn�t have a job. I
remember.�
�I actually went to school to become a psychologist,� Sands
volunteered.
�Really? Where did you go to
college?� Susan asked politely.
�Cornell,� Sands murmured after a few moment�s
hesitation.
�Oh, dear me. The Cornell? You must be a very
bright young man to have attended such a prestigious school.�
�So they tell me,� Sands said with a slight shrug.
"It's why I refuse to let him win fights," Aida
said, throwing a sly glance at him. "I wouldn't be nice if I let him get
all superior."
"You're smart, Firefly," Jack Grant tried to
reassure his daughter.
"No. I'm talented. That's what all my teachers
said."
�You�re smart, spitfire. You�re smarter than me in a lot of
ways,� Sands said to her softly.
"No. I'm wise." They grinned at each other.
�I think we just witnessed an inside joke, dear. They must
be really married,� Susan joked to her husband lightly.
"You keep saying that!" Aida said with
faux-exasperation. "Yes, we're really married. Look, here's the ring." She flourished
her hand - they had switched their rings to their left hands earlier. "And
we've even been known to finish each other's sentences."
�Well then, I guess I should make it official then so we�ll
stop saying that.� She stood up from her chair, smiling a little as Sands stood
up exactly when she did. �You�re polite, I like that.�
Sands hadn�t even noticed he had done it, but nodded in
response to her comment anyway.
�Welcome to the family, Sands,� Susan said with a bright
smile. Before Sands could attempt to guess what was going to happen next, he
was in the midst of a tight hug.
It was all he could do to stand there and let himself be hugged. The woman wasn�t letting go for anything.
He should have figured she would try something like this when she ran across
the room to hug Aida. �Um, thanks,� he murmured. Let go, let go, let go!
�You�re welcome,� Susan responded as she moved away from
him. Her cheery smile dropped a little when she saw the expression on his face.
�What is it? Is something wrong?�
�No-no, I�m fine. Just a little surprised, that�s all,� he
answered slowly, attempting a reassuring smile. Apparently, it hadn�t been good
enough.
�No, something�s wrong. You can tell me, you know. We�re
family now,� Susan said softly.
That didn�t seem to help, and Sands turned to Aida for help,
worried that she�d be upset with him for having the urge to leave already when
they hadn�t even been there for very long. He held his ground though. Just.
"I know that look," Aida sighed, her mind racing. "Yes,
you surprised him, but what he's failing to say is that now he wants a
cigarette. Oh...wait. I think you left yours back at the hotel. Well, go ahead
and go down to the market we passed on the way in. I want some gum
anyway."
He shook his head. �I�m alright. It�s early yet,� he told
Aida pointedly. �And you still have some gum left in your purse.� If he
couldn�t make it through this, how in the hell was he going to manage when the
rest of her family showed up? He had to stay. He had to prove it to himself
that he could.
"Alright." Aida instead
grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her down so that she was between them. "Tell
me, it's just us tonight, right?"
Mrs. Grant nodded, still sending the occasional worried
glance in Sands� direction. A mother knew when her children were in trouble,
and Sands was now one of her children. There was something he wasn�t telling
them. But she wouldn�t pry. Not when he looked so ready to bolt at any second. I shouldn�t have hugged him, she
thought, berating her own thoughtlessness. His
family probably didn�t hug. He�s just not used to it. �Your brothers and sister are coming with
their families tomorrow for lunch. I�m afraid they all want to see you both.�
"I'm sure they do," Aida said ruefully. "I
assume Papa's barbequing?"
"On my new grill," he assured her. "In fact,
we're having steak tonight."
"Sounds like you've been talking to my doctors,"
Aida accused. "All that iron in red meat.
I'm sure Sands will appreciate that though. He's a big steak
eater."
Sands nodded in affirmative, when Mr. Grant looked at him
askance. �Rare, if you�re trying to guess,� he told him, very nearly managing a
smile again.
"Maybe I should be sending you out for red wine,"
Aida teased, elbowing him gently.
"Are you going to make your famous steak fries, Momma?"
�Of course I am, sweetie. And key lime pie for desert
later.� She frowned when Aida and Sands immediately turned to each other and
shared a look. �Did I miss something?�
"We just share a love for key lime pie," Aida said
cryptically. "I suppose that leaves me to make the salad."
�How nice of you to offer,� Susan said with a wry smile,
filing away Aida�s comment for questioning later.
"It wasn't an offer. I'm going to make the salad. I
still pull my own weight. My husband hasn't spoiled me that much."
�I�m still trying,� Sands said with a smirk.
�I know it wasn�t, honey,� Susan said after smiling at
Sands� comment. �You can help Jack with the steaks while Aida helps me in the
kitchen,� she informed him
�What? Oh. Um, ok. I can do that,� Sands responded.
"I'm not sure how much help Sands will be. He said he'd
only barbeque if he could do it with a dragon."
Jack chuckled. "Today's your lucky day. The model I
have is called a 'Draco.'"
"Must be fate," Aida smiled.
�Must be,� Sands murmured with a nod. He didn�t really
believe in fate, but what he knew was that this wasn�t going that bad. Except for the sudden hug,
everything had gone smoothly. He hoped sincerely that he wasn�t jinxing himself
by thinking that. �I�ll give what help I can.�
"He's a big help," Aida assured her parents.
"I've been teaching him how to cook. Just like you
taught me, Poppa."
"But he's big enough to see over the counter."
Aida stuck her tongue out at her father.
�I never needed to know how to cook before,� Sands said
softly.
�What do you mean? Everyone needs to know how to cook for
themselves. How else would you eat?� Susan asked incredulously.
�We had cooks when I was growing up,� he said, ducking his
head a little as he did so. He didn�t want them to think he was a snob. Even if it was true.
�Oh. Well then. I�guess that�s a good reason.�
"Oh please," Aida laughed. "You have no idea
how many guys in the theater live out of their neighborhood deli. A man who can
cook without being actively taught is as rare as finding a parking spot close
to the mall during the Christmas rush."
�That�s shameful,� Susan said in surprise. �Well, it�s a
good thing you�re getting him straight, Aida,� she said with a smile in Aida
and Sands� direction.
"As if I had anything to do with
it." Aida squeezed Sands' hand. She then looked over at her father.
"You're certainly being quiet over there."
"What needs to be said? You're home."
"Poppa..." Aida looked down at her lap. Mixed
delight and guilt warred over her face and she didn't want anyone to see that.
�What�s wrong, Aida? Aren�t you glad to be home?� Susan
asked in a slightly worried voice at Aida�s response.
�I think she�s just a little overwhelmed,� Sands cut in
smoothly.
�Yes," Aida agreed softly. "Actually, I think I
need a little time to lie down."
�Of course,� Mrs. Grant said immediately. �Take as long as
you want. Supper won�t be ready for quite a few hours yet. Your father and I
can get to know your new husband a bit better while you sleep.� She turned to
Sands. �I promise it�ll only be polite chit chat. I wouldn�t want you to think
we were interrogating you.�
�Of course not,� Sands said with a short forced laugh.
�I�guess that�s ok.�
�Great. There�s so much I would like to ask you about. Let
me know if I get pushy though. I�ve been told that can sometimes happen.�
"Wait. Don't I get to keep him?" Aida asked as she
stood up. "And where am I going?"
�You�ll get him back,� Susan assured her with a laugh. �And
if we wear him out we�ll send him back to you. I promise. Oh, and you and Sands
will be sleeping in your old room while you�re here, Aida,� she said with a
smile. �I trust that works for you?�
Sands nodded, not really knowing if it did or not, but
agreeing to it anyway. Kind of how he was agreeing to this.
He didn�t really want to face these people alone, but what choice did he have?
And Mrs. Grant was pushy.
Well, Aida really wanted her husband now, but it appeared
that she was going to have to pry him away from her parents.
"Yes, yes I'm sure that's fine. My
old room. Well, I'm sure that I'll have to go check it out in a
minute." She wavered between going and lying down and staying with Sands.
�Do you�want me to check it out with you, Aida? Perhaps I
should. It�d be�interesting to see what your room looks like,� Sands said
hopefully, anything to get away.
�You�re in luck then, Sands. It�s exactly the way she left
it. We haven�t changed a thing,� Susan said with a curious expression on her
face. As if she couldn�t decide on what emotion to accompany this statement
with.
"I won't borrow him for long," Aida promised.
Her parents traded looks, and Jack was the one who finally
spoke up. "Go ahead, Firefly."
Sands really did try to act casual, but he didn�t think he
quite managed to pull it off as he took Aida�s hand and practically pushed her
into action. He needed to get away from these people. He needed to smoke a
dozen cigarettes. He needed to kill someone. He didn�t know what he fucking
needed, but he knew he wasn�t going to find it here.
Aida led him down the hallway, turning into her cubbyhole of
a room at the end of the hallway. The moment they were safely inside, she
wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and buried her face in his chest. She hated lying to her parents. Absolutely hated it. Especially when they were
being so nice.
He would have paced, but her embrace effectively rooted him
to the spot. Therefore, he did the only thing he could do under these
circumstances; he hugged her back.
Aida sniffed, and sniffed again. The last thing she wanted
to do was cry, especially when he had his own problems. She could feel how
tense he was; god, he was like a trapped animal.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, letting him go and
stepping back. She knew how much he liked to pace.
And pace he did. Back and forth and back
and forth across the room, with no sign of stopping. He simply needed
to. It was the safest way to work off a little of the huge mass of nervous
energy that had been building within him ever since they had turned onto Aida�s
street. It was either pace, drink, or kill someone. He
figured Aida would appreciate pacing. �Why are you sorry?�
"I really could have come alone."
�I�m alright,� he told her firmly. �I�m still here, aren�t?�
She avoided the question. "If you ask nice, perhaps
Poppa will give you a beer."
He shook his head as he paced. �Never
cared for it.�
Aida sat on her bed, batting at the excessively ruffled
pillows. Were the two of them even going to fit in this bed?
"We can decline the invitation to stay here you know.
They'd understand."
�Do you want to
stay here? I can be understanding too, Aida,� he
murmured as he kept pacing.
"Will you be able to take staying here for the next
three days? Honestly?"
�Honestly? I don�t know.�
"Well, if we're going to get a room at the hotel, we
have to do it tonight."
�Why?�
"It'll be easier."
�You didn�t answer my question, Aida. Do you want to stay
here? Do you want to spend your nights in the home you haven�t even seen in ten
years? You do, don�t you?�
"I don't know. It almost seems like too much. Like I'm accepting a gift under false pretences."
�What do you mean, Aida?� he asked, finally beginning to
slow his frantic pacing a little. He still paced, but he no longer looked like
he was trying to climb up the walls while doing it.
She glanced at the door and then intensely whispered,
"I'm lying to them. I'm being welcomed back home when someone else would
have written me off long ago, and I'm lying
to them. All they see is that their little girl has finally come home, and
I haven't."
�I wish you could tell them the truth, but Aida, you can�t.
I�m sorry,� he said with a frown, finally calling his pacing to a stop and
moving to sit beside her on the bed.
"I know. I know. It's better that
they not know everything. For all of us. Us and them."
Sands nodded. �That way they
won�t have to lie if questioned about us. About me.�
"Right. I know that. We agreed
on that." It was just hard to remember when greeted with open arms. "I'm
going to disappear again, and it's going to kill them."
�You don�t know that, Aida,� he tried to reassure her.
"If only I had an address I could give them so we could
at least exchange letters..."
He shook his head. �I don�t know one, and Aida, it would be
found. Among others, I�ve got the CIA chasing after me. They�d find it or
easier still, just ask your parents for it.�
"Isn't there anyone? An attorney?
Someone to route things through who wouldn't be able to give
it away?"
�If there is, I don�t know of one, Aida,� he said softly. �At least, none that the CIA wouldn�t already know about.�
Aida sighed. "Do you want me to come back out with
you?"
He thought very seriously about it. �No,� he said, rubbing a
hand across his face. �I�m a grown man. I�m not afraid of your parents and any
questions they might ask. I had a feeling they would try this anyway. If I
decide I�ve had enough, I�ll claim exhaustion from the trip and join you. You
can get some rest on this�very pink and ruffled bed,� he said wryly, looking
around the room for the first time. It was definitely once a teenaged girl�s
room. There were pictures from magazines illustrating the popular actors or
musicians of ten years ago plastered up on the wall. �Interesting,� he murmured
with a slight smirk.
"Shadup."
Aida hit him gently. "Well, if you're going to go, go. I'll be here, but
make sure that if I'm not awake already, that someone wakes me up in time for
me to help with dinner."
He nodded and stood. �I�ll pass along the message.� He
straightened his shirt and moved to stand in front of her. �How do I look? And
don�t say nervous.�
"Absolutely gorgeous and smooth as
silk. Gimme a kiss."
He smiled at her response and leaned in to give her a soft
kiss on the lips. When they had separated, he looked at her a little longingly,
but turned towards the door anyway. �Wish me luck,� he murmured. �I�m going
in.�
"Luck," she whispered. "Be good."
�I�ll try my best,� he responded with a parting glance in
her direction.
"Love you."
�I love you too,� he said as he passed through the door,
closing it behind him. It was time to meet the family. He sighed, gathered
himself up a bit, and set out for the living room where he could hear quiet
conversation.
�Ah, Sands. See, I told you he�d come back to us, dear,�
Susan said, rising to meet Sands as he came towards her. �Please, take a seat.�
Sands nodded and did as she directed. Susan reclaimed her own seat and spoke in
a kind voice. �We would just like to get to know you a little better, Sands.
That�s all. And you don�t have to answer any questions you don�t want to. This
isn�t an interrogation,� she said with a short laugh.
It sure as hell looks
like one, Sands thought to himself dryly. �That�s
good to know, Mrs. Grant.�
�Please, call me Susan.�
�I�ll try my best.�
"Just be glad she didn't retrieve the list," Jack
said, leaning back in his seat. "Trust me, she's
been adding to it for long enough that we'd never leave this couch for the
duration of your visit."
�List?� Sands tried to ask
casually.
�Oh, don�t sound so frightened, dear heart. It wasn�t that long,� Susan said with a mock glare
at her husband. �You hush,� she told him firmly.
Jack winked at Sands, but hushed for the moment.
�Just, tell us a little about yourself, Sands. I know we�ve
gone over this on the phone, but now that you�re here in person we can argue
with you about things. I�m kidding, dear. You just go on ahead and tell us
whatever you want. If we have any questions, we�ll be sure and ask them.�
�Right,� Sands said a bit warily. �I�m Sheldon Jeffrey
Sands, but I prefer Sands and I�m 27 years old. I�m independently wealthy
because my parents died when I was 17 in a house fire. I was their only heir.�
�A fire? How horrible. I�m truly
sorry, Sands,� Susan said with a sad frown. �You must miss them terribly.�
Sands nodded after a moment, but found it hard to pick up
the conversation again.
"So, why are you moving back to DC again?" Jack
asked.
�To be closer to the family business, sir.
As the primary stockholder, I have to be on hand to make ruling decisions. I
thought I�d be able to stay in New Orleans awhile longer, I hoped I would be able to, but unfortunately
that�s not the case.�
"And how long were you in New Orleans?"
�About oh, 4 months sir. Before
that, I was in Las Vegas, and before that Boston. I travel a lot. Not recently
though.�
"And are you going to continue traveling, or is DC
going to become your base of operations so to speak?"
�I imagine I�ll have to do some more traveling from time to
time, sir. It sort of goes with the job. I often have
to go meet potential investors in other states and even other countries. They
like to meet the boss, I guess. It makes them feel secure in their
investments.�
"Tell me, will your travel plans interfere with Aida's
job should she decide to go back to work?"
�They shouldn�t, sir. As I said, I am effectively the boss.
I can simply choose not to go somewhere if it presents a problem.�
"And how long as my daughter been sick?"
Sands shifted in his seat. �Almost as long as I�ve known
her,� he said slowly.
�And did you know that she was sick before you married her?�
Susan asked sternly, making it clear that she would not appreciate a wrong
answer.
�Of course I did,� Sands said, mildly angered that she would
ever think such a thing. �And that didn�t stop me from marrying her, and even
if she�if she never gets better, it won�t stop me from loving her.�
Susan nodded. �I didn�t mean to offend you, Sands, I just
had to be sure. I worry about her. She�s my daughter. You�ll have the chance to
feel that way soon, I hope. So, when can we be expecting some grandchildren?�
Sands� eyes grew as wide as dinner plates, and his mouth
hung slack at the sudden blow of a question. �We uh�haven�t talked about it.�
�I�m sorry, dear me look at your face. I didn�t mean to
spring that on you. I told you I�m pushy.�
Sands just nodded again, not quite up to saying anything
just yet. Especially not something along the lines of, �Well
I�ve already got triplets on the way but they�re not mine, they�re Jeffrey�s.
Who�s Jeffrey? Oh, he�s one of my alternate personalities. If you�re extremely
unlucky, you�ll get the chance to meet him.� Yeah, he could just imagine how
well that would go over.
"Alright, Suzie, that's the last time you get to badger
the man about grandchildren for the next year. If you want to badger someone,
talk to Aida, because she'll listen with one ear and get around to it when she
decides the time is right."
Susan nodded. �I�m truly sorry, Sands. I didn�t mean to make
you uncomfortable.�
�It�s-it�s alright. I was just surprised, that�s all.�
�I can imagine,� Susan said with a sympathetic smile. �I
won�t ask you about it again, I promise. Can you tell us anything more about
your family, Sands? They are, after all our in-laws now. Again, I�m truly sorry
we never got the chance to meet your parents. I�m sure they would have been
very proud of you, though,� she said with a kind smile.
Sands fought back a scowl. What was with Grant women and
their desire to mother him?

�I�m an only child, but my father was the youngest 5 and my mother the second
eldest of 4 so I have a fair sized family left. I just don�t know them very
well. My family doesn�t exactly�meet for reunions.�
�Well, that�s good then. Tomorrow will be a brand new
experience for you.� She smiled cheerfully and Sands would swear that he was
looking at his wife instead of her mother. Thinking about Aida made him want to
go to her. And thinking about wanting to go to her made him want that even
more, only served to increase the tension that had taken residence in his
shoulders. It was time to get the fuck out of here.
�Are you alright, Sands? You�re not looking well. How could
you possibly manage to live in the city for four months and not get a tan? Your
skin is so fair. I suppose some people are just that way I guess. But honestly,
maybe you should go lie down for a little while. We�ll hold off our questioning
for later.�
�Thank you,� Sands said softly. �I think I�ll do that.� He
rose from his chair with a nod in both Mr. and Mrs. Grants� direction. �Sir,
ma�am,� he acknowledged them both with a nod. �Aida also told me that she
wanted to be woken up in time to help with dinner.�
�You�re never going to call me Mom, are you? Or even Susan?�
Mrs. Grant asked wryly. �I suppose that�s alright, though. It shows a good
upbringing.�
�If you say so ma�am�um�Susan,� Sands tried.
Susan laughed. �Don�t bother! You very nearly sound pained
as you do it! Don�t worry about it, Sands. And again, welcome to the family.
Get some rest. And if you want to have some hanky panky in there I won�t tell
Jack,� she said in a mock whisper accompanied by an obvious wink.
�Yes, er no
ma�am.�
Jack just rolled his eyes and tilted his head towards the
bedroom. "Go on. Aida will be happy to see you."
�And we�ll wake you up in time to help with dinner, don�t
worry,� Susan said as Sands turned to leave.
�Thank you,� Sands responded and immediately set out for
Aida�s small bedroom. Sure, it seemed a little claustrophobic given to what he
was used to, but it was still a sanctuary in this place and his wife would
still be in there, despite its size. He didn�t care.
�Aida?� he whispered as he entered the room and shut the
door behind him, wanting to wake her up but not necessarily to talk. He just
wanted her presence with him. He wanted her to know that he was there with her
and he wanted to know that she was here with him as well.
"Mmm?"
Aida rolled onto her back, taking up a good half of the bed in the process. "Is
it time to get up?"
�No, I�m just here. I was given leave to be with my wife,�
he murmured, moving in to hold her anyway, no matter how small the bed was.
"Oh...that's nice," she murmured, scooting over a
little so that he had a bit more room to lie down in and so she could tuck her
head under his chin. "Were they being ruthless?"
�They had the rack out earlier. I think I�m gonna scar,� he muttered, closing his eyes and trying to
simply unwind. It wasn�t as easy as it sounded. In fact, it wasn�t easy at all.
He was still warring with himself over two things; to run far, far away from
here and never look back, or to stay at his wife�s side. For the moment, the
latter was winning, but not by a lot.
"Poor baby," she murmured, kissing the underside
of his chin. "Did you charm them at least?"
�Your mother told me we could engage in�hanky panky so I guess I did,� he murmured, leaning back a little
with her kiss.
"Ooo...parental
permission. Wanna make out?"
�Oh yes please,� he murmured. Anything to get rid of this crushing tension
before I explode.
"Mmm...making
out with a man in my childhood bed. Sounds like something that'd be right up
your alley," Aida breathed, finally opening her eyes. Her gaze was
heavy-lidded and wicked. She was a seductress and she knew it.
�I�ll admit, it has its appeal,� he said with an grin that was more than a little wicked itself. �Thrusting my�tongue into
your mouth amidst the baleful glares of all those teeny-bop icons. Just what I always wanted. And caressing all your delicate
parts that I so enjoy on the pink bedspread�yes, that sounds
about right up my alley indeed.�
"Chauvinist." Aida
playfully kissed him before he had a chance to respond.
He nipped her lip for that but by no means stopped kissing
her. Even from the start, the playfulness faded from him and the kiss-from his
end at least-turned into something heated and desperate. He needed this. He
needed the release it gave him. He needed her.
"Shh..."Aida said,
pulling away. "It's alright, baby. It's alright. We'll go to a hotel
tonight. And I'll be with you for the
rest of the visit." She stroked his face and watched his eyes, wanting to
make sure that he was accepting what she was saying.
�I wouldn�t ask,� he said as he looked at her. �I won�t ask.
And I don�t want you doing this for me if you want to stay. Promise me that
you�ll choose what you want, not what
you think I will.�
"I want to stay at a hotel. This bed isn't really big
enough for us to thoroughly work off your extra energy." She smiled
softly.
�I�d give it a good try,� he said, trying on a smile of his
own just for her.
"Sure, if all you want to do is stay in the missionary
position."
He considered it, considered the amount of nervous energy he
had to work off, and shook his head. �Not tonight.�
"Then we'll get a hotel room. My parents honestly won't
mind. And then we can take a nice, long bath to unwind, and make long, hot,
sweaty love to work off the extra energy."
She kissed the corner of his mouth. "How does that sound?"
�So good I�m considering on throwing you over my shoulder
right now and taking you there,� he said with a sigh.
"That might be a little difficult to explain. I think
you'll have to settle for something else right now, my love." Ever so
slowly, Aida trailed kisses over his face.
�As far as settlements go, this one isn�t too bad,� he
murmured, closing his eyes as she kissed him. He still felt incredibly tense,
but she was helping get rid at least the surface layers of that tension.
"Turn over and I'll give you a massage."
He didn�t argue and did as she asked, rolling over onto his
stomach and looking up at her as best he could through a curtain of his hair.
He had been about to move it when Aida did it for him. �Thanks,� he murmured.
�I need a haircut.�
"I can do that. Or you could make Momma the happiest
woman on earth and let her." There
was a trace of humor in Aida's voice as she straddled Sands' hips and got to
work, her small hands kneading his shoulders and rubbing along his spine.
�Don�t know�oh, right there�if I trust your mother to give
me a haircut yet, sorry. I envision horrible Army-style haircuts and thanks but
no thanks.� He might have said more, but it was easier to just concentrate on
the delightful methods she was using to work out the many knots in the muscles
of his back.
"How do you feel about me giving you a trim?" Raising up on her
knees a little, she pull the full force of her weight on her knuckles as she
walked them down both sides of his spine.
�Hmm, what? Oh. I guess I don�t
care. Just not too short,� he sighed at her touch. He could begin to feel his
tension and anxiety begin to slowly fade away. He knew it would inevitably come
back, but for now he was getting close to his balance again.
"Oh, you wouldn't be you if you had short hair. It's as
much a part of you as the color of your eyes."
�I haven�t always had long hair you know,� he murmured.
�When I was younger it was always short; above the collar, never hanging below
the tops of my ears. I like it better this way.�
"I like it too. Makes you seem a bit more rebellious. I
like rebels."
�That�s good,� he murmured, not able to muster up much more
of an enthusiastic response to that while she was effectively turning him into
a puddle of utterly relaxed-despite everything-jelly.
"Yes, it is," she smiled against the skin of his
neck. As she lowered herself to lie down on his back, she kissed the nape of
his neck softly. "Feeling better, my love?"
�I did until you stopped rubbing,� he complained with a wry
smile.
She sighed playfully, then ran her palms up and down his
arms before coming back to massage his biceps.
�Better,� he sighed, the smile having not left his face.
"I'm sure. You're such a brute, making your poor wife
slave over you. Next you'll be wanting me to bring you
the paper and your slippers."
�I don�t have any slippers. But as soon as I get some, you
can do that sure. Thanks,� he said, not fully able to keep the smirk from his
face.
"Jerk." She kissed his
neck.
�Yup,� he said with a lazy grin. �You�re far too good to me,
wife.�
"I agree. And what do I get? Not even a bit of charm
now and then. Just a greedy male who -"
��who worships the ground you walk on? Who wouldn�t be able
to live one second on this earth without you? Who loves you more than he can
ever say? Yeah, I guess I am that man, Aida,� he said softly.
"Mmm...considered
me charmed," she whispered, kissing his cheek. "You're a good
husband."
�I try to be,� he whispered back. �Thank
you for�putting up with me when I�m not.�
"You put up with me when I'm sick."
�There�s not really much to put up with, Aida. I�m just
here. That�s all. I wouldn�t want to be anywhere else. Just
with you, no matter what the circumstances.�
"You know I feel the same, right?"
He nodded after the briefest of hesitations. He was getting
better at accepting such things at face value.
"Are you feeling better yet?"
�A little. Why? Is it time to go
back out there?� He couldn�t help it; he began to tense up again just at the
thought.
"No. But it's a little hard for you to hold me if
you're on your stomach."
�Oh. Well, it�s a little hard for me to hold you when you�re
on top of me.�
"What say we remedy that little problem?"
�Sounds like a plan,� he murmured, reaching an arm around to
her and gently nudging her off of him so that he could turn to take her into
his arms.
"Oh yes. This is much better." Aida squeezed him. "Now
tell me, just what did they ask you?"
�Questions about DC, my family, things like that. Oh, and
your mother asked when she could expect some grandchildren.�
"Did you tell her to mind her own business and we'll
get down to it when we decide we want to?"
�I didn�t say anything actually. At least, I don�t think I
did.�
"Oh. Well I'll talk to her."
�Whatever. Your prerogative, I guess,� he murmured.
"Yes, my prerogative." She kissed his shoulder. "Want to make out some more?"
�With you? Always,� he murmured,
taking her face in his hands and leaning in to kiss her. It was still tinged
with a large amount of desperation-he couldn�t seem to help that-but there was
also love and passion mixed in. �What if your parents come in and catch us,� he
said with a sly grin between kisses.
"We're married. Besides, you're the one who said they
gave us permission. Of course, if you'd rather not..."
�If we�re really married then you�ll know my response to
that question, spitfire,� he said, moving in to kiss the side of her neck.
"Hmm...better give me a hint
just in case I've forgotten anything important."
�Oh I�d better, huh?� he asked wryly, nibbling on her
shoulder as he did so. While he was doing that, his hands moved up under her
shirt to caress the skin of her back, wanting to feeling of flesh on flesh
under his fingertips.
"Someone's getting close to third base," she
murmured, rolling her head so that he could better cover her neck with
adoration.
�You better believe I�m trying to,� he said as he kissed
her. �Want me to leave a large, obvious hickey on your neck?� he teased, still
kissing her.
"No. Not particularly. You could leave one on my
collarbone though if you wanted."
�Why there?� he asked, zeroing in where she had indicated.
He liked marking her, but wanted to know her reasons first.
"Because it'll have faded a little by
tomorrow when I plan to wear something a little revealing."
�Oh. Well by tomorrow if I have my way you�ll have many
more. No need to worry about that,� he said wryly, kissing her collarbone a bit
more forcefully now that he knew what she wanted.
"Not too many.
They hurt a little." She
brought her hands up to twine in his hair. "Do you mind having longer hair
than I do?"
�Sometimes,� he responded, telling himself to be satisfied
with only one. �Do you?�
"I'll be glad when I have hair again. Although I'm
still a little worried about what color it'll be."
�Bright blue. Just
like I said. You�ll see,� he said dryly.
"It won't be bright blue. It usually grows back darker,
or at least that's what my doctor's have said."
�Then it�ll be darker. Stop worrying about it, Aida. It�s
only hair.�
"This from the man who just said that
he didn't want an army cut."
�And I still don�t. That doesn�t mean that hair is as
important as you�re making it out to be, Aida. Worse case scenario, you can
always get it lightened or something, can�t you?�
"Oh, now you
want me to be a blond," she teased.
He smiled at remembrance of times past, but shook his head.
�I didn�t mean that much lighter,
spitfire.�
"You'd like it. All men like blonds."
�I prefer you.
Whether your hair be blonde, red, blue or leopard
spotted, I would still love you, Aida.�
"You don't prefer blonds?"
He shrugged.
"A shrug is not an answer."
�I guess I�ve never really thought about it. I like women.� And killing them.
�Blondes, brunettes, redheads, I don�t think I have a preference. I just know
what I like when I see it.�
"I'm not sure I like the sound of that," Aida
said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
�Well, I may not prefer one to the other, but know this,
Aida; I am yours. And only yours savvy?�
"So you have a 'Touch with the eyes and not with the
hands' policy? Is that what I'm hearing?"
�I guess. I�m a guy, Aida. Just because I might appreciate how another woman looks
doesn�t mean that I�m thinking about running off and screwing her. I may not
take things too seriously sometimes, but that is the one thing you can be sure
about; I am married to you and I wouldn�t do anything like that to jeopardize
our marriage.�
"You mean you wouldn't commit adultery." That had
come out a bit more serious than she wanted, but for some reason she didn't
want to take it back.
He frowned a little at her tone but answered anyway, �Of
course I wouldn�t.�
"If it makes you feel better, that's one thing I've
never worried about from you."
�I�m glad, because you shouldn�t have to. I would never do
that to you, Aida. Never.�
"I know."
�Good. Now are you going to stop worrying about your hair or
am I going to have to keep reassuring you?�
"I like reassurances. What's your preferred
method?"
�Whatever works best,� he said with a shrug. �But the one
thing I know, is action. I don�t particularly like to
talk things out, although I know it is often necessary. I�d much rather just
forego the talk and go straight to the resolving. If
possible.�
"I like action, although I don't think you'll be
getting any until tonight." She grinned.
�You don�t think
or you�re sure? Because I can work with think. Think implies that there�s still
a chance,� he said with a matching grin of his own.
"This presents an interesting dilemma. I could let you
think that I think you have to wait until tonight, or I could let you think
that I don't think that you have to wait for tonight. What do you think I should do?"
�I think you should stop thinking about it and just kiss
me.�
"But if I just kiss you, I could be leading you to
believe that I think that -"
Sands had no intention on letting her think any longer. At least, not clearly. He leaned into kiss her before she
could get another word out. It seemed to have worked, because as he pulled her
in even closer than they already had been-which was saying a lot-she wound her
fingers into his hair and held him just as close.
"Mmm..." she sighed,
languorously parting her lips and sliding her tongue into Sands' mouth to
wrestle with him. This was very nice...a little too nice as it was turning out.
She really didn't want to end up having sex in her parent's house. Therefore
she decided to relieve the tension by employing her secret weapon...her fingers
and his ticklish sides.
�No, no, no. Don�t Aida. Stop. This isn�t funny,� he
pleaded, trying to move away form her.
"You didn't give me enough time to think," she
chided, not exactly pausing.
�You shouldn�t need any time. I�m here, I�m yours, I�m tense, what more thinking could you need?� he gasped
between fits of squirming laughter. �And stop
tickling me!� He ordered, scooting away from her with a shrug.
Unfortunately, he had forgotten the smaller size of Aida�s bed and fell to the
floor just as the bedroom door opened.
�Aida? Sands? Are you two alright
in here? I thought I heard screaming�� she took in Sands� form on the floor and
shook her head slowly. �You didn�t have to push him off of you, you know
Firefly. It wouldn�t have been the first time I�ve caught you with a boy in
here. And this one just happens to be your husband. If you want to help with
dinner, now�s the time,� she said with a smile, turning to leave before either
of them could respond.
Aida managed to wait until her mother's footsteps had faded
before she started laughing. Flopping
back on the bed, she just held her stomach and laughed until she was
breathless.
Sands just stood up and straightened his shirt, rubbing his
wrist where he had landed on it wrong when he had fallen off of the bed. �Yeah,
go ahead and laugh,� he said dryly, not amused.
"Don't listen to her," Aida gasped. "I was
never exactly proficient at pushing boys off my bed. And there really weren't
that many."
�Whatever,� he murmured, shaking his hand a little in an
attempt to right whatever was wrong with his wrist. It didn�t seem to be
working.
"Give it here," she sighed, finally managing to
catch her breath. Very gently she probed at her wrist. "Does that
hurt?" she asked, looking up at him as she made him rotate his wrist.
�A little,� he said with a sigh and a scowl.
"Don't look so sour," she wheedled. "I'm
sorry."
�Forget it. I�ll be fine. You said you want to go help your
mother with dinner,� he reminded her.
"Don't be upset," she pouted, standing up and
kissing his face.
�I�m not upset.�
"You look upset."
�I already told you, I�ll be fine.�
"Smile for me." She nudged the corner of his mouth
with the tip of her nose.
�Stop it, Aida. I don�t feel like it. Let�s just get this
over with.�
She let him go and backed away, her eyes hurt.
He sighed. �Don�t look at me like that, Aida. I�m sorry.�
"You're upset. I'm sorry I made you fall off the
bed."
�You didn�t mean to. And it�s probably my own fault anyway
for forgetting how big it is.�
"No...I shouldn't have been tickling you." She clasped her hands behind her back and
scuffed the floor with her toe like a child.
The image inexplicably got a very small smile out of him.
�Cut that out. You did it because you wanted to. Don�t worry about it.�
"No...I'm a bad girl." In the distance, they could
hear Susan calling for them.
�Then I�ll be sure to give you a spanking for it later.
Healed wrist or not,� he promised wryly. �Come on. They won�t let us hide out
here forever and you did promise to help.�
She kissed the corners of his mouth as she left the room. "Thank
you for smiling," she whispered.
�I have a persistent personal motivator,� he murmured as he
followed her with a slight sigh.
She smiled back at him. "Now don't worry...Poppa's ever
so much more laid back than Momma. He won't quiz you so badly."
�Is that a promise?�
"Well, I can't control the actions of other people, but
I think I know my father, and he's more laid back than Momma."
�Alright. I�d say good luck with
your mother, but I don�t think you�ll need it.�
"Nah, I can handle her. Isn't that right, Momma?"
Aida called as they walked into the kitchen.
�Of course you can, dear,� Susan said with an innocent
smile. �Sands, I believe Jack is already outside getting the grill ready if
you�re still willing to lend a hand.�
Sands nodded, cast a look in Aida�s direction, and went out
to find Mr. Grant, all the way trying not to acknowledge the phrase �divide and
conquer� as it ran through his mind.
�So. Did you and Sands have a nice
rest?� Susan asked casually once Sands had left.
"Oh, absolutely. We were
innocent as newborn lambs frisking in the snow." Aida calmly started
digging produce out of the fridge.
�Don�t try and kid a kidder, firefly. I remember what I was
like when I was a newlywed, don�t forget.�
"Ah, but I'm too tired to cause any real trouble."
Susan laughed. �Oh something tells me that with him around
you find ways to stay awake. I know I would.�
"Momma!"
Susan just laughed again. �You have to admit, he�s
definitely something to look at. How is he in bed? Your father��
"No," Aida said. "I don't want to know. Really." Normally Aida wouldn't consider herself a
prude, but this was just too much information.
�Alright. I won�t ask for the
details of your sex life if you don�t want me too. I promise,� she said with a
smile before growing serious. �Are you happy with him, Aida? Truly?�
"Over all?" Aida honestly
thought about that. "Yes. Loving him is a learning experience, but I'm
happier more often than I'm not. And even then he can usually cheer me
up."
�Good,� she said with a nod, walking over to the countertop
to slice carrots for the salads as she spoke. �That�s the way love is, firefly.
It�ll continue to be a learning experience for the both of you as long as you
are married. It is for your father and I. For example, did you know that he plays chess
in the park during his lunch breaks?�
"No. I didn't. But that's not the kind of learning I'm
talking about. You see, Sands' parents emotionally abused him when he was a
child. There's times when I'll want to leave the room to keep an argument from
escalating, and just the act of me leaving is almost enough to send him into a
panic. I've never been with anyone who responds to things the way he
does."
Susan stopped what she was doing and turned to look at her
daughter. �I should have known,� she said with a sorrowful sigh. �There�s
something in his eyes when he looks at your father and I that I couldn�t quite
put my finger on. To think, that someone could do that to someone else; to a
child. To their child.
I simply don�t understand people sometimes, Aida. I shouldn�t have interrogated
him like I did earlier. If I had known�you�ll tell him I�m sorry, won�t you?
He�s not the kind of person who�d be comfortable hearing it from me, is he?�
Before Aida could answer however, Susan�s eyes grew wide and filled with worry.
�He�ll be alright, won�t he? With Jack? Should you go
talk to him?�
"No, he wants
to do this. I told him he didn't have to come, I told him he didn't have to leave
my side, but he insisted. He wants very much to make me happy. To make me proud of him. And I can't talk him out of it even
if I try. He knows that if things get too hot, he can come to me. That's
probably why he left earlier."
�Probably,� Susan agreed, hanging her head a little in
shame. �That poor man.�
"Don't worry, Momma." Aida came over and hugged
her mother. "Trust me, he knows exactly how much
he could take. And don't pity him. Don't even let on that I told you
anything."
Susan sniffed a little for Sands� sake in her daughter�s
embrace, but nodded. �What about your father? Are you going to tell him?�
"I'll let you. I mean, my husband is still my husband. I
imagine that he's just like every other husband on the planet in that I have to
find my own way to 'handle' him. He really is a sweet guy. All I have to do is
break him to the idea that people can get upset without taking it out on those
around him. And I'm making progress."
Susan nodded. �He�s lucky to have you, Aida,� she said with
a soft smile. �I hope he knows that.�
"I think he does. Sometimes I catch him watching me
with this look on his face...oh I don't know... Like he thinks he's dreaming
and doesn't want to wake up."
Susan smiled widely and put a hand to her heart in a
romantic gesture. �Ah, young love. Cherish it, my dear.�
"Oh hush." Aida flapped her hand at her mother. "Sometimes
I think I'm still getting the better part of the deal though."
�Why do you think that?� Susan asked curiously, leaning
against the counter as she spoke with her daughter.
"I met him one day before I found out about my relapse,"
Aida told her mother in a soft voice. "And he was there when I did...and
to witness the following aftermath. He never once even gave me the smallest
doubt that he wouldn't be at my side through it all. I mean, he has hospital-phobia,
and he was still with me through it
all."
Susan just smiled wider. �Your sister and sisters-in-law are
going to be jealous when they hear about all of this, you know. Wait. He�s
afraid of hospitals? Do you know why?�
Yes. She absolutely knew why. But that wasn't something she
could share with her mother. "Why are Carol and the rest going to be
jealous?" she asked, avoiding her mother's question for the time being.
�I�m not saying that they�re going to all divorce their
husbands and come after him or anything, but come on, Aida. Even though I�ve
only just met him, I can tell this much about him: he�s sweet, he�s loyal, he�s
far too polite for my own good, he�s definitely intelligent, incredibly
handsome and from what I hear filthy rich to boot. Tell me you don�t think
they�ll be jealous.�
"Why would they? They have their own husbands." This
was perfectly reasonable in Aida's mind. After all, she'd never been jealous of
her sister-in-laws - with good reason - and although Carlos wasn't married yet,
it wasn't as if she had horrible luck with men. It was just a matter of time
until she found the right one.
Susan thought about it. �I guess you�re right. But they will
definitely have a lot of questions for you, I�m sure.�
"Now that is something I whole-heartedly believe." Aida grinned as she started tearing into
lettuce leaves.
�How do you think Sands will react to meeting all of them?�
Susan asked cautiously, turning to finish chopping up vegetables and to check
on the rolls she was making. �Do you think he�ll be alright? I know you said I
shouldn�t let him know what you�ve told me, but a mother can�t help worry about
her children, and Sands is part of the family now. And do I really have to keep
calling him Sands?�
"In his hearing? Well...I call him Sands. It really is what he
prefers. And I think he'll do alright. We're going to get a room at the
Riverside motel tonight, and we'll poke around town tomorrow morning before
coming over here for lunch. I'll try to make sure we get here before everyone
else, so that way he can ease into the 'meet and greet' as he calls it. We
might have to disappear for a walk around the block or something, but I think
he'll be okay."
Susan nodded. �Your father and I didn�t really expect you to
two to stay here tonight. Although you would have been more
than welcome to. We just figured you would want some time alone together
out of your house. Tell me, whatever happened to that horrid woman I spoke to
on the phone? Sands� cousins� wife, I believe? I don�t recall if I heard her
name or not.�
"Salida. She's...back home. Her
moods have finally started to level out though, praise the lord."
Susan pursed her lips at Aida�s phrasing. �From what I hear,
you haven�t been praising him near enough. You and Sands are coming with us to
mass on Sunday. No excuses, young lady. You were married without a priest or
premarital counseling, and while I can�t change that, I can help bring my
daughter and her new husband back to God. And believe me,
I fully intend to do so.�
Aida just gaped for a moment. What? She didn't even own a
dress - or even a skirt - anymore. And how the hell was she supposed to get
Sands to come? "Momma..."
�Don�t you �momma� me, young lady. You�re coming with us.
End of discussion.�
"But -"
�End of
discussion. I will see you and your
new husband in the cathedral on Sunday, God as my witness.�
"And if Sands doesn't want to come?"
�I�m sure you can find some way to persuade him. And if not,
I�ll talk to him.�
"We didn't bring anything that we could even wear to
mass. Jeans aren't quite the accepting thing."
�You said it yourself that you�re going to be poking around
town tomorrow. You can shop for some things then. If not, I�m sure we could
find clothing for you to borrow.�
"Momma! I'm a grown woman, and
I think I can decide whether or not..." Aida trailed off as her mother
fixed her with a stern look.
�I�m well aware that you�re a grown woman, Aida Nicole, but
you�re still my daughter and a child of God and you�re going. It�s as simple as
that.�
Unless she wanted to all-out defy her mother, there wasn't much
else that Aida could say. "Yes, Momma," she murmured as she started
to tear the stumps out of mushrooms with barely restrained violence.
�That�s my girl.�
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More Than Darkness