Chapter 41
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Tessa
After I recounted every event that shaped the person I am today, I felt strangely empty. Although the more gruesome details of my life surely affected him, Andrew remained stoic, giving me the strength to keep going till the very end. As we laid under the blue sky, I bared my soul, and he learned how the Reaper was born. My head and heart shed darkness, and Andrew embraced it with open arms.
I cried, laughed, and I screamed until the last drop of the tale was wrung out.
After a few minutes of heavy silence, I tried to talk about the pregnancy, but he wouldn’t have it, saying the both of us needed a mental break, and although thoughts and worries weighed heavily on me, I agreed.
We spent the rest of the day the same way any “normal” couple might. He ordered pizza, I popped open a few sodas, and we cuddled up with a few light-hearted movies. It was the perfect afternoon until the very moment my heavy eyelids closed with his arms wrapped tight around me. I fell into my first deep sleep by the soothing touch of his palm rubbing back and forth across the swell of my stomach.
I’m coaxed awake by the unmistakable smell of cinnamon pancakes. It takes me a minute to realize I must have fallen asleep in the living room with Andrew, considering I’m the only one on the couch, it must be him who’s in the kitchen cooking up my favorite breakfast. Stretching my arms, I get up and trudge to the kitchen, surprised when I’m greeted by Blossom’s smiling face.
“Mornin’ sunshine,” she chirps.
Her eyes drop to my stomach, and I’m grateful when she simply smiles and returns to her cooking.
“Morning.” I yawn. “What’s the occasion? I never see you cook.”
Her hand flies to her heart dramatically. “I cook all the time now. Do you want breakfast or not, missy?” She points her spatula at me.
“You know I do.” I grin. “Oh, do you know where your brother is?”
“I’m supposed to take you to him after breakfast. After we eat, you need to get dressed and be ready to go.” She bustles over and sets down a plate piled with steaming pancakes.
I open my mouth to say something about her being bossy, but change my mind in fear that she might take back my delicious food. As we eat, I pester her with questions about where Andrew is and what we are doing today, but she dodges each one with ease. Once I’ve licked my plate clean, she shoos me up the stairs to get dressed for a “fun day out”.
After a quick shower, I throw on something comfortable, dab on makeup, and contemplate what the twins are up to. If I’m honest, I could use a happy distraction from the never ending turmoil I seem to find myself in. True happiness is fleeting, and I need to grab each moment I can with both hands and hold it tight. So I’m gonna go along for the ride with a smile.
I’m free from both my physical and mental shackles, and I plan to make the most of it, starting now.
As I walk past the floor-length mirror, I take inventory of how I look. My eyes are immediately drawn to the bump that seems to stick out further and further each morning. I sigh as I place my palm against it and close my eyes.
What am I going to do with you little one?
Grabbing my leather purse, I promise myself to bring up the topic, even if it will ruin whatever perfect day he has planned. It’s not something we can avoid any longer.
As Beth drives us to an unknown destination, I can’t help but notice her weird energy. She seems nervous and jittery, and has completely stopped chattering, which is unnerving to say the least. I’m starting to think this is something I should be worried about. By the time we pull up to Lake Iris, I’ve worked myself into a panic.
“Why are we back here? What’s going on, Beth? And why the hell are you acting so weird? Just spit it out,” I sputter as she shuts off the engine.
“I’m sorry, I wish I could say, but I really can’t. I need you to get out.” I stare at her like she’s grown an extra eyeball. “You’re seriously just kicking me out right now? Andrew is nowhere to be seen.”
She shrugs but refuses to look me in the eye. I get out of the car and slam the door shut behind me, when I turn around the wheels are spinning in the dirt road and she’s left me—literally—in the dust.
“Seriously?” I scream at the car speeding away. I kick up more dust with my boots in frustration. I’m not stupid, I can put the pieces together. Andrew put off talking about the baby, Beth wouldn’t even look me in the eye, Chase hasn’t responded to any of my text messages, and now I’ve been brought to the one place that can calm me.
I told him every disgusting detail of my life, and now he’s going to dump my pregnant ass, and everyone knows but me. No wonder they think I’ll need to be calmed, ‘cause who wants to piss off this hormonal, murderous bitch?
I stomp along the lake, a dark cloud of thoughts following my every step. Up ahead I see something propped up on a flat rock. What the hell is that?
I pick up my pace until I see an easel with a painted canvas. I forget my anger for a moment as I get lost in the vibrant colors. A beady eyed dragon stands behind a fearful princess, talons dig possessively into her shoulders with beads of blood rolling down her arms. At the bottom of the canvas in elegant script, it reads, “Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess who was stolen away from her prince by an evil dragon.”
Several paces ahead I spot another easel.
This is officially the weirdest break up ever.
I walk along the dirt path until I’m standing in front of the next canvas.
The colors in this one are much darker. The angry swirls of paint are chaotic and unsettling. A prince with a lopsided crown has fistfuls of hair as he screams to the sky. I feel sick to my stomach at the pain that rolls off the image. “The prince believed she ran away from the pressures of ruling a kingdom. When he learned that she had in fact been captured by the evil dragon, he was overcome with guilt and fear.”
I swallow hard and walk to the next canvas, there’s more urgency in each step now, driven with a need to see every single artwork that follows along the lakeshore. The next painting is the dragon lying on its back, with a sword sticking out of its gut. The hilt is gripped by the fierce looking princess who closely resembles me. “The foolish prince rushed in to save his beloved princess but found that she needed no rescue. Tapping into a dark strength, the princess escaped the dungeon and struck the evil dragon down. The kingdom rejoiced as evil was cleansed from their lands.”
I drop all pretenses and run to the next, needing to know what happens in the story, as if my own happiness relies on the painted princess. Halting to a stop, I look at the gut wrenching image before me. The sad princess looks into a mirror, except her reflection is dark and twisted. The worried prince stands to one side, his hand outstretched to her. “Although the princess vanquished the evil dragon, she feared that a dark magic had begun to encase her soul. She pushed away her loved ones in fear that she had become the new monster.”
I scramble over loose rocks, catching myself as I stumble forward. My heart pounding as I stare at the next easel. But when I finally stand before it, I find that it’s empty.
Where are the rest? I have to know how this story ends.
Ahead, there are no more easels. A strangled noise comes from my throat as I kick a rock and hear it plop into the lake with a splash.
Dropping to my knees, I let the tears run down my face. I dig my hands into the sand and grip a handful, letting the fine grains filter through my fingers.
I need to know how this story ends. Every time I think of the future, fear coils itself around my throat and cuts off my air. My arms wrap around my swollen stomach as questions bubble to the surface.
Now that he knows all the skeletons in my closet, could he still love me?
If I keep this child for myself, will history be doomed to repeat itself?
Can anyone with Kinsley blood be a mother, without being a monster?
Will I ever get the happy ending I so desperately crave?
The questions spin in my mind until I’m nauseous. I sit alone in my anguish until my head snaps up at a familiar voice.
“Would you like to see the next painting?” Andrew asks gently, offering his hand to help me up.
I realize how pathetic I must look crying in the sand. With an embarrassed sigh, I take his hand and get to my feet, wiping away the tears and brushing off the bits of gravel sticking to my knees.
I give him a weak smile. “I’m a mess.”
“You have every right to be,” he says, taking my hand into his.
“Please don’t break up with me.” I look toward the water, ashamed when the foolish plea crosses my lips.
His hushed tone matches mine. “Is that why you think you’re here?”
I nod, my bottom lip trembling, still afraid to meet his gaze.
“C’mon, you were almost there.” He guides me further along the trail until a small cabin comes into view. It’s one I’ve seen many times before, and belongs to retired Mr. Waters who loves to spend his days yelling at kids and fishing in the lake.
Small steps lead up to the rickety cabin, and a blanket covers up something by the door.
Andrew nods for me to take a look.
I take the few steps toward the entrance, running my hand along the dusty railing. It’s the right shape to be another painting, but I’m unable to reach out and remove the cover.
It’s a monumental moment. The world is tilting beneath me, and I’m terrified of toppling over. The floorboards creak as Andrew moves to stand beside me.
With sweaty palms, I rip off the blanket like a stubborn Band-Aid.
The prince is on one knee as the princess looks down at him, eyes full of happy tears as he slips a ring on her finger. “To show the princess that his love was unconditional, and that he was unafraid of what the future held for them, he asked for her hand in marriage. For better or for worse, in light or darkness, he would always stand by her side.”
I swivel toward Andrew with a billion questions buzzing on my tongue to find that he’s lowered himself to one knee. My hand flies to my mouth as I gawk down at him in confusion, my befuddled brain two steps behind my racing heart. Placing my hand in his, I feel how he trembles. Beads of sweat cling to his forehead.
“I know the world hasn’t been kind to you, but I think it’s finally time to paint you a brighter future. I swear, Tessa, it was the strangest thing, I didn’t have a single memory left of you, and yet, I kept finding myself drawn to you. It took me a while, but I finally realized that no matter how many obstacles the universe places before us, we will always find our way back to one another. It could steal my memories a million times, and I would still never truly forget your beautiful smile. If you say you’re evil, then I will live in the shadows. If you keep this baby, I will be the best father you’ve ever seen. And if you say yes to me today, I will spend each day making up for the pain you’ve endured. Tessa Kinsley, you were born a princess, but you were made to be a queen. Will you marry me?”
He takes out a ring that resembles the precious crown around my neck. Diamonds and glittering sapphires that match the color of my eyes are embedded in the silver band. I can’t take my eyes off the jewelry, and I’m pretty sure my brain has short-wired because I can’t form any coherent thoughts.
“Andrew. . . are you sure?” I gasp.
Is this really happening?
Laughter booms from him. “You wouldn’t be the girl I love if you didn’t try to make this difficult.”
I try to scowl in response, but my lips refuse to form anything but a toothy smile. “Crap, I fucked this up.” I slap my hand to my forehead, mortified. “And now I’ve just thrown the f-bomb in your proposal. Oh my god.”
His eyes still sparkle with laughter. “Just say yes, princess.”
“Yes.” I cry. “Of course, yes, I will marry you.” He slips the ring on my finger, and after wordlessly staring at it for a moment, I grab his arms and yank him back up to his feet. I smash my lips against his, and his fingers tangle in my hair as he returns my kiss with enough passion to bring down the stars in the sky.
“I love you.” He gasps with his lips still pressed against mine.
Happy tears stream down my cheeks. “I love you most.”