Page 29 of House Divided
Time to begin building.“Aria,” offered Enoch, getting up, “I would like to talk to you privately for a moment.”
Aria glanced at Jack, who nodded. Enoch felt his insides burn at the notion that he needed anyone’s permission to talk to his own daughter, but he knew that to say anything about it would be counterproductive.
“Felipesegundo,” said Enoch, “We’ll be just outside the door.”
“Yes, lord,” replied the Treb, already padding to the sideboard to grab some food.
Enoch opened the door to allow Aria to walk through then closed it behind them, so that they were alone in the hallway. His daughter leaned against the wall, her arms folded.
He took a deep breath then began to speak. “Aria,” he said. “I’m…I’m just so very, very glad to have found you.”
She put a hand through her hair and looked down. “Well, you did,” she answered. “I guess you made sure of that when you put that tracking…thing…inside me.”
Enoch felt lost. This was not a situation where he should give commands. He had nobasisfor authority here. He was her father, yes; but he had been absent from her entire life. She could turn and leave at any moment, and although Enoch could cut through any resistance she put up, track her down through the very twist and turn in the labyrinths of hell, he knew that he faced a danger of a pyrrhic victory, of losing even as he won. Besides, something had changed in him. He was not sure, but Enoch suspected that it had something to do with meeting Madeline.
So Enoch Immanuel closed his eyes briefly, took another breath, opened his eyes, and let go.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know what else to do. Your mother, Grace, was the one who was wise in matters of love and kindness. I’m just…me.”
Aria’s expression softened. “Grace,” she said. “That was my mother’s name?”
Enoch gave a rare smile. “Yes. Grace Immanuel. She was very beautiful.”
“I would love to see pictures,” asked Aria shyly.
“I will find some for you. I don’t have any with me,” said Enoch, patting his clothing, “I think they are all back on my ship, but—”
“It’s okay,” smiled Aria, putting a hand on his arm. “I’m sure I’ll get to see them, when we get the chance.”
“Yes,” replied Enoch hoarsely. “You…you look like her. A great deal. I…I’m glad you would like to see them.”
Aria let her hand on his arm drift down, to take and squeeze his hand. “I think that’s an excellent place to start.”
Enoch squeezed her hand back, careful not to grip her too hard. Still, it was hard to let her hand go.
“We should probably go back to the meeting now,” observed Aria. “We’ll talk more.”
Enoch cleared his throat and nodded. “Sounds good.” He opened the door for her, and Aria rejoined the others. Enoch took a moment to gather himself.
It’s a beginning, and that’s not nothing.He imagined Grace, just as he had seen her in his dream, smiling at them.
Then he squared his shoulders and returned to the room.
***
Madeline watched Enoch and Aria leave the conference room. Far from the resolute and determined figure he usually appeared, Enoch looked lost. Madeline’s heart went out to him.Building a relationship with his daughter won’t be easy. I hope he doesn’t try to lay down commands.
“Well, this surely marks a new chapter in the annals of the Marx family,” her brother drawled, sliding into the chair next to her. “I’m usually the one consorting with infamous criminals, but this time it’s you, dear sister. And are we even going to touch upon the fact that I’m in love with the daughter of the man my sister is in love with?”
“First, you deeply annoying man, I’m less and less sure with every passing day that Enoch Immanuel is the criminal he’s been made out to be,” Madeline responded drily. “Second, it’s a good thing that we’re not the kind of people to have large family gatherings or I’d agree, the questions could get awkward. But we’re not a normal family, thank the stars, and are free to be with whoever the hell we want. And finally, where did you get the idea that I’m in love with the man?”
“Are you saying you’re not?” Jack raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, shut up,” said Madeline, punching him in the arm.
“Ouch! How do your punches keep getting harder as we grow older?” asked Jack, rubbing his arm.
The door to the hallway opened once more, and Aria slipped in. Jack gave his sister a pat on the arm and moved to Aria’s side. He put his hand on her shoulder and talked softly to her before they both moved to the sideboard to get some food.
