Jade

Chapter 46

We decided to go out for a smoke while we waited.  Emma/Desi stayed to help Lia and Max with the clean up.  Jason stayed behind.  We all got outside and Aris lit me a cigarette, then one for himself.  “That Emma drives a hard bargain,” Theo commented.  “She definitely knows what she wants,” Ripley added.  “Are you going to let her go with them tonight?” I asked Aris.  “I am going to attempt to get them to take it slow,” he replied, “They could take her for the afternoon, then we could go pick her up this evening.”  “Okay,” I agreed.  “I need to have a talk with them first, though,” he said as if in thought, “They need to know what they are getting into.”  “How much are you going to tell them?” I asked.  “Everything,” he answered.

I reached out and took his hand and we smoked in silence.  “It is time,” Aris said after a few minutes.  We put out our cigarettes and went inside.  Antony was waiting by the door.  “She is Emma's mother,” he told us as we walked to the dining room.  Jason and Lizzie were seated at the dining room table, waiting.  “Please follow me to the library.  We have some matters to discuss,” Aris requested.  They both stood up and followed Aris and I.  We took our usual seats at the long table in the library.  Jason and Lizzie sat across the table from me.  No one else joined us.  Aris had a stack of papers sitting in front of him laying face down.  He took my hand under the table.

“First, and foremost, you are Emma's, sorry, Desi's parents,” Aris started, “it was confirmed through a blood test.”  They both smiled and joined hands, the picture of happiness.  “There are a few things to discuss,” he continued, “I am not sure of how much you are aware.  The man who had Desi, Tobias Drake, was executed a few days ago.  He had trafficked Desi for sex.”  Aris paused to let that sink in.  Their smiles faded as that last bit of information sunk in.  “What?  But she is just a baby!” Lizzie cried.  Aris waited while Jason consoled his wife.  “I have succeeded in repairing her physical damage, but am still working on her mental and emotional damage,” Aris continued slowly, “I do most of the work on her while she is sleeping.  I would like for Desi to continue sleeping here at night until I have repaired as much as I can.”  They didn't say anything.  “You are welcome to take her with you,” I spoke up, “We would just need her here before bedtime.”

Jason finally spoke, “I am not sure that we are equipped for this.”  “She is still a four year old, just a little bit smarter,” I started, not expecting him to say that.  I hadn't expected them to deny her.  She would be so crushed.  “Just take her for a few hours.  You will see how wonderful she is, “I suggested.  “Yes,” Aris said, “If you want to take her home with you, we can come pick her up around seven.”  “Is it safe to have her around our boys?” Jason asked.  “Perfectly safe,” Aris stated, a hint of disgust in his voice, “As long as you trust your boys.”  “I trust my boys,” Jason replied.  “Then there shouldn't be a problem,” Aris said.  “Okay, then, we would like to take her for the afternoon,” Lizzie spoke up, not wanting to give up yet, “She can help me cook and help us decorate the Christmas tree.”  “She would love that,” I smiled.

“Jade, would you go get Desi ready for travel?” Aris asked, “ I have just a couple of things to discuss with Jason and Lizzie.”  I assume it has to do with the paperwork in front of him.  I got up and left the room.  I went in search of Desi.  I found her tree decorating in the living room with Theo, Antony and Ripley.  “Ripley can you come smoke with me?”  I asked.  He got up off of the couch and we went to the back door.  I waited for him to put his coat on and followed him out.  He lit me a cigarette and one for himself.  “What is going on?” he asked.  “I just have a bad feeling about this,” I answered, “When Aris told them that she had been trafficked for sex, Jason had the nerve to ask if it was safe for her to be around his boys.  His boys are almost adults.”  Ripley just shook his head smiling.  “They are taking her for the afternoon and we will go pick her up around seven,” I told him, “I’m supposed to get her ready for travel.” “I will help you get her ready,” he offered.  We put out our cigarettes and went in.

We headed straight to the living room.  Desi was laying on the couch with her feet in Theo's lap.  “I hope you're not too tired,” I told her, “I’m supposed to get you ready to travel.”  She sat up, “Me! Travel!”  “Yes. You,” I told her, “Jason and Lizzie are taking you home with them for the rest of the day.  We will be picking you up later tonight.”  “What am I going to wear?” she asked.  “Sweats and a snowsuit,” Ripley answered, “It is way to cold for a dress.”  “Okay,” she hopped up off of the couch and ran to us.  She grabbed my hand, all kinds of excited, and pulled me to our room.

Inside, I helped her get out of the dress.  “Do you need a quick bath to wash up before you go?” I asked.  “Yes,” she answered.  Ripley went into the bathroom and started the bath.  I set out three sweat suits and her pink snowsuit on the bed.  I got an overnight bag out of the closet and started packing it.  The water turned off, “bath is ready,” Ripley called.  She was already out of her clothes and shoes.  Ripley helped her down into the bath.  “I’m not getting in this time.  Is that okay?” I asked her.  “That is fine,” she answered.  “Don't get your hair wet,” I told her.  She washed up with soap then rinsed off and was ready to get out.  She held her arms up and Ripley helped her out.  I wrapped her in a big towel and sat her on the vanity, where I brushed her hair again.  We then went to the bedroom.  I helped her get dressed in a sweat suit, thick socks, her snowsuit, snow boots and mittens.  I finished packing her bag and we walked back to the living room where Aris, Jason and Lizzie had joined Theo and Antony.

They all stood up.  “Are you ready to go?” Jason asked Desi.  “Yes,” she answered excitedly.  I put her hood on and tucked her hair in around the edges.  I put her scarf on and wrapped it around snug to cover her nose and mouth.  We went to the back door and waited as Jason and Lizzie dressed for the cold.  Aris and I changed to snowsuits.  “Jax!” Aris called out.  In came Jax, straight to Desi.  She squealed with delight and reached out to him.  As he got close she wrapped her arms around him for a hug.  She pulled the scarf down so that he could give her a kiss.  “Would you like for Jax to ride with you in the trailer?” Aris asked her.  She nodded her head yes.  Aris got a blanket out of the closet and we went outside.

Ripley and Max hopped down off of the porch to uncover three snowmobiles.  Aris hopped down and lifted Jax down into a trailer, then lifted Desi down into it and tucked them in snuggly with a blanket.  Ripley climbed onto the snowmobile that was connected to the trailer.  Aris and Jason helped Lizzie on behind him.  Jason climbed down onto the snowmobile behind Max and Aris helped me down on the snowmobile behind him.  Max pulled away from the porch first, then Ripley, then Aris and I brought up the rear.  Desi kept waving at us.  Aris would wave back and blow her kisses.  She was clearly loving the ride.  After about fifteen minutes we arrived at the shed.

We pulled up next to the dock in order.  It looked like the road was pretty clear.  Aris helped me up onto the platform, then hopped down and got Desi out of the trailer and lifted her up to the dock.  I took a hold of her hand to keep her from falling.  He climbed up, then he and Ripley helped Lizzie up.  Jason was already up with help from Max.  Desi squealed with delight.  We all looked in the direction she was watching.  Jax was hoping around in the snow, happy to get out.  “Jax!” Ripley called.  Jax came hopping towards us, but went around to the front of the building.  “Come on Desi,” Ripley grabbed her hand and they rushed through the building.   We followed.  Ripley opened the door.  They were met with about two feet of snow.  Ripley picked her up and rushed out.  Jax was going crazy, loving the snow.  He would run up close, then back away, then run up close again.  Desi would squeal just egging him on.  We all just watched until Jax seemed to run out of steam.  Then it was time for them to go.  Ripley picked Desi up first and whispered something in her ear.  She nodded her head smiling.  He brought her over to Aris who kissed each eye, her nose, then her mouth, “I love you.”  “I love you too,” she said back.  “Have fun,” I told her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  Aris and I gave her a group hug, then passed her to Max, who gave her a bear hug, then kissed her on the cheek.  He gave her to Jason, who took her to a blue Kia Sorento.  He opened the back door and put her in, “can you climb into the car seat?”  They had a nice, new child safety seat for her, located in the middle of the back seat.  She climbed up onto the seat and he buckled her in.

“We should expect you around seven, then?” Jason asked.  “Yes, I will let you know when we are close,” Aris confirmed.  He seemed a little nervous.  “Have fun,” I told him, “just remember that she is just happy to be there.”  “Okay,” he nodded his head yes.  He got in the car.  I waved at Desi.  Aris blew her a kiss.  She caught it and kissed the palm of her hand.  We stood and watched as they backed out and took off, Aris behind me with his arms wrapped around me.  “I hope this goes well,” I muttered, “She will be so disappointed if it doesn't.”  “It will be fine.  She will have a good time,” Aris replied, lighting me a cigarette.

“What now?” I asked.  “We could go back to the cabin and relax.  Have some alone time,” Aris suggested.  “Or we could go shopping,” Ripley suggested.  I paused for a minute.  “What do you want to do?” I looked at Aris.  “I am up for either,” he answered.  “Please go shopping with me,” Ripley implored, “I am not done yet and I do not want to do it alone.  We only have two days left.”  “Okay,” I agreed.  “Good, you can help me pick something for Lia.”  “Help him pick something out for Lia, for me too,” Max told me.  “Okay,” I agreed.  “We will watch short stuff tomorrow so you can have alone time,” Ripley promised.  “Max, why don't you come with us?” I asked.  “I have other plans,” he stated, “Lia and I are spending time with the kids so that Theo and the others can wrap gifts.”  Ripley started the Lexus so that it would warm up.  “Are you okay with this?” I asked Aris.  “I am fine with it,” he answered.  “Okay,” I agreed, “shopping it is.”

Max left to go back followed by Jax, who clearly didn't want to go with us.  “Max, do you want us to get her jewelry?” I asked.  “Jewelry is fine.  A necklace or a bracelet,” he answered.  “Okay.”  Ripley got in the driver’s seat.  Aris opened the back door for me.  I got in and slid to the middle.  He got in next to me and shut the door.  We decided to go to the town that Ripley had taken me for shopping previously.  It is located close to Jason’s house, so it wouldn't be too far to pick up Desi when we are done.