Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(40)

"Hailey," I finally managed, keeping my eyes cast downward, "are you happy? Don't you ever want someone just for you?" I brought my eyes to hers.
She was quiet for several beats, but I swore I saw sorrow in her eyes. "Sacrifice is what makes us the blessed people of the gods," she answered. "It's human nature to be selfish, but we must fight against that sin. It's what sets us apart from the people of the big community." I let out a breath. She was simply paraphrasing from Hector's Holy Book.
"What sacrifices does Hector make?" I asked boldly.
She tilted her head and took a deep breath, and reached out to bring my hair over my shoulder. "Hector makes many sacrifices. His life is lived with all of us in mind. Everything he does is for us. None of it is for him. For over twenty years, he's built Acadia, built our family, kept us strong and balanced."
"What if . . . what if I loved someone other than Hector? What if I wished to marry someone else?" I asked softly.
Hailey let go of my hands and put one finger under my chin, tilting my face up so she was looking into my eyes.
"That's not what the foretelling says, Eden. You must obey the foretelling."
I looked away. "The gods can't send every detail, I don't imagine," I repeated, picturing Calder bursting into the Temple to interrupt my marriage to Hector, scooping me up, and carrying me away. To where? That was the problem.
"Eden—" Hailey started, a warning sound in her voice.
"Don't worry, Hailey," I interrupted. "I'm always very obedient."
She narrowed her eyes at me. She knew better than that. "Where do you go while I'm schooling the boys? I know you leave the lodge."
I stood up and went to study my hair in the mirror, pretending to smooth it into place. The truth was, I couldn't care less what my hair looked like. "Just up into the hills to lie in the sun." I turned to her. "All my life, I've felt like a china doll sitting up on a dusty shelf. The sunshine makes me feel half alive."
Hailey studied me for a minute. "Eden, I moved to the main lodge with Hector when I was nineteen years old. He's the only man I've ever been with. He's given me four boys and a life of peace. I have a role here, too. If a meaningful life is a measure of happiness, then yes, I'm happy," she said, answering my earlier question.
"But who judges whether your life has meaning?" I asked boldly. "You or Hector?" I had never asked Hailey what her life had been like before she lived in Acadia and she had never offered that information.
A door slammed below, and Hailey smiled and stood up. "He's here. Come, put a smile on your face and come downstairs to greet him. All your doubts will melt away when you see the adoration on his face." Hailey smiled reassuringly and took my hand, and together we walked down the main staircase. If Hailey herself felt anything other than adoration, she didn't show it.
We turned into the large two-story foyer and there he was. He turned toward us, and although he was still the same large, broad-shouldered man he'd always been, something about him looked older, more haggard than when he'd left. And I noticed that he looked softer around the middle, his shirt stretched over a small paunch. His smile was radiant, though, when he saw us.
"Eden, Hailey, my loves," he greeted us, opening his arms wide and walking toward us.
"Hector—" Hailey said.
"Father—" I said at the same time.
We looked at each other and smiled.
We walked into Hector's embrace and he kissed the tops of our heads.
"My girls," he said. "Now I finally feel at home. Eden, please, play something for me. It will do my heart good."
I nodded and hurried to the piano. As I played, I pictured myself at the spring, lying on the grass with Calder, our hands grasped together, the noontime sun above us, warming our bodies. I let the melody surround the vision of us in my mind, the notes dancing over our skin.
When the last note was played and I came back to myself, the room was quiet. I looked up to see Hector and Hailey staring at me.
"Eden, your playing is even more beautiful than it was before I left. You must have been practicing very diligently."
"Yes, Father," I said.
Hector stood and came to sit down next to me on the piano bench. I scooted all the way to the edge to make room for him.
"Eden, you must call me Hector now," he said. He ran one finger down the side of my cheek. I kept staring ahead. "We'll be married very soon. I'll be your father no longer."
I didn't speak, couldn't speak. Hector continued to stare at my profile. Finally after what seemed like hours, he let out a shaky breath and said softly, "So sweet. Just what I needed." And then he stood.