Return Of The Fontalo
by Linda Rigsbee
Chapter 22
The news about Kenyon gave Donte a better perspective on how Celyn might react if she discovered Beier was her biological father. It had occurred to him many times that she had a right to know. He couldn’t imagine any way it could change her feelings about Neirin. Now he knew better.
He would probably get over the shock, but would he ever feel the comfort of unconditional love again – the kind attached to a parent, not a grandparent? Would he ever be able to think of Kenyon as his father? Quade said it didn’t matter, but it did. It had always given him a certain amount of pride to think Quade was his father – that he was a direct descendent of such an awesome person. For some reason, he was disappointed that his father was Kenyon, not Quade. He felt ashamed of that emotion. Kenyon was a good person.
He was certain that Kenyon either knew or was suspicious. The way he always called him brother, as if to remind himself who everyone thought he was. Why had Anica decided to choose Quade instead of Kenyon? Did Pieter and Saskia know – or suspect?
Perhaps it was a good thing that there was so much distance between him and Kenyon. He had a strong desire to talk to Kenyon right now. There were so many things he wanted to ask him. Was Anica’s choice what drove him to Lochfowk? Did it play a role in his decision not to return?
For the first time, he had something he didn’t want to discuss with Rianne. He wasn’t sure why, or if it was a bad thing. At first, he wished Cheska had never told them. As time passed, he was more concerned about how he should respond to the information. Should it be kept a secret or announced? He had always introduced Quade as his father and Kenyon as his brother. If he did that now, it would be a lie. Every time he started to call Quade Dad, he stopped and reworded the sentence so it wasn’t necessary to call him anything. He couldn’t keep doing that. People were beginning to notice.
***
Neirin had no idea what Cheska had discussed with Donte and Quade. Whatever it was, it had disturbed Donte. Everyone noticed the change, even his children. Donte had been quiet and reflective ever since - especially when Quade was present. At first Neirin said nothing, but when it continued, he approached Quade. Maybe there was something he could do or say. If it was about the mission, he would like to know. It wasn’t like Donte or Quade to remain silent about something important – and this must be important if it upset Donte.
Neirin and Quade were sipping hot drinks in the empty lunch room when Neirin decided it was time to say something. He set his cup down and looked at Quade.
“Donte is upset about something.”
Quade nodded. “I thought he would get over the shock, but he seems to be getting more distant. Rianne asked me about it, so he hasn’t discussed it with her. I’m afraid he may be too ashamed.”
Neirin lifted a brow. Obviously, it had nothing to do with the mission. He should have known it was something personal. He should let it go, but he wanted to help if he could.
“What could Donte possibly be ashamed of?”
Quade looked at the hot liquid in his cup and shifted in his chair. He seemed uncomfortable about divulging what he knew, and yet, Neirin had the feeling he wanted to talk about it. He waited, neither encouraging nor discouraging a response. Quade would decide if it was appropriate to discuss the matter.
Quade swirled the drink in his cup. Neirin was tempted to look in the cup and see if it contained a foreign object. Finally, Quade spoke.
“Cheska had some questions about the lab results – genetics. They discovered two deviations in their results and wondered if it was because we have animal genes.” He paused, his gaze lifting to Neirin’s. “One, Donte already knew – about Celyn’s biological father.” He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “The other was about Donte’s biological father.”
Neirin stared at him. It was obvious that Quade was Donte’s father. They were so much alike in voice, temperament and looks. Surely Donte and Celyn didn’t share the same father.
“I always thought I was his father,” Quade finally said. “It all makes sense, though. I don’t know why it is so upsetting to Donte. I love him the same. I raised him. No matter who his biological father is, I’m still his father.”
Neirin nodded. That was the way he felt about Celyn. That was the way Donte thought about Celyn – or at least that was the way he thought Donte felt.
Quade glanced around and leaned forward. “It was a shock to me too, but Donte is struggling with it for some reason.
Neirin smiled. “Donte doesn’t like surprises. They mess up his plans – and Donte always has a plan.”
Quade shook his head and remained sober. “It’s more than that. Maybe…” He shrugged. “The lab results identified Kenyon as his father.”
Neirin frowned. “Maybe the results are inaccurate.”
Quade shook his head again. “They ran them again. It fits. I knew there was another man before we exchanged vows. She told me. I didn’t know who it was – not then.”
Neirin leaned back in his chair, considering the information. Donte had no reason to be ashamed that Kenyon was his father. Donte and Kenyon liked each other. As far as Neirin knew, they had never argued. They were not only loving brothers, but close friends as well. Was that the problem? Did Donte feel betrayed? Neirin looked at Quade. “Do you think Kenyon knew?”
Quade shrugged. “I don’t know. Donte seems to think he did.”
Neirin nodded. “I can see that upsetting Donte, but I doubt Kenyon knew.” Another thought occurred to him. Kenyon supported Donte in everything he did. He was even subordinate to Donte. When he thought about it, Neirin couldn’t remember one time that Donte had given Quade an order. He treated him with the respect due a father. Donte adored Quade.
Neirin smiled. “Donte is a loving and devoted son. He sees you as the ultimate in everything. He doesn’t want to think of Kenyon as his father because that would mean letting go of you.”
The more Neirin thought about it, the more he believed he understood. Donte had been struggling with the decision of telling Celyn who her father was. Donte wasn’t the only one who had been struggling with that decision. Neirin had been concerned about how Celyn would react to the truth about her heredity. Neirin met Quade’s curious gaze.
“Who is Celyn’s biological father? I didn’t want to know until now. It’s time to face that.”
Quade held his gaze, hesitating only a moment before responding. “Beier.”
Neirin nodded. That explained why Beier was always there when Celyn might be in trouble. Why had he never guessed? He sighed. “I am in his debt.”
“What should I do?” Quade asked Neirin.
Neirin shook his head. “Love him. Give him time to work his way through this. He will. He isn’t ashamed of you or Kenyon. I’m certain of that. Let him know in ways besides words that you still see him as a son, and that you want him to see you as his father.”
“You think he is feeling confused?”
“I think he is grieving the loss of a father he adores. He’ll eventually realize that he has more possibilities now, not less.”
Quade thought about it for a few minutes before nodding. “You’re probably right. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.”
***
Akira knew something was wrong between Donte and Quade. She couldn’t imagine anything that could break the strong bond they had with each other. They didn’t act like they were angry with each other. Donte didn’t avoid his father. He simply seemed uncomfortable around him.
The change had come immediately after they met with Cheska. Cheska had requested the meeting because of a discrepancy in their blood tests. What could she have said that they didn’t already know? Hopefully Cheska hadn’t determined that they could be classed as animals by Oriel. Probably not. If that had been the case, Donte would probably have turned the spaceship around and headed back home.
Whatever the cause, the disturbance in their relationship was upsetting Quade, and that concerned Akira. When Quade wouldn’t tell her the problem and Rianne didn’t know, Akira went straight to the source – Donte. Quade and Rianne both coddled him. What Donte needed right now was someone who would tell him how it was, not what they thought he wanted to hear. She didn’t wait for the right time. She stopped him in the corridor and told him she wanted to talk to him.
Donte’s expression was wary, but he quietly waited for her to open the subject. No doubt he knew what she was going to ask.
“What’s going on between you and Quade?”
“Nothing,” he said.
She looked up at him, mentally brushing aside the effects of his pheromones. How did Rianne ever get past that? Of course, she didn’t need to. There was nothing inappropriate they could do with each other. She straightened and stretched to her full height. That put the top of her head about chest level to him.
“Are you angry with him?”
He looked surprise. “No; of course not. What would make you think that?”
She looked him in the eye. “Don’t play games with me. I know something is wrong between you.”
He looked away. “I’m not upset with him.”
She sighed. “You’re hurting him, Donte. Why?”
Donte jerked his head around and frowned down at her. “What do you mean?”
“I see it in his eyes when you avoid him.”
“I’m not…”
She cut off his words with two fingers to his lips. “I know it isn’t your intent to hurt him. I know you love him, but you are avoiding him. Why? What did Cheska tell you that upset you so much?”
He gripped her wrist and removed her fingers from his lips. “Ask him.”
“I did. He won’t tell me anything.”
“It’s private.”
“Donte…” It was pointless to scold him or even talk to him. Trying to get information out of Donte when he didn’t want to divulge it was as productive as beating her head against a solid wall. She jerked her wrist from his hand. “You are the most stubborn, uncooperative person I have ever met. I don’t know how Rianne puts up with you.”
She turned and walked away from him, furious that he could stir such strong emotions. She cursed his pheromones and the memory of how his lips felt on hers. It had been ten years since that one kiss – before she met Quade. She loved Quade and yet Donte could still stir her – even while she was angry with him. No wonder everyone gave in to him.
***
Donte watched Akira walk away. It had not occurred to him that he was hurting Quade. He didn’t blame Quade for the situation – or Kenyon, for that matter. He wasn’t upset with anyone – with the exception of himself. He had no idea why he felt the way he did.
It didn’t matter how he felt. He didn’t want to hurt either Quade or Kenyon. He hadn’t been avoiding Quade…had he? He simply didn’t know what to call him now. Grandpa…Quade? He wanted to call him Dad. How did Quade want to be addressed now? Was Quade asking the same questions? He didn’t refer to Donte as son any more. He merely called him Donte. It would be even more awkward if Kenyon was with them now.
It was different with Quade, though. As he had pointed out, regardless of their biological relation, Quade had been his father. A man didn’t stop being a father because his son was grown.
On the Moeder, when Donte was recovering from the arrow wound, Kenyon had scolded him like a son. He had deserved the scolding. He was being a nuisance to others by ignoring their advice. Sometimes an older brother was much like a father. Sometimes a father was more like a brother or a friend.
A person could fill multiple roles. Did it matter whether Quade was his father or grandfather; or whether Kenyon was his father or brother? Regardless of what biological role they filled, they were both good friends.
Did Quade actually feel hurt, or was it merely Akira’s interpretation? It was possible and simple enough to repair. If Quade didn’t want to be called Dad, he could say so. There was no need to address the situation with Kenyon right now. He would have no need to introduce him for some time. It didn’t matter whether he introduced Quade as his father or grandfather. Either one was true.
He followed Akira into the dining area and approached Quade. He pulled out a chair and sat across the table from him. When Quade looked up, he smiled.
“Hello dad. How are you feeling today?”
Quade smiled. “Well enough. Where are Rianne and my grandchildren?”
“Rianne said she would be here in a little while. Andras wanted her to finish reading a book to him. She only had a few more pages.”
Akira joined them, carrying a tray with hot drinks. She set a cup in front of Quade and one in front of Donte. She sat in the chair beside Quade and took one of the cups from the tray, sipping on it as she looked at Donte.
“Where’s Rianne?”
Quade answered. “Reading to Andras. She’ll be along in a while.” His gaze rested on the fourth cup. “Is that for Rianne?”
Akira nodded. “If it cools, I’ll refresh it.”
Quade glanced up as Neirin joined them. He nodded at the last cup. “Akira just brought us some hot drinks.”
Neirin sat across from Akira and smiled as he retrieved the cup. “Thank you, Akira. That was thoughtful.”
Donte nodded. “Akira is a thoughtful person…always trying to help.”
Quade glanced from Donte to Akira, as if suspecting something had transpired between them. When Akira blushed, his gaze came back to Donte, a twinkle in his eye. “Exactly what was your relationship with her before I met her?”
Donte grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” He sipped his hot drink.
Akira caught her breath. “There was nothing between us…” She frowned at Quade’s amused expression. “Oh…you…”
Neirin laughed.
It was that simple. Why had he been fretting over it for days? He had always been able to discuss anything with Quade. How long would he have avoided this pleasant moment if Akira hadn’t said something? If he couldn’t even talk to Quade, how could he hope to make a difference on Oriel?
Quade lifted a brow. “What is it, Donte?”
Donte set his cup down and rested his elbows on the table as he rubbed his face with his hands. “Sometimes when I think about this mission; I go into a state of near panic.”
Quade lifted the other brow. “I can imagine.”
Neirin nodded. “I would never have guessed from watching you. I wondered if you were always as confident as you appear.” He looked up as Beier and Nieke came into the dining room together.
Beier said something to Nieke and she laughed. They got hot drinks and sat at a table together.
Neirin watched them for a minute before shrugging. “They look like they are enjoying each other.”
Donte glanced at Quade and Akira. None of them said anything. Personally, Donte was relieved to see Nieke enjoying the presence of another man, but he could appreciate Neirin’s concern. It didn’t look like he and Nieke were going to get together. Surely there must have been other women in Anialwch that Neirin found interesting. What was his fascination with Nieke?
Rianne and their children entered the dining room. Rianne spotted them and headed for their table. Donte stood and pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll get you a hot drink.”
Andras tackled his leg. Donte detached him and tossed him in the air. Andras squealed with delight as Donte caught him. Donte set him on one arm as he walked across the room. “Did mommy finish that book?”
Andras nodded enthusiastically. “The feline and the anura lived happy ever after.”
Donte poured Rianne’s hot drink and turned to walk back to the table.
Andras reached for the cup. “I can take it to mommy.”
Donte moved the cup out of Andras’ reach, almost spilling it. “Daddy will carry it. It’s hot.” He walked to the table and carefully set the cup in front of Rianne.
She smiled up at Donte. “For a minute there I wondered if you were going to carry it or wear it.”
He laughed as he lowered Andras to the floor. “I was afraid I was going to be mopping the floor before the morning meal.” He helped Andras into a chair and gently tugged one of Petra’s golden curls. “Would you like something to drink, precious?”
She shook her head. “I’m hungry.”
“They should have it ready in a few minutes. Something smells good, doesn’t it?” Donte settled into the chair beside Rianne. He turned to her and lifted a brow. “The feline and the anura lived happily ever after? What have you been reading to him?”
Rianne rolled her eyes and waved a hand. “He has the strangest perspective – like you do.”
Donte glanced up as Vidal approached their table. His expression looked anxious.
“Monomi, there is a spaceship approaching from the direction of Oriel.”
“Have you tried to contact them yet?”
Vidal shook his head. “I thought you should be there when we try.”
Donte stood and looked at the others. “Save some of that food for me.” He followed Vidal from the dining room. Most likely the ship was the one the captain had been expecting from Oriel.
Nieke had solved the communication problem between the other ships. As it turned out, it was a matter of frequency. She had devised a method of changing the frequency. If they had discovered that before the spacecraft arrived on Purlieu, they probably would have been able to detect and understand communication between the Fontalo troops on the ground and their spaceship. It had given them the basic information needed to devise a plan for when the Fontalo ship arrived.
Donte was glad Rianne had talked to him about Nieke. He might have left her behind and that would have been a mistake. They needed her more than they needed him.
Soft Science Fiction
