Page 30 of Beneath Submission
I was so happy to see Aiko, but when the front door opened, tears fell as I ran to Agnes and gave her a big hug which was comparable to the one Aiko had given me. Patting me gently on the back, she said, “It’s okay, Tessa. No need for tears.”
I guess my emotions had finally caught up with me. I was so overwhelmed with being safe that I could no longer hold back the tears. Releasing my grip on her, I took a step back and said, “It is so good to be home.”
“We were so worried about you,” Agnes confessed as she looked me over to make sure I was okay. Moving her eyes back to mine, I could tell there was a hint of worry in them. “How is Xavier? I heard what happened to him.”
“He is good. I was so afraid that I was going to lose him,” I replied.
“I don’t think you could get rid of him that easily. If I know Xavier, he would never leave you. There is no doubt that he loves you very much,” she admitted, wiping away a tear that she was unable to hold back. “Come on, let's think happy thoughts. I’ve made a wonderful dinner. I bet you’re starving after eating hospital food for a week.”
There was no way that I would ever pass up Agnes’ cooking even if the hospital food really wasn’t that bad. Heading to the dining room where everything was set for dinner, Agnes went back to the kitchen to get the meal. As we entered the dining room, my father was already seated. There was something about the way he looked that concerned me. I knew that look all too well. Something had happened.
Walking over to him, I stared down at him and asked, “Papa, what is it?”
“There was a break-in at Criss Cross. Everything was destroyed,” he confessed.
“Oh, my God, Papa. Did anyone get hurt?” I asked concerned.
“No, no. Thank God that everyone had gone for the day. There is something else,” he added before handing me a note.
This was like déjà vu all over again. Opening the letter, it was clear who it came from. Mr. Colin made it very clear what he wanted: me.
