Page 40 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 28
“Sir,” Commander Brady held a yellow envelope in his hands, “a letter has arrived.”
“Another one? Fuck. I don’t think Sarifena is in any state to deal with this right now.”
Heath ran his fingers through his messy hair. He had slept little in the last few days. Sarifena wasn’t eating and had sat in her room in a near-catatonic state. He tried to get her to eat or go outside, but she refused, shrugging his touch and words off.
“The letter isn’t for her. It’s for you.”
“Come again?” Heath was sure he misheard the commander.
“The letter is addressed to you.”
Heath snatched the yellow packet from his hands and tore it open. “What the fuck?”
“Sir?” Commander Brady stepped toward him.
“Is this a joke?”
He thrust the paper into the commanders face, “This is fucked up. Why would someone send this?”
Commander Brady scratched his head, “What if it’s not a joke?”
Heath grabbed the parchment again, reading over the words once more.
The man is not the boy’s father. He was paid to lie and fake the test. This was all to make Sarifena suffer. I cannot give back the one you lost, but I can give you this. Get the child back – do not let him break the Queen.
J.
“What was the man's name that freed Anthony?”
“I don’t remember.”
“Call the Ruby Queen. I need to know if this is for real.”
“What do we tell Sarifena?”
“Nothing. Not until we know its real. She cannot survive more disappointment.”
Heath stuffed the letter in his pocket and headed towards the Queens Quarters. He couldn't stray far from her for long, he believed she would give up all hope.
“Sari?” pushing the door open, he found her exactly where he left her earlier – in the chair staring out the window.
“Sarifena, you can’t keep going like this,” he lifted her off the wooden perch and carried her to the bed. Laying down beside her, he wrapped his arm around her and tugged her close. “Please, I love you. You need to be strong for when we bring him home to us.”
“He’s not coming home, Heath. That man is his father. You heard the judge. It’s over.”
“No, baby, it's not over.”
“You should go.”
“No…”
“Heath,” Sarifena rolled over to face him, “I can’t give you a family – real or not.”
“Again, I don’t want those things if they aren’t with you, stop being ridiculous. You have this idea that my love for you is conditioned on having a family. It’s not.”
“You deserve more than I can give you.”
