Page 31 of Amethyst Queen
Chapter 27
The tension was at an all-time high as they sat around the tiny table separating the two couches. Dante held Amalee’s hand in his as they stared across at her parents. Julie and Baxter played as if no one was in the room, making Dante smile.
“I’m glad you fought for your family, Amalee. I knew you’d be the Queen your mother raised you to be. Now… Dante – what are your intentions for my daughter now that you have a son together?”
“Dad,” Amalee shook her head, but Dante pressed her knee, quieting her.
“It’s all right. Sir,” Dante scooted forward in his seat, “I’ve loved your daughter longer than I had any right to. Our relationship isn’t traditional for several reasons, but that doesn’t change the way I feel about her. If I’d known about her being pregnant, I would’ve fought for us. My intentions are no different now than they were two years ago before she ran off. I plan to make her my wife.”
Amalee sucked in a gasp, “Dante?” She whispered to him, studying him from the side.
“Good. A father needs to know his daughter will be cared for. I always suspected you two had something – I could see the spark every time you were in the same room. I’m just as sorry I didn’t put my foot down sooner with my wife. She was wrong to put such a burden on Amalee. Finding your compliment is something to treasure, not hide.”
Amalee studied her mother, who sat eerily quiet beside her father. She wasn’t looking at her or Dante. Instead, her eyes were on their son.
“He’s beautiful,” her soft words hit Amalee in the chest, “Do you think he will forgive this feeble old woman for her mistakes?”
“Mother,” Amalee moved to sit on the table’s edge in front of her, “He doesn’t understand the past transgressions, so there is nothing to forgive.”
“Oh, darling,” her mother grabbed her into an embrace, her tears wetting the back of Amalee’s shirt. “Can you forgive me?” She lifted her head to look into Amalee’s eyes, “When your father told me everything, I cried for days. My daughter was so afraid of me she had a baby all alone. I should have been there for you. Instead, you ran away.”
“I wasn’t alone. Sarah and Jeff took wonderful care of me – they knew the whole situation and stood by me.”
“I’m sorry they are gone – but,” her mother bit her lip, “I have to believe it was meant to be. You should have never had to give up your flesh and blood.”
“Would you like to meet him and Julie?”
“Julie is the girl who's been with him the whole time?”
“Yes,” Amalee’s face filled with sorrow as she spoke, “Her parents were killed, and her brother forced to work for whoever is doing this. We plan to keep her here until he returns.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes – but honestly, I can’t see sending her away to anyone but him.”
“Good,” her mother patted her knee, “Now… let me meet my grandson. It’s time we fixed this family, so he has a happy, loving home to grow up in.”
