I should be happy right now, thrilled even. I’ve been reunited with the loving family I always wondered about. I wasn’t told I’d been kidnapped from my family. My friends always said we ended up lost, and it was their job to look after me. I know I’m going to have to give my parents and the authorities details of my disappearance and the years leading up to now. It doesn’t bother me much, only the possibility of Laura, Luna, and Mary getting in trouble because of everything. They didn’t have anything to do with my disappearance, and I won’t believe otherwise no matter what anyone says differently.
Hunter hasn’t found any new information on them, so he told me to think of them as safe and underground. He’s gone now, though, so it’s hard for me to take whatever he’s said as solid advice. Sure, I want to believe him, but I’m torn because clearly, I’ve been wrong about his character as well. I figured he’d remain with me the entire night, perhaps even a sleepover at my parents’ house tonight. The place is certainly large enough to house a small army should they decide to. It’s too large for me to feel comfortable, and the longer I remain, the more I want to return to Hunter’s place. His is a decent size, too, but not nearly this lavish and untouched.
The welcome-home party my parents have organized for me is in their private ballroom. It sounds ostentatious, but the space is truly wonderful and decorated with lovely, scented flowers. I don’t know if Hunter told them about my adoration for the outdoors, but it’s clear they went to the trouble to incorporate one of my favorite things.
Something tells me they wouldn’t be quite as thrilled or understanding if I told them I’d rather sleep outside in nature than alone under their massive roof. I don’t want to offend them or anything, but a piece of me feels as if I’ve only just met them. Hunter is what I know, who I feel safe and content with even if he did hurt me with his betrayal.
I don’t have a way to reach him. Would he want to hear from me after everything that’s happened? “Do you have a phone I can call Hunter on? As well as his phone number?”
“Who, my dear?” my mother asks, meeting my gaze.
“Hunter,” I begin, and she waves me off.
“Oh, Philip. Yes, of course, we have a phone you can use. Your father will have his number, but don’t bother the boy. He’s done so much for us already.”
He’s a far cry from any boy I’ve ever imagined, but I don’t argue. I don’t want to rock the boat with them already. “Where can I sleep?” I ask instead of demanding she call Hunter and have him come pick me back up like I want. I need to give my family a chance before bolting out of here on a whim.
“Come on, beautiful. I’ll take you to your princess suite.”
I like pink, but something tells me I’m not ready for what she’s about to show me. I follow her up the long staircase and then to the right when she heads in a direction with only two doors. There are massive double doors at the very end and a single door off toward the middle of the hallway. She pauses long enough to open the single door and flick on a light. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I peek my head in without being invited. I draw in a stunned breath at what I discover—white and light blush everywhere. It’s so stunning it brings tears to my eyes. “This is mine?”
She nods, her gaze growing watery as well. “Yes, this was your room as an infant and toddler. The doors at the end of the hall were always meant for you as well, but you never got to use them.” Tears break free, trailing over her cheeks. She pulls me in for a hug on a burst of emotion, and I wind my arms around her tightly. This is the welcome I was hoping for, not the big party downstairs where I felt on display for everyone I don’t ever remember meeting.
“It’s so… so peaceful,” I say, trying to think of the right word to describe it properly. “I thought I’d remembered it, but it must’ve been another room, perhaps.” My stare flicks over the warm twinkle lights, the fluffy ivory ottoman-style chairs, and a small princess bed. There’s a golden crown and sheer, filmy fabric at the top as well, making it feel straight out of a fairy tale.
The skin around her eyes crinkles as she tilts her head and asks, “What room do you recall?”
“I remember being in a giant bed, laying between you and father as he read me stories.”
Her hand goes to cover her mouth as sobs begin to rip free. I pull her to me again, not sure why she’s so upset or what to do to stop it. Was it a bad memory? It’s always been a favorite of mine. I hold her while her shoulders shake, not sure how else to comfort her. I feel for her, I really do, but what did I say?
Eventually, she pulls back, her palms moving to warm my cheeks as she meets my gaze. “I can’t believe you remember your father reading. He made sure to tell you a new story every night before you went to sleep. You were so insistent after a while, you refused to sleep until you heard one. At some point when he was on business, he’d read to you over the phone.” She offers a kind smile. “I thought you’d forget.”
I shake my head. “Never.” It also explains why Mary told me stories so much. I probably drove her crazy as a child.
She releases me, leaving the door and light on in my old bedroom to head for the end of the hallway. “I hope you love this space but feel free to do whatever you want with it. This is your home, and you’re welcome to change anything.” She offers an excited smile as she opens both doors, and the light comes on automatically.
I follow her inside, my mouth gaping at the magnificent features. The ceiling alone is remarkable. It’s filled with unique tiles and gold trim. In the middle is a massive mural filled with angels and flowers. There are so many different kinds—roses, chrysanthemums, orchids, lilies, hydrangea—too many varieties for me to process at once. “Wow, this is stunning.” My gaze falls to the rest of the space, and I find myself wondering what Hunter would look like in here. His presence is consuming, so much so I bet it’d feel remarkably smaller in here with him inside.
“I’m glad you like it. I put a lot of thought into it over the years. If you ever made your way home back to us, I wanted to make sure you had something nice waiting for you.”
“I lived in a place made from trees and brush. The floor was dirt.” I don’t know why I share as much with her, perhaps to set her at ease. I never minded living on the island—for me, it was almost all I knew. I’m sure it was hard at first, but I was a toddler. I didn’t have any choice but to adapt and overcome any obstacle we faced. I’m grateful to Laura, Luna, and Mary for all they’ve done for me. “I didn’t know this is where I truly came from. I believed most of my memories I’d made up at some point or embellished them.”
My mother shakes her head. “No, you’re the heir to our botanical company.”
“Do you mean flowers or something different?”
“Flowers, yes. The many blooms downstairs today came from one of our several farms. We have all types from upscale boutiques to well-known chain stores selling our products. Of course, it’s not only flowers, but we also sell a variety of products for them as well. Your father has become quite famous for his eye for quality. Over the years, your father not only grew the empire, but he also trades stocks and such. He’s made us very wealthy, and it’s all yours as well.”