Putting the Pieces Together 27 страница

After the film ended, I was surprised at how late it had gotten. The kitchen was dark, and Nilima and Sunil still hadn’t returned.

“Well, happy birthday to me,” I muttered and headed up to my room. Not even bothering to turn on the light, I slid open the glass door and stepped out onto the dark veranda. Stars twinkled in the sky, and the fountain glistened below.

It had been two years since my birthday party back at the circus. Two years since I’d met dear Mr. Kadam and had been pulled into the incredible world of the tiger’s curse. I was twenty years old.What was I supposed to do now?

I’d fought kappa, dragons, and a kraken. I’d been bitten by a mega-shark, survived the burning of a Phoenix, dined with fairies, and killed a demon king intent on taking me for his own. I’d held limitless power, but that power was now stripped away. I rubbed my arms, but it didn’t make the feeling of vulnerability lessen.

I was back in my world, a world that should be familiar, and yet it wasn’t. For the first time in two years, I didn’t know what to do next. The feeling was not unlike the day my parents died. That experience changed me forever, and the things I’d gone through these past two years left scars behind as well.

My throat tightened as I wondered again why Ren was avoiding me.Does he blame me for his death? Does he wish he had been the one to stay behind? Does he feel obligated to take care of me?

I briefly entertained the idea of heading back to Oregon without him, but I’d already done that once before. Ren and I needed to talk before I made any big decisions. We owed each other that much.

I wiped a tear from my eye and heard a door opening.

Ren stepped out onto the veranda and approached me but stopped a few feet away, leaning his elbows on the railing. He looked out at the pool and said quietly, “Happy Birthday, Kells.”

“I thought you’d forgotten,” I replied softly without looking at him.

“I remembered. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted to celebrate.”

I shrugged. “I guess not.”

We stood there for a few silent moments. My pulse pounded as the seconds went by and the tension between us built. I waited for him to say something, but he wouldn’t even look at me. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I turned to him and asked fervently, “Why have you been avoiding me? Do you regret being the one who brought me home?”

He stood up straight and looked at me with confusion. “Is that what you think?”

“I don’t know what to think. You’ve hardly spent more than two consecutive minutes with me since we arrived. If you don’t want me here, just say so.”

My eyes stung, and a fresh tear plopped onto my cheek.

Closing the gap between us, he nudged my jaw, tilting my face to look at him. His cobalt blue eyes were full of emotion. “You think that I don’t want you?” he asked, his face incredulous. “Kelsey, I want you more than I want to breathe. I just wanted to give you space. You loved Kishan. It tore you apart to leave him behind. Anyone could see that.”

My fingers slid over his wrist, and I admitted, “I promised Kishan that a piece of my heart would always be his.”

Ren lowered his eyes and nodded. “I understand.” He stepped away from me as if to leave.

A righteous fury stole through my frame. “Alagan Dhiren Rajaram!” I yelled. “Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

Taking two giant steps forward, I circled him jabbed my finger at his chest. “You don’t understand anything!” I accused. “I have been in love with you for two years. If you haven’t figured that out yet, then I don’t know what else to tell you. I did love Kishan, but evenhe knew I wasin love with you. Besides, you were the one who was willing to stay behind with Durga. If anyone should be feeling hesitant about our relationship, it should be me!”

Ren advanced toward me, and I swallowed, backing up until I hit the railing. Taking hold of my shoulders, he declared, “Let’s get one thing straight, Miss Hayes. I was absolutely unwilling to leave you. I told Phet that I couldn’t care less about protecting history or about Durga or her need for a tiger. All I wanted was to be with you. If that meant staying in the past, then I would stay in the past. If that meant coming home, then I’d come home. I would only serve Durga if you were with me.Kelsey, Inever would have let you go.”

“Oh.” My voice cracked.

Ren slid his hands up to my neck, cupping it. “Kelsey, my beautiful, stubborn girl, if you are telling me that you’re ready to be with me, then you should know that I am damn sure ready to be with you.”

He wiped a tear from my cheek with his thumb and studied me intently with his mesmerizing eyes, waiting for my answer.

I reached up, brushed his silky hair away from his forehead and said simply, “Ren, you’re all I’ve ever wanted.”

A smile softened his chiseled lips, and he ducked his head to kiss me. The sweet kiss sparked into a blaze that sizzled and devoured. It had been so long since we kissed that I suddenly couldn’t get enough of him.

Running his hands down my back, he drew his palms slowly down my waist and over the curves of my hips, yanking me roughly against his chest. Our bodies were pressed close together but I wanted to be closer still. I wanted to be wrapped in him.

My hands gripped his waist and, growing braver, I slid them up the outside of his silk shirt. My fingers played along the length of his abdomen. Ren whispered my name, and I ran my palms up his broad chest and shoulders, around his neck, and into his hair. I wasn’t sure if the groan was from him or me.

Ren slowly drew his hands up my bare arms, caressing me with his fingertips and tickling the sensitive places along my collarbone and neck. He trailed kisses along my jaw to my ear, causing goose bumps to shoot down my arms.

Moving as one, we leaned back onto the couch, and I cuddled against his chest. My hand had been captured, clutched in his, and pressed against his beating heart. His passionate kisses softened and became sweet and tender, slow, velvety, and incredibly seductive. In each gentle caress, I felt his love for me as clearly as if I could hear his thoughts. When his lips found my ear, he murmured warm endearments and promises, and I was lost in the heady experience until something that he said made me pause.

My breath caught. “What did you say?” I asked.

His expression was full of warmth and love. He smiled hesitantly. “I asked if you would be my wife,” he said simply.

I looked into his cobalt blue eyes and grinned. “What would you do if I said, ‘If you have to ask, then the answer is no?’”

His eyes narrowed playfully. “Then I suppose I would have to seduce a yes from you.”

“In that case, my answer is definitely no.”

With a determined gleam in his eyes, he trailed his lips along my jaw and murmured a few lines from my favorite play. “Now, Kells, I am a husband for your turn. Thou must be married to no man but me. I must and will have Kelsey to my wife.”

Nuzzling his ear, I whispered enticingly, “Do you think me as stubborn as Katherine, Petruchio?”

He squeezed my waist. “I still haven’t heard a yes from you yet. That proves you to be not only stubborn but also uncompromising,” he said with a wry smile.

A few moments and some outstanding smoldering kisses later, he asked again, “Marry me, Kelsey. I want you...” I nodded and felt his lips smile against my neck. “... to be my bride.”

Mm-hmmwas the only sound I could produce.

“That doesn’t count.” Ren pulled away to take both of my hands in his.

“Kelsey Hayes, I love you. I belong with you. I have been yours, body and soul, for two years. My destiny has always been you. Be my home,priya. Be my wife.”

He gazed at my face earnestly, and my heart stilled. The time for teasing was past. I raised his hands to my lips and kissed each of his palms.

“My heart belongs to you, Alagan Dhiren. I would be honored to be your wife.”

He smiled triumphantly, and my heart leapt with joy as he scooped me into his arms. Ren’s happiness swept through me until I laughed, delighting in the knowledge that I hadn’t lost my tiger after all. Building a life with Ren would be an amazing journey, one perhaps even more magical than all of our quests. The future seemed at once bright and hopeful.

I twined my arms around his neck and between soft kisses he asked, “Would you... like... your birthday present now?”

“Can it wait until tomorrow?” I asked as I pressed my lips against his forehead.

He pulled me even closer, smiled, and said, “Definitely.”

I laughed until he took hold of my face and brought my lips back to meet his.

futami rope

To say Nilima was thrilled about our engagement was an understatement, and she helped organize the wedding in her usual efficient and elegant manner.

Ren put me in charge of the guest list, which was very short, considering there weren’t many people on either the bride’s or groom’s sides to invite.

Nilima was the one who suggested we have our wedding in Japan because the major headquarters of Rajaram Industries was located there. Mr. Kadam had made plans upon his death to bequeath the business to his young grandson, Dhiren Rajaram, with Nilima as the acting head until he finished school. Our wedding was the perfect time to introduce Ren as the new president of the company and, in a social setting, meet those who helped run the business.

Ren set the wedding date for August seventh. It was only six weeks away, but he romantically explained, “It’s when the stars come together this year.”

“Are you talking about the Star Festival?”

He stroked my hair and nodded. “The Sky King must have heard my wish last year.”

“Which one?” I teased. “You put hundreds of wishes on that tree.”

Leaning toward me, he cupped my cheek. “All of them,” he said softly.

After a very thorough kiss, I commented, “If we can’t arrange everything in time, how do you feel about eloping?”

Laughing, he hugged me close as Nilima bustled in, arms loaded with boxes, and leaned down to whisper in my ear, “Don’t tempt me.”

My foster family was flown to Japan a week before the wedding, and we both celebrated our happiness and mourned our losses together. We told them that Mr. Kadam and Kishan had died in a plane crash over the Andaman Islands a few months before. Sarah cried with me and expressed great sadness over Kishan especially, whose life had just begun. I nodded my head and felt the bitter pang in my heart whenever I thought of the golden-eyed prince.

Ren took my hand as I finished my story, and Sarah wiped her eyes and smiled at him. My brilliant diamond and sapphire ring sparkled in the light, catching her eye. Sarah gasped at its beauty. Smoothly exaggerating, Ren made up a story about negotiating with a private dealer, and I laughed as he described the gold dragon Jinselong’s human form and character in great detail.

Nervously, I twisted my ring and rubbed the bare spot directly below it where Kishan’s lotus shaped ruby used to sit. The night before, Ren had asked me for Kishan’s ring, which I reluctantly gave to him.

Knowing what I was thinking, Ren kissed my fingers and winked as he smoothly answered Sarah’s and Mike’s questions.

August seventh approached quickly and late that afternoon I found myself standing in front of a full-length mirror. A beautiful woman looked back at me. My brown eyes sparkled, and I could have sworn my jeweled-slipper-covered feet weren’t touching the ground.

Nilima had done an amazing job choosing my wedding dress. The tight beaded bodice cinched in my waist and was a perfect contrast to the dramatic and voluminous ball-gown skirt. I slid my hands over the ivory satin fabric and its intricate lace peek-a-boo underlay. The edges of the sweetheart neckline and dress’s split were lined with cascading champagne silk roses, and floral appliques spilled over my shoulders onto the cap sleeves. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

Nilima fussed with my cathedral train and helped me to put on hair combs adorned with creamy pearls and champagne-colored diamonds. I slipped on a matching pair of dangling earrings next, followed by what Nilima called a traditional Indian slave bracelet. A chain of tiny pearls attached the thick, jeweled bracelet and ring set.

I’d convinced her that I didn’t need themaangtika, a jeweled bindi hairpiece. Ren and I together had decided I would not get the traditional henna bridal tattooing because it reminded us too much of Phet’s tattoo.

Nervously, I spun around and asked Sarah, “What do you think?”

She put her hand to her mouth and smiled widely. Waving her hands over her eyes so she wouldn’t cry, Sarah said, “I think you look like a princess.”

“That’s very fitting, then,” Nilima said with just a bit of smugness.

I clutched her hand and gazed at Nilima’s and Sarah’s satin gold-draped gowns. “You look beautiful too.”

A soft knock on the door turned out to be Mike, who stepped into the room and offered his arm. Nilima handed me my bouquet. It was a gorgeous arrangement of cream and champagne roses, gardenias, sprigs of white jasmine, and buttermilk tiger lilies with little black streaks that reminded me of Ren’s tiger form. The scent was heavenly. Sarah blew me a kiss as she and Nilima left to take their places.

Mike looked handsome in his father-of-the-bride garb, but he pulled at the high collar of hissherwani coat a bit. I patted his shoulder, flashed him a smile, and said, “Just be happy you’re not wearing five hundred pounds of fabric like I am.”

Grinning sheepishly, he quit fussing and pulled me into a hug. “Thank you for asking me to stand in for your father.”

I felt emotion well behind my eyes and blinked rapidly. I had way too much mascara on my eyelashes to even think of crying. “You’ve been a great dad,” I replied.

Without further ado, we stepped outside onto the smooth stone pavement of the Futami Okitama Jinja Shrine and began our long walk to the spirit gate overlooking the ocean. I hoped that somewhere my parents were able to see me marrying the man I loved.

I also thought of my other father, Mr. Kadam. I wished that he could have been with me. He would have been so proud to walk me down the aisle and give me away to Ren. As Mike walked soberly beside me, I was sure I felt Mr. Kadam’s presence and joy for us.

The sunset was beautiful. Clouds had covered the sky for most of the day, but now the light hit the water, making the dark blue ocean glimmer like sparkling sapphire.

When we turned a corner, I saw the small gathering ahead: my family; Nilima, who was my bridesmaid; Sunil, who stood in as Ren’s best man and whose eyes were fixed on Nilima; my old wushu partner Jennifer, who had been flown in as a surprise and who was already crying; and a handful of carefully selected employees of Rajaram Industries. I’d been sad to learn that Murphy had passed away in the six months we’d been gone.

I had sent invitations to Li and Wes, both of whom sent cards wishing me congratulations. Li still wanted a rematch with Ren when we returned to Oregon and was dating off and on but hadn’t found anyone yet who appreciated game night.

Wes said he’d finally talked with his old girlfriend, and she forgave him for leaving her. She was happily married, and his mother began arranging blind dates for him with every eligible girl in Texas.

Li and Wes were good men, but they didn’t make my heart pound out of control like the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle. Japanese drums beat in rhythm as I headed toward the man I was going to marry.

At that moment, Ren turned his head toward me, and my breath caught. He looked so handsome in a traditional, cream-colored silksherwani coat and jeweledmojari slippers. His hair curled at the nape of his neck and hung appealingly over one of his eyes. As I came near, he brushed it back, away from his face, and held out his hands. His cobalt blue eyes locked onto mine, and he smiled his special lopsided smile. Everyone else seemed to disappear, and I felt as if I were in a dream.

My fingers tightened on my bouquet as I marveled that this gorgeous Indian prince, born centuries ago, would be my husband. The universe had given me an incredible gift, one more precious than fire power or the Divine Scarf. I had been given this extraordinary man to love.

I handed my bouquet to Nilima, slid my hands into Ren’s, and gazed up into his eyes as we stood beneath the shrine’s spirit gate. A thin Shinto priest stood on a simple wooden box next to us. He was bald and grinning, and he reminded me of Phet.

As we waited for him to begin, Ren smiled and I let out a nervous breath. The ocean breeze played with the fabric of my dress, which shifted softly, but at that moment, no power, natural or otherwise, was going to distract us from each other. His hands were warm, and I felt a slight hum of energy cycling between us.

Now I knew that our connection had always been cosmic. Ren and I had been destined to be together. He was always meant to be mine, and I was always meant to be his. Even though we no longer played the roles of the golden goddess and her tiger, our bond remained. I couldn’t read Ren’s thoughts, but I could sense his emotions—a twinge of nerves, sadness at the loss of his brother, and more than anything else, his overwhelming love for me and desire to make me happy.

The priest asked, “Who is responsible for this woman and gives her in marriage?”

Mike stepped forward. “I do.”

“Do you accept this young man and believe he will be a proper husband to her?”

“He has given me his oath that he will care for her as we do.”

The priest and Mike bowed to each other and then Mike stepped aside.

The priest began telling us about his shrine and the two rocks that jutted out of the ocean behind him. One of the rocks was much bigger than the other, and they were connected to each other by a type of rope.

“These rocks are calledMeoto Iwa, the wedded rocks. In English, they areLove andThe One He Loves. The larger rock is husband to the smaller one. He takes her to be his wife. They are joined by ashimenawa, an enclosed rope. This rope must be strengthened many times in the year.

“As you are entering a marriage you must also strengthen your bond to each other. When the tide is low, the rocks are not separated. But when the waves rise, only this rope attaches them. When troubles crash upon you, stand firm like these rocks and cling to each other through the bond you make this day.”

Then it was time for our vows. I heard sniffling nearby, which was clearly identifiable as Jennifer, but I ignored it, hoping I’d be able to recall everything I wanted to say to Ren.

I began, “Shakespeare said that journeys end in lovers meeting. You once asked me if our story was a comedy or a tragedy. We’ve seen our share of tragedy, and there are empty places here today, but my heart is not empty. My heart overflows. It’s warmed by your kindness, your patience, and most of all your love. You have been a steadfast companion, a supportive friend, a persistent wooer,” he raised an eyebrow, and I smiled, “and you’ve been my warrior angel. Your love has saved me more times than I can number. I hope, in time, that I’ll be able to return the favor.

“I know that each day I get to spend with you is a gift and one that I vow to treasure. I promise to always be yours. I belong with you and from this day forward I belongto you. If the universe had allowed me to fashion a man of my fondest desires, I would have created you.”

When I was finished, Ren squeezed my hands and smiled softly.

“Is it my turn?” Ren asked the priest.

“Yes, young man, you may now speak.”

In his warm voice, Ren promised, “My world was dark and bleak when you first came into my life, and at that time, you offered to me what I thought was the most precious of gifts—hope. It wasn’t long before I realized I needed more from you. I asked you to love me. Not a moment has gone by in the last two years when I wasn’t overwhelmed by my feelings for you.

He stretched out his hand and touched my cheek, stroking it with his thumb. “You are everything to me, Kelsey Hayes. Every moment with you shines brighter than the last.”

I heard the hiss of the ocean as the sun began to sink below the horizon. The warm rays of the setting sun touched Ren’s beautiful face as he softly sealed his vows with a poem.

I PROMISE

I promise to remain faithfully beside you.

I pledge to conquer faults; perfect my character.

I vow to deserve you.

I declare you’re my dream, my fervent wish fulfilled.

I offer my past wealth and future promises.

I swear to keep your trust.

I commit my soul’s fire and my body’s force.

I profess I am forever bound to your heart.

I proclaim I am yours.

“My heart is caged no longer,iadala, for you have set me free. I walked a very long and lonely road to find you, and I want you to know I’d go through it all again a dozen times over as long as I knew you waited for me at the end.”

My eyes filled with tears, and Ren caught one as it trickled down a lash. His warm smile filled me with happiness. I didn’t think the wedding could have been more perfect. And then Ren cracked open a jewelry box.

Two strands of tiny beads wound around each other in gold and blue. Small diamond and sapphire flowers ran down the length of the chain and in the center hung a diamond lotus flower with a ruby center. I pressed trembling fingertips to my lips as I recognized Kishan’s ring reworked into a new form.

Ren turned me around and then his warm fingers brushed my neck as he secured the clasp and explained, “This necklace is called aMangalsutra. The tradition of a groom giving this token to his bride on their wedding day goes back centuries. In ancient times, it was a simple bracelet that indicated to invaders that this woman belonged to another and was, therefore, under a man’s protection. Later, the necklace became a sign that a man and woman were committed to each other, much like an engagement ring. It’s a sign of an inseparable bond between a man and his wife.”

I turned back to him, and as he touched the beads along the edge, he spoke quietly, “Gold and blue tiger’s eye to remember what was found.” His finger trailed down to the lotus ruby in the center. “A diamond lotus and red ruby to remember what was lost.” He slid two fingers up the length of the chain over the dozens of tiny blue flowers. “And sapphire flowers that symbolize what will be.”

Ren took my hands and stepped closer. “Today, I give this precious token to the person most precious to me as a sign of my devotion and love. You are mymere jaan, my life, Kelsey Hayes.”

A few thin tears trickled down my cheek, but Ren gently brushed them away, his touch as light as the breeze. Then he nodded to the priest, who said, “As these two young people have pledged their lives and love to each other, with all of you as witnesses, we will now make their union official.”

He chanted in a singsong voice accompanied by the drums and pipes until the music abruptly stopped. With a toothy smile, he looked up at us and said, “Thistorri gate represents a crossing from the earthly plane into the spiritual. As you take your bride’s hand and step through to the other side, you begin your new life together. Before you were two and now you will be one, forever connected with an unbreakable bond.”

Confidently, Ren gripped my hands. “Are you ready?”

I leaned toward him with a smile and whispered, “What would you do if I said no?”

He ducked his head near my ear. “I have a remedy prepared should you prove to be a reluctant bride.” With a playful glint in his eye, he quickly bent over and before I could mutter a word of protest, he swept me into his arms, five-hundred-pound dress and all.

Laughing softly, I brushed his hair from his eyes and wrapped my arms around his neck while our audience cheered.

“Can I kiss you now?” he asked.

“I think you’d better, tiger,” I replied.

With a lingering kiss, Ren carried me through the torri gate and spun us in a circle to the accompaniment of enthusiastic Japanese musicians. He set me down and slid his hands down my arms. He was about to whisper something else when Sunil slapped him on the back, and well wishers surrounded us.

After animated congratulations from our family and friends and taking a few pictures before the sun was completely gone, Nilima bustled about, getting everyone moving along to the reception.

Ren kissed me thoroughly until I protested, “You’re ruining my makeup.”

He narrowed his eyes playfully. “That sounds like a challenge.”

I lifted my voluminous skirt and darted toward the waiting limousine. Over my shoulder I called out, “You’ll have to catch me first, tiger! Perhaps you’d rather be chasing monkeys.”

I squealed when I heard a growl right behind me and was suddenly lifted off my feet. After he bundled me into the limo, Ren pressed his cheek to mine.

“I’ve caught your scent, Mrs. Rajaram, and you’ll never escape my clutches again.”

“I sincerely hope not.” I giggled as Ren swept me into a passionate kiss that, despite my protests about my hair and makeup, didn’t end until we were halfway to the reception.

“I started off with a tiger and ended up with a husband,” I said as Ren wrapped me in his arms.

He kissed my nose. “And I started off with nothing and ended up with everything. I love you, Kelsey Hayes Rajaram.”

I smiled, loving every syllable of those three little words.

EPILOGUE

rising generation

Ren drove the McLaren roadster, my birthday present from Mr. Kadam, along the tree-lined road to the pretty South Salem duplex we had lived inso many months ago. Ren had shipped the car and bought up a significant amount of property in the surrounding forested hills with the intention of building us a home on what we both thought of as our mountain. We were finally starting our new life together, and in some ways, returning to our old one in Oregon.

Hopping out of the car in the driveway, I smiled, enjoying the pine and rain scent I lovedso much. I’d just pulled a bag from the backseat when Ren nudged it off my shoulder and scooped me into his arms.

“You weren’t going to deny me the opportunity to carry you over the threshold, were you?” Ren said, kissing me softly.

I stroked the hair at the nape of his neck and grinned. “Despite what you think, I’m not in the habit of denying your requests.”

“I think you may be in denial about your denials, Mrs. Rajaram.”

As Ren strode to the front door of our duplex, he listed all the things I’d denied in the time we’d known each other, stopping only when I pressed my lips against his.

He murmured finally, “I like the way you change the subject. Feel free to stop all our disagreements in the same fashion.”

Дата добавления: 2015-11-04