Bonus Chapter 3
Six Years Later
Vine Keeper Annaria
I smiled at Natasha and Scarlett as I walked into the living room. Gilda immediately jumped up from her place in front of the fireplace where she was playing with dolls with Roma. She threw her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly.
“Grandma Annaria! Hi!” She gushed.
I scooped her up into my arms, tossing her into the air before setting her back down on the floor. “Hello, my beautiful little Gilda. How are you today?” I asked.
“I’m great. Do you want to play dolls with Roma and me? You can be Daisy.”
“Daisy? Which one is Daisy?”
“Daisy is my favorite,” she told me before running over to pick up a doll. When she came back to me, she held up a beautiful doll that had been created to look like Annie, and it made my heart ache. “This is Daisy. Auntie Scarlett says she made it to look like my mom so I would always know what she looked like.”
I furiously blinked my tears back. No matter how many days had passed or even that I saw her almost every day, losing Annie hadn’t stopped hurting. Not even in the slightest. She should be here with Gilda and me. I took her hand, placed the Annie look-alike in it, and smiled sadly at her.
“Actually, Gilda, I can’t stay, but I was wondering if you wanted to go somewhere with me?” I asked her.
Her eyes lit up excitedly as she nodded. “Yes. I want to go.”
“Let me finish up this report, and I’ll go get my shoes,” Natasha said from the couch.
“Actually, Alpha Sow Natasha, where I want to take her, you can’t come,” I said, making her glare at me.
“Absolutely not!” Natasha growled. “I am her grandmother, and if I can’t go, then neither can she.”
Scarlett smiled at Gilda. “Go get your shoes, honey, and make sure you put on a jacket. It’s a little cold outside.”
“Scarlett, I said–”
“With all due respect, Mom, Annie left Gilda in my hands. Not only that, but I am the Alpha Sow, not you. Besides, who are we not to trust someone that Annie did with her daughter. Vine Keeper Annaria will protect Gilda better than you, or even I, can. So, yes she is going. The only thing we need to know is when she will be coming home.” She turned her head to meet my eyes. “When will she?”
I smiled at her as I answered, “It shouldn’t take more than a few hours, but it depends on how long it takes.”
She tilted her head as she studied my face. “Are you taking her there?”
“Yes.”
She nodded, waving her hand in my direction. “Take as long as you need.”
I relaxed while Natasha got even angrier. “Thank you.”
Gilda ran back into the room to hug Scarlett who squeezed her tight. “Love you, little bean.”
“Love you too, Auntie Scarlett.”
When she hugged Natasha, her other grandmother glared at me over her head. “Be safe, my love. If you need me, just link.”
“I will, Gramma. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
Gilda beamed at her. “Not possible.”
Gilda giggled as she took my outstretched hand, eagerly following me out of the house, swinging our hands. I smiled down at her before stopping in a small clearing just inside the forest border. I had her kneel on the ground before I mirrored her position in front of her. I took her hand to place it palm up on her lap as vines started to come up from the ground to wrap loosely around her.
“This is going to be uncomfortable, maybe even hurt, the first time, but it will get easier. Now, what I want you to do is take a deep breath and close your eyes,” I instructed as a vine wrapped snugly around her wrist.
I closed my own eyes when a vine wrapped around my wrist, piercing it with thorns while Gilda gasped. When I opened, I relaxed completely when I saw that Gilda had trusted both me and the vines to keep her safe. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have joined me in this world. I held out my hand to her again.
“Are you ready, sweetheart?”
“Yes, Grandma Annaria.”
I began to walk down a path to the beautiful dock that overlooked an even more gorgeous lake. It was one of my favorite places to go, and I was happy to finally be able to share it with Gilda. As we neared it, the six people waiting for me all had their eyes glued to Gilda, who was now trying to hide behind me as we walked. When we finally reached the small group, I smiled at them.
“I brought a special someone along with me today,” I told them. “I wanted you to meet.”
Annie walked over to us with Logan flanking her, putting his hand on her shoulder when she got down on one knee in front of me, smiling.
“Hi, Gilda,” she murmured softly. “Do you know who I am?”
Gilda nodded shyly, still hiding behind me. “You’re my mommy, and that is my daddy.”
Logan crouched behind Annie with his arms open. “And you’re our daughter.”
Gilda looked up at me curiously, and I nodded, telling her it was okay. She let my leg go to run into Logan’s and Annie’s arm, sniffling loudly as they cradled her against Annie’s chest while Logan stroked her hair lovingly. I beckoned to the other four people who were watching the small group cling to each other. Giselda took Clarissa’s hand while Milton took Priscilla’s before leading them over to sit next to the three already in front of me. Giselda smiled warmly at her.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Gilda,” Giselda said.
Gilda buried her face in her mother’s chest. “Hi, Auntie Giselda. Uncle Milton.”
Surprise crossed all of their faces, making Annie eye me curiously.
“We promised that you wouldn’t be forgotten, Annie. Scarlett and Alice have made sure that Gilda knows all about all of you.”
Annie kissed Gilda’s face. “Thank you, Mom.”
“Who are they?” Gilda asked, pointing to the two children who were approximately her age.
“Well, this is your cousin, Clarissa,” Giselda said, gesturing to her daughter. “And that little girl is your younger sister, Priscilla.”
Gilda beamed at them, proudly showing off her two missing teeth. “I’m Gilda.”
Annie met my eyes again. “How long do we have?”
“Scarlett said to take our time, but I will be bringing her everyday when I come.”
Annie smiled softly down at Gilda who was looking up at her. “Perfect.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
