Chapter Thirty Four
Prologue
Trudging up the snow-cleared walkway, Natala Stojka took a deep breath. Finally, she was here. After a month of hitchhiking, wrong trails, stealing and sleeping on busses, she was here. Panic seized her at the last minute. What if she was wrong? What if she had the wrong man? What if he wasn’t her father? Or worse, what if he was and he rejected her? Told her to leave, take her dirty, unwanted self away from him and his family? Mama had reassured her that he wouldn’t, he was a kind, good man who take Natala in and help her out. But that was over twenty years ago when you knew him, Mama, Natala kept telling herself. People changed. And if he’s such a good man, why did you only just now tell me about him? Why didn’t we go to him sooner?
She knew the answer to that, of course. But now, with Mama gone and her uncle running things, she had had the chance to run. And she took it.
Once she had figured out the last name from really studying her birth certificate, and with the help of the internet, she was able to track him down to here, White Plains, New York. He was successful now. How would he feel about an unknown daughter suddenly showing up?
His house had been easy enough to find, but no one was home. Neighbor kids playing in the snow told her everyone was at the family celebration, two streets over. Couldn’t miss it, garish front lawn decorations and a whole lot of cars.
Her feet ached from weariness of walking, she was so cold she couldn't feel her lips, nose, fingers or toes. Her stomach growled, having not eaten for two days. She hadn’t felt a hot shower in weeks, forced to clean herself in bathrooms from the sink. Her long, light weight skirt was no match for the brutal New York winter, and her thin canvas sneakers were almost worn through. The denim jacket offered little protection against the cold, and she had managed to steal a scarf from somewhere along the way. Her duffel bag had been left behind when that one trucker got too rough and she had to bolt, leaving what little money she had in it. Thankfully, her birth certificate was in her jacket pocket. She never let that get away from her. It was the only proof she had.
Of course there were things like DNA tests, but she was about to disturb this man’s life. He had his own family, and who really wanted a child showing up out of nowhere? Especially one with her past.
Life for a Gypsy child was easier with the troupe in some ways. But only somewhat.
The neighbor had been right about the front yard. Natala had to laugh. The giant Santa and reindeer were present, but Santa’s hand was up and held a homemade attachment that she thought was supposed to be a sword as he stood over a reindeer. Rudolph had his red nose, and a red light attached to his backend as well. The big Frosty the Snowman had a giant bottle in one hand with WHISKEY hand written, and his smile was extra large. The inflated reindeer appeared to have sticks taped to their mouth to simulate smoking. Lights, tons of them, all colors, draped everywhere in a random fashion. Someone had a sense of humor.
Now, Natala stood outside the window, peering into the crowded room.
The Christmas tree was glowing with lights, weighted down with ornaments, many of them homemade. She could smell all sorts of good things cooking from outside, making her stomach rumble loudly. So many people, she thought! The house must have magical stretchy walls to fit everyone in.
There were teens and children everywhere, presents piled under the enormous tree in papers of all colors and patterns, being inspected by a small redheaded boy. Brunette, blonde, redhead— one girl even had blue streaks through short blonde waves, and another had multiple facial piercings. Tall, short, some a little heavier than others, but obviously related. Curly hair, wavy hair, straight hair. All varieties and what a mixed bag. This was her family, she thought, watching with envy as a pair of twin blond male teens chased a dark haired boy around the room. A third blond boy, a triplet! she thought appeared to block the boy’s path. Somewhere, she fit into this family tree. The ages ranged from probably 7 or so up to near her own age, of twenty-one.
Of the men there were three redheads, one a grandfather with mostly gray in his hair, the other two just beginning to show some gray. Four men with dark hair, two with blond. She studied the dark haired men. One was too old, also obviously a grandfather. The others though . . . one of the redheads might be too old but they looked to be in the right age group. They were all nice looking, she thought wistfully. Three had dark eyes, one had electric blue. Like hers.
Heart pounding, she studied him. He was shorter than some of the others, but stocky, his whole body looked muscled and powerful. His arm was around a slender woman, with big hazel eyes and honey colored hair. His gold wedding band gleamed and she wondered if it was him. Other than the eyes, she wasn't sure. Natala generally didn't look much like her mother.
There was the quiet one on the couch, with a dark haired boy snuggled in his lap as he read to him. No wedding ring. His dark hair was neatly trimmed and short, and his handsome features were smiling as he read out loud to the boy in his lap.
The other brunette wore black jeans and a maroon sweater, but still showed off a lean and strong frame, chest and arms. He sat on the loveseat, an extremely pretty brunette lady who exuded sensuality perched on his lap and whispering in his ear. The thick dark hair was unruly and the pretty woman kept running her fingers through it. His arms were wrapped tight around her and he too, had a wedding band. Whatever she was whispering was making him smile.
Natala looked back to the blue eyed man. His features were bigger than hers, maybe a bit Italian, she thought. His nose looked as if it had been broken one too many times and not fixed properly.
The small boy being read to hopped down from the man reading and headed for another room.
With a heavy sigh she stepped to the front door as there was a burst of laughter from somewhere in the room. Footsteps pounded as someone was chased past the door and a woman was yelling for them to settle down.
Natala hesitated, and then rang the doorbell. A loud commotion and then the door was opened by one of the triplet boys and she was hit by a blast of warm air. Were these her brothers? She wondered. Cousins? Would they tell her to get lost?
“Hi. Who’re you?” he demanded, as his twin appeared behind him.
“Don’t be rude, Logan. Can we help you, miss?”
Natala stared at them, opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t. Blood rushed in her ears, spots swam before her eyes and her knees buckled as she sank to the ground.
*
Leif Duke grabbed the girl as she collapsed.
“Uncle Brian!” Logan shouted. “Come quick!”
Dan Mangan was closest to the door, being en route to the restroom. He took the unconscious girl from Leif, and carried her to the sofa, even as Brian rose to help. Dan laid her down gently and Brian studied her with concern.
The concerned family crowded around, peering at her. Brian took the heavy afghan from the back of the sofa and draped it over.
"Hey, back off guys, it'll terrify her to wake up and see so many people,” Brian ordered. “She’s not a circus attraction. Can someone get some hot cider for her? She’s half frozen. And blankets. Quickly, her skin is almost blue.”
"You heard him, kids, back up. Give the girl some room." Bo directed traffic, ushering the kids away from the sofa. “Aralyn, some blankets please, and socks. Daisy, warm cider or tea?”
Brian knelt next to her as Mart brought him his medical bag. In a family this big, Brian was never without it.
"Her pulse is a little fast but she looks ok," he said. “She’s incredibly thin, though, and I suspect malnourished. Look at her face.”
“She couldn’t have weighed much, maybe hundred thirty,” Dan said.
“She’s as tall as Tiffany or Aralyn,” Leif said, his blue eyes concerned. “Maybe the same age.”
“She’s dehydrated too. Her skin is as dry as paper,” Brian opened her eyes and flashed a light in them. “Her wrist isn’t much bigger than Val’s.”
“She’s rather pretty,” Tiffany commented. Lyris nodded and the trio draped blankets over her. Aralyn started removing the girl’s shoes and tugging her heavy woolen socks over the girls feet.
“What on earth is that child doing out in the cold?” Helen Belden asked, hovering behind her oldest son. “And dressed like that? No wonder she’s frozen!”
The girl's eyes fluttered open and she blanched when she saw everyone staring at her. The dark smudge on her cheek stood out against the fair skin. Her eyes were bright blue, and wide with terror.
"Hey, it's all right. No one will hurt you," Brian said softly, smiling at her. "Do you know where you are?"
She opened her mouth but nothing came out.
“Here, take a sip,” Brian took the glass of water Sean offered, and held it to the girl’s lips. She drank greedily instead, one thin hand taking the glass. Daisy appeared with a mug of warm cider that she handed to Brian.
Natala drained the glass and Sean took it from her. Brian wrapped her delicate hands around the warm mug.
"I'm looking for my father," she blurted out, eyes drifting between the dark haired men.
To everyone in the room, she was just looking at all the people. Aralyn shooed her siblings and cousins back a few more feet. Something told her there was about to be a bombshell.
"Hey, Trix, this looks like your field," Brian said to his sister. “Brush off those detective skills.” he smiled at Natala. “Lucky for you, my sister is still an awesome detective, as are a few of these guys.”
Natala shook her head. "No, he's one of you."
“What?” Brian asked, startled. The teens, gathered in a bunch, perked up with interest. Adult eyebrows went up.
“One of you is my father.”
Silence washed over the room and the male Duke cousins found themselves looking at each other, along with their wives.
Trixie raised one eyebrow at Bo, who looked at Luke.
Honey felt her heart pound when she realized Luke had gone ashen.
Daisy looked between her cousin Luke and husband Dan. The pretty girl's hair was thick and black and long, and her features delicate. Her eyes were electric blue like Luke's.
Eyes began to shift toward Luke and Dan.
"Well, do you know his name, miss? We're all family, but you kind of look like a lot of us." Bo said gently.
Eyes fastening on him, Natala took a deep breath as his name came to her lips.
Every wife braced herself to hear her husband’s name.
Meet the cast in full & see the family tree!
Author’s Notes
- A huge yee-haa to the fabulous and lovely Ronda, for editing this and her suggestions which made it much better!
- Natala is going to stick around for a bit as she acclimates to her family. She has a dark story to tell, that needs telling.
- Word Count, 7,629
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