Jacinda's Challenge (Imperial 3) (7 page)

Dell was in front of his mother, looking young and uncomfortable as only a young boy could in his dress clothes. While Amina stood in front of her father, wearing the violet gown Jacinda had seen in Jotham’s visual.

“That has to be one of Kia’s creations,” Palma said seeing the gown for the first time.

“It is. Victoria insisted she make Amina’s too. Doesn’t she look beautiful? And so grown up. Where did my baby go?” Javiera found her eyes welling up again at the thought.

“She grew up.” Jacinda squeezed Javiera’s hand understandingly. “They do that. They grow up, leave home and find their own way. Who knows where their path may lead them.”

“I know. I’m so proud of her. I just thought I had prepared myself for this, but to see her standing there next to Victoria and knowing that one day that might be her…”

“We’re never really ready,” Palma told her. “I still look at Tosha and see my baby girl even though she’s given me two grandbabies.”

“Okay, now
that
I’m
not
ready for,” Javiera told her laughing. “Neither of you look old enough to be grandmothers.” She included Jacinda in her look, knowing Jacinda’s second son, Ethan, had two young sons.

“Oh, I so need to come to Kisurri more,” Jacinda shook her head laughing. “It is so good for my ego.” The ringing of Jacinda’s personal comm drew her attention and she reached into her bag to pull it out, smiling when she saw Danton’s name appear on the screen.

“Hello, Danton.”

“Mom! Where are you?” he demanded.

Jacinda frowned at her son’s tone. “I’m in Kisurri, visiting Palma. Why? Has something happened?”

“No, but why didn’t you let one of us know where you were going? What if something had happened and we needed to get hold of you?”

“Well it seems you
were
able to get hold of me just fine, so what did you need, Danton?” Her cool tone had Palma and Javiera looking at her curiously.

Silence reigned on the other end of the comm, as Danton sat back in his office chair feeling like a little boy who had just disappointed his mother. It had been cycles since he’d felt like that and found he didn’t like it any more now than he did as a child.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I was just worried when I stopped by the house and it was locked up. Myesha wasn’t there and not even Madame Nitzschke knew where you were.”

“You went next door to the Nitzschke’s?” Jacinda slapped a hand over her eyes and sighed heavily as she rested her elbow on the table. She would never hear the end of this, Madame Nitzschke’s one goal in life was to know everything about everyone and then tell everyone else about it. By now, half of Pechora knew that Danton had ‘lost’ his mother and rumors would be flying. “Oh, Danton…”

“I didn’t go to her door. She was walking by and I asked. I’m sorry. I know she’s an irritating old lady, but I panicked.”

“Why? Why would you panic? I am a grown woman, Danton. I’ve come and gone as I’ve pleased since before you were born.”

“I know, but Mom…”

“But what?”

“We lost Dad so suddenly…. I just… I just couldn’t take losing you like that.”

“Oh Danton,” Jacinda leaned back in her chair and felt her irritation fade away. “I’ve got a lot of life to live before I meet the ancestors. Now, why were you looking for me in the first place?”

Knowing he was forgiven, Danton quickly explained why he was looking for her.

“You do realize that it is only
three days
away, right?” Jacinda said exasperatedly.

“Of course.”

“And that I have nothing to wear?”

“What do you mean? You have a closet full of gowns.”

If Danton had been sitting next to her, his mother would have slugged him. “That are over
ten cycles old
!”

“So?” Danton was confused the way only a man could be when it came to clothing.

“You know, sometimes you are just like your father, and
no
that’s not a compliment, Danton!”

“But…”

“I’m going to disconnect now, Danton. I will let you know when I am home.” Jacinda jabbed the disconnect button wishing Danton could feel it where he was.

“Problem?”

Jacinda looked up to find both women giving her a concerned look. “Danton would apparently like me to attend the Annual Ball with him.”

“And he just
now
asked you?” Javiera gave her an incredulous look.

“Apparently I have a ‘closet full of gowns’ that would do.”

The two women looked at each other before they broke out laughing. “Oh, Jacinda, my nephew is such a
man
.”

“Yes,” Jacinda began to snicker with them, “he is.”

“Well you know what this means, don’t you?” Javiera said rising and received questioning looks from Palma and Jacinda. “We need to go see Kia.”

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“He gave you
three days
notice!” Kia shrieked looking at the three women before her. “For King Jotham’s Annual Assemblymen’s Ball! Jacinda! Did you drop that boy on his head when he was a baby?” With her hands flying, Kia spun around and started screaming for her assistants.

Jacinda found herself wiping away the tears that were streaming down her cheeks at Kia’s tirade. She’d forgotten how much she liked this woman. “No, Kia, I don’t think I did,” she told her following her deeper into her shop.

“Well, maybe you should have!” Kia spat over her shoulder. “Men! What do they think that ‘poof’ and amazing gowns just suddenly appear?!!”

“In his defense, Kia, Danton is a new Assemblyman and single. He has no idea how much time wives put into selecting their dress.”

“Where did he think you were going to find a gown?”

“In my ‘closet full’ of gowns.” Her words had Kia spinning around so quickly that Jacinda found herself taking a quick step back.

“Seriously?!!” Kia spat out. “He thought you’d just go into your closet and
pull out
something? You! You are Jacinda Michelakakis, the late Assemblyman Stephan Michelakakis’ wife!
You
set the standard for elegance in the House of Protection! Every woman there tried to imitate you and never could! And he expects you to make your return wearing something ten cycles old? Oh, I could just wring that boy’s neck!”

“I…” Jacinda looked at Kia in shock. “I… well thank you, Kia, but I’m not sure that’s true.”

“Don’t argue with me, Jacinda Michelakakis. I’m a designer and I know what I saw and I know how many of those obnoxious women used to come to me demanding to know what you were going to be wearing so they could try to outdo you.”

“They did?”

“Of course they did, especially that obnoxious Madame Pajari. She went as far once as to try and bribe one of my assistants to steal a design.”

“Seriously? Adelaide Pajari did that?” Jacinda while surprised, could see Adelaide Pajari doing just that. Adelaide’s husband, Elliott, had never been a very strong Assemblyman. He always wavered in his decisions, playing both sides. He would wait to see what the ‘popular’ vote was before he would cast his. He should have lost his position cycles ago, but still he kept being re-elected.

“Yes, so after that I banned her from my shop.” Kia reached into a cabinet and pulled out a nondescript garment bag. “Now this just might work.”

Gasping as one, all three women stared in astonishment at the gown revealed as Kia removed the protective covering. It was a long, trumpet mermaid-style gown in black. With a scooped neckline that was sheer, except for the violet beading around the edges that formed a thick ‘necklace’ before it moved down the bodice to create an intricate medallion snuggled between the bra cups.

“I designed this gown cycles ago, playing with what Cassandra had told me about Earth fashions. I’ve always loved it, but once we arrived here, there never seemed to be the appropriate occasion to present it to Cassandra.”

“Why wouldn’t there be?” Palma asked.

“Because it speaks too strongly of the House of Protection, so she could never wear it for a formal event, not now that she is the Queen,” Kia told her.

“Kia, it’s beautiful,” Jacinda whispered, her eyes traveling over the gown taking in its detailed simplicity.

“Thank you and I think with just a few alterations it will fit you perfectly.”

“Me?” Jacinda’s eyes shot to Kia. “Kia, I love it. It’s amazingly beautiful, but I couldn’t possibly wear it. I’m too old for it.”

“Oh please,” Kia waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t care how old you are. You don’t look a day over forty cycles and when you were forty, you
so
would have worn this.”

“I would have but…”

“But what?”

“I’m going with my
son,
Kia, not Stephan.”

“So what? You are making your return, Jacinda, and I’m going to make sure you do it in style. Especially since that twit Adelaide will be there. What I wouldn’t give to see her reaction when you walk in wearing this.”

“I second that.” Palma walked up to her sister, wrapping her arm around her waist.

“Palma…” Jacinda gave her sister a put-out look.

“At least try it on, Jacinda,” Palma encouraged seeing the desire in her eyes. “You know you want to. If you don’t like it, then we’ll look for something else.”

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Wonderful. Come. I’ll help you into it. Zee! Thoma! Bring refreshments for the ladies and then my alteration box.”

“Yes, Madame Juruas!” Both assistants who had silently entered the room immediately left to follow her orders.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Jacinda slowly turned so she could see the back of the dress in the mirror. She hadn’t realized when Kia had held it up that the beading of the scooped neckline hadn’t just circled around the back. Oh no, that would have been too easy for one of Kia’s creations. Instead, the ‘necklace’ had fallen halfway down her back with strings of beads radiating out from it. They attached to the sides of the dress making it conform to her body before it formed a jeweled belt at the small of her back.

“Here put these on.”

Jacinda gripped Kia’s shoulder as Kia lifted one of her feet to slide a strappy black four-inch heel that fit her perfectly.

“How did you know?”

“I still have your information on file, Jacinda.” Kia looked up at her for a moment. “Did you really think I wouldn’t? You were one of our first customers. You didn’t have to come to us, Jacinda. Neither of us is directly related to you. There was no reason for you to give us your support.”

“Of course there was. Yes, you were just starting out, Kia, and while you and Pazel were both young, your talent was undeniable. It’s not like I didn’t benefit from it.”

“You gave us more than that.” Slipping the other shoe on, Kia rose. “I know how you promoted us. How you encouraged others. Your standing in the House of Protection got so many women through the door.”

“But it was your talent that kept them, Kia. You owe me nothing.”

“We owe you everything.” The vehemence in Kia’s voice shocked Jacinda. “And now you will let me repay you. Come let’s see what the others think.” And Jacinda allowed herself to be led from the dressing room.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

“Oh, my ancestors!” Palma’s cup and saucer rattled as she set it down on the small table in front of her. “Jacinda….”

“What?” Jacinda froze at her sister’s words. “Do I look that bad?” She knew her sister would always tell her the unvarnished truth.

“NO!” Palma exclaimed her eyes running over her sister. “Jacinda, you look fabulous. Turn.”

Jacinda took several steps as she turned, her golden-toned leg appearing through the high slit of the skirt while the single panel attached to the jeweled ‘belt’ at her lower back flowed gracefully behind her. She smiled as she heard Palma and Javiera’s gasps when the daring back was revealed.

“Oh, Jacinda, you so have to get this gown,” Javiera whispered.

“And the shoes. My ancestors, Jacinda, you have to get those shoes!”

“You don’t think they make me too tall?” She stuck her leg out looking at the slender heel. “I don’t want to overshadow Danton.”

“You can never be too tall, Jacinda,” Javiera told her absently her eyes still traveling over the gown.

“Yes, you can, especially when you’re dancing.”

“Seriously, Jacinda?” Palma gave her an exasperated look. “After all these cycles let it go.”

“What are you talking about?” Javiera frowned at the two sisters. Even Kia looked at Palma questioningly.

“Henry Jezek and the Annual Holiday Ball for the House of Healing when we were still at the Academy. Henry’s father was also an Assemblyman and they insisted that he and Jacinda dance together. I think they hoped it might start a romance.”

“Right, like that was ever going to happen,” Jacinda scoffed.

“Well not after that dance,” Palma agreed.

“Why? What did this Henry Jezek do?”

“First, you have to understand Henry Jezek is short and Jacinda was wearing this fabulous pair of shoes that she had begged Mom for.”

“I didn’t
beg,
Palma.”

“Oh, Mom, please?” Palma imitated in a high-pitched, girly voice that had Jacinda laughing. “Please… I promise I’ll take care of them! They go perfectly with my gown. Please, Mama? I couldn’t believe she caved.” Palma shook her head smiling. “It was the ‘Mama’ that did it.”

“Oh, like you didn’t get your way too. You were ‘Daddy’s girl.’ All you had to do was turn those big brown eyes of yours at him and he gave you everything you wanted.”

“True,” Palma smiled unrepentantly.

“Umm, excuse me,” Javiera interrupted. “Henry Jezek?”

“Right, well with the shoes Jacinda wore, Henry’s eye only came up to here.” Palma put her hand level with her breasts.

“And he stared directly at them the entire valsa.”

“Seriously?” Kia asked.

“Seriously and that wasn’t the worst of it.”

“What was?” Javiera asked.

“He kept licking his lips like he couldn’t wait to taste them.” Jacinda shivered in revulsion at the memory.

“Why the little foabhor! Why didn’t you just walk away?”

“In the middle of the King’s Annual Ball? In front of all the Assemblymen from the House of Healing? Mom and Dad would never have forgiven me. It was only one valsa.”