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He slowed down as he drove through the village. Only a few people were out, all of which were furious looking men. None of them were wearing shoes or shirts, the only piece of clothing that covered their bodies being shorts or jeans. Niev had a feeling that they weren’t usually this angry. Deep within, she knew her appearance in their home had to do with their emotions. That resparked her fear and she doubted her decision to come–it no longer seemed like a wise choice.
She felt Blake tensing up as he drove closer to the house on the hill and parked at the end of the road. It took her a while to be able to climb off the bike. Her legs didn’t seem to want to move and when her feet finally touched the ground, she was unsteady, causing her to lose her balance. Blake’s arm quickly wrapped around her waist keeping her from falling to the ground. He grabbed her backpack and leaned toward her, gently kissing her forehead.
“You’ll be fine,” he said with a strong confidence that she wished she had herself.
“They won’t like me.” Her voice was a mere whisper.
“I know you’re uncomfortable with this whole situation, but if you all get to know each other you’ll get along just fine.” He paused and played with her hair. “My father’s name is Tanner, and my mother’s name Mayra. I’m sure Seth will be there too.” He sighed as if he just realized something, his face changed, and he seemed to feel guilty about something. “I should’ve asked you before telling Seth about the baby. I had no right telling him about your pregnancy without your permission. I hope you can forgive me.”
“Isn’t that the whole reason we’re here, so we can tell your family?”
His face lightened up a little, his lips twitching into a crooked smile. “Yes, it is but he might have already told my parents.”
She nodded, her throat suddenly too dry to talk.
“I should’ve told you before coming here, but I was afraid you wouldn’t come at all if I had told you. All you see and hear today must stay a secret. You cannot tell anyone. No one can ever know. It is very important.”
She nodded again.
With his arm around her waist, he walked her up the hill to the house. “I grew up in this house. My ancestors built it, and ever since my family has lived here.”
He seemed genuinely excited to show her where he grew up. He seemed to be more open about himself now that she was here. His openness toward her and how he grew up was quite different from the closed off Blake she knew before. Niev was surprised and grateful he was finally opening up to her.
“My niece and nephew love spending time here. They never want to leave. There’s a huge tree in the backyard that my grandfather planted as a child. Seth and I built a treehouse in its branches and now my niece teases Seth’s son that she’s the only one who has learned to climb it.”
Blake had only talked this freely about his family once. It warmed her heart to hear him speak so lovingly about his past. It made his family seem loving and less intimidating.
Two men sat on the front porch of the house. The closer she got, the surer she was that it was Seth sitting next to an older man. She didn’t understand how he could be here already, how could he have been faster than Blake and herself. She didn’t see another car or bike close by that he could’ve used. Seth’s face was just as serious as before, but the old man seemed less worried. He had a friendly, wrinkled face framed by long gray hair.
Seth looked up as they came closer, his eyes resting cold on her. “You’re slow. They’re already waiting for you inside. She’ll stay out here with Bill while we discuss how to deal with this situation.”
Blake clearly didn’t like that, his muscles tensing while he clenched his jaw. “Niev is part of this and will be part of this conversation.”
“No, she won’t. Father has commanded me to leave her with Bill and she will obey.”
Seth’s dominance over Blake made her feel uncomfortable. Even though she didn’t like it, deep down she knew she had to follow his demands if she wanted to have a chance of being accepted by him and the rest of Blake’s family.
Blake silently walked her to Bill. He turned to her, leaned down, and kissed her lips. The kiss was short but intense, Blake not wanting to leave her. She didn’t want to leave his side either. She wanted him to stay with her. She was even a little afraid to be without him.
“I’ll be back in a little bit. Bill will keep you company.” His next words were directed to Bill. “Don’t leave her side.”
His words seemed to resonate much more. He seemed to have told Bill to do whatever was necessary to protect her without having to use his words. He then walked by Seth’s side into the house.
“What did you tell them?” were the last words she heard before the door closed behind them.
Niev sat down next to Bill and started to admire the view over the village. The houses were spread all over the grass and were connected by little footpaths. The only street was the dirt road leading through the village to the hillside, from which she was now overviewing the village. Looking closer, she noticed that each house had solar panels on their rooftop which she guessed provided them all with electricity.
She gazed over the houses and noticed a small house by the edge of the surrounding forest. A woman was hanging up laundry with a young child running through the grass by her feet. She watched the two for a while. The child kept trying to pull down the mother’s laundry until a man stepped out of the woods, with an ax over his shoulders and scolded the child. The whole scene warmed her heart, and she couldn’t help but wonder if that would be her life–if Blake’s family accepted her. She pictured herself sitting on the porch of Blake’s cabin, watching him and their child fixing the cars in front of the house. Unconsciously, she put her hand on her belly and gently rubbed it.
“Now I understand.” Bill’s face lit up as he watched her hand rub over her belly. “His search for a place in life has come to an end.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant or how she should respond, so she sat silently by his side until the sun began to set and the shadows of the trees and houses grew longer. She watched as the sun started painting a beautiful, golden picture in the sky.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but it passed too slowly. She couldn’t stop thinking about Blake, wishing he were by her side.
The door behind them burst open, making Niev jump up and turn around. Seth came marching through the door, full of rage. Bill grabbed her arm and gently pulled her out of Seth’s path. Without acknowledging her, he let out a frustrated growl and ran off.
“Blake let him be, he needs time.”
