The prisoner from the night before stood with Leeman in the living room. He’d obviously been cleaned up and his clothes were new. Although he was painfully thin, he held his shoulders back with pride, and Aspen was convinced that he was someone important.
The man’s eyes made contact with her mother’s and a huge smile broke out on his face. Norma shrieked and ran across the room as fast as she could. Aspen watched in amazement as her mother flung herself into the man’s open arms. She hugged him tightly and burst into tears.
This was a shocking sight. Her mother had never acted like this before. Who was this person? The stranger closed his eyes and rested his chin on her mother’s head, seeming to draw comfort from the fact that Norma was in his arms.
Gooseflesh prickled along Aspen’s skin as her mother drew back and touched the man’s face reverently. “Roman,” she whispered.
Aspen froze.
“Roman, you’re here. How is this possible?” Norma pulled his face down and pressed kisses all over his cheeks. The man lifted her up into the air so that her feet dangled, and squeezed her as tightly as he could.
“Norma, my precious. I’ve missed you so much.” His voice was gruff with emotion, and the two clung to each other for a few moments.
Aspen stared at the man in a daze. This couldn’t be true. She looked at Leeman for answers, but he was beaming with joy.
Once Roman had placed Norma back on the floor, he stoked her face tenderly, as if he wanted to memorize her every feature. In a state of shock, Aspen cleared her throat, and he glanced up and caught her eye.
“My princess.”
Stunned, Aspen stood where she was, her feet practically glued to the floor.
Her mother looked back to stretch her hand out to her. “Honey, come and say hello to your father.”
Aspen felt blood rush into her cheeks and she swayed slightly. “My f-father,” she stuttered.
“I can’t believe how beautiful you are.” Roman’s thin face broke into a smile and he stepped toward her. “I’ve tried to imagine how you would look after all these years, but you’ve left me speechless.”
She stood still as he approached her. Norma clung to his arm and walked with him as he reached out to touch Aspen’s face.
“Dad?” she said softly.
Her father pulled her against his chest and wrapped both arms around her, hugging her tightly. “My sweet, sweet princess. I thought I’d never get a chance to hold you again.”
Aspen’s throat closed up and her heart swelled. A sob rushed through her chest, and she jerked as it hit her airways. She bawled out loud as an old ache that had long been suppressed beat against the walls of her heart and finally exploded.
Roman hugged her even closer against his body and rocked her from side to side. “Shh, my precious angel, my little princess. I’ve got you. You don’t need to cry anymore.”
She couldn’t help herself as huge tears spilled from her eyes to wet her father’s shirt.
Her father waited for the worst of her sobs to subside before gently pulling her away. She tried to wipe her face and runny nose, and sniffed loudly.
Leeman dug into his pocket and hauled out a handkerchief, and she took the cloth gratefully.
“How did you survive?” Aspen asked when she could finally speak. “We thought you were dead.”
Roman held both her hand and Norma’s, and led them over to the sofa. “I have to sit down, I hope you don’t mind. I need to build up some strength, and it’s going to take longer than one day, I’m afraid.” He sank onto the soft cushion and grimaced.
“Oh, my sweetheart, what can I get you? You look so pale.” Norma’s face was pinched with worry.
“Sit down and relax, I’ll make everyone some coffee. I think Roman has a lot to tell us.” Nothing could remove Leeman’s smile, and he walked into the kitchen to make a pot.
Roman snuggled Aspen under his arm and looked at Norma. He gripped her hand as though he couldn’t bear to let it go again. “I’ve missed you so much. I still can’t believe you’re with me.” With a sigh, he shut his eyes tightly.
Aspen could see tiny nicks under his chin where he must have shaved in a rush. His skin was so pale that small blood vessels were visible along his throat, and dark chest hairs peeked out from beneath the collar of his shirt. She breathed in his scent. It smelled so familiar and comforting.
His bright blue eyes snapped open and he reached for Aspen’s watch. “You still wear this?” he asked.
“Yes, it’s all I had of yours,” she replied, and he hugged her against his body for a second.
“What happened to you?” Norma lifted her hand and touched his cheek. “They told me you were dead. They said your body had been incinerated and there was nothing left.” Her lower lip wobbled, and this time Roman pulled her against his chest.