CHAPTER NINE

"Elena?" whispered Major. "Honey, we're here."

She opened her eyes and smiled up at him, winding her arm around his neck and pulling him closer. He kissed her tenderly at first, then with such passion and desire, it took his breath away.

"I've missed you," she smiled.

"I've missed you more," he grinned. "Come on. Let me introduce you to everyone. Do you feel like walking, or should I carry you?"

"Major, I'm perfectly capable of walking. Gray said there was nothing wrong with me or the baby."

"I'm just being careful," he grinned. Tucking her hand in the crook of his arm, he walked down the aisle of the plane and stepped out to see his parents and about seventy-five other people smiling at them.

"Major!" said his mother, kissing his cheek.

"Hi, Mom. Dad," he smiled. "This is Dr. Elena Fayek. The woman I'm going to marry."

"Oh, she's lovely," said Stormy, wrapping her arms around the young woman. "You are a true Egyptian beauty."

"Thank you," smiled Elena. "You're so young. How are you his mother?"

"See, that's why you're going to keep her," laughed Stormy. "Elena, this is my husband, Jalen."

"It's so nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand. Jalen only pushed it aside and hugged her.

"We're family. We hug here," he laughed.

"Where is she? Where is she?" came the duet of voices. Claudette and Mama Irene were storming toward them.

"Oh. Oh, now, she's just lovely, Major. Well done, baby," said Mama Irene.

"She is a beauty with brains. My kind of woman," smirked Claudette. "Alright now, we're going to get this wedding taken care of. Preferences for flowers, colors, food, music?"

"Uh, Mama Irene, Claudette, maybe you could wait until we're settled in the cottage for this," smiled Major.

"No, no, it's alright," giggled Elena. "They're lovely. I like lilies and crocus. My favorite colors are purple and green."

"Mardi Gras colors," whispered Claudette to her mother. "She's a winner."

"Food? Anything that doesn't eat me first. And music, anything that makes people happy. I'm pretty easy to please." She placed a hand on her stomach, then over her mouth. "On second thought. Nothing with milk."

"Oh, dear. Those first few weeks can be a bother," said Irene. "As Major said, I'm Mama Irene, and this is one of my six daughters, Claudette. I also have nine sons."

"Holy cow!"

"Indeed," laughed the older woman. "Alright, Major. You get your girl to the cottage. I'll have Sage bring around the rings for you to look at there. Claudette and I will plan for the wedding, and Gwen will bring around some dresses. We've got it scheduled for tomorrow at four."

"Mama Irene…"

"Don't start with me, Major. You got that woman with child. You're gonna marry her unless she don't want you." She stared at Elena, who was still giggling over the old woman. Elena looked at Major, frowning playfully.

"Well, he is kind of quiet and stubborn sometimes. But I do love him," she grinned. He laughed, hugging her. "I think I'll marry him if that's alright."

"That's fine, just fine," she nodded.

"Then there's a party to plan," smiled Claudette. "Let's go."

"I love your family," laughed Elena, walking slowly with Major down the paths toward the main property. "This place is huge!"

"My family is wonderful," he nodded. "And yes, this place is huge. Later, I'll take you around and show you everything. We owe all of this to Mama Irene and Matthew."

"Do they really have fifteen children?"

"They do indeed. Although if you ask them, everyone here belongs to them. They're extraordinary humans. Unlike anyone you've ever met before."

"Your parents are beautiful. Truly. They're stunning people," she said. "I guess that means we'll have beautiful children as well."

"They'll be perfect, just like you," he said, kissing her.

"I should have trusted you," she said, turning to look up at him. "I should have called you and trusted that you would do the right thing, that your feelings were genuine. I'm so sorry."

"We're not going to talk about that. I should have hogtied you and made you come to Louisiana," he grinned. "I just preferred to give you the choice. We're here now, and you and me are going to be Mr. and Dr. Major Carson."

"Thank you for that," she smiled. "I think I'm okay with taking a break from work for a while. I really am excited to see what May and Thomas are working on."

When they reached his cottage, his parents were already seated on the front porch with Walker, Magnolia, Leif, Ellie, and Brix.

"It's so good to see you!" said Ellie, racing toward her. "I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too," she smiled. "You must be Magnolia."

"Yes. I've heard so much about you," she smiled. But Elena could see there was pain in her smile.

"Let me get her settled, then I'll come back out," said Major.

"No, no," she said, touching his arm. "I'd like to just sit out here and rock for a while if that's alright."

"Whatever you want," he grinned.

"Well, that's a sure sign that he loves you," laughed Walker. "He doesn't give in to anyone about anything. Stubborn as a mule."

"Like his father," laughed Stormy. "But they're worth it. All of them."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I've been known to be stubborn as well," smiled Elena. "When I get into my work, I can't seem to leave it alone."

"Speaking of work," smiled the very handsome man walking toward her. In fact, it was two very handsome men. Both tall and wide, with a bearing that said, ‘I'm in charge.'

"Elena, this is Luke Robicheaux and Eric Bongard. They are our team leaders with Voodoo Guardians."

"It's very nice to meet you both. But wait, aren't you still in the Army?" asked Elena.

"Well, that's a long story. We all were up for reenlistment, and when Magnolia was taken, Walker asked for early exit, and it was granted. The rest of us sort of followed suit. We're all retired from the Army and now working with our family."

"That's wonderful," she nodded.

"Do you feel up to a few questions?" asked Luke.

"Of course. I'm so grateful to all of you for coming for me," she said, nodding at the men.

"Elena, do you remember anything about what your father was working on when he died?" asked Eric. "Anything at all about the dig?"

"Not really," she said, shaking her head. "I was only eleven, and I was more interested in just digging and discovering something than knowing what I was digging for. Why do you ask?"

"We think that doctor at the hospital was connected to someone who might have wanted information you have on the last dig your father managed."

"That's crazy," she laughed. "That was twenty years ago. That tomb was closed by the government and never re-opened. They said it had no value other than a horrible grave for the men and woman inside."

"Elena, that tunnel was deemed safe and had been shored up by the engineers just the week prior," said Luke. The look on her face told him she knew nothing of it. "I'm sorry. But whatever your father was digging for was a joint effort between the Egyptian and British governments."

"Honey, would you have anything of your father's that might help us?" asked Major.

"Yes. I mean, maybe. I have all of his papers, documents, books, all of that in a small storage shed near my apartment."

"Is it secure?" frowned Walker.

"I mean, I think so. It has security. I mean, the security isn't great, but they have it. I've never had anyone bother it."

"They might not know it belongs to you," said Luke.

"Oh, it doesn't," she smiled. "It belongs to my stepfather. It's under his name, not mine. He had several units around the city for his grocery business. When I needed one, he gave me that one."

"See if Carter or Travis can get over there and get into the unit," said Luke. "Have everything shipped back here as soon as possible."

"Won't they need the keys to the locks?" frowned Elena. Eric gave her a sly grin, shaking his head.

"Not if they want to keep their jobs."