Plain Return (The Plain Fame Series Book 4) (16 page)

Softly, Amanda began to sing a hymn in Pennsylvania Dutch, something that her mother had done so many years ago. She hoped that the uplifting tune and softness of her voice would calm Isadora. Instead, she cried out for her grandfather.

Alejandro began to pace the floor, his shoulders pushed back as he tried to remain calm. Amanda did not even need to look at him to know that the noise of the child’s crying and the tension in the air was breaking down his resolve to remain calm. Focusing on Isadora, Amanda continued singing as she rubbed her back, hoping against hope that it would pacify her.

When someone knocked at the door, Alejandro hurried to answer it. Amanda shifted her weight so that he could open it without knocking into either her or Isadora. A young woman walked into the room, and Alejandro spoke to her in Spanish. And there it begins, Amanda thought. Whatever Alejandro said to the woman would, undoubtedly, be repeated to friends and posted on social media.

How long,
she wondered,
until the entire world knows about this love child?

The young woman knelt beside Amanda and began to speak to the child in Portuguese. Within minutes, the hysterics turned to soft sobbing and the loud cries to mere whimpers. Between them, the woman and Amanda managed to calm Isadora and even persuaded her to turn around so that they could wipe the tears from her face.

Alejandro spoke softly and slowly in Spanish so that his words could be translated. At one point, Isadora looked at him with her blue eyes, the first time that Amanda had noticed her do so. And then, just as quickly, she turned her gaze to Amanda.

In that moment, as the swollen, tearstained face of the five-year-old girl tilted so that she could get a better look at her, something stirred inside Amanda. It felt like the slow rumble of distant thunder in her heart and grew until she was struck with the realization that she was now responsible for mothering this child. Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked rapidly, hoping that she could stop herself from crying. She forced a smile and, once again, reached out to brush her fingers against Isadora’s cheek, touching the outline of a final tear.

Isadora was obedient. That was the first thing Amanda noticed about her. She listened to Alejandro’s voice and paid attention to the woman translating what he said into words that she could understand. Those blue eyes did not question the strange man who spoke in a different language. And, to Amanda’s surprise, Isadora remained transfixed by her as the woman continued translating. At one point, Amanda held out her hand, palm up, and encouraged Isadora to take it. She did.

“Come with me,” Amanda said softly.

The woman beside her translated the words.

“Trust me, Isadora,” Amanda continued. “I want to wash your face and then hold you a spell.”

The woman hesitated, not quite understanding, before she figured out how to translate.

Quietly, Amanda stood up and walked as slowly as she could toward the bedroom door, holding Isadora’s hand. Isadora padded along beside her. Amanda’s heart pounded as the two of them left the safety of the large open room with the translator who could help them communicate. But Isadora clutched her hand, and there was nothing more than a sniffle to indicate that, just a few minutes before, she had been crying so hysterically.

In the bathroom, Amanda led Isadora to the sink. She watched as those blue eyes stared at the fancy bathroom with its crystal chandelier hanging over a large bathtub and marble tiles lining the floor and walls. After giving Isadora time to take in the new environment, Amanda placed her hands on the girl’s tiny waist, pausing to indicate with a tilt of her head that she intended to lift her to sit on the counter. Without any fight, Isadora allowed her to do just that.

As the silence was broken by the sound of running water, Amanda reached for a white hand cloth. After waiting for the warm water, she wet the cloth and wiped Isadora’s cheeks. She tried to maintain eye contact as she silently prayed for help from God. The thought of caring for a child did not overwhelm her. The thought, however, of caring for
this
particular child did.

At home in Lititz, there were always children present at gatherings. Children were a very important part of the Amish lifestyle. Amanda remembered well how her younger brother, Aaron, used to cry and fuss when he was small. Their mother never once lost patience with him. Instead, she would smile and talk softly, comforting him by projecting her own sense of peace. Amanda could only pray that she might imitate her mother’s practice and find success in comforting Isadora.

When they returned to the sitting room, Alejandro was standing at the window again. The translator spoke to Isadora. With some reluctance, the girl released Amanda’s hand and took the other woman’s. They walked over to the kitchen area, giving Alejandro and Amanda some privacy.

“Alejandro?”

He did not move. With his back still turned toward her, he reached out his hand for hers. She crossed the room and took it. For a long moment, they stood there, staring out the window at the city of Rio de Janeiro, no words passing between them.

She rested her head on his shoulder and felt a sense of calm fill her.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
The verse from Psalms came to her mind as if God spoke to her, his words filling her with the peace that she hoped to project. Amanda knew that, without a doubt, God’s plan was unfolding before her eyes. Everything that had previously made little to no sense to Amanda now became clear. He had led her to this very moment, a moment that would undoubtedly change the lives of many people, especially one: Isadora Daniela da Silva.

Amanda knew that Alejandro’s decision would have been different under different circumstances. Most likely, he would have dismissed the woman who’d come from the government, and without even setting eyes on Isadora, he would have sent her to live in the orphanage. She would have been destined to live a life of structure and routine, with limited emotional support until the time came for her to be discarded into the streets of Rio de Janeiro.

But turning his back on his own child was the old Alejandro . . . Viper from the past. The new Alejandro knew that he could not just run away from his responsibility. Amanda couldn’t help but wonder if that would have been the case if they had not met.

“It’s going to be all right,” Amanda said. And for the first time since she had awoken that day, she actually meant it.

Chapter Fourteen

Ever since their departure from the hotel, Isadora had clung to Amanda, her eyes widening with fright at everything: from the car that picked them up at the hotel to the crowds at the airport, and then the airplane. Nothing had been easy about that day. In fact, it seemed to get progressively worse with each moment that passed. At several points, Amanda felt that she might break down and cry. She was overwhelmed by the surreal feeling that she was trapped in a bad dream, especially whenever tears welled up in Isadora’s eyes.

The photographers had been waiting outside of the hotel overnight. Alejandro tipped Amanda off that they were waiting for Viper’s departure. Now the world would know that a child was leaving with them.

“Perhaps Geoffrey should get your publicity people on this?” Amanda had suggested.

But Alejandro merely shook his head. She knew that the shock she felt was just a fraction of what he was experiencing. Her suggestion went ignored as he stood there in the center of the room, perfectly composed in every way except for his worried eyes.

He watched her hold Isadora, who, after an hour of sobbing, had finally fallen asleep in Amanda’s arms. Reluctant to release the child, Amanda rocked her back and forth, slowly and gently so that she didn’t disturb her. Occasionally, she looked down into the sleeping face of Alejandro’s illegitimate child. Her heart broke for Isadora, who by all indications had lived a tough life, if not physically then at least emotionally.

But she wasn’t so certain that Alejandro was feeling the same thing.

Despite his strong composure, she saw the truth. He couldn’t hide it from her. His eyes gave it away: Alejandro was terrified.

“She’s sucking her thumb,” Amanda whispered.

Alejandro glanced down at his daughter and then looked away.

“Alejandro?”

He tugged at the sleeve of his shirt and smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles. “We won’t make a public statement,” he said. “Not yet.”

Ah, she thought. So that was what was occupying his mind. “They’ll speculate,
ja
? Won’t that be worse?”

He looked at her through exhausted eyes. “They’ll know.” And with that simple explanation, he reached into his pocket for his phone and walked out of the room, his attention on the phone and not on the turmoil unfolding behind him.

Ten minutes later, the knock on the door announced the arrival of security guards. Alejandro returned from the next room and stood before Amanda. “I’ll carry her,” he said. They hadn’t anticipated that the transfer would awaken Isadora, but upon seeing herself being removed from Amanda’s arms, she began to squirm and cry. When she reached out her arms in Amanda’s direction, her small feet kicking at Alejandro’s arms and chest, Amanda couldn’t take it anymore.

“Here, let me, then,” she said, opening her arms to receive the little girl.

Alejandro did not appear happy with the exchange.

When they had finally calmed Isadora down and managed to make their way to the lobby, the media began snapping photos and asking questions right away. Because of the language barrier, neither Alejandro nor Amanda understood what they were asked, and they walked straight through the crowd to the waiting car. Isadora, however, had understood them, and she wrapped her arms around Amanda’s neck, hiding her face from the noisy crowd of people. Even when Amanda tried to get the child into the car, Isadora had refused to release her grip, making it necessary for Amanda to climb in while still holding her.

And then came the scene at the airport.

Amanda hoped that one day she might find humor in the difficulty they’d encountered when they had boarded the private jet. Isadora, her hand clutching Amanda’s and her body pressed tightly against her side, had stopped when it came time to ascend the stairs to the airplane. She simply refused to move.

Alejandro was already on board with his phone to his ear, having a teleconference. The security detail stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for Amanda and Isadora to follow him, but Isadora refused. She stared at the airplane as if she didn’t know what it was. It dawned on Amanda that Isadora had never flown before, so she approached her gently and gestured for her to climb the stairs. But Isadora shook her head and turned, burying her face in Amanda’s skirt.

Desperate for help, Amanda looked at the security guard who had accompanied them to the plane. “Please,” she said. “Could you explain to her that everything is fine?”

He nodded and, in a gentle voice, translated Amanda’s words.

No response.

“Amanda!”

She looked up and saw Alejandro standing in the doorway of the plane, a look of frustration on his face. “I’m trying, Alejandro,” she responded, and motioned toward Isadora. “She’s afraid.”

The muscles in his jaw twitched, and she knew that he was clenching his teeth. Yet he remained composed, probably because he suspected that they were being photographed by paparazzi and fans from the windows in the airport. “Pick her up,” he instructed. “We need to get going.”

Amanda glanced at Alejandro and sensed his stress. She suspected that it was not just because of the events of the morning, but more due to being behind schedule. Further delays would alter his afternoon appointments. The unpredictable behavior of a small child would not ease the pressure he already felt on tour. Perhaps, she thought, holding Isadora might help alleviate whatever fears the girl had. Gently, she tried to extract herself from Isadora, but the child’s grip on her skirt was fierce. Eventually, Amanda sighed and looked at the security guard. “Would you . . . ?” she started to ask, but couldn’t finish the sentence.

“¡Ay, mi madre!”
Alejandro stomped down the stairs and reached down for his daughter. His hands encircled her tiny waist as he lifted her into his arms. The girl began to scream, her fingers still holding Amanda’s skirt, unbeknownst to Alejandro. As he climbed the stairs again, Amanda had no choice but to hurry after him, her legs exposed. Isadora reached out to her over Alejandro’s shoulder, tears streaming down her face.

The flight attendant took a step back, allowing room for Alejandro to carry the girl into the plane and set her into a seat, the edge of Amanda’s skirt still clutched in her fingers. Embarrassed, Amanda quickly slid past Alejandro and took the seat next to Isadora, who immediately crawled into her lap and sobbed against her shoulder.

Alejandro mumbled something in Spanish before sitting down in the seat facing them. He exhaled and rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly weary from the stress of the day. With the exception of takeoff and landing, Isadora remained on Amanda’s lap during the entire flight, while Alejandro simply stared out the window, the lack of conversation between them speaking volumes about his frustration, Amanda’s concern, and Isadora’s fears.

Fortunately, their arrival at the airport in Salvador was less eventful. Amanda carried Isadora down the stairs, the little girl’s arms clutching her neck. Rather than setting Isadora down at the bottom, Amanda continued to hold her as Alejandro led them across the tarmac and toward the airport terminal.

It didn’t surprise either of them to find paparazzi already stationed in the main area of the airport, the cameras poised to snap photos of the international sensation known as Viper and his young wife, Amanda. Curiosity regarding the small child in Amanda’s arms only increased the value of the photos they were determined to take, despite the security guards pushing them back. Alejandro maintained his composure as he kept his arm around Amanda’s waist, his body partially shielding his wife and daughter from the photographers.

No sooner had they managed to escape the crowds by sliding into the waiting car than Alejandro’s phone buzzed. Amanda focused on settling Isadora into her seat while Alejandro took the call. More Spanish. When he ended the call, he turned to Amanda and said, “The driver will take the two of you to the hotel.”

She didn’t think to question him, knowing that abandoning Isadora now would be a terrible idea, one that would do more psychological damage to the child. Still, Amanda knew that the interviewers would question the absence of his wife. And she knew enough about the speed of the Internet and interest of the public to realize that photos of Viper and Amanda with a child would raise speculation. How Alejandro decided to handle those questions was something that she would leave to him. After all, dealing with the public image and the media was part of his world as a professional musician.

He cleared his throat and looked at Amanda. “Carlos arranged for some prospective nannies to be interviewed. He’ll ask that you meet those he considers qualified.”

Nannies? She frowned at the thought of yet one more change in Isadora’s life. The child needed parents, not to be put in the care of yet another strange woman. “I’m not certain I understand, Alejandro,” she said slowly. She didn’t want to upset him; they were both caught in the same situation. However, the mention of a nanny had unnerved her. “A nanny?”

He lifted one eyebrow as he met her gaze. “
Sí
, Amanda, a nanny to care for the child.”

“Your daughter,” she whispered as a reminder to him. The rising tension made her feel irritated. She, too, had been blindsided by all this. But she certainly wasn’t going to punish a five-year-old child by creating additional emotional stress for her when she had already been through so much. Oh, Amanda knew what getting a nanny meant to Alejandro: the off-loading of his child’s care to
another
complete stranger. Even worse, she knew why. “She’s
your daughter
,
Alejandro, and she has a name. You cannot just transfer your responsibility to a caretaker!”

Again, she saw him clenching his teeth.

“Of that I am well aware.” His terse and strained voice hinted at his own rising stress level.

“I am perfectly capable of tending to her,” Amanda told him.

“I have no doubt.” He pursed his lips and glanced out the window, tapping a finger on the leather seat upon which his hand rested. “Surely you cannot presume that you will be bringing her with you to interviews and the concerts.”

Amanda bit her lower lip. She hadn’t thought about how this unexpected addition to their lives would affect the rest of the tour. In truth, she hadn’t thought about anything except trying to comfort the child. The entire situation was so unexpected that Amanda hadn’t had enough time to sort out her thoughts about anything. What she needed was time alone with Alejandro to understand everything that had transpired since that morning when she learned of Isadora da Silva and signed those adoption papers.

“I presume nothing,” she finally said. “But I would think no decisions should be made until you and I have had a chance to talk,
ja
?”

For a moment, he did not respond. Amanda watched him as he stared out the window, his eyes now hidden behind his black sunglasses. She had almost given up on hearing a response from him when he finally said, “Fair enough.”

“Just tell me one thing, Alejandro,” she said, pressing her hand gently against Isadora’s cheek. It was warm and flushed, probably from her earlier temper tantrum and hysterics. “Does she know who you are?”

He tapped his fingers against the leather armrest in the car and stared straight ahead. After a couple minutes, he nodded his head. “
Sí
, Amanda, she knows that I am her father.”

In silence, they rode the rest of the way to the hotel, Alejandro deep in thought and Amanda stroking Isadora’s hair and praying to God that she would follow his will in dealing with this situation. She fought the urge to pass judgment on her husband and prayed for the strength to do the right thing. The child needed to feel warmth and love from her father and new mother.

But warmth from her father was not something to count on.

When Alejandro dropped them off at the hotel, Amanda lifted her face for him to kiss her. Instead, he reached out and caressed her cheek. “If you need anything, Dali will be over to help you.” He glanced down at Isadora, his expression lacking warmth and compassion. “Perhaps some new clothing and shoes,
sí
?”

Amanda felt a moment of irritation. Was that all he could think about? His daughter’s appearance?

Amanda realized that he had yet to say Isadora’s name or, with the exception of carrying her up the stairs to the airplane, to reach out to her. Her crossness intensified. Had he no sympathy for Isadora’s loss, not just today but throughout her entire life? From what little Amanda knew, as a toddler, Isadora had been abandoned by her mother and placed into the care of a sickly grandmother and aging grandfather. Certainly it could not have been easy for the grandfather to tend to his wife and raise a small child.

Amanda had forced herself to swallow her disappointment in his indifference and merely nodded.

That had been over nine hours ago.

And Amanda was exhausted.

She stroked Isadora’s hair as the little girl lay beside her on the king-sized bed in the bedroom of their hotel suite. She was curled into a ball with her head tucked under Amanda’s arm. Her long black hair, still damp from her evening bath, was splayed out over the pillow. The scent of lavender filled the room, a soft and reassuring smell that emanated from Isadora’s skin. Dressed in a new white nightdress, she looked like a sleeping angel, her little hands tucked together and pressed against Amanda’s side.

When she heard the suite door open, Amanda glanced at the clock: just after one o’clock in the morning. For a moment, she contemplated waiting for Alejandro to enter the bedroom. But one glance down at Isadora told her that there was no need to remain fearful that the child might awaken. Carefully, she extracted herself from the little girl and slid off the side of the bed. Fortunately, Isadora gave no indication that her slumber had been disturbed, so Amanda quietly tiptoed to the door of the bedroom and opened it so that she could slip through.

Alejandro’s tie was undone and hung around the unbuttoned collar of his white shirt. He stood by the wet bar, a drink in his hand, so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice her approach him.