25

Of Romance and Resentment

To understand the reaction of Deilune’s parents to the beyond-the-grave reappearance of their son and daughter-in-law, you need to remember they had a very strained relationship. The tensions with their son began way back in Lebreima when Deilune, their only child, announced on his eighteenth birthday that he planned to go to university abroad. In America of all places.

It was not that Deilune Breima disliked his homeland or his parents. It was simply his desire to go to a country completely different than Lebreima. To move from a small, provincial, highly traditional, and rigidly structured culture to a huge, sprawling, wildly independent, and fast moving society intrigued Deilune. He knew he wanted to study architecture and, though he loved and admired the classic motifs of the Old World, he felt he had to explore the unconventional possibilities of the New World.

He never looked at going away as abandoning Lebreima. He only saw it as a way of expanding the wonderful foundation his homeland had given him and building something new and special upon it.

Unfortunately, his parents didn’t see it that way. They tried to cajole, persuade, and guilt their son from leaving Lebreima, but he wouldn’t be swayed. Then they entreated, demanded, and vaguely threatened him. Still, in the end, they knew he was a Breima and Breimas could be incredibly stubborn, or in the local dialect a trajeime.

Finally relenting, they agreed to fund his education in America upon the condition he return to Lebreima to settle down after completing his degree. When he departed, his parents gave him their reluctant blessing and reminded him that he was not just any young man. He was a Breima.

Deilune fully intended to keep his promise to return to Lebreima and fulfill his family duties. At the university, Deilune studied hard, stayed in good touch with his parents, and spent many holidays back in Lebreima. His parents never failed to remind him of his promise to return after completing his degree.

Yup. Deilune planned to return. Yup. He planned to settle in Lebreima. Yup.

Until.

Like so many young people, his plans changed. Changed completely. In the time it takes a book to drop.

It was Linda Haddam's book. It toppled from the tall stack she was carrying in the undergraduate library. She rounded a corner too fast, and the top-most book fell right onto the table where Deilune was studying. Linda’s flustered apology was greeted by the softest brown eyes she’d ever seen, and a grin that disarmed her.

Deilune scooped up the book that had fallen, and noted the title: Stories of the Stars: A Concise Guide to the Constellations.

"Personally, I'm a fan of Orion. The belt is the ultimate fashion accessory," he quipped, placing the book on top of the others she still held.

"Thank you,” Linda said. “I‘m partial to Libra. Scales. Justice. Balance."

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"Well, try to balance those books more carefully,” teased Deilune. “Would you like any help?"

"Thanks. I can manage," she said and almost walked on, but hesitated. She straightened her books and because he was still looking at her with his playful grin, she felt emboldened to say, "Mind if I ask you a question?"

"Not at all."

"Where are you from? I can’t quite place your accent."

Deilune’s grin widened. "A bit east of North Dakota."

“A few thousand miles east, I’d wager.” Linda, emboldened by his easy manner, ventured, "Okay, how about this question: Do you think I could share this table with you and that big smile of yours?"

And that's when Deilune Breima's plans changed. Big time. He fell in love. And on the day he proposed to Linda, giving her a stunning ring with a brilliant blue gemstone that matched his own family ring, he didn't think he would actually break his promise to his parents. He thought someday he and Linda would return to Lebreima to live.

However, his parents’ reaction to Linda made that all but impossible. When Deilune told his parents of his intentions to marry Linda and stay in the United States, they blamed her for their son’s “betrayal.” They refused to acknowledge her or their plans to marry.

Painstakingly, Deilune brought his stubborn parents to a begrudging acceptance of Linda, and a promise that they would attend their wedding in America. A few days before the ceremony, Deilune took Linda to meet his parents at the hotel where they were staying. They were to have dinner and Linda was, understandably, quite nervous.

Deilune had been honest with Linda about his parents’ anger at his decision to marry a "foreigner" and forsake his birthplace and birthright. Though stubborn and reserved, he assured Linda his parents were reasonable, and that he was confident when they met she would quickly win them over.

Deilune knew his parents would be quick to form an opinion of Linda. He just did not foresee how badly they wanted to find some fault with her. Upon meeting in the hotel lobby, Deilune's parents offered a cordial, though stilted greeting in English. And Linda, with genuine pleasure, responded, "I am so pleased to finally meet you. Dale and I are so honored you traveled so far to be part of our wedding.”

Linda extended her hand to Deilune's mother, but it only met with an icy stare, and an equally chilling reply in English. "My son is Deilune. Is not Dale. Dale is peasant name!"

Much of the bad blood between Linda, Deilune and his parents was traceable to that first exchange. His parents still attended the wedding. In person, but not in spirit. They kept to themselves during the festivities and returned quickly to Lebreima the day after the ceremony. Deilune and Linda tried to keep in contact, though it was a challenge due to both the physical and emotional distance.

Two years after the wedding, Deilune announced to his parents that Linda was pregnant and wanted to visit them in Lebreima. Deilune’s parents made a feeble excuse for not being available during their visit, so Deilune wisely told Linda that the time was not right to travel there. He suggested that the birth of a grandchild would help mellow them.

Deilune failed to accurately gauge the stubbornness of his own bloodline. Nick was born and, two years later, Lottica. All Deilune received from his parents were perfunctory congratulations. No calls to come visit them. Or invitations for their young family to visit in Lebreima. So, Deilune dug in for the long haul. He sent pictures and videos of the children that he hoped his parents would watch and that would gradually soften their hearts. Unfortunately, his parents remained hard hearted.

Then, out of the blue, when Lottica was nearly ten, his parents announced their intention of moving to the United States to be closer to their son and his family. The news shocked and delighted Deilune and Linda. They held out great hopes for reconciliation and a sense of family togetherness. Unfortunately, Deilune's parents brought their standoffishness with them. It was as if they had begrudgingly accepted their son's American life, in return for the opportunity to constantly remind him that he’d forsaken Lebreima.

Even the presence of Lottica and Nick seemed to bring little warmth into their grandparents’ hearts. Though they dutifully participated in family gatherings, it was without apparent joy. It was as if Deilune’s parents had some hidden agenda. A deeper motive that kept them distant and watchful, their somber eyes never resting.