Page 19 of The Knotty Clause

The next morning she hunted through his storage room, searching for decorations. A flash of crimson caught her eye. She pulled out a length of silky fabric, its metallic threads catching the light. She wasn’t much of a seamstress but she should be able to create a garland, perhaps even a couple of pillows to brighten up the living area.

The storage room itself had a story to tell. Everything was meticulously organized, labeled in his angular script, but thick dust covered most of the items, as if he’d sealed away these pieces of his former life along with his heart.

She discovered more fabric, this time a heavy white silk, and a box filled with silver disks in varying size. She suspected that they were some type of spare parts but they’d look festive hungfrom thin lengths of wire. He had an enormous variety of metal wire which she could put to use. In another box, she discovered small spheres that lit up at her touch, casting rainbow patterns across the walls.

As she sorted through her findings, she imagined transforming his austere home into something magical. Not just for Liam, but for him as well. Last night’s kiss still lingered in her memory, along with the raw emotion she’d glimpsed before he retreated.

Maybe these forgotten treasures could help bridge the gap between his past and present, showing him that new memories didn’t have to replace the old ones.

She carried her treasures back to the living area and spread them across the floor, showing Liam her discoveries. His eyes lit up at the sight of the shimmering fabrics and shiny wire. He picked up a piece of white fabric, stretching it between his hands.

“Can we make snowflakes, Mama?”

“You don’t think there are enough outside?” she teased, and he giggled.

“These would be a lot warmer.”

“An excellent point.”

She pulled him into her lap and showed him how to fold the fabric into triangles. His small fingers traced the edges as she demonstrated where to cut. His first attempt came out lopsided, but his proud grin warmed her heart, and he improved with each one. Once they’d created a stack of them, they hung some of them from lengths of gleaming wire and strung the rest into a long garland.

“Look what else I found.”

She showed him the small orbs and he gasped in wonder as the rainbow colors danced across his face. They wove those into the garland as well, creating a long sparkling rope of color and light.

Next they tied crimson ribbon to the disks. His tongue poked out in concentration as he copied her movements. Bits of fabric and metal surrounded them, but she didn’t care. This mess meant joy, meant safety, meant home.

A shadow fell across their work and she looked up to find Yede in the doorway, his eyes fixed on their creations. His expression held something she couldn’t quite read—wonder mixed with pain, longing tangled with fear.

Liam immediately scrambled to his feet, clutching his latest creation—a star fashioned from twisted metal and wrapped with shimmering wire.

“Look what I made for you!”

He thrust the ornament eagerly towards Yede. Her breath caught as he knelt down next to her son, taking the star with careful hands. His massive fingers traced the uneven edges with surprising gentleness.

“This shows real skill.” His deep voice carried genuine appreciation. “The wire work especially.”

Liam’s face split into a smile bright enough to rival their light spheres. He grabbed Yede’s free hand, tugging him toward their crafting spot. “Come make one with us!”

Happiness filled her when he allowed himself to be led, settling cross-legged beside her. His thigh pressed against hers, sending warmth cascading through her body. Their eyes met and his gaze burned with an intensity that made her pulse race.

He reached for a strip of metal, his movements precise as he began shaping it into an intricate pattern. His leg stayed firmly against hers, the contact both thrilling and distracting. She forced herself to focus on her own project, but she couldn’t resist sneaking glances at him from the corner of her eye.

Liam chattered away as they worked, oblivious to the undercurrent of energy that crackled between her and Yede. Despite her distraction, she managed to fashion several more ornaments—a moon, a tree, and even a small snowman. Each one felt like a tiny step towards rebuilding the pieces of her shattered life.

As they finished, Liam hopped up, clutching a handful of his creations.

“Can we put them up now?” he asked, eyes bright with excitement.

“I suppose we could,” she said. “But don’t you think we should wait for the Longest Night?”

“No! Please, Mama. I want to see them.”

Yede rose, holding out his hand to her.

“I can put them up,” he said, and her pulse fluttered again.

She took his hand, feeling the strength and warmth of his touch. He pulled her gently to her feet, keeping her hand in his for a moment longer than necessary. The brief contact sent electricity jolting through her.

---