Page 40 of Past Due

“Yes.” It was a terrible old legend, a maudlin tale that glorified honor and the virtue of a mother’s sacrifice.

“Will you tell me?”

He frowned down at her. “Why? It’s an awful story.”

“I like listening to your voice.”

Well then. How could he possibly deny her request after that?

“I’ll probably mess it up because it’s been years since I’ve heard it,” he warned.

She rubbed his chest. “I don’t mind.”

“Well, a long, long time ago,” he started teasingly, and she laughed. “Three brothers were building a castle up here on this hill. They would stack stones all day, but then, come nightfall, the whole thing would topple over. Eventually, they met an old man who knew about their trouble building the castle, and he asked them if they were married. They were, and the old man told them that the only way to ensure the castle would stand was to take the wife who brought them food the next day and bury her alive in the walls. He forbade them from mentioning this to the wives, and the brothers went home and said nothing.”

He paused the horrid tale as he considered how quickly he would have kicked that old man down the hill if he suggested bricking Marley up inside a wall.

“So, the next day, the brothers came to work up on the hill,” he continued, “and they waited for one of their wives to bring them food. Rozafa, the wife of the youngest brother, was the one who came. She had left her baby at home, and when her husband told her what had to be done to save the castle, she accepted her fate.”

Marley made an annoyed sound but didn’t interrupt him or ask him to stop.

“She loved her little boy so much, and she made a request of her husband and his brothers. She asked them to make four holes in the wall—one for her right eye, one for her right breast, one for her right hand and one for her right foot. That way she could still care for son. She could see him with her right eye, comfort him with her right hand, feed him from her right breast and rock him to sleep with her right foot. In exchange for her sacrifice, the castle would stand, and her son would grow to be a hero.”

Marley was quiet as he ended the story. After a few moments, she said, “Well, that was depressing as hell.”

He laughed softly and kissed the top of her head. “I told you it was an awful story.”

“Do you think there’s any truth to it?”

He shrugged. “There’s probably a few small grains of truth in it.”

“I mean, the castle is still standing. Without structural engineering, I guess sticking your wife in the wall was the best option they had.”

He gave her a little squeeze. “Don’t worry, rrushe. I’ll spring for a proper architect when we build our castle.”

“You spoil me,” she said, laughing.

“You deserve to be spoiled,” he said seriously. Deciding this was the moment to ask, he gently shifted her away from his chest. Her expression turned curious as he placed his hand against her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “If you let me, I’ll spoil you for the rest of your life. I’ll take care of you. I’ll protect you. I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy.”

Her blue eyes widened. “Besian, are you...?”

“Yes.” He traced her lower lip with his thumb. “Marry me?”

She didn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”

Stunned that she would accept him without reservation, he asked, “Are you sure?”

Laughing gaily, she grasped his wrist and turned her head to press a tender kiss to his palm. She lifted her bright gaze to his and smiled. “I’m sure.”

Her answer evoked a surge of pure joy. For the first time in his life, he felt truly worthy. Marley, a woman who could have any man, had chosen him, accepted him, flaws and all. Overwhelmed by the moment, he cupped her face and claimed her mouth in a seeking kiss. Pressing his forehead to hers, he whispered, “I love you, Marley.”

“And I love you, B.”

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