Page 185 of Beneath the Mountain Sky
I re-settle my hand on Niall’s back as we make our way across the clearing to where I do all my carving work. My stomach churns as I pull open the sliding door, the nerves getting the better of me again.
Willow’s gift stands in the center of the space, draped with a white cloth.
Her brows fly up. “What’s this?”
“Part of your gift.”
She grins. “Why am I getting a gift?”
“I need a reason to get my wife something?”
She laughs lightly, the sound so carefree that it lifts away any reservations I have. Just knowing that she can sound like that, that she can feel that way after everything she’s been through, assures me that she’ll love what I’ve done for her.
“You can get me as many gifts as you like. I’m just wondering why.”
Shit.
I don’t want to ruin the mood by answering the question, but she deserves to know.
Why now?
Months and months have passed.
And it’s been done for a while.
But I waited until today for a reason.
I swallow the reasons not to be honest with her as I make my way over to the white cloth. “Because tonight marks the anniversary of our last great day together before I fucked everything up.”
Her smile falters as she freezes and watches me grip the fabric in my hand, while using the other to hold Niall to my chest, his tiny body, even now, easily fitting in my massive palm.
“It is something I’ve been wanting to do for you for a long time. I would have if you hadn’t left. But you’ve been busy with Niall. And if you’re not up for it, I understand?—”
“What are you talking about?”
I tug on the fabric, and it falls away, exposing the massive carving I painstakingly created for her.
A honeybee.
Willow’s breath catches, and her hand flies over her mouth. “Oh, my God. Killian, it’s beautiful.” She walks up to it and reaches out, running her fingers over the wings reverently. “How did you do this without me knowing?”
I grin as I walk over to join her, adjusting my hold slightly as Niall shifts in his sleep, tired from all the excitement of the festival earlier today. “I came out and worked on it when you were in town with Raven.”
“When you should’ve been at work?”
Smirking, I waggle my eyebrows. “One of the perks of being the boss.”
“Didn’t that piss off your brothers?”
I shake my head. “No. They knew what I was doing.”
Willow slowly trails her fingers over every inch of it, all five and a half feet, stepping around it to see the intricate work and the stain I applied to the natural wood, to make the black and golden stripes simmer. “Where are we going to put it, though?” She makes her way fully around it and raises a brow at me. “I mean, I love it, but on the porch?”
The fact that she still hasn’t guessed, still hasn’t caught on, makes me fight a grin. “Where are the rest of the carvings?”
Several people have purchased pieces for their homes, but the vast majority stand on Main Street in front of the businesses.
A fact she’s well aware of.
