Page 13 of A Balm of Healing
“Because of your long absence from her life?” she ventured.
He nodded, trying to fight the guilt pinching him in the side. His absence hadn’t been his fault. He knew that. But it was difficult to shoulder, nonetheless. “I don’t know how to become a part of her life. And I suspect she doesn’t know, either.”
She moved from the sofa to the doorway and snatched two walking sticks, something between a cane and a crutch, and secured them to the back of his chair. “We’ll need these real soon.”
Her hand reached for her collar, but it slowly lowered, followed by a wave of sadness in her eyes. And only then did he sigh and run a hand down his face. “I entirely forgot.”
He wheeled himself into the entry room, her following curiously behind. With a little difficulty, he reached for his coat from a tall hook and dug into each pocket until he found what he was looking for.
The playful side of him that had long since disappeared years ago resurfaced as he clasped her green brooch in his hand and hid it within the confines of his palm. A mischievous smile lifted on his lips as he held his hand up to her.
“Let’s play a game, shall we? If you can guess what lies within my palm, I will give you anything you want.”
“Anything?” She giggled, bending to peer closer at his hand. But not even an edge peeked out from his fingers. “And if I fail to guess correctly?”
“Then you get to make supper tonight.”
“I make supper every night.” A look of determination crossed her expression, and he couldn’t deny that he loved her excitement in the face of a challenge, no matter how small. “How many guesses do I get?”
“Three.”
“Sweets,” she said immediately.
“Try again.” Honestly, there was no possible way she’d guess correctly. But he wanted to see her smile again.
Gweneth tapped her fingers against her lips. “I have no idea what else could be small enough to fit in your hand.” She shrugged her shoulders. “A button.”
A grin grew across his face as he shook his head. “One more guess. I think I’m going to enjoy sitting back and watching you cook the entire meal.”
She playfully swatted his shoulder. “If I guess correctly,youwill make supper andIwill sit back and watch.”
“Fair enough.” He gestured with his head toward his hand. “What will it be?”
“Give me a hint?”
“Are you trying to cheat?”
“No,” she laughed. “But I wouldn’t mind learning what a Forest Fae meal is like.” She crossed her arms with one finger now tapping against her chin. “This one is a bit farfetched, but I’m going to go with a piece of jewelry.”
Surprise lifted his brows at her guess. It was broad but correct. “Mother of autumn,” he muttered with a mock pout. “It seems I am making supper tonight.”
He opened his hand to reveal her brooch, but instead of an excited smile like he expected to find on her face, her chin trembled, and tears filled her eyes.
Slowly, her fingers caressed the smooth, green oval, brushing against his hand as she picked it up and cradled it against her heart. “How did you find this?” she rasped. “I never mentioned it was gone.”
Ducking his head bashfully, he replied, “I noticed you wearing it during the interview, and I concluded it was something important to you. I bought it from a woman in the market. I didn’t mean to keep it from you for so long. I simply forgot I had—”
He grunted in shock when she silenced his words with a kiss. His heart stuttered. His ears burned. His hands fell limp into his lap. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t react. Because never in his life had he expected to be kissed again. Especially not by a smart, beautiful, talented woman.
Gweneth broke the kiss all too suddenly. A flush climbed up her face and to her ears as he stared back at her, unable to form a coherent sentence let alone a single word on his tongue.
Her hand flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry!” she gasped. And then she spun around and fled from the room and up the stairs. A resounding bang shuddered the structure of the house before the entire atmosphere stilled.
For far too long, he stared after her while her kiss still tingled across his lips. And when his heart finally caught up with his mind, he dropped his head into his hands and focused on breathing deeply.
Fourteen years ago, Nyana and Meredith had been separated from him, and then Meredith had died. He’d lost so much in his life. To lose anything else he cared about would destroy him.
No, not anything.Anyone.
