Page 51 of The Warrior
It was another stab to my gut. My woman shouldn’t feel that she had to save me. I was the protector, not her.
“I would have been fine.” It came out harsher than I intended it to.
For a few seconds, we stood opposite each other in a tense silence until the door opened behind us and the children came out.
“Hey Magni, are you gonna work with us today?” Storm, one of the boys, asked. He stood in a large group of boys that all looked hopeful.
“Don’t you boys have school?”
“It’s Saturday, and we already did the morning run, breakfast, and meditation. Now we’re free to have fun.”
I had forgotten what day it was and drew in a long breath. “Maybe I can spar with you boys later. Right now I have to talk to my wife.” I met Laura’s eyes and saw them widen when a pair of small hands snaked around my waist from behind.
Only one child would hug me like that. “Mila, come meet my wife, Laura,” I said and twisted my body to reach for her. I had forgotten how shy Mila used to be when she first arrived at the school. With Laura being a stranger, Mila had reverted to being shy. Looking down, and staying close to me, she kept her hands around my waist.
“It’s okay, I met the children this morning.” Laura smiled at Mila. “Magni told me nice things about you.”
Mila looked up at me and I nodded at her to go on.
“I’ve heard about you too,” she said in a soft voice. “And I asked Magni to call you so I could hear your voice.”
Laura gave Mila a small smile. “You did?”
“Yes, I wanted to know if you saw him at the funeral when he was in love with you.”
“I wasn’t in love with her,” I corrected Mila. “Laura was a child back then.”
“But youlikedher,” Mila insisted.
“It’s getting cold out here. Maybe we should go inside.” I didn’t wait for them to agree but walked back in.
“Laura, can I show you my favorite part of the school?” Mila asked behind me.
“I would love that.”
Other children moved around us and one of the boys bumped into Laura.
“Hey, watch it,” I warned him with fire in my eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Hunter held up both hands and hurried away.
“Take the running outside,” Kya instructed. “Marco, Archer, and the other boys went to play soccer. Anyone is welcome to join them. How about you, Raven? You like soccer.”
The room emptied out as most left to either watch or play soccer.
“This is my favorite part,” Mila said and pointed to a door that seemed to be the broom closet.
“Why?” Laura asked.
“It’s where the instruments are.” She opened the door and we could see different musical instruments in boxes. “We used to have them out here, but some of the students can’t keep their hands off them, and it’s distracting.”
“Which instrument do you play?”
“I sing.”
“Oh.” Laura smiled.
Mila pulled out a box. “I love to play with the pitch box.”
