Page 70 of Beyond the Blue Horizon
I did my best to suck it down when Theo took Lucy’s hand and turned her toward Finn.
“Do you like the slide?” she asked him.
“Iwiketheswedand theswide.” Finn dipped his head deep with each word, a thrill rolling off him, his little red-bowed mouth twisted up in joy.
“Yeah, why don’t we all go check out the playground? Though it’s gonna be cold. If you’re not careful, you two might get stuckto it.” Ease returned to Theo’s tone, but I could still see the rigidness lining his bones.
Laughter erupted from Finn. “I not get stuck,Feo!”
“Guess we’re going to have to find out.”
Lucy let go of the tiniest giggle, and Theo took their hands and guided them over to the playground, their boots disappearing into the five-inch-deep snow as they went.
Both children tottered along at his side, Finn jumping every couple steps, his little stuttered words indistinguishable in the distance, though I could feel the absolute glee radiating from his spirit.
I squeezed my arms over my chest.
He’d never had this.
A chance to connect with other children.
“He’s adorable.” The reserved voice hit from behind and off to the side, the woman’s nerves scattering on the cold breeze that sent the branches waving on the trees.
I swallowed around the idiotic reaction that had taken me hostage and forced myself to turn and look at her. I hoped with everything that the smile I coerced onto my face didn’t come out as unfriendly. “Thank you. So is your daughter.”
Her jaw ticked as she let her attention glide out to her child who was currently climbing the ladder to the slide.
Fear and adoration arced from her being.
Apprehension filled her when she returned her focus to me.
She was beautiful. Tall and willowy. Though there was something about her that appeared downtrodden. Her shoulders hunched as if her wounds were too heavy for her to carry.
“I’m Piper,” I finally said.
A smile barely edged one side of her mouth, and she seemed reticent before she finally spoke. “I’m Alicia.”
“Are you on vacation here?” I asked, hoping to ease some of the awkwardness that ricocheted between us.
She let go of the weightiest exhale. It might have been a laugh if there wasn’t so much pain behind it. “Yeah.”
A frown carved my brow. There was something so strange about her response that it sent a bolt of agitation running through my body.
A turbulence that rocked the atmosphere.
Like maybe she was as afraid as I was to get comfortable.
“It’s really beautiful here.” There was my pathetic attempt at small talk.
Her gaze moved around the area, and both distress and hope poured out of her. “I think it might be the most beautiful place I’ve ever been.”
Her response didn’t carry a tone of insignificance.
It was as if standing there in that spot was the greatest gift she’d ever received.
Her daughter’s shock of laughter caught our attention, and we both swiveled that way.
It appeared Finn had come flying down the slide, and in Theo’s attempt to catch him, Theo had been knocked onto his butt.
