Page 87 of Pretense

This was far too serious. She didn’t want to be somber right now. They had enough gnawing at them without borrowing more worries. “We’re going to love this baby even if he or she is born with human ears and no hair.”

“No hair?”

Essie shrugged. “A lot of times, babies are born bald.”

Farrendel pushed onto his elbow, gaping down at her. His long silver-blond hair framed his face and brushed against Essie’s shoulder and neck. “Human babies are born bald?”

Essie rolled to better face him, trying not to laugh at the way his forehead scrunched and nose wrinkled. “Yes. Aren’t elves?”

“No.”

There was so much utter horror in his voice that she couldn’t help a laugh. Of course elves would have a full head of luxurious hair at birth. Why had she expected anything different?

She squeezed Farrendel’s hand. “Don’t worry too much. Human babies get hair within a year or so.”

Farrendel flopped onto his back on the bed next to her, staring at the ceiling for a long moment. Finally, he gave a nod, as if satisfied with the solution he had come to. “I see. I have a lot of in person classes I can take at the university if we stay in Escarland for a while.”

For some reason, she found herself giggling. Apparently, they were going to hide in Escarland until their poor child had hair. She had the feeling Farrendel’s “list” had gone from healthy to healthy and has hair.

When she finally wrangled her giggling under control, she glanced at the window. Sunlight still beamed inside, but it angled through the trees with a softer, more orange glow. Her stomach was at that uneasy state between rumbling and churning. “I slept through supper, didn’t I?”

Farrendel rolled upright, then to his feet. “I saved some of the bread, cheese, and meat for you.”

He pulled a plate out of the cold cupboard and returned to the bed, handing it to her.

Essie picked up the bread and took a bite as he sat next to her once again. When he was settled, she scooted closer so that she could lean on him while she ate. “I’m sorry I abandoned everyone for most of the afternoon.”

“They understood.” Farrendel put his arm around her, adjusting her against him. “I gave Macha a tour of Lethorel, then she retired shortly after supper.”

Essie smiled as she ate. She could imagine her mother had coaxed Farrendel into telling stories of his childhood here while he’d showed her around.

“And while I was busy, Melantha had a long talk with Brina and Ryfon.” Farrendel’s shrug was more felt than seen with the way she rested against him. “They seem to have reconciled. When I left, Brina was still listening with rapt attention to Melantha’s stories about life in Kostaria. And Ryfon was getting fighting tips from one of the troll guards Melantha brought along.”

“Good.” Essie managed a few more bites of the bread, taking it slow to avoid setting off her stomach. The pain from Melantha’s betrayal still ran deep in Farrendel’s family. It wouldn’t be erased overnight, but it was good to see the healing. “Does that mean we have the evening to ourselves?”

“Yes.” Before she had a chance to ask, Farrendel released her, fetched a glass of water, and returned, handing it to her.

“Thanks.” She waited to sip the water until he was settled back in place and stopped jostling her and the bed. From where she sat, she could see the bag stuffed with his homework sitting on the table.

There was one thing they had been putting off. She hated to ruin the moment, especially since Farrendel seemed to be having a good day, despite the worry about leaving part of his family behind in Estyra.

Yet, this wasn’t something they could tackle on a day Farrendel was already struggling. And he felt particularly safe and relaxed here in Lethorel.

Essie set the glass of water on the window ledge next to their bed where it was grown into the wall. She stared down at her plate with its half-eaten slice of bread and untouched meat and cheese. “When I packed your homework last night, I also grabbed the files about your mother.”

Farrendel stiffened, his arm tight around her shoulders.

“We don’t have to. But I was wondering if this might be a good time for us to read them together.” Essie picked up a slice of cheese, fiddling with it rather than eating it.

He remained frozen and silent, tension radiating from him into her. Had she made a mistake in bringing it up now? If he wasn’t ready, then she might have ruined their evening, and he would spend the late-night hours off by himself trying to work through the anxiety with physical exercise.

Finally, his sigh brushed her hair. “I think it is time.”

Essie popped the cheese into her mouth, then set her plate aside. She could nibble on it as needed, but right now she had to focus on Farrendel. With their own child on the way, this felt like something she and Farrendel should tackle sooner rather than later.

After another moment of hesitation, Farrendel stood and crossed the room to the table. It took him a few moments to sort through the jumble she had made of his homework, and he arranged the books into neat stacks before he returned to the bed carrying the two large files.

When he joined her again, Essie rested her head on his shoulder as he laid the first file on his lap. She held his hand and waited, feeling his deep breaths and the way he was bracing himself before opening it.

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