Page 189 of Hunter's Revenge

“Sorry, she thinks you're someone else,” I tell him.

“No, it’s really him,” Grams insists. “My Rafe. The war must be over.” Grams stretches out her hands toward Malik.

I’m about to tell her again that she’s mistaken, but to my complete surprise, Malik moves toward her. He walks over and takes her hands, holding them both in his.

“Hello,” he says in that deep voice that first enchanted me.

“You’re back, just like you promised.” Grams scans his face.

“I am,” he tells her, surprising me further.

She sighs. “Our poem is in my mind.How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight.”

My mouth drops. That’s nearly an entire verse from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’sHow do I love thee?

I’m shocked further when Malik says, “For the ends of being and ideal grace.”Then he continues reciting the rest of the poem. The words pour out of him as

if he’s some famous poet and he’s done this a million times before.

When he finishes, Grams is beaming from ear to ear.

“You remember?” she gasps.

He gives her hands a gentle squeeze. “Always.”

I can’t look away from them. What he did for my grandmother just now is sweet and shocking and…one of the best things anyone has done for me in a long time.

And it’s him again. Doing something sentimental that only he can do to show me that even in the darkness of gloom, there’s light and hope.

Malik glances at me. I realize how I must look gawking at him, so I try to compose myself.

Grams smiles at him, but then her smile fades and confusion sets in. Having witnessed that expression on a daily basis, I know exactly what’s happening. She’s forgetting.

“I’m sorry. Who are you?” Her gaze roams over his face. “I think we were talking, but I can’t remember.”

“I’m a friend,” he tells her, then looks at me again, realizing what’s happening to her.

“Oh. I’m sorry, I just can’t remember.”

“That’s okay.” Malik releases her hands. “Would you mind if I speak to Gwen for a little while? We won’t go too far.”

“Not at all.”

He stands and focuses on me. “Will she be okay by herself for a moment?”

“Yes, she’ll be fine.” I nod and give Grams the book I was previously reading her.

“Romeo and Juliet.” She smiles again. “I haven’t read this in a while. I love this story.”

“I know.” Although my heart is breaking, I put on my best face. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Okay dear.” She opens the book and starts reading.

Malik and I walk over to the terrace, stopping away from everyone. So it’s just us.

Now that we’re by ourselves, my previous question resurfaces.

Why is he here?

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