Page 88 of A Second Dawn

The pile of chopped logs grows higher beside him. How much longer is he going to keep this up?

Finally, after another ten minutes, he sets the axe down and turns toward me.

I try not to stare at his naked chest, covered in perspiration.

He doesn’t seem to feel the cold that’s creeping into the day. I’m wrapped up in a blanket and still shivering, but given the strenuous activity, I’m not surprised Ade is hot.

Sensing his exhaustion, I reach out and hand him the bottle of water and wrap a towel around his shoulders, rubbing his skin to dry him.

Our eyes meet, his holding mine in gratitude.

Without a word, he unscrews the cap and takes long, satisfying gulps. The tension in his features has eased. Now I only see the gentle man I’m used to.

“Let’s go inside. I don’t want you to get sick because your body temperature cools off too quickly.” He nods and together we walk to our cabin. My hand rests on his shoulder. But that’s only to help the towel stay there, right?

While Ade heads to the bathroom to take a shower, I cut him some fruit and make him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After the frenetic exertion of the last hour, he has to be starving.

Hopefully, he has calmed down enough to continue our conversation. But then, is there anything more to say?

I sense a level of peace about Aiden that wasn’t there before and maybe, just maybe, he’s started to come to terms with Tiero being a part of him.

All the men are stacking away the firewood Ade split earlier while there’s still light left in the day.

In contrast, Claudette and I are sprawled out on the big fluffy rug by the fire in our cabin.

She’s reading one of the pregnancy books Tara picked up, and I’m nursing a cup of ginger tea, staring into the dancing flames.

“Aiden and I talked earlier,” I say, and Claudette looks up from her book.

“The subject of twin flames came up, and I told him we’re in fact a triple flame.”

I continue to stare into the fire before glancing at the woman who’s become a close friend and my confidant.

She wriggles her nose from side to side. “Let me guess, given the amount of new firewood we have, that piece of news didn’t go down too well?”

“No. I’ve never seen him so upset. He doesn’t believe that Tiero’s dark soul could be part of ours.”

“Each of you, just like every person on this planet, has a unique balance of light and dark in their makeup. It isn’t in their soul, though. Tiero is a product of his upbringing. There’s light in him.”

“That’s what I told Ade. But the subject of Tiero is a touchy one for him.”

“I can see why. But he’ll have to find a way to make peace with Tiero. He’s only fighting himself.”

“If Tiero knew about Aiden’s existence, I think he’d face the same challenge.”

“Probably. But this is their lesson to learn. Stay out of it.”

“Can I though? Isn’t any problem of theirs automatically mine?”

“No, it’s not. You were born into different bodies for a reason. This has been the case over many lifetimes, and that’s how it will remain until the three of you find a way to reunite your soul again.”

“How do we do that?”

“That’s a question above my pay grade,” she replies with a little wink.

My face falls. Is she just placating me? She often knows more than she lets on.

Mind reader that she is, she answers my unspoken question. “Trust me, darling. If I knew, I’d tell you. Only the really wise ones could help with that. It’s a very, very big question.”

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