Chapter 11 #2
Ronan nodded, heading out before returning with the other two as Cressida put the platter of sandwiches on the table, putting a plate in front of each seat.
The others all sat down, Tobin helping Etta to her chair and pulling it out for her, waiting to push it in until she was fully seated and comfortable.
Etta smiled up at him, and she looked truly happy for the first time in a long time.
And I might keep her from that.
What kind of sister would Cressida be if she kept Etta from living her life?
Ronan took a sandwich and eyed Tobin. “You’d better be prepared. I’m going to be a healer.”
Tobin scoffed and shook his head. “I doubt that.”
Cressida snorted and looked over at Ronan with a playful roll of her eyes. “Just because you learned some things today doesn’t mean that you’re going to be a healer tomorrow, but if you want to study more, I’d be more than happy to teach you.”
“She’s the best teacher,” Etta gushed, their previous spat seemingly forgotten as she peeled the crust off her bread and set it to the side to feed the birds later. “The children all loved her so much, and you would hear parents singing her praises at church all the time.”
Tobin said nothing, but there was a relaxed smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as his attention turned to Etta, listening to her talk. Cressida glanced between the two of them. Maybe she should give him more of the benefit of the doubt.
Etta brushed some crumbs from the front of her blouse. “What do you think about some standing planters?”
Tobin shrugged. “They wouldn’t be that hard to build, and they’d prevent you from having to get on the ground too much, which would help with your leg.”
“So, you think they’d work then?” Etta lit up, hope in her eyes for the first time in a long time.
Cressida frowned, wondering why she had never thought of standing garden beds. Etta loved tending to plants, and it was such a simple thing that could improve her life.
Tobin finished his sandwich, leaning back in his chair. “I’ll get started on them as soon as you tell me how many and where you want them.”
“I’m going to need some time to plan it all out.” Etta looked over to Cressida with a large smile. “I think out in the front yard would be good, though. It gets the most sun, and it’s a bit sheltered from the wind.”
“Wherever you want to put them is fine with me.” Cressida’s heart ached as Etta turned back to Tobin, already working on all her ideas for the garden beds.
“Oh, and I’ll plant some herbs,” Etta said, turning her attention to Ronan. “That way, Cressida can continue with her teaching. She’s going to make you the best healer in town.”
Ronan finished his first sandwich, reaching for another. “I’m sure she is. She taught me more about plants in one afternoon than I might have learned in my entire lifetime.”
Cressida’s cheeks warmed. “How much did you know before?”
His answering smirk sent her heart fluttering. “That some are poisonous and some aren’t.”
Laughing, she shook her head and reached for her sandwich, nibbling on the crusts first. “Well, at least you have that much knowledge, but if your plan is to be the best healer in town, you’re going to have to do years of learning.”
Ronan’s gaze locked on hers, making butterflies come to life in her stomach. “That might not be so bad.”
“Oh, I can tell you right now that it would be that bad. I’m going to assign you so many studies that it’s going to make your head spin.”
“Then I should warn you that I’m a terrible student,” Ronan said with a teasing smile. “I’m going to require tutoring hours, and even that might not be enough to save me.”
Cressida laughed and shook her head. “You might just be the death of me then.”
Ronan’s gaze remained locked on her as he leaned a little closer in. “Or I could be the most exciting student you’ve ever had.”
“You’re welcome to tell yourself that, but I can assure you that I’ve had far more exciting,” she said, her cheeks warming the longer they stared at each other.
Finally, she had to look away. If she didn’t, she was scared that she would get lost in the depths of his eyes.
They finished their sandwiches, laughing and talking. Cressida didn’t remember the last time she had laughed that hard or that often, but by the time Tobin and Ronan went back outside, promising to finish the repairs on the barn, her sides hurt, and she couldn’t get rid of her smile.
Etta lingered behind the others, helping Cressida clean, limping more than normal. Cressida suspected it was due to the fall, but she wasn’t going to press the issue. No, today was going to be her first day attempting to give Etta a little more of her own autonomy.
Even if it feels impossible to take that step back.
“You seem…lighter,” Etta said slowly, like she was taking time to choose her words. “Happier, and it seems to have something to do with that man.”
Heat flared in Cressida’s cheeks as she scrubbed the dishes clean. “I haven’t changed in the slightest. I simply enjoyed a day out in the sun.”
“You’re laughing more, making jokes, acting younger.
” Etta gave her a teasing smile, bumping Cressida’s hip lightly with hers.
“Perhaps you spent so much time with children that it’s turned you back into a child, but given that you haven’t taught in so long, I would think it has more to do with that handsome and rugged man helping Tobin fix the barn. ”
“Hush,” Cressida said, unable to think of anything else to defend herself.
Maybe Ronan was bringing out the version of her that was younger and more impulsive, the one who enjoyed life, and knew how to laugh. The one who wasn’t struggling to get from one day to the next without feeling like her life was falling to pieces.
It was a scary thought. One person couldn’t bring the person she was back to life, but maybe she was in the process of becoming someone entirely new yet again.
She bit the inside of her cheek, pushing away the consideration. There wasn’t enough time in a day to become a new person. There was too much to do around the house, animals to take care of, and Etta to take care of.
Cressida sighed, wiping her hands on a towel. “You and Tobin seem to be growing close.”
“He seems like a good man, and I enjoy speaking with him.” Etta’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red. “But we’re not going to speak about that right now. We’re talking about you.”
“We don’t need to talk about me.”
“I think there are times when we do. Especially since you’ve made your life about nothing but me since the accident.” Etta hugged Cressida’s shoulders tight. “I just want you to have a good life too. I can see the way everything about our lives is weighing you down.”
“I like our lives.”
“I’m sure you do, but you have to admit that this isn’t what either of us wanted.” Etta gave her a sad smile as she pulled away. “I feel bad that you put your life on hold to care for me.”
“I would do it a thousand times over. This was my choice, and you’re not going to feel bad for it, you understand me?”
“I’m going to fetch the pie Mrs. Agatha dropped off this morning. We can take some slices down to the men and enjoy more of the sunshine,” Etta said, changing the subject and making her way around the kitchen to grab a berry pie from the counter, slicing it up and putting it onto plates.
Cressida sighed. She knew Etta was going to keep blaming herself. It wasn’t the first time they had spoken about Cressida putting her life on hold, and she doubted it would be the last.
Even now, she didn’t know how to make Etta understand that she would do it all over again in a heartbeat. She didn’t want Etta to live with the guilt of the decisions Cressida had made.
Still, if Etta didn’t want to talk about it any longer, Cressida would let it rest and instead enjoy the pie with her.
They walked down to the barn, finding the men patching some of the old boards on the south side.
Cressida watched Ronan for a moment, admiring the way the muscles in his forearms moved with each hit of the hammer.
She found it hard to tear her eyes from how long and lean he looked as he held another board in place.
No, there was no denying that he was a handsome man.
In another life, in a world where getting married again wasn’t so far-fetched, he would be the kind of man she considered.
“What’s this?” Ronan asked, taking the slice of pie and the fork Cressida handed him.
“Berry pie. Mrs. Agatha makes the best.” Etta took a bite of her own, her eyes lighting up.
“Once you get to know her, you’re going to love her.
She’s one of the nicest women in town. She came by just to drop this off and ask after the two of you.
I guess the mayor is interested in meeting you both as well.
He’s a good man, though I do find him to be a little overzealous. ”
That’s putting it nicely.
“They’re asking after us?” Ronan asked, swallowing hard.
“Oh yes!” Etta grinned, glancing between him and Tobin. “Isn’t it wonderful that the town is already taking notice of you both?”
“Wonderful,” Ronan said, though Cressida thought it sounded more like he was trying to speak through a mouthful of rubble.
Odd.
Though she knew firsthand how it felt to know the town was talking about you. She supposed if she were in his position, wanting to have a sliver of privacy, she wouldn’t be happy with the news either.
Ronan said nothing more, but there was a decided stiffness in his body when he went back to working on the barn, making the hair on the back of Cressida’s neck stand on end just a little.