Chapter Forty-eight
I return the next day and the next, finding jobs on the property I can do for her while she sits and watches me. We’re talking more, not about us, but just general small talk that’s become lighter. She even laughed today, and the sound had made my heart skip a beat.
But I’m struggling to find more things that’ll keep me here and my time is running out.
“Do you need a drink, River?” She calls from the porch, her smile light. Her summer dress swishes around her knees in the light breeze, her skin kissed by the sun while her blonde hair tumbles in waves, free of any ribbons or ties.
“I’m okay, princess,” I call, wiping my brow as I trim up the hedges at the boarder of the driveway.
“Okay, well I’m expecting a delivery soon so be careful when they come in,” She says and walks back into the house, leaving me in the yard. I can’t tell if this is working, if me showing up every day is helping mend broken things between us. Perhaps it was a stupid idea, but I just wanted to prove that she could rely on me, that I won’t let her down again and that she isn’t alone.
I didn’t realize just how alone she actually was; she had a family but they didn’t see her, not like I do. I just want to hold her, breathe her in and never let go. I made that mistake once.
I’m still working on the hedges when a large truck pulls into the driveway, the driver passing a wave as he pulls up to the house and a couple of guys hop out, “You know where to leave this?” One of them calls to me as he walks around to the bed and opens it, revealing a trellis.
“Ah,” Marly rushes to them, “Actually could you put this up against this side of the house, beneath this window.”
“Ma’am, I’m not sure–”
“It’s okay,” She flicks her eyes to me, “I understand but it’s done on purpose.”
They exchange concerned glances, but do as she asks, installing the trellis where she advised them, which only takes an hour or so.
And the entire time I watch them, my heart is hammering. She is installing a trellis. Beneath a window. Just like her old bedroom. When they leave, I find her eyes already on mine, a sweet pink blush lighting up her cheeks.
“It’ll be unlocked,” She tells me before she turns and walks away, shutting the front door behind her.
An invitation.
I could be getting ahead of myself, but I’d rather be prepared than not, so I throw the bag into the back of the car and head back to Marly’s. I left soon after the trellis was installed and now I’m returning, a recreation of sorts. It’s late and dark and the gates are closed so I park the car on the road and head toward the wall that surrounds her small estate. It’s shorter than her previous one and the garden isn’t as lit up, making it easy to scale and advance on the house.
It's entirely dark except for the window above the trellis. I pick a rose from the bush, carefully put it in my back pocket and curl my fingers into the trellis, testing its strength before giving it my full weight. When it holds, I start to climb, finding that her window is in fact unlocked when I reach the top. I nudge it open further so I can fit my body through and then I’m in her bedroom, staring toward where she lays on the bed, a book out in front of her and her eyes on me.
“I thought you weren’t going to come,” She whispers.
With my heart pounding I cross the space to her, watching her rise to sit and then her face is cradled in my hands, my nose almost brushing hers.
“Tell me I’m not imagining this,” I beg her, “Tell me we are here.”
“We’re here,” She breathes. My eyes bounce between hers.
“You want this?” I ask her with a shake in my voice.
“I do.”
“There’s no going back, princess,” My thumb circles her cheeks.
“I don’t want to go back, River.” Her eyes are glassy as if holding back tears, “It hurts too much without you.”
“Can I kiss you?”
“Please,” She breathes.
My mouth slams against hers in a kiss that completely shatters the ground from beneath my feet and then builds it back up. It’s a kiss that breathes life back into me, fixing every crack and dent in my soul. I hear her whimper against my mouth, her own hands circling my wrists as I slide my tongue between her lips.
“I missed you,” I growl.
“Keep kissing me, River,” She begs, “Make it go away.”
I crawl onto the bed and lay my body over hers, kissing her for as long as she takes it. It’s not about sex, it’s a reconnection after I severed the line. It’s forgiveness and regret and longing. It’s two broken souls who fit like a puzzle finally being completed after the last two pieces went missing.
It’s right.
I slowly bring us both down from it, her lips swollen from my own.
“I’m so sorry, Marly,” I kiss the corner of her mouth. “I let you down. I hurt you.”
Her breath fans across my lips.
“And I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” I vow. “I was broken, Marly and I hadn’t realized you had actually healed me. I didn’t want to believe it; I was stuck and empty and I didn’t realize the damage I was doing.”
“I understand,” She murmurs.
“No,” I kiss her again, “It doesn’t excuse anything and if you’ll have me, I will prove it for the rest of my life. I’m in love with you Marly, I think I have been since the first time I crawled through your window.”
“I love you,” She whispers.
I grin, “I know you do, princess.”
She giggles as I move my hand into her hair, threading my fingers into the strands, “Don’t hurt me again, River.”
I press my lips to hers, letting the feel of her soak beneath my skin, “Never.” I promise.