CHAPTER 16
Chores became a sprint. She still made sure to do them to the best of her ability—for as Father said, a half-solved problem became a full-blown one overnight—but they became a race, an impatient race until finally she was out the door.
Biscuits became their early morning treat—thank the Lord for Rose and her recipe—and she treasured the smile he gave her as he first saw her every morning, a smile warmer than the sun, a smile that seemed to steal her heart and yet treasure it too.
She brought a book one day. “I love to read,” she said. “And I thought maybe I could read them to you?”
He obviously didn’t quite know what ‘read’ meant so she continued, “They’re stories. They’re all made-up, I think, but they tell these fantastical tales of action and adventure, of people free and exploring the world.”
He did not miss the hint of melancholy in her tone. She might not have noticed it at all herself if not for the way the edge of his lip twitched downward.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” she murmured. “I love this island and this lighthouse and my life here too. Just sometimes….” She frowned.
It wasn’t like he could understand anyway, but his look of empathy touched her heart—that anyone could listen to her and share her melancholy was too beautiful a thought to process.
But as if he wanted to remind her that he was here and real, he touched her hand, gently first before delicately holding her wrist.
“My father always said the world out there is no place for a girl, and I guess he’s right.
No one in all these books and especially not in the history ones is ever like me.
” She found herself smiling ruefully, realizing he really couldn’t understand her words.
But she spoke them anyway. Maybe in a way, it was easier because he couldn’t.
“Here, I can actually be me. Rough and unladylike and all. Still…I wish to explore the world. I wish that was possible for someone like me.”
She could tell he didn’t understand, but he got a bit closer and then facing her, gave her a now sad smile.
“I bet you’ve seen quite a bit,” she said, finding her hand against his cheek before she could even stop herself. He looked as shocked as she felt and she started to pull away like she had been stung, but his hand was suddenly on hers, holding it in place.