“I know.” Rowan’s eyes burned into her own. “If you never wish to see him, you won’t.Thatis a promise.”
River could only nod. She desperately wanted to see his face, which meant she was broken. She had to repair her shattered bits before she was ever near... him.
“He just needs to stay out of my way, but I don’t want anything to taint the arrival of Baby O. I will make it work, but he has to give me space.”
“Agreed. On a lighter, non-O’Faolain note,” Rowan smirked, “Rave and I signed you up for your first blacksmithing class with Josh Ryan. It starts at four-thirty.”
Josh was a local blacksmith who specialized in metal sculptures. He was brilliant. Triskelion had earmarked several of his pieces for their clients as well as pieces for the O’Faolain project. He believed in giving back to his community and taught beginner classes for the locals, free of charge.
But that didn’t mean she was interested in the equivalent of a paint and sip night— minus the sip.
River’s face flamed at her sisters’ highhandedness. “Why in the hell would you do that? Like I have any extra time, and now we need to split Raven’s work between us!” River was spitting mad at this point. They were all friendly with Josh. He was a wonderful man. She knew that he set up his classroom workshop specifically to how many people signed up and their experience level, which meant if she canceled now, it would be horribly rude— which her sisters knew— and that’s why she was only just hearing about it.
“You need to switch shit up. It’s all a part of Rave’s and my game plan. I won’t apologize for making you realize you have an amazing life. You had one before Patrick, with Patrick, and you’ll have one without that prick.”
“You are being... extra. I. Am. Busy.” River was shaking, she was so furious.
“Hugh’s handling the extra help. I trust him. You, on the other hand, don’t doanythingthat’s good for you.”
“You aren’t my fucking mother, Rowan. Stop already.” River regretted her harsh words as soon as they left her mouth. Rowan’s face fell. Her earlier attempt at joviality was gone. “Shit, Row, I didn’t... mean?—”
Rowan stopped her by standing up and walking over to her desk, standing at River’s knees. “I’m not your mother, River, but I sure as hell am your sister. Raven and I wanted you to have something fun. Something fun that was just yours. You’ve always loved the art of smithing, and we thought... it might make you smile.” She frowned at River. “A real smile.”
They were right. The longer River hid from her emotions, the more closed off she would become. Of course, they would know this. Of course, they would force her hand.
Breathing out slowly, River stood so that she and Rowan faced one another. She took her hands and brought them to her chest. “Forgive me for being an asshole. If it were you or Raven, I would do the same thing for the same reason. I love you.”
“Will you go?”
“Yes, damn it. I’ll go. Try not to call Raven before I’ve left the building.”
Rowan grinned. “I’ll try really, really, really hard.”
* * *
River wasthe last of the class’s six attendees. Josh was in the middle of helping a middle-aged man organize his workstation but noticed her entrance and smiled. River smiled, waving awkwardly before taking a seat in the rear. River saw printed instructions— with pictures— thank you little tiny baby Jesus.
Her sisters were right in that River was obsessed with hand-forged art. Blacksmithing was cool as hell, but come on, she never thought to try her hand at it. She would never admit to Raven or Rowan, but she was secretly a tiny bit stoked about the class. This was exactly what she needed to move past... him.
As River flipped through the directions for a ‘Twist-Forged Bracelet in 5 Steps,’ Josh stopped by her desk. “Hey, River.”
“Hi, Josh.”
“So, were you surprised your sisters signed you up,” he grinned and chuckled.
Thank God, at least he knew it wasn’t her idea, so when she bombed at being a blacksmith, he wouldn’t be too hard on her. “Found out a few hours ago,” she answered with a laugh. “They really need hobbies.”
“I delivered the Wolf sculpture yesterday for the O’Faolain’s main floor. Hugh helped me set it in place. I admit, it’s been one of the most creative projects I’ve worked on for months.”
“Oh my God, Josh, you finished it? I can’t wait to see how it looks in the space.”
“For an artist, it was a treat to make a statement piece for a specific space versus creating art for an unknown customer. Not that I don’t love it all, but there was something special about being a part of the entire creative process.”
“It’s why my sisters and I love interior design so much. We get to see our vision become reality.” Looking down at the bracelet instructions, River said, “I’m excited to give this blacksmithing thing a go.”
“You’ll love it, trust me.” He smiled at River one more time, making her feel more comfortable before he turned and addressed the class, “Okay, everyone, tonight we will try our hands at twisted-forge bracelets.”
Josh went through a practice demonstration first. He explained what each tool was called and how and when they were used: tongs, steel stock, anvil, forge, hammer, punch, vise, twisting wrench, essential to tonight’s project, and the finishing metal wire brush. Information overload, but River was wholly committed.
