Having someone else acknowledge my darkest feelings loosens the emotions I’ve kept so tight within me. I don’t say anything, but the tears fall free, and a small sob escapes me.
“Oh, honey. Please don’t cry.” Claudia pulls out a handkerchief from her skirt and passes it to me.
“I’m s-sorry,” I stutter through the tears. “I’m not usually this emotional.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Miss Elia. We are your family now, you know that, right? You are welcome to stay here as long as you want.”
I will my tears to stop falling, and I try my best to pull myself together. Claudia’s sincerity and motherly behavior fills a part of myself that’s been empty for years. Could I stay in Ashven permanently? I can’t imagine leaving Claudia or Ginna or Hanson. And Callum – well, I’d like to see how things go. He’s already attached himself to a part of my heart and it would hurt to remove.
“Thank you, Claudia. But I would never want to overstay my welcome or be any burden to anyone here.”
Claudia waves a dismissive hand in the air. “Bah! You and Callum are both the same – never letting anyone take care of you. You are far from a burden, and Callum would have your tongue if he heard you talk like that!” She flashes me a sly grin. “From what I’ve heard you two have grown quite close in the last few months.”
“We’re just –” I sigh, flopping back on the four-poster bed. “Ugh, I don’t know. Friends. Maybe more? I don’t want to push him into anything. I know Rafe broke his heart –”
“He told you about Rafe?” Claudia interrupts.
“Only the highlights. But the way he talks about him…It’s like they were destined for each other. You know?” I pause, staring at the arched ceilings, remembering how broken Callum was talking about Rafe. “I don’t want to come second,” I whisper my fear aloud.
Claudia joins me on the bed. “I watched Cal and Rafe’s relationship as it unfolded. I may not have been privy to everything, but from my perspective, it was beautiful. But just because something is beautiful, it doesn’t mean it’s perfect or meant to be. There was something missing – like a puzzle missing its piece. What that piece was,” Claudia shrugs. “I don’t know. But the whole picture, the whole relationship, couldn’t be completed without that piece.
“I do know this, however. Callum hasn’t been interested in another person, male or female, since Rafe left. Most of us thought that he would never love again. But the way he talks about you…” She gazes at me dreamily. “The way he looks at you, though…makes me believe his heart is open again. And once he falls for someone, he falls hard. He’ll offer you everything, if you give him that chance. Rafe will always be a part of his history, but he wants you to be his future. I’m sure of it.”
I let Claudia’s words sink in. I meant what I told Callum in the lavender field – that I would never want him to forget about Rafe. Love is rare, and I would want to remember all memories I had of being loved, even if the person was no longer in the picture.
“Thanks, Claudia. I needed that. We’ll see how the next couple weeks go. Being stuck on a ship for weeks with each other will give me a good picture of our relationship, I’m sure! Hopefully we’ll both make it back without pushing the other overboard,” I joke.
“That’s the spirit, Miss Elia!” She rises from the bed, straightening her clothes. “Now, I believe all your luggage is set to go. I’ll have it delivered straight to the ship for tomorrow.”
“What am I going to do without you?” I complain.
“I’m sure Callum will help you in the morning,” Claudia taunts, wiggling her eyebrows at me.
I toss a pillow her way and she ducks, chuckling. “Would this be a bad time to mention the contraceptive tonics I slid into your bag?”
“Claudia!” I shriek, tossing another pillow at her. Claudia’s laughter echoes in the hall after she leaves my room, and I can’t help but chuckle in solidarity. After all, maybe the tonics would come in handy.
???
The next morning arrives in a wave of nervous anticipation. I tossed and turned all night. I’d never traveled this far before, and I’ve never been on a ship. I’m excited that the next couple of weeks won’t consist of research but instead will hopefully be spending time with Callum and Ginna and having fun. Living life. Something I haven’t done since I was a child.
Claudia helps me get ready, and I try not to cry again when we hug our goodbyes. I promise I’ll return, but I’m not sure when that will be, so I soak up her embrace.
Callum knocks on my door seconds after Claudia leaves. He looks extra handsome today in his royal blue travel coat. It makes his sapphire eyesappear especially bright.
“Ready for our adventure?” He extends his hand out to me and I happily accept.
Callum escorts me down our usual back entrance to where a carriage awaits to take us to the docks. “I’m nervous,” I admit, climbing into the carriage. “I’ve never travelled this far.”
Callum squeezes my hand that he’s kept firmly clasped in his. “There’s a first time for everything. But don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”
“You sure make a lot of promises,” I smirk at him.
“Only ones I know I can keep.”
“What if the ship is attacked by a giant kraken?” I counter.
He stares at me curtly. “Krakens don’t exist.”
