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“Whenever I can,” I say. “And whenever I need to. How about you? Do you have a favorite spot?”
She touches her chin as she pauses to think. “I used to love the swing we had in our backyard. But not anymore.”
I don’t ask why because I have a feeling I won’t like the reason. And here I thought I was finally going to hear something nice from Triss, a memory that brings a smile to her face as she recounts it. Maybe some other time.
“I bet Lara is going to love it here,” Triss changes the topic. “I can almost see her splashing in the pond or chasing butterflies.”
I can, too. I can even imagine her rolling around in the pile of leaves that builds up every autumn.
“You can see her, you know,” I tell Triss. “If you stay.”
I know I promised not to bring that up, but I just had to. Like she said, this whole excursion is an attempt for me to hopefully get her to stay. Maybe a final attempt, because her foot is almost fully healed. In fact, she probably won’t need crutches by tomorrow.
I can’t prevent James Molder from finding her, and I may not be able to protect her when he does. That’s a risk that Triss will have to take. But I can convince her it’s worth taking that risk, that she can have a chance of happiness with her daughter if she decides to stay.
Triss slides off the rock she’s sitting on and sits on the grass. Then she lies down and looks up at the sky.
“I’ve been thinking about everything you said,” she says. “And everything that’s happened in my life.”
I look at her expectantly as I hold my breath. And?
Triss draws hers. “I think I shouldn’t throw away the good times because I’m afraid of the bad. I think I shouldn’t run away unless I have to.”
She turns her head to look at me.
“Is that okay?”
Okay? It’s what I’ve been wanting to hear.
“Of course,” I tell her. “I’ve already told you that you can stay as long as you like.”
Triss’s lips curve into a smile that lights up her face. It makes my own chest swell with relief. No, not just relief. Joy.
I’m glad she’s decided to stay here in Summerset. With me. I guess I’ve been lonely.
“But you have to promise me one thing.” Triss sits up and holds up a finger.
“What is it?”
“If things turn bad, you have to let me go. Don’t be a hero. Don’t try to save me. Don’t try to fight Jim. Just let me go.”
My joy evaporates. I don’t like the sound of that. Not at all. The more time I spend with her, the more I don’t want to let her go. But if that’s her condition for staying, then I’ll have to agree to it. I just have to hope that things won’t come to that, or that if they do, I can be strong enough to protect her. The only reason she doesn’t want me to be a hero is because she doesn’t think I can pull it off. But if I can, then she’ll be safe.
“Okay,” I answer.
“Promise?”
I let out a breath. “If I know I can’t protect you, I promise I’ll let you go.”
Triss says nothing as she drills me with her gaze. What? Was what I said not enough? Then finally, she lies down.
“Okay.”
So she’s staying? I could almost kiss her. I want to kiss her, I realize as I stare at her full lips. They’re slightly parted, a strand of auburn hair caught in the corner. Not just that. I want to climb on top of her, pin her wrists above her, lift her long denim skirt up to her waist and bury myself inside her right here and now. Over and over.
The realization takes me by surprise. When did I become such a lust-driven savage?
Triss turns her head to meet my gaze. I look away.
“Why are you staring at me?” she asks. “I don’t have dirt on my face, do I?”
“No.”
“Then what? Do I have a bug in my hair?”
“No,” I answer, looking just to make sure.
She sits up and does the same. I frown.
“You know I would have told you if there was.”
“Then why were you staring at me?” Triss demands.
“No reason,” I answer.
She pouts. “Oh, really?”
She gets up and tries to push me into the water but I dodge. She falls into the pond instead. It’s shallow, so she doesn’t go under, but she’s drenched from head to toe. She crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me as water from her hair trickles down her face.
Uh-oh. I’ve really made her mad now.
“Here.” I offer her my hand. “Let me help – ”
The next thing I know I’m falling into the pond. I manage to turn so that I don’t fall into the water face first, but I still make a splash. Like Triss, I end up drenched all the way to my underwear.
