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She sat down and watched as he set up everything. “Amon?”
He looked up, his eyes gentle though she could see a little hesitation. “Yes, Gwendoline?”
She loved it when he called her by her name. It was a sign that their relationship had changed, though she wasn’t sure what exactly this was now.
“If there is anything I did to upset you, I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything to upset me. It’s been a very long time since a woman stepped into my life.” His face darkened with sadness.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I just wasn’t sure if it was something I did that upset you and didn’t want it to linger between us.”
“I’m the one who upset you with my behavior. I should’ve never treated you that way.”
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t hurt but I understand why you were like that.”
He then did something she would’ve never expected. He stood up, walked around the desk, and sat on the chair next to her. Taking her hand, he started whispering, a pain-filled tone in his voice. “I had a wife long ago, she was my everything, my whole world, my sunrise to the dark nights. We were simple people, living off the land, when sickness struck our little village.”
Gwen started running her thumb over the back of his hand in an attempt to soothe his pain.
“Marianna fell sick. She’d just discovered that she was carrying my child and was now battling for her and our child’s life. I stood by her side and watched as the healers could do nothing to save her or even ease her pain. She fought for weeks, but she was taken from me, pulled from my life far too soon.”
He loved her so deeply that even now, hundreds of years later he was still grieving her death and that of his unborn child. Gwen continued to soothe him with her caress though she wasn’t sure if anything she could say would possibly be of help for him.
“I’m sorry, Amon.”
It was a weak response to the loss he was still enduring, but she wasn’t sure what else to say. He didn’t say anything and just let her touch him, his head bowed down hiding his face.
“Please don’t think you have to push yourself or force yourself to open up to me. I know losing someone you love is hard and letting others in afterwards is even harder. Just know I’m here if you want to talk or just to hold you if you like.”
He lifted his head and straightened his back. “You’re very kind.”
With her free hand she reached for his face and gently ran her fingers down his jawline. “If you say so, I’ll believe you.”
His lips gently twitched as he reached for the laptop and turned it to her. “It’s all set up. If you like, you can use the den, though it doesn’t have much space to spread out. Silas mentioned you need a big workspace.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot he saw the mess I always make.”
“Anywhere you feel comfortable is good for us. I can even get a printer set up in your room, so you don’t have to walk down here all the time.”
“Don’t worry. If I print here, I’ll see you more.”
She leaned forward and gently gave him a quick hug, only now noticing that he smelled of apples. Not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable, she quickly pulled back and grabbed her laptop from the desk.
“Thank you.”
She made herself comfortable in the living room. Sitting crossed legged in front of the coffee table, she started working through all her new emails. Rayen set two glasses next to her–one with water and one with orange juice–then sat behind her on the couch gently playing with her hair. Silas sat on an armchair with a book.
After a while, Amon joined them. He sat down with his tablet in his lap and started reading some files he’d brought with him. They spent all afternoon like that, only occasionally adjusting their positions. Close to dinner time she closed her laptop, stood up, and stretched.
“Are you going to make dinner?” Rayen stood up eager to help.
“I think I’ll take a shower first.”
Silas lifted his head. “I’ll join you.”
Her heart fluttered in her chest at his suggestion. She bit her lip and turned, trying to hide how much she was intrigued by his offer.
“I don’t hear an objection,” he called after her as she rushed up the stairs.
