His fingers close around mine, warm and solid. His whole body goes still, like he’s afraid any movement might make me let go.
We stand there in the kitchen, hand in hand, the snow falling outside and the fire crackling in the other room. Two broken people who’ve spent years guarding themselves, finally letting go.
“This doesn’t mean I forgive you,” I say.
“I know.”
“And it doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“I know.”
“But...” I squeeze his hand gently. “I’m willing to try.”
The smile that breaks across his face changes him completely. The hard lines soften. The darkness in his eyes lifts. For a moment, I can see the man he must have been before the scar, before the exile, before years of solitude turned him into the grumpy bear everyone in town avoids.
He’s beautiful.
The thought catches me off guard. I push it away, filing it somewhere I don’t have to examine too closely.
“That’s all I’m asking,” he says. “A chance to try.”
I nod, not trusting my voice.
We stand there a moment longer, neither of us wanting to be the first to let go. Finally, I release his hand and step back, needing space to breathe.
“I should...” I gesture vaguely toward the hallway.
“Yeah.” He clears his throat. “I should probably start on the dishes.”
“I could help?—“
“No.” Sharp enough that he immediately smiles. “No cleaning, remember?”
Right. The no cleaning rule that still makes no sense.
“Fine.” I back toward the hallway. “But this doesn’t mean you get to do everything. I’m not helpless.”
“I never thought you were.”
I pause in the doorway, looking back at him. He’s standing in the kitchen, morning light catching the scar on his face, looking at me like I’m something precious. Something worth fighting for.
No one’s ever looked at me like that before.
“Tolin?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For listening. For not... I don’t know. For not making me feel stupid for wanting a chair.”
His expression softens. “Your dreams aren’t stupid, Imani. They’re beautiful. And you’re going to have all of it. The chair, the home, everything you’ve ever wanted.”
I don’t know what to say to that. So I just nod and slip down the hallway to my room, my heart beating too fast and my mind racing.
Something has shifted between us. Something I can’t name and don’t want to examine too closely.
But for the first time since I arrived at this cabin, I’m not counting the hours until I can leave.
14
