He led her to a tree offering shade and removed his coat. He placed it on the dusty ground and motioned for her to sit.
“You’ll make it dirty,” Olivia protested.
He shrugged and grinned. “It doesn’t matter, I’ll wash it.”
Olivia hesitated. She ought to go back to the orphanage. With every minute she spent with Adam, she realized she was getting to like him more and more. And it frightened her because she didn’t see a future for them. Adam was hinged to his work and nothing would change that.
Sensing her reluctance, he said, “I’ll walk you back to the orphanage if that’s what you want. I just thought maybe you would like a few minutes to comport yourself before you go back.”
“I would like that, too, but I don’t like you soiling your clothes for me.”
Her pulse raced as she thought she heard him mutter that he would do anything for her.
I’m sure I didn’t hear well. Better not to start having silly ideas again.
“Thank you,” she warmly told him and pushed herself down on his coat.
He sat beside her and Olivia lost her breath again. She wished he would move away a little so that she would be able to focus. Sometimes, she wondered if she was the only one who felt the sensations that ran through her body whenever he was within proximity.
Did he feel it, too?
She reckoned that he didn’t because he wouldn’t have pulled away when he tried to kiss her the other night.
Dear God, I’m thinking about the near-kiss incident again. Save me, Lord.
As if guessing she wasn’t so comfortable with him seated so close to her, he moved away a little. Olivia released a low breath of relief.
“I’m sorry, Olivia.” Adam’s voice held regret.
“Sorry? For what?”
“For causing you to cry.”
“You didn’t. I just have to learn how to control my emotions.”
“No. It was okay for you to cry. I’m only sorry I was the one who caused it by dredging up unpleasant memories.”
“It’s fine.”
They sat in companionable silence for some minutes before Adam said, “I know you’ve told me about your Indian family before. But I’d love for you to tell me about them again. I mean the family that took you in. I want to see you smile again. Your face lights up whenever you talk about White Bird and her family. I can only hope that it won’t lead you to tears again.”
A flush went through Olivia at Adam’s words. So he watched her face whenever she talked and wanted her to smile again.
Olivia obliged him by smiling. “I won’t cry anymore. I have found peace with their deaths. It came as a surprise just now that my parents were killed. All these years, I thought the fire was an accident.”
“I understand. You don’t have to talk about White Bird and her family if you don’t want to.”
“I want to. I’ve discovered that talking about them gives me peace.”
And so, Olivia spoke about the first time she and White Bird met along with her brothers. She talked about their everyday simple lives and how they became the best of friends. She also mentioned their escapades together and how they got into trouble for it sometimes.
“I miss them but I believe with all my heart that they’re in a better place.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as peace stole over her.
“You see, I believe everyone that leaves this world has gone to be in a better place. Well, except for those who refused Christ’s salvation. White Bird and her family believed in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ despite their traditions.”
Olivia waited for Adam to contribute to the conversation but he didn’t.
