He smiled, reached out and gave my arm a gently squeeze before pulling back. “Food?”
I sighed, trying to dispel all the anxious energy flowing through me. “Yeah.”
I thought it might have been awkward eating in silence, but, like it did in the past, the silence between us seemed natural as we both focused on eating for the better part of the meal. I was mostly done with my burrito by the time I sat back and really looked at him.
Of course, the shitbird was already looking at me.
“What?” I asked.
He tilted his head, his eyes roaming over me for a moment.
“You cut your hair.”
“What?” I automatically felt the ends of my hair at my waist, searching for a missing chunk.
He chuckled and shook his head. “I just mean, you must have conquered your fear, because your hair is a little shorter than when I last saw you.”
The food in my stomach suddenly felt like cement.
“Um, yeah. I cut it a while back.”
I blamed it on the lack of sleep and the overwhelming amount of anxiety I was feeling about my impending wedding in less than five hours now, but I found myself crying as I watched Elder Theo, my eminent husband, belt Natasha.
I wanted to be angry with her, wanted to feel like her punishment was some sort of vindication for how she’d treated me the last six weeks, at the very least for cutting my hair in my sleep, but all I felt was guilty. Like I shouldn’t have been witnessing this. Like I was the one who should be receiving the belting despite not having done anything wrong.
My fingers absently ran through my hair, and with every missing chunk I found, another tear fell, until my eyes swelled shut and I was left with the snap of the belt on her backside and the whimper that left Natasha's mouth.
I loud sigh escaped Theo. “You are forgiven,” he muttered.
I heard the soft cries from Natasha fade as she must have left the room. I knew Theo’s attention had turned to me when he suddenly gasped and his hands cradled my face.
“My love, what’s happened?” he rushed out.
“N-nothing, Elder Theo. It’s just my…my eyes. They react this way when I cry.”
Theo sighed and I could hear the sadness in it. “My love, you’re hurting my heart to see you like this. How can I fix it?”
“Some ice? Please?” I whispered.
“Yes, of course,” he said, dropping his hands from my face to wrap an arm around my shoulders. He led me to a chair and helped me get seated.
“I’ll be right back,” he said softly, kissing the top of my head before he left.
There was an extra set of footsteps when he returned.
“I’ve brought Mrs. Nortuck,” he announced, as he handed me a towel wrapped in ice. “She’s going to fix your hair.”
He hummed sadly as his hand swept down my head, clutching softly at the short hairs.
“You’re still beautiful, my love. Don’t let this ruin our special day. I’ll leave you to get sorted, and I will see you at the church soon. I’m looking forward to seeing your new haircut on your angelic face.”
My stomach tightened with nerves and I nodded, “Thank you.”
There was another moment of silence before I heard him retreat and Mrs. Nortuck clapped her hands, making me jump.
“Well, let’s get this done, shall we?”
She came to stand behind me, and she finger-combed through my hair.
