“What?”
She fell into his chest and sobbed. He was stiff at first, and then softened. Strong arms came around her and he held her close. His body surrounded her, and she let herself simply feel safe and comforted. For a few brief minutes she would allow herself this weakness.
She needed this. To feel someone holding her close in that moment, and Ash was that someone.
“It’s all right.” He murmured the words into her hair. “Everything will be all right, Dorrie.”
She inhaled the scent of Ash as the tears dried. Exhausted and heart sick she rested against him.
Dorrie had watched him helping the people of Crunston Cliff the last few days. Watched his gentleness as he talked to the villagers. He was so much more than he wanted people to believe he was. Ashford Charlton wanted the world to see him as a cold, unfeeling man, but he was not.
With exposure to this man her feelings toward him were growing. She was beginning to care deeply for Ash.
His hands wrapped around her upper arms as she eased back reluctantly. Their eyes met and held.
“I’m sorry, Dorrie.”
“I know and thank you for this.”
“Holding you was no hardship.” He lowered his head and kissed her softly. Their lips caught and held and then he pulled away. “Now sit and rest, just for a while.” He nudged her down.
She told herself that was the kiss of a man who wanted to offer comfort. Yet, to Dorrie it felt like so much more.
She sat and pulled up her knees, and then rested her head on them. She would think more about Ash later. Right now everything inside her grieved for Esther. Her family would mourn the wonderful girl who had just died, as Dorrie was, and it would be she who must tell them of her passing.
“Eat this.” He handed her an apple.
Lifting her head, she took it because she couldn’t remember when she’d last eaten. He dropped down beside her, and they sat staring at the sea but not really seeing.
“Have you ever hurt so much that you’re not sure it will ever ease, Ash?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t think part of you ever really heals when you grieve for someone. You just learn to live with it. Life goes on, and you can be happy again, but inside you there is this tiny part that will never heal.”
“Yes,” he whispered. “That is it exactly.”
“Esther was my childhood friend, Ash. We played for years together. Me, Somer, and her.”
“I’m sorry that you lost her, Dorset.”
“It hurts my heart to think I won’t see her again. Somer too will be devastated.”
“Her pain is over, but for those who loved her it is just starting.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I feel helpless that we can do so little for them,” Dorrie said thinking of the sick and dying in the church. Her voice sounded hoarse with the tears she’d shed.
“But you are helping them.” His words were gruff. “You give them comfort when they are in most need of it. To know there is someone with you who cares about you, someone they know will help them on their journey into the next life is a blessing few get, Dorset.”
“Dorrie,” she whispered. “And thank you.”
“My words are the truth. Your friend was comforted by you at the end.”
She studied him. He sat with one leg bent, the other extended. He’d lost his necktie and jacket, and his boots were filthy. The white of his shirt had long since been smeared with dirt and other things she didn’t want to identify.
Her heart seemed to swell just looking at him.
“Will you tell me why you stayed away from Gus for so long?” Dorrie asked.
