“A man’s greatest accomplishment is finding a good woman.” His eyes softened the way they do when he thought of Mom. “Your Elise…if she’s your special someone, do what you can to keep her by your side. Good women don’t come along often.”
Her sweet smile flashed across my mind. My chest warmed.
“Got it, Dad.”
He grunted and turned away, whistling as he walked toward the bus station. A flash of silver arched through the air. Dad chuckled, catching the lighter he had tossed up moments ago.
Elise stood at the gate, bundled up in a thick wool dress and snow boots, a fuzzy scarf around her neck. Her red umbrella was tucked under her arm. Her cheeks pinkened, a smile splitting her lips when she saw me.
“Kian!”
My heart fluttered as I parked my bike and rushed toward her.
Slightly out of breath, I took her hands in mine.
They were cold—too cold. I swiftly rubbed her fingers, then brought them up to my lips to heat them with my breath.
She hummed her favorite melody—Beethoven’s song—as we strode into the gardens. The trees were barren, the weathered benches thick with snow, but there were still people loitering about.
After all, it was one of the few places kids could run and scream without getting side-eyed by the Albanian mob. The park was off-limits.
“Sorry we couldn’t go anywhere nice.” Shame thickened my voice.
“This is perfect.” She shuffled closer to me and let out a happy sigh. “Absolutely perfect.”
We strolled on the outer loop, past the marble angels with wings unfurled, and thorny bushes that would bloom her favorite flowers—roses—in spring.
She fished out a book and started reading.
“And when he opened his eyes, he realized his dark world had light. That, for once, his thirst wasn’t for death but for a woman bright with life. That he’d—”
I chuckled.
“What?” She elbowed me.
“That book again. It’s so dramatic.”
Elise gasped. “Hades and Persephone’s story isn’t dramatic! It’s a classic. It survived thousands of years, Kian Leste. It’s one of the most famous Greek myths—”
“Fine. Fine. I’m sorry, my goddess.” I exaggerated a bow. “How will I ever redeem myself in your eyes?”
I tucked a chocolate into her palm. Her eyes brightened. Caramel flavored today.
“Someone’s been paying attention to my stories.” She stuffed the chocolate into her mouth. “This issooogood.”
“I pay attention to everything you say.” Heat crawled up my face, but it was true. “Someday, I’ll read to you instead of the other way around. I’ve been practicing.”
Shame settled deeper inside me, but I forced out a smile. Elise never cared that I couldn’t read well.
Only I did.
But someday that’d change.
“You have?” She jumped and closed her book. “Yay. Maybe you’ll find a favorite book or two. It really is the best thing ever.”
Elise beamed and laced her fingers with mine once more.
We strolled off the beaten path.
