was looking for me and he killed her. And I was in a rage again.
“I don’t want to tell you how brutal I was. When I eventually made my way to the British Consulate in Turkey, the trail of bodies behind me would make Jack the Ripper look a coward. It takes a special kind of monster to do the things I did. I had no remorse. Even now it is difficult for me to relate to the man that did those things. You have no idea what horrors happened because of these hands.”
He held up his hands. They were shaking. He clasped them together and looked down at his plate. Willow was silent.
“I thought if you knew the things I did. If you knew there was a time that these hands were crimson with the blood of others you might never want to be touched by them again. I was a monster. I am a monster. When I was in the hospital here, after my third or fourth surgery, Stacey came to visit. She had just seen me and thought I was asleep. She was talking to the doctor. And I remember her asking about my scar. The doctor told her they couldn’t do more than what had already been done. There was too much damaged tissue. I was lucky to have survived it to begin with. She told the doctor, ‘how do you expect the King of England to look like a monster?’
“So I covered my scar from then on. Then you came along. I swear Willow, in the basement, all I saw was the executioner. He was laughing at me, mocking me because I had hurt you. I was now the monster.”
Willow had tears in her eyes. She thought of what she could say to make him feel better. Nothing came to her mind so she reached across the table and held his hands.
“You’re not a monster,” she said. “And you didn’t hurt me on purpose.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Come with me.”
She got from the table. He got up too. She took his left hand and led him up the stairs to the master bedroom. She undressed in front of him. James watched her, not sure what to do. She took his hands in hers and placed them on the side of her face, like the first night they kissed. She leaned in and kissed him.
Willow put her hands over his and guided his hands down her body, across her breasts, down her belly and even further. She moaned when he touched her.
She brought his hands up her sides and then to her face. She kissed each palm delicately, as if they were flowers.
“I will never be repulsed by these hands,” she said. “These are the hands of a protector, a lover, and a survivor. These hands did not hurt me. Your words hurt me, James. Not these hands. When you’ve touched me, haven’t I always begged for more?”
She leaned in and kissed him on the lips. He wrapped his arms around and kissed her back. He lifted her off the floor and brought her to the bed. Their love making was slow and beautiful.
When James woke up, he was alone. It was a strange thing for him. For the time they lived together, she could not turn in the bed without him getting up. Then he wondered for a moment if the previous night was a dream. He felt different this morning. He felt a hundred pounds lighter. Her side of the bed was rumpled. He could still smell her on the sheets. It wasn’t a dream after all.
He got up and took a shower, then dressed for the office. He could hear talking and laughing as he made his way down the stairs.
“I’m willing to negotiate for all copies of the video,” Willow said.
“Not even James could buy that video from me,” Larry said.
“I look like a crazy person!”
“You were a crazy person.”
“Name your price,” Willow said.
James could hardly believe his ears. Willow and Larry were actually talking without him playing referee.
“Hmmm,” Larry said as if thinking about it. “I think the video is more valuable for future reference.”
“Good morning,” James walked into the kitchen. He was surprised to see Larry and Willow at the island while Henry was making breakfast.
“Hi,” Willow said.
“Good morning,” Larry answered.
“What are you guys doing here?” The question was directed to Henry especially.
“I had a craving for bacon. I would have cooked the bloody thing myself except we,” Willow patted her belly,