again, Holm, or I'll whip your head off so fast you won't know what hit you."
Axell watched her go with a burgeoning feeling of dread deep in his heart. Maya was so beautiful, so talented, so wise in so many ways, and so damned ephemeral, that one of these days she would have to sprout wings and fly like a butterfly.
And he had the perishing feeling that her departure would kill him.
January, 1946
I saw Helen in town today. She looked pale but more beautiful than ever. She looked right through me as if I didn't exist. She must regret sending that letter, but I can't get it off my mind. My "wicked, sinful lips" ache for hers. I've not dared to so much as brush Dolly's cheeks with them.
I'm not a sentimental man. I thought what we shared was of the flesh only, but may the Lord have mercy on me, I crave Helen with all my body and soul.
The town calls her a fallen woman, but she's not. She's warmhearted and fun-loving and in desperate search of what her cold and calculating uncle cannot give. Had her parents lived... There's no point in speculating. She needs rescuing, but I don't know if I have what it takes to do it.
If I lose my job, I'll lose the land and the house my grandfather built and my sister will go homeless. Can I choose love over honor and respectability?
I look in the mirror and see a coward.
Chapter 23
Always remember, you're unique, just like everybody else.
Chimes tinkled a musical scale as Axell opened the door to the newly-reopened Curiosity Shoppe. The powerful thunder of waves rushing to shore roared over the chimes. May sunshine poured through the plate windows, and the breeze that followed him in stirred dancing rainbows from the crystals sparkling overhead. The kiosk of brightly-hued bumper stickers swayed as he brushed past, and he noticed Maya had stuck still another quote on the sticker collage forming between the shelves.
Her cheerful "I'm up here" was a startling reversal of his first entrance into his wife's wonderful wacky world, and curiosity escalating, Axell scanned the ceiling.
Maya sat on a high stepladder, carefully hooking what appeared to be multicolored ribbons of a hanging mobile to an emerald green papier-m芒ch茅 dragon. Among the streamers hung grinning gnomes, surly trolls, and crystal treasures. In the nearly seven weeks since their marriage, Axell had discovered his wife's creative mind had a few more twists than he'd suspected.
"I think you're supposed to put a mobile together before you hang it," he said cautiously, watching her lean from the ladder to reach the hook she wanted. With the warmer weather, she had taken to wearing short tight tank tops beneath loose blouses, but he'd noticed she usually shed the blouses when she was alone, which was probably why he was here. He'd known she'd be alone.
He admired the bounce of Maya's unfettered breasts as she climbed down. She'd been forced to give up trying to nurse Alexa, but her breasts were still as full as a man could desire, not to mention high and firm and easily discerned beneath that damned tight knit. Sometimes, he thought she wore those shirts to taunt him. His restraint was near the cracking point. Maintaining any semblance of equanimity in her presence was a challenge that might break him.
"But I didn't know where the streamers belonged until I hung it."
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, and Axell responded to the scent of hyacinths wrapping around him. Maya wore the damnedest perfumes. If he was a man of any less restraint, he'd have her down on the floor by now.
As it was, he had to ball his fingers into fists to prevent grabbing her by the waist and swallowing her tongue. He knew he could kiss any resistance good-bye if he so much as touched her, and he didn't think making love to his wife in full view of the public would enhance either of their reputations. He almost had the Alcoholic Beverage Control board believing in his sterling character.
He glanced warily at the enormous laughing dragon flying high above his head. "And I suppose the dragon told you where he wanted his streamers?"
"Of course." She crossed to the counter and produced her carafe. "Tea?"
"Not now." He watched as she poured hot water into unfamiliar china. "Where are your teacups?"
She looked briefly embarrassed before she threw up her usual defenses and shrugged. "They're still at the school in a