A Tangled Web - R.G. Alexander Page 0,51
to see Will at her house after the night she’d had. But she was.
“Did you walk here?”
He shushed her and gestured her over, speaking in low tones when she finally stood beside him. “I finished your present and you needed it. Have you been crying?”
Her hand came up to touch her damp cheek. “A little. But I’m okay.”
Will sighed. “I know it must have been hard for you, living most of your life surrounded by two-hearts. But you’ve done well.”
“Two-hearts?”
“People who think with their head instead of their heart. They analyze and plan and live life for themselves. Never doing for others without expectation, never giving up comfort to give it to another. They never hear the coyote’s howl and recognize its song.”
Dani peered at him suspiciously. “Have you ever met a guy named Stax, Will?”
He smiled, his eyes disappearing again. “I’m an old man. I know many things, but I don’t get out much. Besides, I’ve been too busy finishing your tihu to meet new people.” He reached into his pouch and pulled out the wooden figurine she had watched him create.
“It’s beautiful.” She’d seen so many of these in the shops around town, but the fact that it had been created for her made it special. “Which kachina is this?”
“The White Bear. A powerful warrior who gives us strength, but he’s a healer too, drawn to other healers, like you.”
Dani bit her lip, suddenly feeling like she might cry again. “Thank you. I still don’t think I’m that much of a warrior.”
He made a noise of impatience. “There you go, thinking with your head instead of your heart again. You can feel what’s true now, can’t you? You know what matters.”
Will turned as if to walk away, but hesitated, sending Dani a hopeful look over his shoulder. “You, uh, won’t tell Kaya I walked here, will you? I have a friend a few houses down. We’ll visit and she’ll drive me back before anyone knows I’m gone.”
Dani held her kachina close to her chest and nodded. “I won’t say a word as long as you get off your feet soon and drink some water.”
He bowed his head, eyes sparkling. “I promise to heed the words of my favorite healer.”
After he left, she stared at the carving until images started to fill her mind. Memories of Liam taking care of her when she was sick, or making her laugh when she was sad. Liam fixing her car and nagging her about her seatbelt. Liam protecting her from a spider in her shower. Invisible or not.
He hadn’t told her everything about himself, but he’d shown her who he was every day they’d been together. Kind. Good. Loving.
Liam hadn’t lied about what mattered.
He loved her. She knew it with a certainty that had her rocking back on her heels. She’d seen it in his eyes, felt it in every kiss, every touch he’d ever given her.
He’d fallen off the pedestal she’d placed him on, but maybe that was a good thing. No one could live up to that kind of standard. And who would want to?
If she was supposed to be listening to her heart, then she knew exactly what she needed to do next.
Liam walked out into the backyard, panic closing his throat when he didn’t see Dani where he’d left her.
Hell, he was lucky she’d stayed at all after what he’d put her through. But he wasn’t taking it for granted. He’d been fighting for her. For them. Telling her everything. She deserved that.
The idea of going back to a life that didn’t include her was unacceptable to him. He couldn’t imagine it and he didn’t want to try.
Bastard that he was, he didn’t want to be noble this time. To be the nice guy who stepped aside because it was the right thing to do. It would take time, but he would earn her trust back. He’d fight for as long as it took. Whatever he had to do. She was worth everything.
“Looking for me?”
Liam felt his shoulders relax as soon as she appeared beside him with a smile, holding something in her hand.
Wait, why was she smiling at him?
“I thought you left.”
“Nope. Still here.”
“I’m glad.” He couldn’t stop staring at her smile. She was so beautiful. “I love you, Dani.”
Her blue eyes were twinkling now. “I know.”
“You know?”
“I do.” She left his side to head toward the table. “Breakfast? Great. I’m starving.”
She set the strange wooden doll in the center of the patio table and sat down.