Down from the Mountain by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Published: 2023-02-18T12:35:43+00:00

Chapter Eight

Ellen climbed into bed when they got home and fell asleep immediately, the easy sleep of angels and children. David, on the other hand, stayed awake long into the night, pacing, sitting, standing, pausing by her bed to stare down at Ellen. To wonder why she’d been sent to torment him, when his life was already living hell, forgiving him every cruel remark he’d ever made, every sneer, every growl—everything.

But would she forgive him his face? He doubted it. He sincerely doubted it. Ellen, as was her right, made certain assumptions about people, and foremost was that they were normal-looking. Now, he wasn’t just scarred, he was disfigured, and she had a right to know. But to touch him was to know, and to know was to despise. He didn’t know if he could bear that. And God help him, he just couldn’t find the words to explain to her his situation. So wouldn’t it be a sin to take her, and not to let her know? Thank the Lord nothing had happened at that boathouse. Her falling asleep on him was the left hand of God. He wouldn’t have been able to face himself—or her—the next morning, if anything had.

Ellen, on the other hand, wanted David to love her. Waking the next morning to a terrific headache, she gave herself a long talking to about that very subject. If she’d been silly enough to hope to change his mind, well, after what had happened yesterday, it was pretty clear that he was never going to accept her as a lover. Something always held him back, he counted too many strikes against them. If his face was one of them, well, how could she dodge that when she wasn’t even supposed to know? Fact was, she shouldn’t waste time wanting what she couldn’t have. John Hartwell had been telling her that most of her life. After all, she had a good career, money enough to ease her way, good friends, and the best of blessings, the gift of sight in a few short weeks! This silly urge to cry would pass in time.

But—fool in love—she found it intolerable that David wasn’t the slightest bit apologetic. And fool in love, she felt compelled to say so. Words were her life’s blood, after all.

“Perhaps you think I have no pride,” she began slowly, halfway through breakfast. “After yesterday, after that silly scene in the diner…and afterward…you’re probably right. But I have to admit to a certain curiosity as to how you feel about what happened.”

Her tone said it all. If there were two things David knew from it, number one was that Ellen wasn’t at all interested in how he felt! The other was that only a man with suicidal tendencies would dare open his mouth at that moment.

“I myself am confused,” he heard her continue right on cue. “But—”

Why was there always a but with women?

“I wish to apologize if I embarrassed you in any way.”

Right! About the last thing Ellen sounded was apologetic.

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