Fatal Wines and Valentines by Silvertale Trixie

Author:Silvertale, Trixie [Silvertale, Trixie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-29T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Gusts of wind buffet around us, and the temperature seems to drop several degrees as the tension thickens.

“You don’t have to go. Whatever decision you make is the right one for you. If you want to go, I support that. I’ll even go with you if you want—”

Erick silently raises a hand to stop my verbal diarrhea. He slowly shakes his head and shrugs.

New approach. My voice, barely a whisper. My tone, humbly apologetic. “Sorry. Do you want to talk about it?”

He pulls me close, and the frosty wind swirls around us as we stand on the stoop in awkward silence.

“I know you support me, and I appreciate that. I do.” He sighs heavily, and his lips graze my forehead.

Images of my mother rubbing small circles on my back to comfort me after school-day disasters leap to the forefront, and I do my best to mimic the gesture from the memories of a small child.

Losing her when I was eleven leaves me little to go on. Would I have grown to resent her as a teenager? Would there have been arguments and harsh words? Would she have given up on me, or would our trials and tribulations have ultimately brought us closer together? All the things I’ll never know. All the questions any orphan must have.

Erick leans away as he groans. I pull my hand back and shove it into the pocket of my puffy coat. Patience is something I severely lack. If he doesn’t say something soon—

“Will you be okay without me until tomorrow, Moon?”

“I can handle Grams, if that’s what you mean. I’ll update the murder wall and see how Silas is doing on the research project. But I’m happy to tag along if you need company on your road trip.” I try to contain my over-eager worry. I pretty much fail.

A weak smile grazes his pouty mouth as he slides an arm around my shoulders and pulls me near. “I need to do this on my own. And I need to do it today. It’s a three-hour drive to Clearwater. I’ll crash at a cheap motel tonight and head over to the prison first thing in the morning. Will Pyewacket be enough company for you if I don’t get back till tomorrow afternoon?”

Hopefully, my attempt at a brave tone will fool him. “Of course. Pyewacket and I got along just fine without you when you were busy protecting all of Birch County. We can easily make it through one night.”

He kisses the top of my head and continues to hold me tight. “Thanks. I have no idea what Alex wants to talk about. I’d just as soon get it over with. I’m not looking to ignite some relationship with the guy, but if he wants to clear the air about how he left me and my mom, fine by me.”

Pretending to be a normal wife and not one with extrasensory perceptions, I force myself to ignore the storm of abandonment issues swirling beneath my husband’s carefully controlled exterior.

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