Nevermore (The Enigma Society Book 1) by Sian B. Claven

Author:Sian B. Claven [Claven, Sian B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Ten

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only

That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.

Nothing farther then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered—

Till I scarcely more than muttered “Other friends have flown before—

On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before.”

Then the bird said “Nevermore.”

RAVEN

When we get home, I drop my stuff in the dining room and head out to the garden, slamming the back door behind me to make a point. I can feel the guilt oozing out of every single one of her pores. It’s evident in her eyes, those expressive eyes.

I’m not really annoyed, but I want to make this her fault.

“Raven?” she says softly behind me while I load a wheelbarrow with soil.

“What?” I’m snappish.

“I just wanted to apologize for being insanely jealous. I know you need to be friendly to the customers, even Alison. It’s just she really goes out of her way to make me miserable, and it upsets me to see you smiling and flirting with her.”

I look at her and say tersely, “It wasn’t flirting…”

“Sorry, sorry, I was jealous you were smiling and being friendly,” she corrects herself, fidgeting.

I sigh and wipe imaginary sweat from my forehead using my shirt.

“Look,” I say, fixing my stare on her, “This can only work if you trust me. I need to know you trust me. I know it can’t be easy to trust someone after everything you’ve been through, but my intentions are pure. I feel such a connection with you, Holly, unlike any I have ever felt before.”

I can see the tears forming in her eyes, and her voice cracks slightly, “I feel the same way, Raven, and I do trust you. It was just; everything was so new today and weird. Please give me a second chance,” she pleads.

I hold my arms out, and she rushes me; I envelop her in a hug and stroke her head. “There, there. It’s going to be okay. Just trust me.”

I cannot even explain the satisfaction I am feeling right now.

But…

There is a small part of me. Like zero point zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, one percent that feels a twang of guilt.

That’s never happened before.

She is so soft, so vulnerable, and I am exploiting that. I mean, I wasn’t heartless in life. I was a husband and a good friend, and everyone’s favorite uncle. I had been generous in my time.

So maybe that’s why this time I feel that pinprick of guilt.

Huh! There’s still some humanity left in me, even though it’s so small.

I let her go and look down at her. “Go make dinner, and then we can enjoy our evening after you clean. If it’s early enough, we can even watch a movie together.”

That should placate her, and it looks like it does. She gives me a tired smile and turns to go back to the house. I move the wheelbarrow and pour the soil where it needs to go.

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