Step Darkly by Luna Kayne

Author:Luna Kayne [Kayne, Luna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989366028
Publisher: Kayne Publishing

41

Joshua

“Go ahead. Say what you want to say. I’m surprised you held out this long.” I take a long sip of my drink and keep my eyes on the flame burning hot in the fireplace.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Alexandra replies from under a blanket on the couch and I shake my head.

“I know you, Lexa. You’ve been dying to talk about what happened in the car yesterday when we first got here. You’ve been watching both of us rather closely all day.” Her feigned ignorance is trying my patience.

We had a productive, emotional and busy day. Since the sunrise is on her side of the cabin, Emilia was up at the crack of dawn and I found her mid-morning in the garden, pulling weeds and pruning branches. We quietly returned Adam’s ashes to the earth when the sun was highest in the sky and Emilia kept her hands busy for the rest of the day and now she is sound asleep in her room.

It’s a good time to talk, if any. If I don’t control the timing of this conversation, Alexandra will most likely choose an inopportune time so I offer her an ultimatum. “We talk now, or the conversation is off the table.”

Alexandra stares at me for a moment. She knows I’m offering her a chance. One I may never offer again.

“Okay. But first, I want to say thank you—again. Being here and helping to spread Adam’s ashes today was…” she unexpectedly chokes on her words as she swallows hard and continues, “...it meant so much to me, Joshua.”

“He loved you, Lexa. He talked about you all the time.” Alexandra nods at my words. I know she knows how he felt. Those two were meant to find each other.

“And Emilia is wonderful, too.” She lets her words linger in the room. It isn’t just a statement. It also carries a question.

Alexandra wants to know how I went from being Emilia’s worst critic to someone who cares for her, so quickly.

“Emilia has surprised me and proven me wrong on a couple of things. We are both taking this time to get used to our new dynamic.” I answer concisely.

“Joshua. I don’t know how to dance around this so I’m just going to say it. I’ve known you for four years and I’ve never seen you look at another woman the way you looked at Emilia while she slept in the car. You were tender with her. Almost protective.” I watch her in my peripheral vision as she continues to examine my reactions.

“Of course. She is my ward for the year and I will do everything I can to see Adam’s wishes—”

“You and I both know it isn’t just your guardianship, Joshua. Talk to me.” The concern in her voice catches my attention and I return her stare.

I know she’s right. How I feel for Emilia deserves to be honored. I won’t hide her away like a dirty secret. Not with Alexandra.

“Fine. I was wrong—about Emilia. I put

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