Broken Wing by Judith James

determinedly banishing the memory, and her reactions to it.
    “Well, Gabriel, I must say, you look a good deal improved.”
    “Yes, I feel much better, thank you. The coffee,” he said with a hint of a smile. They continued down the path together, an awkward silence between them. “I suppose I should apologize, Sarah, for my behavior last night. It seems I’ve acted the brute again.”
    She stopped walking and turned to face him. “More like a bloody big fool, I’d say.”
    “I’m really very sorry.”
    “And so you should be. It took me half an hour to clean up that mess, and I cut my thumb doing it.” She held up her abused digit for his perusal.
    “It won’t … it won’t happen again.” He would make sure of it. These visits to her room were too dangerous for his equilibrium. They would have to stop.
    “Well, whether it does or not, I won’t clean up after you again. You make a mess, Gabriel, you should stay to clean it up.”
    He looked down at his fists. “I know. I just …”
    “Yes,” she sighed, “I know. I upset you terribly and you had to leave. I have to learn not to go blunderingabout in other people’s private affairs. I apologize for that. Again. I didn’t mean to. It seems we both keep repeating the same mistakes.”
    Meeting her gaze, he saw the worry and concern in her eyes. It wasn’t what he’d been expecting, but that shouldn’t be a surprise, when everything about Sarah was so … unexpected.
    “Friends?” She held out her hand to him, an expectant look on her face.
    Her invitation almost unmanned him. Unaccountably, he wanted to cry. He stood there in the middle of the path, doltish and inept, with no idea how to proceed.
    Grinning, and playfully raising her brows, Sarah spoke slowly and carefully, as if to a simpleton, “Gabriel, this is where
you
say friends, and we exchange a hearty handshake, leaving all last night’s unpleasantness behind us.”
    He blinked, then smiled in gratitude and relief, taking her hand and bowing gallantly. “Friends.”
    As his mood eased and the tension between them evaporated, the boyish grin he gave her was so genuine and so beautiful it curled her toes, and made her glow all over. Vastly pleased with each other, they continued the rest of the way to Davey’s, chattering about horses and composers, and telescopes and the moon.
    Friends
. It was such a simple word. She was the only one who’d ever cared to know any more about him than what they could see. The only one who’d ever asked, and in response, he’d told her things he’dnever told anyone else. He realized that he’d
wanted
to tell her about his dream. He’d needed to know if she would still welcome him, still accept him, if she knew, really knew, what his life had been like. He’d allowed her a glimpse into the dark horror of his past, and foolish girl, wise in all ways but this, she’d extended her hand in friendship. She knew what it meant, as much as anyone could, but she couldn’t possibly have known what it meant to him. There had never been anyone to share thoughts or ideas with, hopes and dreams, fears or hurts or sorrows. Until Sarah, no one had cared.
    He waited three days, afraid to test the boundaries of this new friendship, afraid to make a mistake, but on the fourth night he went to her, drawn like a moth to the flame.

C HAPTER
10
    Sarah was asleep when he arrived, and something was different. It took a moment before he realized the window seat was strewn with cushions, furs, and blankets. A leather wine flask had been left, as well. The gesture offered comfort and invited him to stay and take his ease. He wasn’t used to anyone caring for his comfort, and it convinced him that her offer of friendship, and the welcome he’d seen in her eyes, was genuine. Choosing not to wake her, he settled in between the furs, falling into a deep, dreamless, and much needed sleep, and left silently with the dawn.
    He came often after that, no longer hesitant of her