dancing.”
Trent nodded. “Of course. But the dancing we’re saving for when you’re better. I’ll find something else to do with them.”
Chris smiled, and looked genuinely at peace despite his circumstances. “Thanks.”
Trent squeezed Chris’s arm where it was free of tubes and tape. “Get some rest.”
Chris nodded even as he allowed himself to submit to sleep. Trent returned to the girls. He would have to be gentle, yet persistent with them. He wasn’t worried about them falling apart, for they were both strong women. That stubbornness could work against him when it came to continuing with their lives without Chris in the picture, even if it was for a short time. Trent had his suspicions that Chris was trying to prepare them for later. Live now during a short absence, live later during the long one. Trent’s respect for the man grew with every encounter, and he was beginning to feel the deep ache of knowing he, like the others, would lose this friendship in the future.
***
The microwave timer beeped and Aidan removed a plate of leftover spaghetti. Trent had taken her and Phoebe out for food, and though she had tried to eat her entree, her appetite hadn’t been up to par. Now it was close to midnight and she felt hungry, despite wanting to get some sleep. She went into the living room and automatically grabbed the CD case at the top of the rack. She paused before putting it in, staring at the black-and-white picture of the lead opera singer standing on the stage of the Stadt-Theater. After several moments, she put the case back on the rack and turned on NPR radio instead, just to drone out the silence.
She had taken a bold step with Trent, had given herself permission to love him, and let him know it as well. In that moment when she held his gaze, they had exchanged communion. Somehow, it was different from the love she remembered in the past. Ivar had bared his soul to her, and she had relished in it. She had been caught up in the passion of his lifestyle: the theaters and travel, the parties and performances. But had she ever once revealed her soul to him? Aidan couldn’t remember. Perhaps it was the presence of Phoebe and Chris in this life—they had gotten under her defenses and softened her without her knowing, so that when Trent came along, it was only too easy to let him slip in as well. She didn’t feel as though she wore a mask when she was around him.
What did that mean for her? Ivar had been so focused on his career that Aidan hadn’t given a thought to what she would say should he have asked her to marry him. That was one path she had never taken in all her long centuries of torrid affairs. What would she do if it came to that with Trent? She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone again. Trent was devoted and genuine. Despite the current culture, he had an air of chivalry about him, an old-fashioned honor his family had managed to preserve and cultivate. She loved that about him. She was tired of physical relationships; she wanted something deeper and pure. The unification of souls could give her that, but could she marry? She sighed. It was the one thing she did not want to think about right then.
Chapter Ten
The glass shattered upon impact, its fragments glinting in the light of the flames that curled around the sharp edges, coating them in a harsh brown stain. He looked down at his trembling hand. Such waste. His hands used to be young and strong. He could have crushed that wine glass in one squeeze instead of hurling it into the fireplace. All the years of his life he had spent in pursuit of a dream he had never caught. All was vanity.
He heard her whimper behind him. He turned around, and she hid her face behind her arm; she was afraid to look at him. He had spent an extra day with her, hoping. Nothing came of it. She hadn’t brought him the peace he was looking for. Her beautiful skin was marred by the burns. She would never be lovely
Trent nodded. “Of course. But the dancing we’re saving for when you’re better. I’ll find something else to do with them.”
Chris smiled, and looked genuinely at peace despite his circumstances. “Thanks.”
Trent squeezed Chris’s arm where it was free of tubes and tape. “Get some rest.”
Chris nodded even as he allowed himself to submit to sleep. Trent returned to the girls. He would have to be gentle, yet persistent with them. He wasn’t worried about them falling apart, for they were both strong women. That stubbornness could work against him when it came to continuing with their lives without Chris in the picture, even if it was for a short time. Trent had his suspicions that Chris was trying to prepare them for later. Live now during a short absence, live later during the long one. Trent’s respect for the man grew with every encounter, and he was beginning to feel the deep ache of knowing he, like the others, would lose this friendship in the future.
***
The microwave timer beeped and Aidan removed a plate of leftover spaghetti. Trent had taken her and Phoebe out for food, and though she had tried to eat her entree, her appetite hadn’t been up to par. Now it was close to midnight and she felt hungry, despite wanting to get some sleep. She went into the living room and automatically grabbed the CD case at the top of the rack. She paused before putting it in, staring at the black-and-white picture of the lead opera singer standing on the stage of the Stadt-Theater. After several moments, she put the case back on the rack and turned on NPR radio instead, just to drone out the silence.
She had taken a bold step with Trent, had given herself permission to love him, and let him know it as well. In that moment when she held his gaze, they had exchanged communion. Somehow, it was different from the love she remembered in the past. Ivar had bared his soul to her, and she had relished in it. She had been caught up in the passion of his lifestyle: the theaters and travel, the parties and performances. But had she ever once revealed her soul to him? Aidan couldn’t remember. Perhaps it was the presence of Phoebe and Chris in this life—they had gotten under her defenses and softened her without her knowing, so that when Trent came along, it was only too easy to let him slip in as well. She didn’t feel as though she wore a mask when she was around him.
What did that mean for her? Ivar had been so focused on his career that Aidan hadn’t given a thought to what she would say should he have asked her to marry him. That was one path she had never taken in all her long centuries of torrid affairs. What would she do if it came to that with Trent? She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone again. Trent was devoted and genuine. Despite the current culture, he had an air of chivalry about him, an old-fashioned honor his family had managed to preserve and cultivate. She loved that about him. She was tired of physical relationships; she wanted something deeper and pure. The unification of souls could give her that, but could she marry? She sighed. It was the one thing she did not want to think about right then.
Chapter Ten
The glass shattered upon impact, its fragments glinting in the light of the flames that curled around the sharp edges, coating them in a harsh brown stain. He looked down at his trembling hand. Such waste. His hands used to be young and strong. He could have crushed that wine glass in one squeeze instead of hurling it into the fireplace. All the years of his life he had spent in pursuit of a dream he had never caught. All was vanity.
He heard her whimper behind him. He turned around, and she hid her face behind her arm; she was afraid to look at him. He had spent an extra day with her, hoping. Nothing came of it. She hadn’t brought him the peace he was looking for. Her beautiful skin was marred by the burns. She would never be lovely
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