She Will Rejoice by Becky Riker Page B

“So you will not hear me out?”
                  Naomi lifted her eyes and offered him a look that could only be described as loathing. Finn pressed passed the ache in his heart.
                  “I love you,” he said the thing he felt was the most important.
                  Her answering glare could have frozen the ocean.
                  He knelt at her feet, “I am fully aware what it looked like,” he continued though he doubted she was hearing him, “but I did not intend for it to occur.”
                  Her expression did not alter.
                  “It would not have gone any further,” he hoped she believed him.
                  Her eyes narrowed, “Surely, you do not expect me to believe that. You did not even hear me enter.”
                  He couldn’t resist, “How did you come in? I know Victoria locked the door, and you had to unlock it for her.”
                  Naomi looked momentarily surprised, but she soon reverted to the anger, “I suppose you would like to know, so it does not happen again.”
                  He grasped her upper arms, “It will not happen again regardless of what you tell me, love. It is my curiosity not my fear that makes me ask the question.”
                  She looked away from him, “I believed you once.”
                  His heart sank.
                  “I do not think I can do it again.”
                  Finn stood up and left her room, unable to bear her coldness anymore.
                  Naomi spent as little time with him as possible the following two days. Finn was frustrated because he did not know how to prove his regret if she would not remain in the room with him. He missed her, but he did not think telling her would change anything, so he kept his mouth shut.
    For a few nights he joined her in her bed after she went to sleep, but she woke one morning before him. His eyes opened to her stare. He sat up and prepared for her questions, but they never came. Instead, she just rose and went to dress for the day.
    Finn did not enter her room again.
    They went together to her parents’ house for Christmas. Finn had not previously spent much time in conversation with any of her family. Had he been on better terms with Naomi, the experience would have been quite enjoyable.
    Her brother, Asa, had a quick wit and was eager to converse on any topic. The younger man held a fondness for his sister that was as evident in the stories he told as in the way he spoke to her. Finn was pleased to see she maintained that relationship.
    Before they left, Asa drew him aside.
    “Naomi seems a little out of sorts today,” his intense stare almost made Finn nervous.
    “She is,” Finn did not see any good in trying to conceal it.
    “Has she been this way very long?” Asa pressed. “Her letters were so full of stories and hope, I had imagined her happy.”
    Finn felt he could safely tell part of the story without completely implicating himself, “I believe she was happy, but I did something rather foolish, and she is not quite ready to forgive me yet.”
    Asa nodded as though he expected as much, “What did you do?”
    Finn laughed to cover his irritation at the question, “That is between my wife and me.”
    Asa shrugged, “I suppose it is, but I’d like to make a recommendation.”
    Finn doubted the man could offer him any helpful information, but he listened anyway.
    “Don’t do it again.”
    Finn wasn’t about to tell him this was already the second time she had caught him in a compromising situation.
    “My sister has a memory like a bear trap. Once something is caught in there, it isn’t getting out.”
    Finn bit back the groan and went to escort his wife to the carriage.
    She seemed slightly more relaxed after seeing her family. Finn wanted to take advantage of the situation to