“Then get some rest. I’ll watch over you.”
“We stick together,” I mumbled as I tried to keep my eyes open, only, the dark took me.
Sleep. I so needed sleep.
“Silvie?”
Faith’s voice rattled around in my head.
“Yeah?”
“Just checking on you.” She’d been with me for the past two days, but this morning I’d sent her to school.
“I’ve showered, eaten, and now I’m back in bed. Are you taking notes for me?”
“Yep. What do your bruises look like today?”
I lifted my shirt and touched the dark marks across my chest, most of them in line with the injuries I’d sustained. “A touch better than yesterday.”
“Then get some more sleep.”
It was lunchtime, and Friday. At least I had the weekend ahead. I plumped my pillow and snuggled deeper. I dreamed of Guy, of his soft lips brushing across my forehead, only my dream flittered away before I could grab hold of him.
The dark ensued.
Hot.
Why did it feel so hot?
I lifted my heavy eyelids and blinked against the bright midday sunshine streaming into the room. Faith tied the golden folds of velvet back. “Did you have to open those?”
“That’s not like you. You love the sunshine.”
“Because I don’t feel like me. The one man I should be able to count on ditched me, and I have to soldier on. Again. My life sucks, and I still have to fix your problem.”
“Don’t worry about my problem right now. You need to heal first. You’ll feel more like yourself once you get moving, and it’s time.” She tugged her blond ponytail as she crossed to me. “And before Saturday’s completely gone.”
I wriggled my toes. The aches were gone, the bruising having mellowed more to a splotchy yellow.
“Oh, and check out the flower someone brought you.”
In a fluted glass vase, a single golden rose with a deep red center bloomed. Next to it was a note. I picked it up. Please let this rose be from— No. Soldier on.
Dear Silvie,
Vitaria says hello. She asked about you. I told her of your accident, that you’re not coming back. This rose is from her, and I asked Hope to pass it along.
You’d better be taking care of yourself.
Guy.
Well, no words of I miss you there. My heart had certainly taken a beating, just like my body had.
“The flower’s from Vitaria. Hope dropped it and Guy’s note off.” I passed her the sheet of crisp paper.
“I’ve met Vitaria. It’s so sad about her mother’s illness.” She frowned as she read. “Hope hasn’t dropped by today. Silas and Davio snuck in while you slept this morning, but not Hope.”
“You must have missed her.” I eased my legs over the side of the bed. “Okay, I agree. It’s time to get moving.”
“And what are we going to do now we’re moving?” She held me steady, helping me find my feet.
“Not we, me. I want to cook, and no, you don’t have to help.” My kitchen was the only place I longed to be, and right now I needed some space for what I had in mind. I was about to prepare Guy and his father a meal. I had to get closure, and cooking was the only way.
I showered, and then changed into a pair of hip-hugging jeans and my favorite flame-red t-shirt. Okay, time to ’port, and to get it right this time. I brought the image of my kitchen into my mind, and from one second to the next, I was there. Oh yeah, so cool. At least for a moment, my heart lightened. I tapped the bright red countertop, and a small sense of peace stole through me. It would be enough to keep me going, or it better be.
Time for that meal. I opened the fridge. The shelves were stocked, and I took out a cut of beef, one the perfect size for a small roast.
I mixed it with herbs, set it into a deep dish then slid it into the oven to cook. Next, I prepped the vegetables, peeling sweet potatoes and pumpkin. I scattered them over another oven pan and popped it in too.
While the roast cooked, I foraged in my garden. Mmm, fresh beans and mint. Those would be perfect. I sliced and steamed them. With the meat done, I skimmed off the juices and made a rich gravy, one bursting with all the right flavors.
I plated two dishes then opened my link to Silas. “Hey, Faith said you dropped by.”
“Yeah, but you clearly needed the rest so I didn’t wake you. Do you feel better now?”
“A bit. I’m in my kitchen and I—”
He shimmered into the room, sword dangling from his hand and his loose white shirt plastered to his sweaty skin. Davio blinked in beside him, heaving in deep breaths, his black jeans sticking as damply to him. Silas pulled me into a hug. “I hated seeing you down like that.”
“Yuck, you’re all wet.” I pushed him away. “Training?”
“Yep, just finished a session. That looks suspiciously like dinner.” Silas sheathed his sword. “You shouldn’t have done that. You should be taking it easy.”