Chapter 23
I was in my room getting ready for bed when I picked up the black hoodie Haven had given me. I pressed my face against it and absorbed his smell. I was trying to make sense of my feelings or maybe I was trying to convince myself to hold onto him. Perhaps that’s why he had given it to me in the first place…
I looked down to see Pandora eyeing me distastefully. Rolling my eyes I laughed and told her she was being silly. I folded the hoodie and placed it over a chair and then I sat down at the vanity, placed my arms on the table and folded my hands together. I looked at my reflection and saw an average young woman with a lot of self-doubt and inner turmoil.
Pandora broke through my self-imposed reverie by growling and acting agitated. She lunged at the window and barked. I got up and approached the window but I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a pair of eyes staring into my room. I let out a gasp and covered my mouth. I looked closer and saw Haven perched on a branch. When I saw him smiling at me I covered my face and motioned to him that I would be right back. He dropped his head and grinned as I took hold of Pandora and opened the door. The scent of chocolate wafted up the stairs. Anne was baking so she would be up for a while. I ushered Pandora downstairs and Anne peaked around the corner of the kitchen with a spatula in her hand. “Everything alright?” she asked.
“Of course, I’m going to listen to music and read for a bit.”
Nodding, Anne licked the spatula and winked at me, “Only the best for my niece on her birthday!”
I waved goodnight to her and closed the door. Shaking my head with silent laughter I went to the window and opened it as quietly as I could. Haven, in his black attire, entered and lowered the window behind him.
“Great timing,” I told him and then I dropped my eyes as I wondered how long he was perched on the limb outside. “How long were you outside?”
“Long enough,” he teased.
“That’s not funny…” I scolded.
His features responded with amusement and he raised an eyebrow. He extended his hand to me, “Come here.”
As soon as I approached him, he put his arm around my waist and raised the window with his other hand. He looked down at me as my mouth dropped.
“Ready?” His grin was devious.
Before I could respond he swung out the window with great force and with a twist in midair, landed on the roof. I had meant to scream but my voice was lodged in my throat, along with my heart. My legs began to shake but I found myself laughing.
“I should rebuke you for that!”
Through my laughter I tried to catch my breath. “Can we do it again!?”
Haven’s deep chuckle echoed in the night. He loosened his hold around my waist as I readjusted my nightgown. His face was pale and beautiful in the light glow of the moonlight. He was looking at me thoughtfully. “Anything you want. I wish for you to be happy, like you are right now.”
“I am. I really am!”
The night was vast and the cold was severe, but I was warm. I could feel the wind whip my hair around my face but I felt completely free. The dark was so immense I could barely see. I lifted my face and could make out the dim forms of distant stars that occasionally peaked through the veil of clouds. I began walking backwards, consumed with the night. I felt the edge of the roof and steadied myself as I briefly lost my balance. Almost immediately I felt Haven’s form next to mine. Holding his hand, I turned and looked over to see the illumination from the porch light below.
“Careful now,” Haven cautioned as he drew me back from the edge.
“Catch me, if you can,” I dared.
I broke free and dashed across the sloped roof. I hoped Anne wouldn’t hear a thing as I felt weightless and my feet barely made a sound. As I ran I felt ice and I began to fall. Once again Haven caught me but this time when I opened my eyes he was staring into mine, unsmilingly. His body was pressed down on mine and his hands were resting by the side of my head. As we stared at each other, words unspoken, I saw his eyes darken dangerously. His gaze flickered to my mouth and I could feel my heart begin to race and a warmth flood over me. I pushed him away and we both sat up. He sighed heavily. “For so long I’ve let one desire negate the other. I thought you wanted it like I do.”
“I don’t know what I want,” I said into the night.
We sat in stillness and absorbed the ambiance. The wind blew around us and the warmth I had felt was replaced by a deep chill. He seemed to know.
“I have something for you,” he said.
Rising simultaneously he led me to the edge and disappeared into the darkness. I held myself to keep warm and within a couple minutes he emerged.
Noticing the speculation written across my face he grinned and beckoned me towards him. This time he lowered me to a limb on the tree nearest my bedroom window and helped me inside. While Haven closed the window behind us I reached for a blanket and wrapped it around me. Haven turned and pulled out a large square frame wrapped in brown paper. He untied the string and removed the packaging. My mouth dropped as I gasped in surprise.
Haven looked pleased as he unveiled the painting of the Grey Guardian. Tears threatened to spill over and I covered my mouth as I stared at the portrait of the beautiful Indian girl and her mysterious Wolf companion. I thought Benjamin had sold it months ago. I peeled my eyes away to look at Haven.
“You knew even then?”
He nodded.
I didn’t know what to say. I was overcome with surprise. I walked over to him and reached out to hold his hand. With one hand he held the painting and with the other he dropped mine to pull me in close to him.
“Happy Birthday,” he whispered.
I closed my eyes and smiled with contentment.