Page 46 of Morning's Light

It fit, really. It fit Aisanna because everything about her sparkled. She was more than a normal woman. The glow of magic was evident in everything she said and did. Everything she was. She’d never been ordinary.

When he thought about everything, it made sense. How could he have missed it before? Elon had spent hours feeling deceived, and an equal amount of time blaming his own blindness.

He’d contemplated calling her to talk. Going back to Lake Forest to her family’s home and asking her to explain again, to show him the miracles she worked. What he saw, what he felt, had been utterly real. Magic was real.

Instead, he’d spent a restless night flopping around on his mattress like a dying fish and decided to come to work. To be near her, in a way, a place they both frequented which held her essence. A comfort for him.

He meant enough to her that his reaction to her secret caused a reaction. How interesting.

“Yes,” she answered quietly. “And don’t ask me anything more. I can’t tell you.”

“It’s okay, you know.” Rising, he retrieved the first aid kit from underneath the counter and found a tube of antibacterial ointment. “I’m not upset.”

“Scared?”

“Maybe a little. Not for me. I’m scared for you.”

She closed her eyes, enjoying his ministrations. “I wouldn’t blame you if you were scared. I know it’s a lot to take in. Kind of makes you rethink everything you know about life.”

“There was a lot of that, I’ll be honest with you. I feel…deceived.”

“I have to say you’re taking it well.”

“How am I supposed to take it? Have you ever told anyone about this before?”

“No, you’re the first.” She paused, worried the inside of her lip, then said, “And I wouldn’t have told you if you hadn’t shown up when you did.”

He tenderly rewrapped her red and swollen feet in a fresh towel and rubbed the cotton. “I’m not leaving you anytime soon. You better get used to me.”

“We’ll see.”

He listened to her sigh, a soft sound like a breath of wind through a chime. “We don’t need to go over it, not anymore. I think we’ve said everything. Another time, maybe. Will you tell me what happened to you?”

“No.”

He cleared his throat. “I think it’s best to focus on your feet. They don’t look good.”

Aisanna scoffed. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“We need to get you taken care of immediately.”

“Respectfully, Elon, I’ll do what I need to do on my own time. I can heal myself faster than any doctor can. Stop worrying about me and be happy I’m letting you do—” She gestured down at his hands. “—whatever it is you’re doing.”

“What? You’ve never had someone massage your feet before?” He grinned at her.

“I can’t say I have. Not without paying for the privilege.”

He noticed the moment she let go of the tension. Her shoulders drooped and she lazily shrugged out of her coat.

“Someone needs to take the time out of their day to do more for you. I know you’re an independent woman, and it’s a real turn-on, believe me. Still, even liberated ladies deserve a man to show them kindness without strings attached every now and then. Like a foot rub, or a glass of wine after a long day. A kiss.”

“Don’t get any ideas.” She pointed at him and schooled her face into a stern look.

“Does this have anything to do with your sickness every time I say the word date?” He pressed his suit, wondering when she would fully open up to him. When, if ever, she would give him her trust.

“I have no issues with the word, only when you say it. How about you tell me why you decided to come here to think instead of staying at home?”

Releasing her foot only long enough to set the used towel aside, Elon spoke to her of his musings. “I came here because I didn’t think you would be in and I didn’t think you would mind, to be honest.”

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