Page 38 of Falling for the Beast

She froze, staring at him. “You shaved.”

She looked startled, and he suddenly realized why. The scars on his face were much more prominent without the stubble hiding them. He’d been trimming his beard but hadn’t shaved it since meeting her. She was probably staring at his ugly scars, truly seeing him for the first time. He ducked his chin. “Yes. Let’s eat before it gets cold.”

She maneuvered around the table, and he pulled out a chair for her. “Thank you,” she said as she lowered herself into it.

Moonlight filtered through the trees, and he’d turned on the string of lights suspended above the railing. The lighting made her skin look milky white. He tore his eyes away from her and served the roast. He wanted to tell her that she looked lovely, but didn’t think that was a good idea. Instead, he stayed silent.

Aribelle picked up her fork. “Can I ask a dumb question?”

“Go ahead.”

“What’s a bachelor doing with an armoire full of fantastic dresses?”

“They were my mother’s.”

Her gaze dropped to her plate. “Oh. I probably shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay,” he interrupted. “They aren’t doing any good sitting in a wardrobe. I’d like to think my mother would be happy one is getting some use tonight.”

She smiled. “Tell me about her.”

“My mother? Well, my father didn’t talk about her often, but I know she was quite social and the dresses were for the grand parties she’d have. My father tolerated them.” He chuckled. “My mother was involved with several charities. Her favorite was the Make a Wish Foundation. She would help organize fundraisers.”

“Sounds like she was a wonderful person.”

“I’d like to think she was.” He paused for a moment, not sure how much he should share with her.

“Do you have any pictures of her?”

“After she died, my father put away everything that reminded him of her. When I was six or seven, I found a drawer with a few of her things, including a photo of her. I was amazed. I’d never seen a picture of her before. When my father caught me with her things, he snatched them away. I cried for hours. It was Evelyn who came to console me. When she found out what had happened, she promised to get me a photo of my mother. Later that week, she gave me my parents’ wedding picture. I still have it.”

Aribelle blinked away the moisture in her eyes. “It must have been difficult for your father, losing his wife to childbirth.”

Yes. That was why his father couldn’t stand to be around him. Had buried himself in his work and left Thaddeus to raise himself. “I’m sure it was.”

They ate in silence for a while before Aribelle wiped her mouth with her napkin and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin the mood.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind talking about it.” And he was surprised to find that was the truth. Aribelle was easy to talk to.

“I know how it feels to grow up without a mother.”

“Have you ever wondered where she is now?” This was something that had been weighing on his mind. If his mother was still alive, somewhere out there, he probably would have searched her out by now, even if only on the internet.

“I wonder it all the time,” she said softly, her eyelids lowered so her lashes looked like they splayed across her cheeks. “I don’t have the courage to search for her. I couldn’t take it if she were nearby…ignoring her own daughter.”

“Do you know why she left?”

“I pestered my father until he sat me down and told me she couldn’t handle being a wife and mother. To me, this implies mental illness, so I’ve always consoled myself with this. I like to think she wouldn’t have left if she felt she had a choice.”

He reached across the table and took her hand. “Of course she wouldn’t have.”

Aribelle gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand. “We should clean up.” She stood and picked up a plate.

He took it from her. “We can do the dishes later.”

Aribelle smiled and grabbed his hands. “Will you humor me for a moment?”

“Okay,” he said tentatively, not sure what she wanted.

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