Page 30 of Valley of the Shadow
She did know. She knew his heart. He showed it in a thousand different ways. He showed his heart when he programmed the coffee maker before he retired to day rest. He showed it by being so patient with the kids when Natalie lost her temper. He showed her in all the ways he supported her work, which was so much a part of her identity. For the six hours a night that he was able to share with his children, they were the center of his world. He’d learned how to cook so he could feed them food he would never eat. He ate green vegetables to set a good example.
“You are extraordinary for reasons you cannot even imagine,” he said quietly.
“So are you.”
He reached up and twisted her hair around his finger. “I don’t want your eyes to change. I love your eyes.”
She smiled. “I’m hoping they’ll stay the same too, but if they don’t, is it really a big deal?”
“No.”
“Nope.” She slid her arm around his waist. “I hope you still smell as good when I have a super nose.”
His chest shook with quiet laughter. “Me too.”
She looked up and he met her eyes. “Hey, George?”
“Hey, Red.”
“I really love you.
“I really love you too.”
“And I would not want to do this with anyone but you.”
“Same.” His mouth tightened into a line. “You sure you’re all right?”
“I will be.” She nodded with more confidence than she felt. After all, if there was one thing she didn’t need to do, it was freak out. Christmas was tomorrow. If it was going to be her last Christmas morning, she wanted to stay up to see the dawn.
Brigid and Carwynsat out on the porch, watching the sky grow lighter and lighter.
“Do you remember that Christmas morning?” Carwyn asked.
“Hmm?” Brigid sipped a mug of tea. “Which one?”
“Purple hair.”
His glorious girl. Carwyn watched the smile spread across her face, and it was his own personal sunrise.
“In Wicklow when I was still human?” She nodded. “I do remember that. Was I smoking?”
“Aye.”
“Oof.” She winced. “Such a bad girl.”
“My bad girl.” He hooked his hand around her thigh. “I was thinking of that tonight.”
“Was it my last Christmas before I changed?” Brigid narrowed her eyes. “I don’t think so.”
“Maybe the last with the family.”
“Maybe.” She swayed in one of the hardwood rockers Carwyn and Gus had made for the porch. “What has you thinking of that?”
“Natalie.”
“Oh, but she’ll havesomany more Christmases,” Brigid said. “She can’t see it now for all the worry, but all the important things are going to stay the same. And she’ll be so much safer. So much happier in the end. She might not enjoy food as much. But that’s it really.”
“And watching the sunrise.” He nodded toward the horizon. “There’s that.”
