Page 87 of Malachi
“That’s not a bad idea,” I agreed readily.
“Why isn’t Eden with you already?” Ollie questioned, the lot of them having made it up and into the barn at that point.
“Ugh, stupid misunderstanding,” I grumbled. “I’ll be back in a few, okay?”
“Hang on, what kind of misunderstanding?” Levi questioned, halting my steps toward the house before they had even begun.
“She wanted to wait to come down here, needing some space or something,” I said, immediately regretting talking about it at all.
“She had a rough time at the luncheon,” Delilah reiterated Talia’s words.
“What does that even mean?” I groaned with exasperation.
“Kai, it’s okay,” Ruth said gently. “She had a bit of an epiphany at the luncheon and we almost had to leave.”
“What kind of epiphany? Why would you have to leave? Was she sick? What happened?” I immediately moved into interrogation mode.
“Whoa, man. Calm down,” Levi interjected. I realized my line of questioning had come through clenched teeth as I glared at my sister-in-law, who was simply trying to be helpful.
“I’m not sure it’s my place to say, and I don’t have all the information. I think it might be a conversation best suited between you and Eden,” Ruth explained, with a regretful shrug.
“What conversation might be best suited between only us?” Eden’s voice called from the side of the building as she rounded the corner, having heard every word.
“Eden,” I sighed with relief, rushing to her and pulling her into my arms. I pulled away after a moment, surprised at my own actions. I grumbled, clearing my throat and pulling away awkwardly, realizing everyone was staring at us.
“So what was that all about?” she asked quietly.
“Just wondering what happened today is all,” I explained with a shrug. “We can talk about it later, like you said.” She had been right. We would talk about it. I just didn’t like the worry that filled me when she wasn’t around. I wouldn’t be leaving her alone like that anytime soon. It was a fucking dumb move in the first place.
“How are you doing, Eden?” Ruth asked, taking my place and pulling my wife into an embrace. Yeah, something had definitely happened at that luncheon, and I didn’t like it one bit.
“I’m much better, thank you, Ruth. Nothing a nice bath couldn’t fix,” she explained with a smile. At least she was smiling. It couldn’t be that bad if she was smiling, right?
“Going through that took guts, my friend. You deserved that bath and more,” Delilah teased. My brows furrowed as I looked between them. Perhaps I was still wrong. What took guts? And why did it deserve a bath?
“Okay, what the hell happened at this lunch?!” I finally exclaimed, a little louder than intended. All eyes turned to me. Eden rolled her eyes, but that smile had yet to leave her face.
“I’m fine, Malachi. I just stood up to my mother, is all,” she explained.
“You did what?” Ollie asked, a look of impressed shock on his dumb fucking face.
“I stood up to my mother. I was standing around, chatting with the girls, and she pulled me away from them to have a littletalkwith me,” she explained.
“She more than pulled you away, girl. I swear I could see those talons of hers digging into your arm!” Delilah scoffed. I immediately stalked back over to her, taking her by the arm — gently — and lifting the short sleeves of her dress. Sure enough, there were faint bruises in the shape of a hand, right there, plain as day. Bruises I did not put on her.
Rage suddenly filled every fiber of my being.No oneput bruises on my wife but me.
Eden cleared her throat, a blush tinging her cheeks.
“You’re snarling, man,” Ollie teased.
“Am not,” I argued.
“Are, too,” Zeke interjected with a short laugh.
“Well, someone put bruises on my wife,” I snapped at him.
“Nothing you yourself haven’t done before, husband,” Eden teased, causing everyone to laugh.
