Page 52 of Magic Touch
Crouching, I lift Simon into my arms. "He doesn't like you. I can't imagine why."
Once I've given Simon a good scratch under the chin, I put him down so he can run into the house.
Squeezing past Trina, I enter the small room and smile at William, who is deep in concentration over a flowerpot. "What is it you're trying to do, William?"
"He should be healing my hand rather than fussing over that stupid flower," Trina grumbles from the door, as there's barely room for two in here let alone a third.
I put away my supplies and hold my grin.
"I healed your hand from the last time you teased the kitten, and I warned you to leave him alone." He never lets his gaze drift from the pot.
"It's just a scratch. I'm sure you can heal yourself." I fold my cloth bag and put it on the shelf below where William is working. "What's in the pot?"
Trina whines, "But William has such good, healing hands."
My gut twists with an emotion I'm not familiar with. If it's jealousy, I don't like it one bit.
William frowns. "I put a zinnia seed in this pot, and I want to see if I can make it grow. I know this is something you can do."
"Perhaps earth magic isn't your gift." I force myself not to help his seed along, despite the desire to do just that.
"Water magic isn't yours, but you can wield it without issue," he says.
Trina squeezes in behind him, her body touching his. "I told him he's a wonderful student and needn't push himself so hard."
"If I have a purpose, I'll not be unable to fulfill it because I was lax in my studies." He squishes into the corner to get away from Trina's touch.
Grabbing Trina by the arm, I pull her away from him before she can maneuver herself closer and trap him like a rat. I put myself between them, which gains me a warm smile from William. "Perhaps you are going about it the wrong way. I just came from Mrs. Kyle's house. Is it possible you can do with the flower what you did with her health?"
He breaks eye contact with the dirt in the pot and looks me in the eye. "See the flower in a vision?"
"Desire it, William."
Closing his eyes, he links his mind with mine. Can you hear me, Esme?
Yes.
I miss you. I miss what we had.
As do I, I admit.
A beautiful white zinnia blooms in my mind.
This is for you, sweetheart.
My cheeks want to heat, but I force them not to in front of Trina.
On a long breath, William opens his eyes and wraps his hands around the pot. A curl of green springs from the soil. It pushes up and unrolls, growing taller by the second. A white bloom erupts from the bud, just as beautiful as the one William sent to my mind.
"Oh, how perfect." I'm breathless with the way his magic works.
Rising to his full height, he lifts the pot and hands it to me. "You are the finest teacher. Thank you."
Trina huffs out a curse, turns, and stomps to the house.
William cocks his head. "One flower managed to get rid of Trina. Show me the nature of my magic, and bless me with your smile. We must keep it alive for a long while, sweetheart." Leaning in, he kisses my forehead.
"You shouldn't say such things out loud or in my head." The mirth in my voice negates my statement almost entirely.
