Page 107 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
Violet pouted, lacing their fingers together at her side. Sex with Jasper… Turns out, it wasn’t like sex at all. It felt like something more—an adventure. An exploration. Like when they were young and the summer sun was high and streaming through the deep green of the forest canopy. Rays of light showered them as they ran against the warm breeze and through shadows, finding new bugs or butterflies, hidden alcoves or new pathways.
Except now, the escapades involved bare skin and long limbs: fingertips and lips sliding against delicate curves and bumps, deep breaths and soft, thoughtful touches. Hands clasped, eyes locked as their bodies stretched, pressed and entwined together. And talking—honestly, comfortably, like always.
It was really something, sex with Jasper. Not like any sex Violet had ever known. Graceful and cautious. Superior.
She pressed into him a little, lifting her chin and holding his hand tighter. “Feels like a good time to me…”
“I—I was thinking about something and I wanted to tell you.”
“Yes?”
He exhaled, leaning into her and resting his chin atop her head. “When I was in the attic, I thought about you all the time. Especially in the early days. You being my friend… Those memories of us playing together in the poppy field or the forest, they were all I had to hold on to. The only happy things in my life that remained unmarred. I don’t know if I could have survived the agony without that. Thinking about you and maybe seeing you again someday… It helped me to push through.”
Violet lifted her arms, wrapping them around his waist to pull him even closer. It hurt to know he was suffering as he was. She’d known something was wrong, but she’d had no idea. She couldn’t have imagined the truth of his circumstance.
He dipped his head and kissed between her eyebrows. “We were apart, but you helped me survive, Violet. You made me want to live.”
Violet leaned her forehead into the soft fabric at his chest, feeling it rise and fall in a deep breath.
“For me,” he said, “these things—being with you, touching you and cooking for you—I imagined it. I fantasized about it over and over, but I never thought I would actually get here. It doesn’t seem real to me. My mother taught me that it was impossible for someone to love me like this… That I was repulsive. And I agreed with her. I thought she was right.”
“Do you still feel that way?” Violet asked, sniffling with her ear pressed against his chest. Holding him tight.
“No. Now I understand that her reaction to me was harmful. Growing up, I only thought about how terrible I made her feel. I had ruined my mom’s life. It was all my fault… I never once considered that the way she treatedmewas wrong.”
The doorbell rang and Violet lifted her head from his chest. “Are we having company?” She looked up at him, and Jasper bent and kissed her mouth. He smiled.
“Surprise. Can you go answer it and I’ll get everything finished?”
Nodding and wiping her eyes with her fingers, Violet walked out of the kitchen. She sighed, thinking the minute their company was gone, she’d drag him to the bedroom and make sure he understood just how real their relationship was, and how deeply loved he could be.
When Violet swung the front door open, she was delighted to see Simone and René standing on the other side, their hands clasped as they frantically whispered.
“Why, hello, beautiful people.” Violet grinned. Simone let go of René’s hand and stepped into her for a warm hug.
“Congratulations, gorgeous—I’m so proud of you.”
Violet embraced her, confused. “Um, how did you know I got the exhibit? Ijusttold Jasper. Nobody else.”
“Perhaps you would not have greeted us with such… exuberance?” René grinned, stepping through the doorframe and removing his hand from behind his back to reveal a giant bouquet of white lilies.
When Simone released her from the hug, Violet accepted the glorious offering. “Oh gosh, these are beautiful.”
René smiled. “Lilies are a classic symbol of new beginnings and happiness.”
“What would you have done if I hadn’t gotten the exhibition?”
René frowned. “Lilies are a classic symbol of peace and awakening after a storm in life.”
Simone giggled, resting her hand against her chest. “I asked him the same question and he did that to me—I must have laughed for fifteen minutes straight.”
“Yeah, you two are real cute.” Violet stepped aside. “Come in, come in. I don’t know what Jasper made, but it smells like heaven. Have things calmed down at the bakery at all? Since that magazine article published last week, there’ve been so many new people from the city showing up to—”
Violet was about to close the door, but a familiar red truck pulled up and parked on the opposite side of the street. Despite herself, she groaned. “Who the heck invited Freddie?”
“Me,” Simone chirped from behind. “He asked me if you got the exhibit when he came in for his regular coffee the other day and I told him about this surprise gathering to celebrate.”
Turning, Violet stared at her friend, her mouth agape and no words. Simone frowned. “Violet, he just seems lonely, alright? He was so happy to be included. Will you cut him a break?”
