Page 53 of Sew Matcha in Love
Zaki’s head shifted as it straightened up and his hands closed around mine.
I found words. “You couldn’t have known,” I whispered. “You were young and on top of the world with your whole future ahead of you. You can’t carry that guilt, Zaki. It’s eating you and preventing you from moving forward.”
I closed my eyes and absorbed the warmth of his cheek against mine. We stayed like that for some time, and then he spoke.
“How is it that someone you barely know can know you so well?” In a swift move, one of my arms was over his head and we were twisting—no, he was twisting—and then we were standing, inches apart, and my hands were inside his, resting on his chest. “I feel like you know my heart, Wynnie. I want to know yours.”
“I—” How did I answer that?
Honestly, of course. I couldn’t lie.
“I think you already know it.” I dared to look up and catch his gaze.
“I think I do, but—it’s complicated.” Those blue eyes shone with unshed tears. How long would he continue to avoid things that he knew would make him happy?
“Everything important always is,” I reminded him. “That’s what faith is for. If I didn’t believe everything would work outwhen Dad died, it wouldn’t have. Sure, I struggled. I still am struggling. But I find a way to do what makes me happy.” I squeezed his hands. “There isalwaysa path to happiness, Zaki. You just have to dare to veer off the pathyoupaved to take it.”
He crushed me into a bear hug and held me for a long time, his head resting on mine, our hearts beating in sync through my kimono and his hoodie.
Like with the children, I wasn’t going to be the one to break the hug.
When he did step back, his face was streaked with tears, but he was smiling. I reached up to wipe them, but he caught my hand and pressed my palm into his cheek. The soft scruff of his beard tickled my skin, and I smiled back.
“You, Wynna-bun, are a treasure, you know that?”
“You give me too much credit.” I’d only been speaking from my heart. That came from a higher power. I never had decent words off the cuff.
“Go get some sleep,” he said. “The girls will be up in a few hours. Actually, you sleep in. I’ll get them up, ready, and take them to school.”
“Well, okay…” My gaze flicked to the almost-gone cheesecake. “But first … cheesecake?”
He lowered my hand and snagged my fork, cut a generous bite of it, and held it up. “Airplane?”
“Really?” My eyes rolled heavenward. I loved his playfulness, but …airplane?
“It’s fun. See?” He made a whirring sound and traced a flight path through the air between us. “C’mon, Wynna-bun. Take a chance. Have some fun.”
“Take a chance, huh?” I tilted my chin up. “You’d better not miss the runway.”
His eyes gleamed with mischief, and he made no promises. “Airplane, coming in for a landing!” His whirring was louder thistime, and I laughed as his “plane” made a smooth landing in my open mouth. “I never miss important shots.”
I tried not to choke from laughing as he made a show of scooping up the last bit and airplaning it to his own mouth.
“I’ll clean up, Wynna-bun.” He tugged me in for another hug. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” I said into his hoodie. “Good night, Zaki.”
As I crossed the kitchen to my room, I snuck a glance over my shoulder. The tender look on his face as he watched me set my insides on fire.
Had we just stepped into new territory?
It sure felt like it.
CHAPTER 18
Zaki
After being in the depths of despair—a phrase my girls picked up fromAnne of Green Gablesand had been using at least twice daily—last night, I went to sleep with renewed positivity and a big dose of hope.
