Through the Darkness Page 11

  "Whose hounds are we speaking of? I thought you were afraid of dogs?"

  "I meant it as a figure of speech, you goose," she chuckled.

  "Good morning, you two!" Daphne said, swinging the door open. "You've been out here so long that I was beginning to wonder if your lips had been fused."

  Everett burst out laughing.

  Elyria bit back a mortified chuckle and cleared her throat, then turned to Everett who seemed to be having a difficult time reigning in his mirth, "I'll see you soon."

  "Twelve o'clock sharp," he agreed in between giggles before walking back toward his car.

  She remained on the stoop until she could no longer hear the sound of his car traveling down the road, only then did she enter the house and close the door with a dreamy sigh.

  "That good of a kisser, is he?" Daphne murmured, clearly amused.

  Elyria jumped and covered a giggle. "Oh Daph, I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life."

  "Are you going to marry him, Auntie El?" Anne squealed with glee from the living room.

  Elyria couldn't hold back her smile and nodded, "Yes."

  "He asked you last night?" Daphne said with delight. "I had a feeling he would."

  "No."

  Daphne took her by the hand and held it tight, "Don't worry, he will. He's already asked me for permission."

  "He did?" Elyria sighed with a joyful grin. "Isn't he wonderful?"

  "He has his moments," Daphne chuckled. "Now, do you want sleep first or food? Knowing you, you probably haven't eaten more than one meal over the past three days from nerves."

  Her stomach gurgled in reply.

  "Food it is," Daphne giggled, "I'll start up some hotcakes and eggs."

  Elyria's smile slipped from her face when a sad realization struck her. Marrying Everett would mean leaving her best friend and all that remained of her family behind. Tears suddenly stung her eyes.

  "Goodness," Daphne murmured settling a gentle hand on Elyria's left shoulder, "why do you look so crestfallen all of a sudden? You were so happy, just a moment ago."

  Her voice broke when she said, "Because I'm going to miss you, dreadfully."

  Daphne pulled her into a tight hug and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "It's only marriage, El, not death, and Idaho isn't too far from here."

  "It's over two-thousand miles away, Daph," Elyria replied tearfully against Daphne's shoulder.

  "Yes, well…when you put it that way it does sound rather far, doesn't it?" She paused for a moment, then whispered in a voice thick with emotion, "We'll simply have to follow you out there. I'll persuade Simon to move—I can be very persuasive, you know—and he's talked about moving out of the city for a while now, I'm sure he meant Idaho."

  Chuckling, Elyria straightened and wiped tears from her cheeks. "I love you."

  Daphne cupped Elyria's left cheek in her palm, "I love you too." She sniffled and took the bag from Elyria's hand, "Now, let's make some breakfast and get you off to bed."

  "Can I help?" Anne asked, skipping across the floor to meet them.

  "You can cook the bacon with me if you like," Elyria said as Anne slipped her hand in her grasp. "You do such a good job of making sure it's perfectly crisp."

  "D'you hear that mama? Auntie El said I'm in charge of the bacon."

  Over the next hour of making breakfast and sitting down to eat, Elyria found herself soaking up the time spent with her family and fighting back the urge to weep over it coming to an end.

  How could it be possible to feel so much happiness and sorrow all at the same moment? Would she be able to leave it all behind to start a new life with Everett?

  "Go rest," Daphne whispered with a hand on her shoulder, "you look ready to drop at any moment. I'll clean up."

  Elyria nodded and slowly stood. "Will you wake me before he gets here? I don't want to oversleep."

  "Of course!"

  "Goodnight," Elyria murmured, turning to walk to her room.

  "Sleep tight, Auntie El, and don't let the bed bugs bite." Anne chirped. "Do we even have bed bugs, mama?"

  "No, dear," Daphne chuckled.

  Elyria smiled and covered a yawn. Setting her walking stick by her bed, she laid down, doubting she'd be able to sleep at all.

  Twenty-Five

  Everett made three stops before finally heading to the Wardman Park Hotel to get some rest. First to the jewelers, then to the florist—well, he'd gone to four florists before he'd found the buttercups Elyria said were her favorite, but he still only counted it as one official stop. From there he stopped at a small bakery that made chocolate croissants he'd grown rather fond of over the past few days.

  Once at the hotel, he shocked the front clerk by smiling at him. How could he not when he'd spent all night with the woman he loved? Even the ‘Out of Order' sign hanging crookedly on the elevator didn't dim his mood like it had the past two days he'd been there.

  If he could have, he would have bounded up the stairs to his room. But his leg didn't want to cooperate and only allowed a pained limp that grew worse with each step until he'd ascended the entire fourteen steps and then down the hall.

  By the time he closed the door behind him, he didn't know if he'd be able to move another inch let alone make it to the bed.

  Muttering a curse, he placed the bouquet of yellow buttercups by the lamp on the small console near the door. He bit back a groan and hobbled the shorter distance to the overstuffed chair.

  Upon sitting with a relieved sigh, he removed the jeweler's box from his pocket with his left hand and massaged his thigh with his right. Flicking the box open with his thumb, he stared at the ring sparkling back at him and couldn't help but smile.

  Elegant with a subtle floral filigree band, it sparkled with tiny diamonds throughout the leaves that widened and embraced the two-carat diamond at its center.

  Resting his head back against the chair, he closed his eyes and let out a pleased sigh, then snapped the box shut and placed it securely back in his pocket.

  Now he just needed to make it official and ask her to marry him. She'd say yes, of that he had no doubt, but would she want a long engagement?

  He frowned. That could mean he'd be returning to Idaho alone, which simply wouldn't do. How much time did it take to plan a wedding? It couldn't possibly take more than a week or two, maybe three at best. And there were only three weeks until he needed to be back for the start of school.

  Perhaps he could persuade her for a two-week engagement followed by a week of honeymooning? He covered a yawn and settled deeper into the chair, giving himself over to sweet dreams of Elyria when sleep finally claimed him.

  Sometime later, Everett awoke with a start and checked the time. He stared at the hands of his watch in horror that proclaimed him to be a half-hour late and jumped to his feet, only to crash to the floor with a yowl of pain when his leg gave out.

  He blinked and pushed himself up in a daze. A muscle spasm hit with such blinding agony it stole his breath, he curled his legs to his chest, holding tight to his right thigh.

  Biting back a curse, he pressed his sweaty brow to the floor and dug his fist into the knot until it eased, then lay flat on his back with heart racing and limbs trembling.

  Unsure how he managed it, twenty minutes later, he sat in his car with his bouquet with trembling limbs, sweating profusely, and fighting the urge to vomit. By the time he pulled up in front of number 224, he almost felt back to normal.

  However, when he faced the eight steps leading to her front door, he wanted to fall to his knees and weep. He couldn't do it, at least not in his current state. It was a miracle he'd made it this far.

  "Captain, over here," Simon said from where he stood to the left of the stairs, "I've something I'd like to show you."

  Everett turned, wondering how long he'd been standing there. Limping over and down the three shallow steps leading to an archway and open door, he said, "Afternoon, Simon…I thought you'd be working."

  Simon smiled and held the door open, mot
ioning for Everett to enter first. "I decided I could use a break."

  Gritting his teeth, Everett limped into the large downstairs room used for Simons law office. An impressive collection of books lined floor to ceiling bookcases along all four walls.

  Many of the titles were the obligatory law books one expected in a lawyer's office. But the majority were more of what Everett had in his collection at home. They ranged from philosophical to horticulture to poetry and literature, all of them organized in a way to rival any well-kept public library.

  Everett nodded toward the books and smiled, "You hate reading, I take it?"

  Simon grinned and limped over with the aid of a single crutch to a pair of leather chairs, motioning for Everett to take the other one, "Is it that obvious?"

  "I have a similar collection myself," Everett groaned. He rubbed his sore thigh and clenched his eyes shut. "What's your opinion on stairs?"

  "They're evil."

  Everett laughed and met Simon's gaze. "One more thing we have in common."

  Simon smiled and nodded, falling silent; a look of deep thought came over him. A handsome, mustachioed man with dark auburn hair and striking pale blue eyes, he had a gentle nature and a quick wit.

  It was easy to see why he and Daphne made such a good match. But it was also apparent he still suffered the lasting effects of the war, the kind that went far beyond a missing lower left leg.

  His eyes, though different in color than Everett's green hazel, were likewise haunted. In many ways, Everett found it comforting. Here sat a person who knew what he had experienced and seen. They didn't need to talk of it; in fact, it was better if they never broached the subject. They could be themselves, no matter how broken.

  "So…what did you want to show me?"

  Simon's lips curled in a wry smile as he lifted his shoulders in a shrug, "Nothing."

  Everett studied him before saying. "Was I that conspicuous?"

  "No, it's just I've seen the look enough in the mirror to know what it means," Simon murmured. He fell silent and then asked quietly, "Have you asked her yet? To marry you?"

  Everett shook his head. "I'm planning on it tonight." He retrieved the ring box and handed it to Simon. "I thought I might take her to her favorite tree and propose to her there."

  "She'll love that." Flipping the box open, Simon gave a low whistle and stared at the ring. "This is quite the trinket…" he looked up and grinned, "I take it to mean you must really like our El?"

  Everett nodded, a pleasant warmth enveloping his heart at the mere thought of Pegleg. "I love her."

  Simon's gaze met Everett's in silence before handing the box back, "I'm glad to hear it. Elyria deserves a good man."

  "I don't know if I'd go so far as to call myself a good man…"

  "None of the good ones do," Simon said quietly.

  Twenty-Six

  "Is he here yet?" Elyria asked, standing in front of the bay window. "What time is it? I can't believe I overslept; you were supposed to wake me."

  "One o'clock—I did try waking you if you'll recall, at least three different times," Daphne murmured. She came and stood next to Elyria. "His car is parked outside, but I don't see—oh, he and Simon are talking…they're going into his office."

  Elyria frowned, "Why would he talk to Simon?"

  "A lot of people talk to Simon," Daphne quipped with a gentle nudge of her elbow. "I enjoy talking to him myself."

  "That's not what I meant," Elyria chuckled, then turned and walked to the sofa. "You don't suppose Simon would give him a hard time about our relationship, do you?"

  Daphne laughed and sat beside Elyria on the sofa, "No. I forbade him from doing so unless I'm present to witness it."

  Silence, only broken by the soft tick-tock of the clock for the next four minutes, and then Elyria muttered, "What do you think they're talking about?"

  "I don't know…maybe he needs some lawyer advice," Daphne said with a shrug, her arm rubbing against Elyria's, "what do men talk to other men about? Sex?"

  A shocked giggle escaped Elyria. "Daphne!"

  "What? You know how thin the walls were between Winston's room and mine," Daphne murmured, all innocence. "He and Stephen discussed the topic with one another on countless occasions; I couldn't not listen to them, could I?"

  Elyria bit back a smile and cleared her throat. "The war?"

  "No, not Simon…at least I don't think he would," Daphne said quietly. "Baseball?"

  "Everett said he's not much into sports."

  "Oh, did he? I don't remember reading that in any of his letters."

  Elyria strained her ears to try listening to the faint conversation coming from Simon's office, but she muttered a curse when it remained unintelligible male mumbling. "Last night, after he picked me up at the station."

  "I meant to ask you earlier," Daphne leaned in close and lowered her voice, "what all happened last night? I saw you two kissing this morning, so I can only assume it wasn't the first--it wasn't, was it?"

  Elyria blushed and bit back a smile. "Our first occurred while he was still a patient."

  "What?" Daphne gasped, "And you never told me?"

  "But last night felt different," Elyria sighed, ignoring the pang of guilt that hit over not sharing the moment with Daphne.

  "Different how?"

  She thought about it for a moment, trying to find the right words, then said softly, "You know when you draw a bath, and you dip your finger in to test the temperature before getting in?"

  "Are you saying he's a wet kisser?" Daphne asked, appalled. "Did he slobber all over you? That isn't at all the sort of man I thought him to be."

  Elyria choked on a laugh, "No! No—oh, it's a terrible analogy, isn't it?"

  "Yes, it is; and that's coming from the Queen of Analogies herself."

  Elyria giggled and covered her face in her hands. "Our first kiss was slow, kind of like we were taking our time in getting a sense of one another…savoring the moment."

  Silence, and then Daphne murmured, "Why do I feel like you're describing my relationship with cake?"

  "Oh, dear," Elyria laughed.

  "And last night?" Daphne chuckled, "How did it differ?"

  Elyria closed her eyes and sighed, "It was wonderful. Not that the first one wasn't, but last night…I don't know if it was because of all the excitement and anxiety leading up to it, or just because it's him." She played the night over again in her mind, then turned to Daphne, "Last night became the first time in my life that I've ever had a real taste of passion and romantic love. He kissed me like he couldn't get enough of me and wanted to devour me—but in a good way."

  "As opposed to a cannibalistic way?"

  "Yes," Elyria smiled and bit back a laugh.

  "Well, I'm glad you cleared that bit up for me," She teased. "And did you want to devour him?"

  Elyria nodded and blushed.

  Daphne patted Elyria's knee, "I believe it's safe to say you two should have quite a bit of fun on your wedding night."

  "Why will they be having fun on their wedding night, dear?" Simon asked, walking into the room, "Aside from the obvious."

  Elyria bit back an embarrassed giggle.

  "Jokes," Daphne blurted out. "She told me one of Everett's jokes he shared with her last night."

  Elyria groaned and hid her face in her hands. This situation was going downhill fast, and she had no idea how to stop it.

  "Oh really," Simon said, his tone suspicious. "What joke was that?"

  "How did it go?" Daphne tapped Elyria's leg.

  "What's brown and sticky?" Everett blurted out, sitting down beside Elyria. He took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to her cheek, whispering, "Don't worry, I've got you covered."

  The chair across from them squeaked softly when Simon sat. "I don't know, what?"

  Everett gently squeezed Elyria's fingers, "A stick."

  Daphne burst out laughing, shaking so hard with mirth the entire sofa trembled.

  Elyria giggled and leaned in to whisper
, "Another one from your cousin?"

  "No," Everett chuckled quietly, "purely born out of panic."

  "I don't believe it was that funny of a joke, darling," Simon murmured.

  Elyria kissed his cheek, whispering against his skin, "Thank you."

  "Sorry, I'm late," he whispered back. "I overslept."

  She smiled. "It's all right…I did too."

  "You're awful pretty when you do that."

  Elyria pulled away, her brow creasing in a frown. "When I do what?"

  "Smile." He placed a bouquet in her arms, "I got these for you."

  She lifted them to her nose and gently felt the blooms with her fingers. Grinning, she whispered back, "Buttercups?"

  He kissed her cheek, "I had to go to four florists to find yellow ones, but you were right; they're beautiful. I can see why you love them."

  "Thank you," she said softly, caressing the flowers.

  "You wouldn't want to go on a walk with me, would you?" He asked, taking her by the hand.

  "That's number four on your list of courting, isn't it?"

  He chuckled, "Indeed, I believe it is."

  She stood and turned to Daphne and Simon, "We're going on a walk, would you care to join us?"

  Everett made a strange choking sound, then cleared his throat and stood beside her. "No, they wouldn't."

  "No," Daphne murmured with a smile in her voice, "but thank you. I'll put your flowers in a vase in your room…you two go enjoy yourselves."

  Twenty-Seven

  "Where shall we go?" Elyria asked once they reached the bottom of the steps.

  Everett let out a deep breath and closed his eyes, willing his leg to behave and not cramp up like it kept threatening to do. "To the park?"

  "Excellent choice," she smiled and reached out, taking his hand in hers.

  He bit back a groan and started walking. Sweat broke out on his brow, but he didn't know if it came from discomfort or nerves. He'd thought long and hard over where he wanted to propose to her, right down to what he would say and whether he would get down on one knee.

  "Is your leg bothering you?"