Page 48 of Night Fall
Erik was struck by the space the moment he entered the front door. Several of the walls were lined with large sets of seamless glass doors that led to an open courtyard with trees, hedges, a circular fountain, and flowers. He had never seen anything like it.
Mya locked the door behind him and followed his line of sight. “I like to be alone, so I prefer to spend most of my time here. It’s easier when you have a view like this and can bring the outdoors into your home.”
“It’s beautiful,” Erik said, staring right at her.
She blushed, twirling her fingers for a moment before she said, “My cell phone is in my bedroom. I’ll call Johanna and let her know we’re here. Feel free to take a look around.”
She went to move past him, but he grabbed her hands and brought them to his lips. “Thank you for inviting me into your home and sharing your space with me.”
His grin grew wider when she blushed again, and with a nod she hurried past him.
Erik ventured deeper into the house. There weren’t any personal photos of Mya or her family. Instead, the shelves were covered with plants, books on different subjects, old worn journals, and small trinkets.
He moved to the second floor, where most of the doors were open except for one. Behind it he could smell something burning. Erik pondered for a moment, not wanting to intrude, but also concerned for her property. When he finally decided to open the door, he was shocked by what he saw.
Several tall red candles were lit, giving off a smell of cinnamon and something else he couldn’t put a name to. Above the candles was a portrait, and it was like he was looking into a mirror.
“Erik…”
He jumped back and took in the horror etched on her face. “Mya, I’m sorry. I thought—”
She bit her lip and shook her head. Then she cleared her throat. “No, it’s okay. It’s my fault. I forgot.”
He left the room, closed the door gently, and moved toward her. She hugged herself as if to keep her distance from him, but he refused to let her shy away. Instead, he pulled her to his chest. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
Her hands dropped, and after a moment she wrapped her arms around him and breathed him in while she pushed her head further into his chest.
“It’s my way of making sure I always remember you. Every night I light the candles. I change them throughout the day to make sure they’re always burning. I used to talk to you … to your picture, I mean. I’d tell you how much I loved you, how much I missed you. That I hoped you were somewhere safe, born into a better life where you could be happy, and maybe one day I’d get to see you again.”
He tilted her face to his. “And now you can.”
She nodded and bit her lip. “Now I can.”
“Mya…” His gaze roamed hers before settling on her lips. “May I kiss you?”
She gripped his shirt. “Johanna will be here in a couple of minutes and—”
“Just one kiss, please.”
Her eyelids closed as she angled her head to his, and he descended slowly, wanting her to know that she could pull away at any time.
“I need to hear it, Mya,” he whispered against her lips.
“Yes,” she whispered.
He kissed her, and it was as if light had flooded his heart when her lips moved against his. He gathered her closer, and she wrapped her arms around him. It was a kiss of gentle completion, of love and sadness, of hope and despair. It was a kiss that began their path to healing the wound that had been infected and festering for years between them.
Erik pulled away from her soft mouth slowly, then kissed her forehead before running his fingers over her cheek and down her hair. “Thank you for giving me something so precious.”
Her eyes opened slowly, and they were so vulnerable his heart skipped a beat. “What have I given you?”
“Your time. Your mind. Your energy. Your love. They are all of the highest value. Priceless,” he said, staring into her eyes, “and I will spend the rest of my life appreciating them and you.”
Before she could say anything in response, another presence filled the air. Erik growled low in his throat, and pushed Mya behind him, but she gripped his arm.
“It’s okay, Erik. It’s just Johanna and Luke.”
Erik locked his eyes onto hers. His brow furrowed. “But they didn’t come through a door.”
