20. Florence

Chapter twenty

Florence

My mouth hangs open as I take in Adelbert's setup. The white table linen, the plates, the candle sticks, all of it framed by the most exquisite sunset.

This is not a date. This is not a date. This is not a date.

From the vantage point of the house's altitude, the rolling hills fade from bright green to darker avocado shades the farther the eye can see. The sky is painted in a gradient of celeste blue right above us, fading to dusty rose, apricot, and light topaz as the sun dips toward the horizon. The view reminds me of my first morning in Adelbert's house when we were on our way to Alberad library and I was almost overcome by the beauty before me.

I place the wine and empty glasses on the table and take a moment to drink in the sights, smells, and sounds of the forest surrounding me. My time here hasn't been exactly what I would've planned for myself, but I am extremely grateful for each moment, and this right here, affirms that again.

"Would you like to take a seat?" Adelbert asks me as he pulls out one of the chairs and inclines his head toward it. He's never done something like this before and I am a little curious about what's going on.

This is not a date.

"Thank you," I say slowly and inch my toward him, giving him enough time to move away so we don't accidentally brush against each other.

Adelbert rounds the table to his own seat and we sit down at the same time.

The atmosphere is a bit awkward and I am suddenly not quite sure what to do with my limbs. I settle for folding my hands on my lap and subtly look at Adelbert for any cues.

The uneasy silence lengthens as we stare at anything but each other, the chirping of some friendly birds the only sound. I'd love to ease the tension, but I seem to say the wrong things lately, so I sit up straight in my chair and wait for him as he gathers his thoughts.

Adelbert clears his throat. "How is your embroidery faring?"

"It's going well, thank you," I answer warily.

"Do you need more thread? Or hoops? How about fabric?" Each question has Adelbert's eyebrows climbing a little higher up his forehead.

"I'm still good since the last restock you ordered. And I saw Lindsey the other morning. She gave me some colors that weren't listed on Pixie Parcels," I explain. Lindsey found this perfect gold thread that looks just like sunshine and said she had to give it to me.

A line forms between Adelbert's drawn brows. "The pixie helped you? How does she know what you need?"

"Some mornings we chat when I'm up and she's doing a delivery. Did I do something wrong?" Though our meetings are brief, I try to meet Lindsey for a quick chat when she's scheduled to make a delivery. Besides Adelbert and Sir Purrington, Lindsey is the only other being I can talk to in person.

"Not at all. I was not aware that you have become… friendly with her." Surely, that's not a bit of jealousy I detect in his tone.

I smile sadly at Adelbert. "She's so lovely. I'll miss her when I'm gone."

Adelbert shifts in his seat and scratches the back of his neck. He leans back and then sits forward again, leaning his forearms on the table.

"Can I see some of the art you have created? The new ones, I mean." Adelbert meets my eyes before looking away again. There's a glimmer of vulnerability there, but that can't be right.

"Is there something you don't want me to feature? Everything is focused on the forest. I won't do anything to reveal the actual location of Alberad or your home," I promise.

"I'm not worried about that. I'm just… curious," Adelbert mutters with the subtle pout.

I have no idea what's going on with Adelbert today and why he's acting so out of character from his usual, distant self.

I nod and play with the stem of my empty wine glass. "Uh, sure. I'll show you after dinner."

Adelbert sits up straighter. "Thank you. What is your ultimate goal with your embroidery? What would you like to do?"

I pause my movements and arch my brows. "Um… is there a reason for this interrogation?"

Adelbert groans and throws his head back against his seat. He presses his hands over his eyes before dragging them down his face.

"I must apologize," he says with one hand on his chest. "I am only trying to get to know you better. I know embroidery is such a big part of your life, I was merely trying to learn more about you."

Is he nervous? Is that why he's acting so strange?

"Oh." I bite down on my lips to keep my smile from spreading and hook my feet around the chair legs. "My ultimate goal is to have my pieces exhibited in galleries. But embroidery is not a very common form of art, and I do need to make a living. Selling my art is my bread and butter."

Adelbert leans forward again and rests his palms on the table. "If you had a choice, would you want to keep them?"

I take a moment to think it through, considering each piece I've created. "Maybe not all of them, but the sentimental ones, yeah," I say slowly, weighing the words carefully. "There is one specific piece that I have not been able to part with yet. I've also not uploaded any of my new Black Forest pieces. I'm too attached to them."

"I loved the art you showed me before. I know if there's anyone who would capture this forest in all its due glory, it would be you."

A warm feeling clamps around my heart and melts through my veins, lighting me up from the inside out. "That's a really nice thing to say. Thank you."

"Would you like some wine?" I almost get whiplash from the sudden topic change.

"Yes, please."

Adelbert reaches for the bottle before my answer is fully out of my mouth. I keep my eyes on his movements as he expertly goes about opening the bottle and pouring us each a glass.

"Should we make a toast?" Adelbert asks me.

Where is he going with this?

"Sure," I say hesitantly and raise my glass.

Adelbert raises his glass too and then sets it on the table again as his shoulders slump.

"Why don't you hum anymore?" The question is just above a whisper, the words thick and without accusation.

I blink in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You were always humming. You used to sound like you were filled with joy wherever you were. But you haven't hummed lately. Am I the cause of that?" The words are pulled from Adelbert like a pained confession, as if I'm drawing them out of him instead of him offering up his own observations.

"I wasn't aware that you were keeping track of my humming," I say cautiously.

"It's not… I'm not…" Adelbert sighs deeply and leans forward, bracing his hands on the table. "I do not wish to be the reason for your unhappiness." Pure earnestness etches into his face, the silver of his eyes bright with concern.

"Oh." I'm not quite sure how to respond to that, so I just bring my hair over my shoulder and braid it to give my hands something to do.

"How do I—" Adelbert looks up at the sky and flexes his fingers before looking back at me. "I mean, what will it take to get you humming again? Happy again?"

"It's not that I'm un happy," I start, uncertain about how much I'm willing to reveal to him.

Adelbert raises his eyebrows and motions for me to continue. I take a sip of my wine to buy time so that I can choose my words carefully.

"I didn't make a conscious decision to stop humming. I honestly wasn't even aware I was doing it that often. I guess…" Despite my best efforts, my eyes get watery and I try to blink the emotions away. Sir Purrington appears out of nowhere and rubs himself against my legs, providing a little bit of the comfort I crave. I reach down to pet him and offer an apologetic smile to Adelbert before Sir Purrington saunters off again.

"Please take your time and continue when you are comfortable," Adelbert says with more compassion than I have ever heard from him.

"I guess… I just miss people? Especially my sister."

"Would you like to go visit her?"

"In a perfect world, yes. But I know that's not possible with the bond and everything you have going on."

"I have heard that she is opening her store soon. Perhaps we could travel there for the opening?"

"You'd do that?" I ask in utter disbelief. "Don't you have that presentation coming up soon?"

"I do. But your melancholy is bothering me too much to concentrate," Adelbert says with a completely straight face.

My head rears back.

"I am sorry my loneliness is hard for you," I say with a bit of a bite in my words.

Adelbert leans back in his chair and one side of his mouth tugs up.

"You've got some fire in you. It's better than that cloud of sadness you've been carrying around."

"If anyone has a cloud of something, it's totally you," I say and point a playfully accusatory finger at him.

"Oh, most definitely. I'm the cloud and you're the sunshine," Adelbert states with a solemn nod, like it's an actual fact the world should be aware of.

I pause and quirk my head at him, my brow furrowing as I ask, "You think I'm sunshine?"

Adelbert's mouth turns down.

"You used to be," he says sadly. "How can I fix it? What will it take to get you back to your perpetual state of happiness?"

I want to puzzle out this male, this sudden concern of his. Instead, I answer truthfully, vulnerably.

"If you were anyone else, I'd say a hug would be really nice right now. I think I'm a little touch starved."

"I do recall that you and your sister seem to be of a more tactile nature."

"You mean we're very ‘touchy-feely'?" I laugh.

"In your words, yes. I do not understand the need to be constantly touching another person. I have never been someone who has craved any form of physical affection."

"Don't knock it until you've tried it." I give him a lopsided grin. Empathy for not knowing what it is like to have that connection with someone, even if just platonic or familial—never mind romantic—burns deep in my chest. "You're missing out, you know? You have no idea how good it is to have that physical comfort provided by someone you love. The touch of a hand, the caress of hair, the comfort of a warm embrace. It settles something in me."

Adelbert's stoic mask slips for a second and I could swear there's a flicker of longing on his face, but he quickly recovers and dons his ever-present serious veneer. He picks up his fork and knife and gestures for me to do the same.

I let go of the serious topic and follow suit. The most delicious flavor combination bursts on my tongue as I take the first bite. I close my eyes and a happy "Mmm" sighs out of me.

At the same time, the wind caresses my cheek and I relish the moment as I lean into the phantom touch. Invisible fingers briefly card into my hair and my smile stretches as the sensation grows stronger, almost becoming tangible. My eyes pop open and travel around the clearing, trying to find more traces of the wind in the leaves, but everything is absolutely still.

Adelbert's gaze focuses on me in the most intense way and his chest moves up and down like he's just sprinted across a field.

"Are you okay?" I ask him and brush some hair behind my ear.

Adelbert stares at the motion for another second and nods.

"Let me see what I can organize and if it would be possible to fly to Las Vegas for a day or two. It would have to be a very short trip, but I would like to make it work for you. Now, please, enjoy your meal before it gets cold."

I smile and rub at my chest, feeling so grateful for this male. He may be rough around the edges and he may not always know how to deal with me, but I think he has a sweet center hiding beneath that tough scowl and brusque manners.