So Far From I Expected

8

I lifted the bucket and walked quickly towards the cottage. I could hear Mr Avital teeter to himself as I closed the door.

The rest of the evening continued in a blur. Mama and Papa refused to speak, the twins were unusually quiet and Tommy was agitated by the tension. We bathed and said our prayers, giving thanks for each other and the food in our bellies. Mama and the twins went to bed early; Papa was called out to find a lost horse.

I rocked Tommy to sleep and threw a log onto the fire before climbing in the blankets between the twins. They groaned as my cold feet met theirs under the blankets.

I lay under the blankets, listening to the wind blowing and the log in the fireplace cracking and popping. The puppies were scratching around in the corner, all comforting sounds that help me fall asleep, yet I couldn’t settle.

Mr Desala’s eyes and handsome face filled my mind, his story of Frankie, his offer to take us to the Junaath; his hands on my waist and the way he embraced me tightly. My mind was racing. 

The door creaked open as Papa returned from his search. He pulled off his boots and sat in the chair by the fire. I climbed out of the blankets and smiled at him, glad to see he was home.

I put the kettle over the fire and sat beside Papa on the floor. ‘Did you find the horse?’

‘Yes pet, she was fine. They boys had found her; they’d been looking for hours before they came to find me. They were getting worried that’s the only reason they came.’ There was some humour in his voice.

The boys all respected Papa and tried their hardest not to cause him trouble. Papa was fair and always true to his word. He worked hard and even helped them to muck out the stables if they were running behind.

I poured two cups of tea while Papa played with the puppies that had run to greet him.

‘I saw Mr Avital on my way out Caireann.’ Papa looked at me; his face was hard but his eyes soft and slightly sad. My mouth opened to speak but I didn’t know what to say.

‘I’m not angry pet, you did nothing wrong. What happened?’ I looked at him and felt a wave of fear and uncertainty wash over me. ‘Oh Papa I don’t know! I don’t know what happened. I don't know why he stayed, why he even came in the first place! He said he thought I was beautiful when he saw me years ago.’ I felt myself blushing; I had never spoken to Papa in this way; about boys or feelings. He noticed my face and smiled. ‘You are beautiful my girl. You always have been.’ He hugged me tight and sent me to bed like he did when I was little.