Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(52)

“Jason said the baby is perfect.”

“I don’t know how you lasted so many days without Brady. I’m sorry he had to leave you.”

“Don’t be. It’s his calling. I have a little insight of my own; it’s called a woman’s intuition. I knew that he would be helping to bring home someone very special.”

I had instantly fallen in love with her, and I hoped I could be just as close to Clarissa and Aubrey. I felt foolish thinking of my behavior yesterday. Felicity walked to where I sat and gave me a big hug.

“I need to go. I want to help Aubrey get ready for tonight.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, a feeling of dread coming over me.

“Tonight it is just going to be family and close friends. This whole week will be filled with several celebrations. People are coming from everywhere,” she said, walking softly toward the front room, beckoning me to follow her. When we reached the porch, she said, “I have some clothes for you. I wanted you to have something nice to wear. I remember how I felt when I got here, not having more than a satchel of things from my world.” I knew she was just being nice, but the truth was, I couldn’t care less about a single thing I had owned in Franklin.

I followed her to the car, and she handed me a handful of clothes. They were all dresses; some long, others short, and the colors were vibrant and balanced all at the same time. They felt so smooth, like the gown I found myself in last night…I wondered who had put that on me.

“I made these, so if they are too big, I can take them in for you.”

“You made these?” I asked.

She smiled. “I love to make clothes. I will stop back by before the party and make sure they fit you well.”

I stood, staring at them in admiration. I wasn’t even sure I knew how to thread a needle.

“I’m sure Landen will be up soon. I’ll see you when the sun goes down.”

I found the way she kept time very comforting. I hugged her goodbye and watched her leave.

When I walked back in the house, I found Landen standing at the bottom of the stairs. I could tell he had been up for awhile; his hair was wet from where he had showered, and he was dressed for the day, all in black again. I shyly smiled at him. I couldn’t believe this was real. I was home.

Then the distance between us seemed too far, so I let the dresses fall and ran into his arms. He laughed out loud at my unconventional enthusiasm.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked against my neck before he kissed the tender skin there.

“You looked too peaceful.”

I looked at his arm to make sure he’d dressed his wound again. My eyes widened as I stared at his unbroken skin. I reached out with my hand and ran it across his arm.

“How?” I thought.

“I don’t know. It was healed when I woke up, and my shoulder is healed as well,” Landen said, pulling his shirt up to show me.

It was like it had never happened, but both of his burns had been severe enough to cause scarring. I kissed his shoulder softly before I lowered his shirt. He then turned to look at me, and I felt the utter devotion coming from him.

“You healed me,” he whispered as he put his hands around my waist, staring into my eyes.

I thought through yesterday and the pain that I’d endured. I wasn’t sore anymore. It was as if it had only been a bad dream.

“You took my pain away, too,” I whispered.

He leaned down and carefully framed his lips around mine. My heart let out a quick beat as my soul pulsed. I was going to have to learn self-control around him. I could not get over how one glance from him evoked so many emotions in my soul.

I pulled him closer and laid my head on his chest, hearing his heart racing, too.

“I see you met Felicity. She wanted you to wake up just as badly as I did last night. I was surprised that Brady got her to go home,” he said in an amused tone as his hands slowly glided down my back.

I let my arms fall from around him, then picked up the dresses I’d let fall to the floor and draped them across the banister.

“She brought some food. Are you hungry?”

Landen eyes brightened up. I smiled and pulled him to the kitchen. I had watched Felicity closely, so I knew were all the dishes were. As I set the plate before him, I looked at him. He was smiling at me in absolute disbelief.

“What?” I asked, blushing.

“Nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“You just look…you look like you belong here. I just can’t believe it—that you’re here,” he answered shyly.

I let Landen finish his breakfast before I started asking the questions that had haunted me all morning. I needed to know, and my stomach turned while I waited for the answers. Once he was finished, I cleared the dishes away and followed him outside through the back door, onto the wide porch.

Large white windmills were scattered across the fields. I could see the wind turning them. It was so nice out. The breeze made it seem worth it to linger on the porch. Sitting next to Landen on one of the long benches that lined the house, I could feel the dread coming from him. He knew what I was going to ask him.

“Landen, are you going to tell me?”

He lowered his eyes. I could see he was wishing his way out of it, hoping that I’d be able to let it go, but he had to know that I could still see Sharon…how upset she was. My conscience wouldn’t allow me to let it go.