RECLAIM MY HEART(16)

She couldn’t remember the last time she’d sat outside and read a book. Already, the sun had tinged her skin golden and she felt well rested.
Several times since arriving in Wikweko, Tyne had overheard Zach ask Lucas when they could visit Jasper. Each time, Lucas had either put him off or diverted Zach’s attention to another topic. This morning, both Lucas and Zach had complained of sore fingertips so they’d decided to take a break from archery practice. Again, Zach had posed meeting his great uncle, and this time he refused to be sidetracked from the issue.
“The last time I was here—” Tyne looked around at the shops “—there was no such thing as Artists’ Alley. Or a tourist trade. Water Street hadn’t even been paved.”
Surprise momentarily slackened the tension on Zach’s face. “You were here before? In Wikweko?” he asked her. Tyne only had time to nod before her son turned to Lucas. “I assumed you met my mom in the city.”
“No,” Lucas answered easily. “We met here. Or rather in Oak Mills. A town a few miles down the road. That’s where your mom was born. Where we both attended high school. But we spent a lot of time here in Wikweko.”
Avoiding his mother altogether, Zach stuffed his hands into the pockets of his baggie jeans and hunched his shoulders as he quickened his step to forge ahead of them.
Lucas sidled up beside her. “A lot’s changed around here in sixteen years, don’t you think? Wikweko High School was built about five years ago. We have our own post office now. We have a weekly newspaper. And a Starbucks, if you can believe it.”
She sensed his edginess, heard the tension in his voice. He hadn’t even noticed Zach’s surly withdrawal.
“Why don’t you want to see Jasper, Lucas?”
He stopped short. “What are you talking about?”
She paused, lifting her hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight. “Zach has asked every day to meet your uncle and you put him off every time. The only reason we’re here is because neither of you can pull the string on that bow because of blisters. My guess is that you’ve been avoiding Jasper.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Lucas’s clipped gait forced Tyne to walk fast to keep up. “I don’t have any blisters. And I’m not avoiding anyone.”
He called out to Zach. “You’ve passed the gallery. Uncle Jasper’s place is here.” Lon ucas rushed forward to open the door for them.
The stylish sign hanging above the door didn’t display a name; it only portrayed a fierce-looking hawk that had been crafted from some silver-toned metal. The detail work of the animal was exquisite. A bell attached to the door tinkled when they entered, and inside, the shop was cool and still.
“Wow.” Zach breathed out the word rather than spoke it. “Look at that.” He moved to the large eagle, its wings spread wide, perched on a glass shelf in a well-lit corner. A predatory fierceness had been meticulously etched into every aspect of the bird from its glaring eyes down to its salient talons. The sculpture’s surface had been polished to a high sheen that accented the wood’s grain.
The air suddenly filled with a haunting flute melody accompanied by a single drum piped into the room over the sound system.
“I’ll be right there,” a masculine voice called from a back room.
In his mid-sixties, Jasper Silver Hawk had classic Native American features; high cheekbones, deep set eyes the color of glossy onyx, a ruddy complexion riddled with crevices etched by a lifetime spent in the sun and wind. A regal face you might see stamped onto an ancient coin.
“Lucas,” the man exclaimed. “I heard you were back in town.”
“Uncle Jasper,” Lucas greeted.
The men shook hands, and although their words were warm, their brief embrace looked awkward to Tyne as they clapped each other on the back.
“I’m sure you remember Tyne,” Lucas said to his uncle.
Jasper’s gaze fell on her, genuine affection pervading his quick smile. “Of course. How could I forget? Tyne, you’ve become a beautiful woman.”
“And you haven’t changed a bit,” she told him, stepping into his open arms.
He hugged her tightly and murmured, “The years refuse to pass without leaving their mark.” He didn’t let her go immediately, and Tyne rested her cheek on his shoulder.
Whether it was the truth in his profound remark, the tenderness in his greeting, or the moving memories of a more innocent time, Tyne couldn’t say, but unexpected tears stung her eyes.
“It’s good to see you, Jasper.” She swiped at the moisture clinging to her lashes with her fingertips when they parted. “I wasn’t sure you’d even speak to me. The way I left all those years ago. You know,” she murmured, “without saying goodbye.”
Voicing her doubts wasn’t something she was in a habit of doing. Experience had taught her that revealing her fears only left her vulnerable, but Jasper’s warmth had melted those remarks right out of her.
Her face flushed and she forged ahead. “Jasper, I, um, I’d like you to meet my son.”
Zach had been standing off to the side, waiting to be introduced, but now he moved forward. Tyne put a hand on her son’s shoulder. Having been unaware of the teen’s presence, Jasper’s expression widened with joy.
“Your son, Tyne? How wonderful.” He reached out his hand and Zach clasped it with his own.
“This is Zachary,” Tyne said. “Zach, this is Jasper Silver Hawk. Uncle Jasper.”
“I’ve been, like, wanting to meet you, like, forever.” Zach continued to shake the older man’s hand heartily. “Well, ever since I found out about you, anyways.”