Reckless Rescue (25 page)

“S
O, DO YOU WANT TO
head over to the hall?” Tyris asked, his voice a touch too casual.

Marlee hid a smile. So they’d involved Tyris in their plan. She’d thought as much when she saw Jaimma chatting to him in the snow a few days ago.

“I don’t know. The weather looks pretty bad. Maybe we could have a quiet night in? I need to finish knitting the last arm of this jumper.” She couldn’t resist seeing how persistent he would get, though the weather was a valid excuse. The wind was picking up, and snow fell heavily.

“You can knit later, there’s no rush on the jumper,” Tyris said. “I wanted to catch up with Nerris to, um, challenge him to another game of chess. He’s been on a winning streak lately.”

His cute, hopeful expression won her over. She put her knitting down. “Okay, just let me do my hair.”

In the bedroom, she pulled a brush through her hair. Hearing shuffling around in the other room, she grinned. What did he have planned? She hadn’t expected a present, but it was clear he was up to something.

“Ready?” she called out, giving him warning before she stepped out from behind the curtain.

“Yep, let’s go.” Tyris slipped his arm through hers. She couldn’t see any packages. It must be something small. Tyris looked pleased with himself, and her curiosity grew.

Outside, the swirling wind had already added several inches of snow to the paths they’d cleared that morning. Hopefully it wouldn’t grow heavier or it might be difficult to get home later.

As they neared the hall, shadows bobbed and ducked in the windows. The lookouts were all alert. All was silent as Tyris opened the door then, “Surprise!” a hundred voices called out.

Jaimma hugged Marlee then Tyris for good measure. “Happy Birthday, Marlee!”

Her mother, Nerris, Janey, and all her friends and family followed suit.

With one notable exception. Nelor kept his distance, sitting with Brenda and her children on the other side of the room. A moment’s sadness overshadowed her enjoyment, but she refused to let it take hold. She would talk to Nelor later, hug him, and tell him it was okay. For the first time she realised the lingering sadness plaguing her since their separation was gone. When had that happened?

A weight was lifted from her shoulders. She smiled and took Tyris’s hand as the villagers began to sing
Happy Birthday
. Jaimma bought out a cake, three tiers high and glowing with candles, and set it on a table in front of Marlee.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew as hard as she could at the twenty candles.
I wish Tyris never had to leave.
She opened her eyes, holding her breath. Not a single candle still burned. Everyone cheered and clapped.

“Did you make a wish?” Tyris asked.

Marlee’s face felt hot. “Maybe.”

“What did you wish for?” he asked.

“I can’t tell. It won’t come true if I tell,” Marlee said, falling back on the old superstition. She couldn’t imagine telling Tyris what she’d wished for. She smiled at him though. Believing a wish made on birthday candles held any promise was silly, but she couldn’t help but feel hopeful anyway.

“You just want to know so that you can give it to her for her birthday, don’t you?” Jaimma teased.

Tyris laughed. “Well, I didn’t have much time to plan anything, so I’m always open to suggestions.”

“That’s okay,” Marlee said.

If he didn’t have a present, what had he been hiding earlier? She’d been so sure he had something for her. It didn’t matter though. What mattered most was he was here. “I don’t need presents.”

“Well, need them or not, we have lots.” Jaimma hustled her to the armchair next to the fireplace and positioned the first parcel, wrapped in tattered brown paper, in her lap.

Marlee undid the string and paper carefully and handed them to her mother, who folded the paper neatly so it could be used again for the next birthday party. She stared at the pile of pink frills in front of her, holding her breath, before she picked it up for a better look.

The simple A-line shape, layered with deep frills all down the skirt, was simply beautiful. The material was fine, and she suspected her mother had given up one of her prized sheets for it. She’d never owned anything so pretty, or so pink, in her life. “How did you make that colour?”

Jaimma grinned. “Raspberries!” she said. “It’s from your Mother and Janey as well.”

“Thank you,” Marlee said, smiling. “It’s lovely.”

“It’s not suitable for this weather at all,” Yasmyn warned. Then she smiled. “But since it is quite warm in here, perhaps you could try it on for a while.”

“Later,” Jaimma added. “First, more presents.”

“Here,” Tyris handed her a package awkwardly. “It’s not much,” he warned.

Marlee unwrapped the cloth, grinning when she saw the familiar purple shiny wrapper. “Mmmm,” she grinned up at him.

“What’s that?” Jaimma asked, her nose wrinkling.

“Chocolate,” Marlee said. She opened the wrapper and held a small square out to her friend.

Jaimma eyed it suspiciously.

“Try some,” Marlee urged. To encourage Jaimma, she put a square in her own mouth, letting the sugary goodness melt on her tongue.

Jaimma took the piece, still looking doubtful. When she put it in her mouth, her eyes widened.

Marlee laughed. She broke the rest of the chocolate bar into pieces as small as she could, and shared them around her friends. Watching the look of amazement on their faces was almost as good as tasting the chocolate herself.

She looked up at Tyris, hoping he wasn’t upset at her sharing his present, but he was smiling at her, enjoying watching her friend’s reactions as much as she was.

Then Jaimma pushed her back into the chair to open more presents.

Having a birthday in winter had its advantages. Because everyone was sitting around home with not much to do, they had plenty of time to make presents. Nerris gave her a chess set he’d carved himself, Beren gave her a little reed whistle, and others gave her a beautiful shawl and a knitted beanie.

But her favourite present of the night, even more beautiful than the dress, came from Rejan. He awkwardly handed her a charcoal sketch of her and Tyris. Tears came to her eyes at the image of her leaning over Tyris’s shoulder, pointing out a move on the chess board in front of him. He was turning to look up at her, and the expression on his face was one she swore she’d never seen—Rejan must have drawn it from his imagination. She put it carefully next to the dress, resolving to hang it on the wall as soon as she went home tonight.

Once the gift giving was over, people wandered off to eat and chat, until only Marlee’s closest friends and family remained.

Tyris sat on the arm of the chair, pulled another small package out of his pocket, and handed it to her, saying, “Here. The chocolate wasn’t your real present. I wanted you to have this.”

Everyone around them stilled, watching. Marlee took the package, a tingle going down her spine. The chocolate had been a wonderful present. She couldn’t imagine what else he might have. She tipped the contents of the small drawstring bag onto her palm then stared in awe.

Tyris’s lucky dolphin. She gazed up at him. “Oh Tyris, it’s lovely. But...” she hesitated, “don’t you need it?”

Tyris smiled. “I think it’s done its job for me, just as it did for Kerit. I think you need it more.”

What did he mean? He said his brother had given it to him for luck, why didn’t he need it anymore? Did he already feel lucky?

Marlee stared up at him, forgetting her friends and family around her for a moment. She didn’t see anyone but Tyris. “You do?” she asked.

He smiled, and she almost gasped. His expression was exactly the same as the one in Rejan’s drawing. He really did look at her like that. She’d just never seen it before. She smiled shyly back and opened her mouth to speak.

“Marlee, you haven’t tried your cake yet,” Jaimma interrupted, reminding Marlee that they weren’t alone. She took the plate from Jaimma and ate, making the expected appreciative noises.

But her mind wasn’t on the cake. She kept glancing down at the dolphin in her lap and smiling. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect gift. And Tyris’s words when he gave it to her meant even more than the present. Did she dare hope that he already felt lucky because of her?

To think she might be lucky would be wonderful. But could she really believe it? Could she take the risk? She looked up at Tyris. She wanted to.

“Mmm, this is good.” Tyris helped himself to a second piece of cake.

“Don’t eat too much,” Jaimma warned, “or you won’t be able to dance.”

“Hmm. I can live with that,” he said.

Jaimma winked. “Oh well, I guess there are plenty of other guys who’ll happily dance with Marlee.”

Tyris didn’t reply, but he didn’t finish his piece of cake either. And when Beren pulled out his harmonica and started to play, Tyris held out his hand. “You’ll have to forgive me if I step on your toes,” he warned.

Marlee giggled. “Only if you forgive me if I do the same.” She held out the dolphin to him and lifted up her hair. He clipped the cord around her neck, his fingers pausing to stroke the skin just for a second, sending tingles down her spine. Then he led her into the middle of the hall.

Marlee paused. “Give me a minute,” she said.

Tyris nodded and waited patiently while she ran back to the chair she’d been sitting on and grabbed the dress. She ducked into the back room and changed quickly. It fit perfectly. She shivered slightly then went back to the hall where the fire warmed the room.

Jaimma let out a wolf whistle. A few laughs and clapping followed. But they all faded into the distance when she saw Tyris watching her with that smile. He held out a hand and she put hers into it, holding her breath. She never wanted this moment to end.

Tyris pulled her towards him, his arms slipping around her waist, and his warmth seeped through the thin cotton of the dress. Marlee rested her head on his shoulder, ignoring the rest of the world.

Beren’s music slowed to a steady beat, and Tyris swayed with it, his body moving in time with hers. Marlee relaxed against him, feeling like she’d finally found the place she’d been looking for her whole life.

She was only barely aware of other couples joining them, but she did feel a sting of disappointment when the next song began with a livelier beat. It lasted only until Tyris swayed against her at the faster pace. Heat swirled through her, and she looked up at him. He was grinning, head on one side. “Having fun?” he asked teasingly.

Marlee nodded, not able to find any words to answer him. She’d always liked dancing, loved moving to the beat of the music, but this was something else. She slipped her arms up around his neck, and he responded by pulling her even closer. They found their own beat, slower than the music, but still in time.

And in that slowing down of time, Tyris bent and kissed her.

Fire jumped through her veins, melting them, leaving her weak all over. When he pulled back, Tyris looked as bemused as she did.

“Okay you two, might be time to take that off the floor, you’re distracting everyone,” Marlee’s cheeks burned at Beren’s comment. A rumble of laughter came from somewhere behind her, and she wished she could sink into the floor. 

What was it about Tyris? She’d never been tempted to kiss Nelor like that, right in the middle of the hall. That sort of behaviour had been reserved for the bedroom. But for some reason, Tyris sparked this impulse in her often and frequently in the most inappropriate of places.

He grinned at her, not the least bit embarrassed by Beren’s comments, and she couldn’t help but smile in return. He didn’t kiss her again though, and his dancing was a little more circumspect. Marlee couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.

After they tired of dancing, they sampled some of the food on the table. Marlee ate far too many of the different types of smaller cakes, biscuits, mini apple pies and raspberry tarts. Tyris did too.

Nelor stood on the opposite side of the table, filling a plate with sweets for Brenda and her children. His caring gesture touched her, and when he saw her and turned away, Marlee felt a moment’s sadness. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she told Tyris.

He looked to Nelor, then back at her. He nodded. “Take your time.”

Marlee hurried after Nelor, wanting to catch him before he returned to Brenda. “Nelor,” she called out.

He turned and gave an uncertain smile when he saw her. “Hi, Marlee.” There was a moment of awkward silence. Marlee’s mind went completely blank. What had she intended to say?

“How are you going?” he asked.

“Good,” Marlee said. She nodded vigorously. “You?”

“Fine,” Nelor replied. The awkwardness wouldn’t go away.

“I just wanted to say, I’m happy for you and Brenda.” Marlee’s words came out in a rush.

“Thanks.” Nelor relaxed and smiled. “I kind of didn’t expect it, but… well, she’s really nice. And so are the kids.”

“I bet you’re a wonderful dad.” This time, only a small tug of sadness accompanied the thought.

Nelor shook his head. “I’ve got a lot to learn. Kids are much harder than I thought. But Brenda’s a great mother, and watching her is teaching me a lot.”

“You deserve it. I really hope the two of you are happy,” Marlee said.

“And I hope you and Tyris are happy,” Nelor replied.

Marlee glanced over to the table where Tyris was still standing, biscuit in hand, talking to Beren. “I hope so too,” she said softly. She couldn’t begin to explain the complexity of the situation to Nelor. Her hand went to the little green dolphin around her neck, and she smiled.

As though he could sense her gaze, Tyris looked up. His head tilted slightly, and his smile skewed to one side. Tenderness swelled up in her and she sighed.

Nelor looked uncomfortable again. Marlee didn’t like the awkwardness between them, but perhaps time would help. She’d cared more about Nelor than any other partner until she met Tyris. The separation was bound to take longer to heal.

“Say hi to Brenda for me,” she said. “I’ll catch you later, okay?”

Nelor nodded. “Sure.”

He turned and walked towards Brenda. Marlee watched for a few moments as the kids jumped around him, eager for the treats he brought. He handled them expertly, making sure each got the special sweet they had wanted, but not forgetting Brenda in the process. He’d grown up in the last few months. And for the first time, Marlee admitted their separation might have been the best thing… for both of them.