Page 100 of Fragments of Delores
He smiled, “you’re always hungry.” Her smile faltered for a moment in worry and Elijah reached over and stroked her face. “Hey, it’s okay. Eating is good, if that’s what you want. Or not, if you don’t want. You can do whatever you want and whatever you choose is okay, okay?”
The worry died and flitted away like smoke in the breeze, and she nodded. “Okay.”
“I love you, Delores,” he said, his thumb stroking her cheek. “I love all of you. Huge appetite and all.”
He hated that he had to keep reminding her of that. Hated that the damage Michael had inflicted over the years couldn’t be easily soothed away with his love and kisses. He wanted her to be happy—hell, she deserved happiness more than anyone. But Michael was still there in the corner of her mind, his scars still causing her pain no matter what Elijah said.
Michael had scarred them all in unimaginable ways.
He hated that most of all.
Hated that no matter how many times he told her or showed her, it was Michaels words which were still the strongest. Elijah felt that sometimes his love for Delores wouldn’t be able to drown out Michael’s hate.
Delores smiled shyly. “I love you too.” She reached up and took his hand in hers, before bringing it to her lips to kiss. “We’re going to be okay, Elijah.”
Elijah’s heart swelled and he leaned over and placed a kiss on her lips. She kissed him back, her hands going to his hair and they lost themselves in the moment and in each other because this was how it should have always been.
Love wasn’t bitter and jealous.
Love let you grow and breathe.
Love let you become whatever or whoever you needed to be to grow and survive.
Love was the air you breathed. It was the wine you drank. Love was the warmth of safety and the excitement of adventure.
Love didn’t heal you; it gave you the strength to heal yourself.
“Mommy?” Anabel said from the back seat.
Elijah and Delores pulled apart and turned to look behind them. Anabel rubbed at her eyes and yawned. Owen was still sleeping, his head of curls pressed against his forehead as he leaned against the window awkwardly.
He heard Delores give a contented sigh at the sight of her children, already knowing without looking that she would be smiling.
“Hungry?” Elijah asked and Anabel nodded. “Come on then, wake up your brother and let’s all go get some pie.” He glanced over at Delores and saw how happy she was.
Michael had thought he’d broken her, ruined her for anyone—even herself. And when that hadn’t worked, he’d tried to kill her. Yet she was still here, and his hate couldn’t harm her now. His hate could never harm her ever again. Not while Elijah, Anabel and Owen were around to show her how much she was loved.
The End… or maybe the beginning
