Page 38 of Sherry and Sunflowers
Tears shone in her eyes as she stared at him. His hands balled into fists at his sides when she leaned closer. For a second, his hopes soared—but of course, the kiss landed on his cheek.
"Reaves," she breathed again. "I don't know what to say. I…"
"Then don't say anything. We both know what we mean, don't we?"
"Yeah. I think we do. But…" She dropped her gaze.
He tucked his fingers under her chin and made her look up at him. "No, don't. Please. Not right now. If the buts have to come, if they're what you need, I'll accept them. But not today, hey?"
She nodded. Reaching for his hand, she gave it a squeeze. "Yeah. That… that sounds good. Not today."
Chapter Nine
Alara pushed her chair back from the table in the kitchen, but before she could pick up her and Zia's plates, Faye took them from her.
"That's all right, sweetie, I can clear this up."
"Are you sure? I can take care of it before I go back to work."
"Honestly, it's fine. You look tired enough as it is. You go and do your job and try to remember that this is mine." She turned to Zia. "I'm sorry, kiddo, but I can't hang out with you this afternoon. I'm going to be busy."
Alara was a little on edge. Faye was going to be busy making refreshments for the big meeting Charles had this afternoon. She knew it must have been arranged hastily, because no one had mentioned it before the weekend—and here it was Monday, and Faye was prepping refreshments. Charles was locked away in his study, and Reaves had texted to say he'd be over this afternoon for the meeting, but he probably wouldn't see her and Zia until later.
Zia got down from her chair and came to stand next to Alara, leaning her head against her shoulder. "That's okay, Mrs. Faye. I know you're busy, and Mom is too." She looked up. "Is it okay if I play in my room this afternoon, Mom? Maybe I can read, too."
Faye raised her eyebrows at that, but Alara didn't explain. Zia couldn't exactly read yet. But she wasn't far off.
"You can if you want to," she told Zia. "But you can come and hang out in the office with me if you like. You can spread your things out on the floor and—"
"That's okay. I like it in my room, there's lots of sunshine. And I know desk work is hard for you." She turned to Faye. "It's not the same as being outside. Everything comes easier when you're outside, with sunshine, and flowers, and fresh air."
Alara felt a little inadequate when Faye gave her a knowing smile.
"I'm not the kind to sit behind a desk either," Faye said kindly, before checking her watch.
Alara took that as their cue to leave the kitchen.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" she asked Zia.
"No. I promise I'll be good. And if I go with you, you'll keep an eye on me instead of doing your work."
She ran her hand over her daughter's head. "That's because you're the most important thing in the world to me."
Zia nodded sagely. "I know. That's why I'm trying to help."
She had to laugh at that. "You run upstairs then. But if you need me, you come straight back down. I'll be in my office, okay?"
"Okay. I'll come check on you later." She turned and glanced down the hallway. "Do you think Grandpa Grape's okay?"
"I think he'll be just fine. He has some important business this afternoon, that's all."
"New people who want to sell his wine for him, right? Because the old people didn't like it anymore." Zia's arms hung loosely at her sides, her eyebrows drawn together in a puzzled little frown. "I know his wine must be the best, because he is the best, and this place is the best. I don't understand why the old people didn't want to sell his wine anymore."
Alara looked both ways as if she were about to share a secret, then leaned in close to say, "I don't know either. But I think the old people must be really dumb. I've tasted Grandpa Grape's wines, and they really are the best in the world."
"I knew it," said Zia. "Then it's good that the silly old people are gone." She frowned. "But the new people better be good to him."
"They’d better," Alara agreed. "And that's why Prince Daddy's coming this afternoon."
