Chapter 19
2012 O
Elara stood at the edge of the ocean, the salty sea breeze brushing against her face, lifting strands of her hair. In the distance, the setting sun painted the waves in shades of orange and red. The surf rolled onto the sand in gentle layers, then sighed as it retreat- ed.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, soaking in a peace she hadn’t felt in years.
“Miss Vance?”
A gentle male voice came from behind her.
Elara turned to see a tall, slender man standing a short distance away, holding a bag of fresh seafood. He was dressed in a simple white shirt and casual trousers, his features handsome, a faint, kind smile on his lips.
“I’m Liam. I live next door,” he said, taking a few steps closer, his voice warm. “I heard you just moved in. I brought you some seafo od as a housewarming gift from your neighbor.”
Elara was taken aback for a moment, then offered a polite smile. “Thank you,
but you
don’t have to…‘
“Don’t be a stranger,” Liam said, holding out the bag, his tone easy and natural. “The seafood in Seabrook is the freshest you’ll find. Since you’re new here, you should try the local flavor.”
His friendliness was perfectly balanced–not too forward, not too distant. It was an easy kindness to accept,
Elara hesitated for a moment, then took the bag. “Well… thank you.”
Liam smiled, his gaze falling on the luggage behind her. “Need any help with that?”
“No, thank you. I’m almost done.”
“Alright. Well, if you need anything, just let me know.” He nodded and turned to leave, his posture straight and relaxed.
Elara watched him go, a little lost in thought. He was the first person in Seabrook who had made an effort to speak to her.
In the days that followed, Elara slowly settled into the rhythm of the small town. She opened a little flower shop by the sea, spendi- ng her days trimming stems and arranging bouquets. Life was quiet and fulfilling.
Sometimes, she would sit outside her shop, watching the distant waves, her thoughts drifting far away before she would gently pull them back.
Liam would occasionally stop by to buy flowers–sometimes a bunch of sunflowers, other timès a few stems of lisianthus. He nev- er tried to force a conversation, just a simple greeting, payment, and then he would leave.
Until one evening, when a sudden storm rolled in.
Elara was about to close up shop when the rain began to fall in heavy drops. She stood under the awning, frowning at the downpo-
- ur.
“Forgot your umbrella?”
A familiar voice came from behind her.
She turned to see Liam standing in the rain, holding a long, black umbrella.
“I’ll walk you home,” he said.
Elara wanted to refuse, but the rain was coming down in sheets. She finally nodded. “Thank you.”
They walked side–by–side in the rain. The umbrella wasn’t very large, and Liam deliberately tilted it toward her, letting his own shou-
2012
Chapter 19
Ider get soaked.
Elara noticed and edged closer to him. “You don’t have to…”
“It’s fine,” he smiled. “It’s just a little rain.”
The sound of the rain was a soft patter around them. Neither of them spoke again.
When they reached her front door, Elara hesitated, then asked, “Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”
Liam looked at her, then nodded. “I’d like that.”
20 12 C
After that night, their friendship seemed to deepen. Liam would sometimes help her move heavy pots at the shop, and if she knew he was working late, she would bring him a plate of dinner.
He never asked about her past, and she never offered it.
Until one day, while she was preparing a floral arrangement, she pricked her finger on a rose thorn.
The moment the bead of blood appeared, she froze.
KA
She remembered that day, after she had been thrown into the icy lake, the cold, empty look in Damien’s eyes.
Her fingers began to tremble.
“What’s wrong?” Liam’s voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.
རང་རང་ད་ན་དང་ནད་ཚན།ར་ནང་ནད་ལ་ནད་དད་ ོན་ནམས།(ར་ལྟརའི་
She snapped back to reality and shook her head. “Nothing, just a little scratch.” the paus
Liam frowned, took her hand, and examined it closely. “The cut’s a bit deep. You should disinfect it.”
His hand was warm and dry, his touch gentle but firm.
Elara stared at him, a sudden warmth rising in her
It had been so long since anyone had shown her such
trange, bittersweet feeling washed over her.
Simple, uncomplicated care…
They stood close together, and in the quiet space betw
Night fell, and a bonfire was lit on the beach. People
get from the nething new began to bloom.
Elara sat on the sand, quietly watching the lively crowd.
a
sang, their laughter mixing with the sound of the waves.
mug of hot cocoa.
“Not joining in?” Liam sat down beside her, handing her
She took it and smiled. “I prefer to watch.”
Liam didn’t say anything, just sat with her in comfortable silence.
After a long while, he suddenly said, “Elara.”
“Hmm?” she turned her head, questioning.
“You deserve better,” he said, turning to look at her, his expression serious. “Don’t let the past hold
Elara was stunned.
you back.”
The sea breeze rustled past them. The firelight flickered on his face, making him look both gentle and resolute.
She lowered her head and whispered a soft, “Okay.”
Perhaps… perhaps she really could try to move forward.
