Chapter 15: "Sunshine"

Karina woke up to a warm bed more comfortable than her own. Her eyes blinked open revealing a room colored in the gray light of rain clouds that leaked in from the window. A naked back filled her vision. Her fingers slid over the smooth skin drawing a shiver from Theodore.

Oh, Theodore! The lightning storm last night. She had pulled him into bed. What was she thinking? Her fingers snapped away from him. What had she done? She rolled out of bed landing on her feet on the soft rug. Theodore didn’t move. She released a sigh of relief. Her eyes lingered on his half-naked form. He lay facing the wall and even though his frame was thin, the corded muscles in his back rose and fell with his breath. She was finding it hard to take her eyes off him.

No, she couldn’t. Mother would never let her. She closed her eyes tightly. If Mother found out about him, she’d be dead. Maybe him, too. But… Mother wasn’t here right now. Her eyes flickered open. She leaned forward. Her fingers extended and gently touched Theodore’s shoulder blade. He didn’t move. She traced her fingers down the lean muscles. Her thumb followed the groove along his spine, stopping just above the waist of his pants.

That was enough. She could never let him find out who she was, but she at least got that much. One touch. Well one night next to him and then one touch. Her fingers lingered on his warm skin. Just a little longer of a touch.

“Ky?” Theodore whispered.

Karina jumped. Her fingers snapped back to her sides and she stood rigid.

Karine cleared her throat. “Yes?”

Theodore cleared his own. “I… umm… Good morning.”

“Good morning,” Karina whispered back.

Theodore clutched the blanket about his waist as he rolled over and sat up, facing her. His dark blonde hair fell about his face in a mess, but something about it transfixed her. Her eyes dropped to the tight muscles in his naked chest.

A coy smile played on his lips. It was the same as last night. She wrenched her eyes from him and nodded to the window. “Looks like it might clear up today.”

Her eyes flicked back to him in time to see his face fall into a frown.

“We won’t know for sure right away. Maybe wait until after lunch, just in case. We wouldn’t want you to get stuck in another storm.”

Karina struggled not to smile. “We?”

Theodore fiddled with the blanket. “Master and I.”

Karina nodded. “Right, of course.”

Theodore leaned forward, a grin slid over his face. “I would worry about you getting stuck in another storm alone.”

Karina couldn’t battle back the smile as she met his eyes.

They stared at each other for a minute. Her eyes lingered on his lips. Mother wasn’t here. Mother wouldn’t know. Her fingers twitched at her sides. Theodore looked up at her searching her face.

“Ky, about last night. I—,”

Karina looked away. “I’m sorry. It was just the storm. I didn't mean to do anything.”

Theodore smiled easily. “No, that was fine. I didn't mind. I just wanted to ask you something.”

Silence filled the room. The air between them felt thick.

“Theodore!” Master’s voice boomed throughout the house. “Theodore, breakfast!”

Theodore’s eyes dropped. Karina’s heart raced. Did he know? Yesterday she could have sworn he did, but now there was something different in his eyes.

“Theodore!” Master called.

“We should get going,” Theodore said.

“Right.”

“Can… Can you go first?” Theodore asked. His face burned a scarlet that spread down to his chest. He clutched the blankets about his lap tighter.

Karina shot him a confused look. “Alright, sure. I’ll see you out there, I guess.” She shot one more look over her shoulder at him as she walked out the door. The red on his face brought a smile to her lips. She wasn’t sure what it was about, but he had a cute expression at least.

She arrived in the kitchen, which was as scary as ever. Mother never would let her kitchen or her potion shed get like this. Karina’s fingers itched to clean it up but she stilled them by shoving them in the pockets of the baggy pants.

“Good morning, my dear. Here have a seat.” Mr. Gratner pulled out a chair at the dining table in the formal dining room off the kitchen. With an arm, he brushed aside the bits and bobs of dried plants, glassware, tools, and other such items that Karina couldn’t even begin to imagine their uses as he cleared a space for her to eat.

“Where’s Theodore? He’s late this morning.”

“On his way. I think he needed to use the bathroom or something first.”

Mr. Gratner nodded. “Did you sleep well?”

Karina could feel a blush creeping up her neck. “Very well, sir. Thank you for letting me stay.”

“Of course, my dear. What would I do without my precious ingredient delivery boy.” He shot her a wink and returned to the kitchen.

Karina briefly wondered if his food would be safe to eat when it was made in a kitchen like this, but Theodore wasn’t dead yet so she supposed she would be safe enough.

A few minutes later, Theodore walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, Master.”

“Ah, Theodore. Could you just…?”

Theodore rushed forward and pulled the pan from the stove. Smoke sizzled from the food. Theodore handled it deftly and popped a lid on it just as the flames burst up. The grimace on his face made her have to surpress a giggle.

“Master, what inspired you to cook this morning?” Theodore asked.

“Oh, I found these wonderful mushrooms in the yard this morning and I thought they would be great in a spring salad.”

Theodore looked down at the pan in his hand. “I hate to say this, Master, but I don’t think those mushrooms are edible.”

“Of course they are! They’re a species of mushroom known for sprouting right after the rain and…,”

“Yes, but Master, they are now burnt to a crisp. Is it okay if maybe I take over breakfast from here?”

“Oh yes, yes, okay. There are some more of those mushroom right over there. I’m just going to finish his one thing.”

Theodore rolled his eyes and shot a Karina a grin. She smiled and shook her head in response. Thedore dumped the pan out in the garbage and cleaned it before starting with fresh ingredients.

“So, Master, you know salads aren’t usually cooked or usually served for breakfast,” Theodore stated.

Mr. Gratner looked up from his bench. He wore a pair of magnifying goggles with several lenses flicked over on eye. “They’re not?”

“No, sir.”

Mr. Gratner looked off in the distance in thought. “Ah, the bulbous mundaffodile, that’s what I need for this.”

Theodore shook his head and continued cooking. In between, he scrubbed dishes and placed them on the open shelving lining the kitchen walls. It was the only thing in the kitchen actually organized.

Karina's hands twitched. She felt like she needed to be helping somehow, but she’d been warned about moving things before. Mr. Gratner may be messy but he knew where all of his herbs were and it was important she didn’t move them or else Theodore would get in trouble.

When Theodore finished with breakfast, he set a perfect looking omelette down in front of her. The smell of cheese and egg filled her nostrils and made her stomach grumble. She couldn’t keep the smile from her face.

Theodore set a place for himself and Mr. Gratner, then took a seat.

“Master, it’s ready.”

Mr. Gratner mumbled an affirmative and Theodore took a bite.

“Shouldn’t we wait?” Karina whispered.

“If we wait, we’d starve to death for sure. Don’t worry, he’ll get to it when he gets whatever it is he’s working on out of his head That’s just the way he is.”

Karina nodded and took a bite. The warm cheese melted in her mouth encased with rich egg along with a mixture of fresh vegetables. She couldn’t keep her “Mmm…” quiet as she savored the bite. Who knew food could taste this good?

Thedore beamed. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Karina nodded her approval as she continued relaying it to her mouth. When she was finished, she sat back in the chair. She couldn’t ever remember feeling this satisfied after a meal. While Theodore finished his portion, Karina looked out the window. Bits of sunlight peeked out of the grey clouds hinting at a nice day.

“It looks like it might turn out all right after all,” Theodore said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Karina couldn’t decide if the sadness was all his or mostly hers. She dreaded the thought of going home. She wished she could stay here all the time. She felt safe here. She pushed the thought aside. Mother would find her too easily and she could only imagine the repercussions of that mess. She’d probably never be allowed to leave the house again let alone see Theodore or Mr. Gratner.

“Yes, I will probably have to go soon.”

“Do you know when you’ll be back?” Theodore asked.

Karina shook her head. “Hopefully in two days if the weather is clear and Mother has a delivery. With winter coming it’s getting harder to find ingredients. The leaves are falling in the forest and covering the ground floor.”

“Do you need help? Maybe I can come with you.”

Karina shook her head vehemently. “No, no thank you.”

Theodore cocked his head to the side. “Are you that against getting help from me?”

“Oh, it’s not that. It’s just Mother. She’s very particular. It’s better if I do those things on my own for her.”

Theodore nodded. He seemed to want to ask more question but kept them quiet.

Karina’s heart warmed at the thought of foraging for ingredients with Theodore in the woods. But Mother would make him disappear the way the last suitor had. She frowned as she thought about her next confrontation with her. She would want every detail from the evening and Karina would have to put on her poker face and say nothing happened and no one suspected her. Even though it seemed Theodore was looking at her with even more intent now.

She caught his grey eyes studying her face. She felt the blush creep up her neck to her face. She remembered his smooth skin beneath her fingertips and her stomach did a flip flop. Was this love? Like in the books she read on her downtime? Maybe it was lust. She still didn’t know the difference. The books didn’t seem to explain the difference very well. In her mind’s eye, she could see them holding hands and that sped up her heart. She felt Theodore could see all her thoughts at that moment and turned back to the window.

“Will you help me groom Cherry?” Karina asked.

Theodore cleared his throat as if he was also startled from his thoughts. “Of course.”

“I can help you clean up,” Karina said as Theodore went to take her plate. Her hand accidentally touched his as she tried to stop him.

“I’d better do it. Master is particular, too,” Theodore said and smiled as Karina’s hand slid from his.

Karina nodded and watched him work. She admired his lean muscular frame and his tousled blonde hair. He shot a look back at her and she dropped her eyes quickly to the counter pretending to be studying the ingredients. When he was no longer looking, her eyes drifted back to him.

She’d never met anyone like him. He was selfless and caring unlike anyone in her family. And same with Mr. Gratner. She was pretty sure he knew her secret from the first day but he didn’t say anything. He was kind even though he looked like he’d been through a hell of his own. She wished with all her heart she could stay here. She’d even considered begging Mr. Gratner once, but that would be a death sentence. Mother would never release her.

When Theodore finished, she stood and followed him back to his room. He disappeared for a minute to snag her dried clothes from around the fireplace and returned quickly.

“Here you are,” he said handing her the warm clothes and leather jacket.

“Thanks.” She stared down at the clothing. She tried to decide the best way to excuse herself and change.

Theodore turned to his dresser and pulled his shirt off. His skin glowed in the rays of sunlight. She could see the contours of his clean chest muscles. Theodore pulled out clothing from the various drawers and set them on a pile atop the dresser. He gave her a sideways glance and Karina ducked her eyes.

She fiddled with the clothing in her hand. What should she do? She could just turn away and dress quickly. Maybe he wouldn’t notice, but what if he did? There would be no denying it then. A part of her didn’t mind anymore, but that wasn’t really the issue, she thought. She’d be naked in front of someone other than her mother and sister. A blush crept up her neck.

Theodore took the pile of clothes in the crook of his arm. “If you’d excuse me a minute, I’m going to use the bathroom.” He gave her a half grin and disappeared out the door. It clicked shut behind him.

Karina sighed with relief. That was convenient. She pulled his shirt off and pulled her own shirt on, several layers that padded her figure. That was too convenient. Her eyes narrowed. He must know. Why else would he leave like that? But he was a boy, and if he knew, wouldn’t he want to see her naked? Mother had warned her that all boys were dirty and wanted only one thing. But Theodore wasn’t like that. He was kind and considerate. It would be just like him to find out and give her space. Right? Or maybe he just had to go to the bathroom and she was reading into it too much. She sighed and pulled on her now clean underwear, pants, and socks. She sat on the bed when she finished with a heavy sigh.

After a few minutes, a knock on the door drew her attention.

“Ky?”

“Come in,” she called.

He pushed the door opened. His eyes looked her up and down quickly before he visibly relaxed. “Are you ready?”

Karina nodded. She was sure he knew now. Why else would he knock? Maybe he was just polite, because he was, after all. She couldn’t stand the uncertainty and a frown crept over her face.

“Is something wrong?” Theodore asked.

Karina blinked and realized what her face was doing. She wanted to ask him if he knew, but if she asked then he would know. And then what if he didn’t want to be her friend anymore? She wouldn’t be able to stand that. Karina stood. “No, everything is fine. Let’s go to the stables.”

Theodore nodded and led the way. When they arrived, Cherry neighed at Karina's approach. She found her tack and met Theodore in the stall. He was running a curry comb over Cherry’s rich red-brown coat.

“How long will it take you to get home?” Theodore asked.

Karina shrugged. “I should be home by dinnertime if the roads aren’t too slick.” She took a dandy brush and started flicking away the loose dust from Cherry’s coat.

After picking out Cherry’s feet, she threw the endurance saddle on top of a thick pad over the mare’s back. Theodore tightened the girth while Karina secured the many bags to the saddle. When she was done, she slipped the snaffle into Cherry’s mouth and secured the bridle.

She led Cherry out into the sunlit drive and turned to Theodore. “I guess I’m off.”

Theodore ran his hand through his hair and looked at the ground. “I guess so.”

Karina bit her lip. It was always so hard to say goodbye to him. A heavy silence built between them as they stared at each other.

Karina couldn’t stand it. She took two steps forward and threw her arms around Theodore’s neck, wrapping him in a tight hug. She pressed against his hard chest. After a moment, Theodore’s hands slid beneath her leather jacket and closed around her. She could feel the pressure of them against her back and she leaned into him, laying her chin on his shoulder. He bent his head down to her neck. She felt him take a breath and his hot air tickled her face.

She revelled in this tight embrace. She didn’t want to let him go, but after a long moment she loosened her grip and he released her. His hand reluctantly slid over her sides as he stepped back. She found it hard to look at him after sharing something so intimate.

“Ka… Ky,” Theodore stuttered in a whisper.

Karina looked up. Theodore had such an odd expression on his face. He was halfway leaned forward and his face had gone scarlet.

“Yes?” Karina breathed.

Theodore hesitated, then cleared his throat and straightened. “Have a good ride.”

Karina nodded. She tried to choke out “Thanks,” but was pretty sure he couldn’t make it out. She turned to Cherry and pulled the stirrup down.

“Can you give me a leg up?” She asked. She tried to speak as if nothing happened, but her voice felt tight and small. She bent her left leg and faced the saddle.

Theodore bent over and supported her leg. His grip on her sent shivers up to her spine, but she bit her lip and concentrated.

“One.. two…,” she counted. “Three.”

Theodore boosted her up and she swung her leg over landing gently in the saddle. “Thanks.”

“Ride well.” He patted her leg once and took a step back.

Karina nodded. She squeezed Cherry with her calves and Cherry started forward at a slow trot.

Karina gave one last look over her shoulder. Theodore waved. She waved back, then turned her mind to the journey home.

Copyright 2019 Ava Altair

#freefiction