The damp earth smell was as familiar as anything. That, coupled with the cool air, caused my arms to tingle with chills, and I automatically drew closer to Simon’s side. He paused and glanced at me with a concerned frown. “Are you doing alright?” he asked quietly.
His voice soothed my nerves of this place, something I didn’t expect but welcomed. I made a feeble attempt to smile, and Simon let go of my hand, wrapping me into his side, instead. My lips turned up at how well he was taking care of me. I shifted to settle more comfortably as we started forward again. Simon’s lips pressed against my forehead after a moment, and I looked up at him.
“How are you doing in here?” I asked. He’d never liked this place, and even though he was a grown man now, I still worried over him.
Simon chuckled quietly as he held his light out and searched the corridor. “I’m not loving it, except that you’re glued to my side.” He grinned down at me, and I returned it.
“Perhaps this was your plan all along,” I teased.
He laughed again, the deep sound bouncing off the stone walls. Simon came to a sudden stop as he shone his light on the left wall. “I think this is it,” he muttered almost to himself. He let go of me and ran his hand across the wall as he took a few steps.
"What are you looking for?" I wondered out loud and shivered from the absence of him.
He took a few more steps and paused, looking back at me. His face was suddenly serious, but his eyes were soft in the low light. "Do you trust me, Kate?" he said quietly.
I stared at him, caught off guard; my mouth had gone slack on its own. How was I supposed to answer that? I hesitated. Did I trust him? With my heart, certainly not. But did I trust that he would and could keep me safe? I supposed I did trust that part of him.
A solemn frown slipped into place where his sweet smile usually rested. He cleared his throat and nodded.
I sighed and reached for his hand, looking at our clasped fingers as I spoke the truth. “There’s too much hurt in my heart to say I trust you, Simon.” I glanced up at him and shrugged slowly. “But I trust you to keep me safe.”
He searched my face for a moment, his eyes full of unanswered questions I hoped he wouldn’t ask right now. “I guess that’s all I need for this.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He gestured with his head toward the wall. "I’m going to let go of you now, and I want you to watch and follow me."
I wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but I nodded at him anyway. He gave my hand a little squeeze and released it. With his back to me, I kept a close eye on him as he stepped sideways and disappeared into the cave wall. I gasped. "Simon?"
His deep chuckle reassured me of his safety. "I’m here, Kate."
I stepped forward to see his hand coming out of the wall. I shined my light in his direction to see him standing between two very narrow walls; I couldn't believe he fit.
Simon grinned at the shock on my face. "It's a slot canyon," he explained. "Come on. If I can fit, so can you. There’s something I want to show you at the end.” His excitement had returned, and I found myself curiously excited as well.
I turned sideways and slid my body into the canyon, breathing a quiet sigh of relief when I fit. It was wider than it looked, but I’d definitely have to keep sideways.
Simon smiled when he saw I was enjoying myself. "Okay. Now keep close but not too close, and try your best not to stumble so we don't get stuck."
"I’ll do my best." I was a little nervous at the thought of getting stuck, but I’d take it slow and steady.
Simon started moving, and I followed him. We walked for a few minutes when he stopped and turned his head to me. "I’m going to go around a tight corner here. Don't follow me until I tell you."
I nodded, brushing strands of hair from my face.
Simon moved forward two paces and turned until he was facing me. He walked sideways again and disappeared from sight. As I waited, I wondered how on earth he’d known this was here or where he was taking me. Perhaps one of my family had told him of this…
Simon called for me, and I slid my way through the bend. We continued on for another few minutes when he told me to stop, which I did, and waited for further instruction. "I'm going forward,” he explained. “Wait until I call for you again.”
"Okay." I wondered if this was the end of the canyon. What could be here that he wanted to show me?
A moment later, his low voice echoed quietly around me. "Kate, come to me."
Warmth shot through me like an arrow. The sound of his soft voice calling for me was something I’d imagined more times than I could count. While I didn’t fully trust him, I still had the desire to be near him.
An odd light shone ahead. I could see Simon now, standing with his hand held out to me. I stepped out from between the walls into a circular room. It was small, but plenty big for two people. The walls were stone, just like the slot canyon, and six feet away was a shelf as high as my shoulders; it took up half the room. I twirled slowly, looking at the walls, taking it all in, when I felt Simon come stand directly behind me. His breath was near my ear, and I closed my eyes.
"Kate," he whispered. "Look up."
I tipped my head back and gasped.
The room had no ceiling, only a circular opening, just like the room below. Stars were twinkling above us as the night sky grew darker and the air cooler. I peered at Simon, and we smiled at each other.
"Do you like it?" he asked.
"I love it. I can't believe this has existed here all this time, and we never knew. All these years of coming here…" I looked at the sky again.
"Come on. I'll give you a boost." Simon gestured toward the shelf and lifted me up. I pulled myself onto the shelf and after I was steady, I turned to give him my hand, but he’d already made it up on his own. I glanced at the sky again and noticed the opening was still much higher than we were.
Looking around, I made a seat on the hard ground and leaned against the wall, patting the spot next to me for Simon to sit. He stood there staring at me again, and I wanted to know what it was all about.
I narrowed my eyes at him, "Okay, this is, like, the fourth time you’ve just stared at me today. What’s your deal?"
"No, it's not," he argued in a playful tone. "I’ve stared at you all day. It's not my fault you’ve only noticed it four times." He flashed me a flirtatious grin.
I laughed in light outrage. "You have not!"
"Yes," he began as he sat down beside me. "I have.”
I shook my head before resting it back against the wall and looked up at the incredible view. It was quiet for a while, and my worries inevitably plagued my mind. I needed answers to the questions piling up in my heart. They made it hard to fully enjoy Simon’s company, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go without understanding. Aside from my worries and questions, I was concerned about him. As I’d surveyed him closely throughout the day today, I could see the sadness in his eyes when he’d talked with my aunt and uncle. It wasn’t anything a stranger would pick up on, but I could see it. Even when he’d watched my uncle interact with his boys, or my aunt hug one of us, there was a sorrow, a longing to Simon that didn’t used to be there. He’d said he hadn’t talked with his parents in months, and I worried the severed connection was weighing on him. When he’d told me about breaking with his parents, he’d only seemed mildly upset, but the more I thought about it, he had to be hurting. I found myself wanting him to open up to me about it. I wanted to be there for him with this the way I used to be.
"Simon?" I started, still looking at the sky.
"Kate?"
I smiled a little, and after a quiet moment, I looked at him seriously. Simon swallowed as I studied his face for a few moments. “How are you?” I whispered. “You used to do everything for your parents. They might’ve been hard on you, but you were all close.” I reached out and took his hand, still looking into his eyes. “I want to know how you are with all of that.”
Simon stared at me, a numb
er of emotions playing in his eyes, and I caught a glimpse of the vulnerable Simon I once knew. His jaw twitched as his eyes shifted to our hands, and when he took a breath, it was unsteady. “I’m…” he started quietly and paused. “I’m a little lost. Confused, maybe. I didn’t know they’d react so badly to my choices. I really thought they’d back me, in end.” He lifted his hurt-filled eyes to mine. “I just don’t understand why. I always did everything for them. I did everything I could to please them, make them proud of me and—” He shrugged as he clamped his jaw shut and looked down again. “I don’t know what to do.”
I rubbed circles on the back of his hand with my thumb, hoping it’d soothe him a little. “Have you tried reaching out to them again?” I asked gently.
He nodded and brought a knee up, resting his elbow there, and leaned his cheek on his hand as he looked at me. “I’ve tried every couple of weeks, but nobody will answer the phone. Olivia says to just give them some time, but…” He shrugged. “I mean, I guess I have no choice. And until then…” Simon let go of my hand and reached up, brushing my hair back to caress my cheek. It was a tender feeling that filled my chest as his skin was on mine.
I was so sad for him. He didn’t deserve the kind of treatment he was receiving from the people who were supposed to love him unconditionally. Simon’s hand rested on the side of my face, and I kissed it lightly before meeting his gaze. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I wish it wasn’t that way for you.” I was about to say something else but caught myself.
“What is it?” he asked quietly.
I smiled sadly and shook my head, an apology in my eyes. “I shouldn’t say it.”
He dropped his hand to hold mine again. “Say it, Kate. You never held back before. I want to hear it.”
I bit my lip for a moment and sighed. “I was just thinking how it’s ironic; your parents are here but won’t have anything to do with you.” I paused with a watery smile, and my voice barely made it out as a whisper. “And my parents would probably give anything to be back here with me.” My chin quivered as I looked into his compassionate eyes, and a tear trickled down my cheek. “I’m just so sorry, and desperately sad for you, Simon.”
Simon’s jaw had gone rigid; he squeezed my hand and pelted me with a gaze so intense, it halted my intake of breath. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me to hear you say that,” he rasped.
I sniffed. “I’m sure my whole family is sorry for you…”
Simon shook his head and released my hand to rub my arm lightly. “No,” he said softly. “I can’t tell you how much it means that you feel that way. You, Kate.” His jaw worked again and he rolled his tongue between his lips, unable to say more.
My heart went out to him, and so did my arms when I kneeled in front of him. Simon was barely holding himself together as he wrapped his arms around me and rested with his forehead in my neck. He was a big, strong, capable man, but in that moment, he was just Simon to me, the Simon I’d known my whole life. I held him as he grieved for the relationship he’d lost with his parents. I held him as I grieved for the relationship lost between the two of us. I held him because I missed him, and I didn’t know if I could handle not having him in my life now that he was here again.
"How did you find this place?" I asked. We were side by side now, and I leaned my head against Simon’s shoulder as I looked up at the sky. We hadn’t spoken in a while. It seemed to be enough for both of us just to be near one another. But I was thinking about this dark circular room being flooded with the moon’s light, and it made me wonder. As far as I knew, Simon had entered this mine one time, and that was to find me. He and his family had left the next day, and he’d never returned.
Simon didn’t answer right away, and I shifted my head to look up at him. He knew I was looking at him, but he continued to gaze at the stars.
“Simon?” I said quietly.
He took a breath and released it slowly before looking at me, his expression troubled. He touched his lips to my forehead and met my gaze. “Kate, I probably should’ve sent this to you a long time ago, but…” He smiled timidly, a look I hadn’t seen on him very often, and it made me raise an eyebrow. He shifted, seeming nervous, and dipped his hand into his pocket. I didn’t see what he pulled out and looked at him in question. He stared into my eyes for a moment and said, “I’m here for you, Kate.”
Now I was even more confused, but when he nudged my hand and dropped something into it, my heart stopped. The locket my parents had given me. The one I’d lost in this very mine. I stared at it, my mind whirling and my eyes misting. After a moment, I closed my hand around it and looked at Simon, so many questions whirling in my head. “How?” I breathed. I couldn’t get anything else out.
Simon’s head tilted to the side, and he cleared my cheeks of the silent tears. “I came back that night after everyone was asleep,” he explained with a sad smile. “I searched all night for it. Once I found it, I started to make my way back through the mine, and my light flashed on the opening to the canyon. I found I could fit and decided to follow it through. It led me to this room, and I saw the whole night had passed." He paused in thought and kissed my forehead again. He lingered there and said, "I headed back to camp to bring you here with me so I could show you this place and give you your locket but…"
Behind my closed eyes, I could see the memories of that day, and it made my heart ache.
I let Simon hold me, and he nestled his face in my hair. I had a death grip on my locket in one hand, and the other was at the back of his neck, holding on to him like he’d disappear if let go. “I can’t believe you did that for me,” I sniffed lightly and huddled against his neck. Simon kissed the top of my head, and I returned the sweet gesture, pressing my lips to his neck. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“I found your sweater too, but I left it in my truck.”
I smiled into his neck and kissed it again. “I knew that was my sweater. I fell into the back seat from the shock of it the other day.”
He chuckled. “I wondered what was going on in there.”
It wasn’t much later that I reluctantly pulled away, but I was getting tired. Looking down at my locket again, I opened it up and saw my parents smile at me from the tiny photo my mother had put there. I smiled softly and touched my parents’ faces with my finger before closing the locket again and handing it to Simon. "Here," I said, turning around and lifting my hair. He put my locket around me, and I faced him again. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smiled that tender half smile I loved so much. "I’m sorry I didn’t give it to you sooner.” He looked down, and that timid smile returned. “It was selfish of me to keep it all that time, and your sweater, I just…”
I studied him in the moonlight, trying to decipher why he’d stopped short. His eyes were shifting and he pressed his lips together, as though he was uncomfortable. I was suddenly aware of why, and grinned. “Simon Curtis! If I didn’t know you better, I’d say you’re blushing.” I tipped my head to peek at him, and he smiled sheepishly, shaking his head. I gasped, and then a very girly giggle escaped me. “I never thought I’d see the day when you blushed over a woman.”
With his blushing smile in place, he finally straightened up and looked at me. “Not just any woman; you, Kate.”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as we made our way out of the slot canyon. When we were near the mouth of the mine, I heard a high-pitched screeching sound I recognized instantly. I whipped my head around in time to see three tiny bats flying toward us. I ducked but Simon didn't, and the bats flew right past his head. Never in my life had I seen a grown man scream and run for it, but Simon did just that. I watched his retreating figure disappear outside, and I hurried to follow him out. It was only a short way down the trail that I met up with him. He was breathing heavily from his run and still looked shaken. I heard the bats cry again, and panic sieged Simon's face once more.
I couldn't help myself; I snorted and doubled over in laughter. When I glanced at him again, he w
as ducking slightly and searching the sky above us. He grabbed my hand, and we made a beeline for the wheeler.
Chapter 13
All was quiet back at camp except for Amy’s murmuring voice. It looked like Uncle Borys and Aunt Chantelle had retired to the trailer already, while everyone else was settled in their beds around the fire.
I didn’t want to leave Simon yet. It felt like we’d broken through some unknown barrier tonight. And while I didn’t have many answers that I needed, I did feel close to him in a way I didn’t think possible without those answers. "Thank you again, Simon,” I said quietly as we sat in the wheeler.
He reached out and brushed the back of his fingers along my cheek, causing my heart to flutter. "You’re welcome,” he said with a sweet smile. When we stepped out of the wheeler, Simon met me on my side. "What's your plan? Are you staying in the trailer again or outside with the rest of them?"
I grinned at the hopeful look on his face, glad for the opportunity to be near him a little longer. "Outside, I think. I’ll just sneak in to get ready for bed and come back out. Did you need to come in and use the trailer for anything?" I offered.
"No, I'm alright out here. Why don't you hand me your bag, and I can make you a place by me?" He was all smiles and somehow, he was even more attractive in the moonlight.
“Simon Curtis," I teased and poked his chest. "Do you want to have a sleepover with me?"
That blushing grin seemed to be permanent tonight as he glanced down and looked at me again. "Yes, please."
I seemed to be on some sort of high from making him blush this way. I pursed my lips and nodded. "Alright. Come to the trailer, and I’ll hand you my bag so I don't make too much noise coming in and out again."
We walked to the trailer, and I felt like I’d won the lottery, being able to spend the night out with Simon. My teenage self would’ve been reeling. Of course, I was reeling now, at twenty.
"Wait here. I'll be right back," I whispered.
Simon put his hands in his pockets and nodded.
Everything for You (Unforgettable) Page 11