by Rinelle Grey
A weight was lifted from her shoulders. She smiled and took Tyris’s hand as the villagers began to sing Happy Birthday. Jaimma bought out a cake, three tiers high and glowing with candles, and set it on a table in front of Marlee.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew as hard as she could at the twenty candles. I wish Tyris never had to leave. She opened her eyes, holding her breath. Not a single candle still burned. Everyone cheered and clapped.
“Did you make a wish?” Tyris asked.
Marlee’s face felt hot. “Maybe.”
“What did you wish for?” he asked.
“I can’t tell. It won’t come true if I tell,” Marlee said, falling back on the old superstition. She couldn’t imagine telling Tyris what she’d wished for. She smiled at him though. Believing a wish made on birthday candles held any promise was silly, but she couldn’t help but feel hopeful anyway.
“You just want to know so that you can give it to her for her birthday, don’t you?” Jaimma teased.
Tyris laughed. “Well, I didn’t have much time to plan anything, so I’m always open to suggestions.”
“That’s okay,” Marlee said.
If he didn’t have a present, what had he been hiding earlier? She’d been so sure he had something for her. It didn’t matter though. What mattered most was he was here. “I don’t need presents.”
“Well, need them or not, we have lots.” Jaimma hustled her to the armchair next to the fireplace and positioned the first parcel, wrapped in tattered brown paper, in her lap.
Marlee undid the string and paper carefully and handed them to her mother, who folded the paper neatly so it could be used again for the next birthday party. She stared at the pile of pink frills in front of her, holding her breath, before she picked it up for a better look.
The simple A-line shape, layered with deep frills all down the skirt, was simply beautiful. The material was fine, and she suspected her mother had given up one of her prized sheets for it. She’d never owned anything so pretty, or so pink, in her life. “How did you make that colour?”
Jaimma grinned. “Raspberries!” she said. “It’s from your Mother and Janey as well.”
“Thank you,” Marlee said, smiling. “It’s lovely.”
“It’s not suitable for this weather at all,” Yasmyn warned. Then she smiled. “But since it is quite warm in here, perhaps you could try it on for a while.”
“Later,” Jaimma added. “First, more presents.”
“Here,” Tyris handed her a package awkwardly. “It’s not much,” he warned.
Marlee unwrapped the cloth, grinning when she saw the familiar purple shiny wrapper. “Mmmm,” she grinned up at him.
“What’s that?” Jaimma asked, her nose wrinkling.
“Chocolate,” Marlee said. She opened the wrapper and held a small square out to her friend.
Jaimma eyed it suspiciously.
“Try some,” Marlee urged. To encourage Jaimma, she put a square in her own mouth, letting the sugary goodness melt on her tongue.
Jaimma took the piece, still looking doubtful. When she put it in her mouth, her eyes widened.
Marlee laughed. She broke the rest of the chocolate bar into pieces as small as she could, and shared them around her friends. Watching the look of amazement on their faces was almost as good as tasting the chocolate herself.
She looked up at Tyris, hoping he wasn’t upset at her sharing his present, but he was smiling at her, enjoying watching her friend’s reactions as much as she was.
Then Jaimma pushed her back into the chair to open more presents.
Having a birthday in winter had its advantages. Because everyone was sitting around home with not much to do, they had plenty of time to make presents. Nerris gave her a chess set he’d carved himself, Beren gave her a little reed whistle, and others gave her a beautiful shawl and a knitted beanie.
But her favourite present of the night, even more beautiful than the dress, came from Rejan. He awkwardly handed her a charcoal sketch of her and Tyris. Tears came to her eyes at the image of her leaning over Tyris’s shoulder, pointing out a move on the chess board in front of him. He was turning to look up at her, and the expression on his face was one she swore she’d never seen—Rejan must have drawn it from his imagination. She put it carefully next to the dress, resolving to hang it on the wall as soon as she went home tonight.
Once the gift giving was over, people wandered off to eat and chat, until only Marlee’s closest friends and family remained.
Tyris sat on the arm of the chair, pulled another small package out of his pocket, and handed it to her, saying, “Here. The chocolate wasn’t your real present. I wanted you to have this.”
Everyone around them stilled, watching. Marlee took the package, a tingle going down her spine. The chocolate had been a wonderful present. She couldn’t imagine what else he might have. She tipped the contents of the small drawstring bag onto her palm then stared in awe.
Tyris’s lucky dolphin. She gazed up at him. “Oh Tyris, it’s lovely. But...” she hesitated, “don’t you need it?”
Tyris smiled. “I think it’s done its job for me, just as it did for Kerit. I think you need it more.”
What did he mean? He said his brother had given it to him for luck, why didn’t he need it anymore? Did he already feel lucky?
Marlee stared up at him, forgetting her friends and family around her for a moment. She didn’t see anyone but Tyris. “You do?” she asked.
He smiled, and she almost gasped. His expression was exactly the same as the one in Rejan’s drawing. He really did look at her like that. She’d just never seen it before. She smiled shyly back and opened her mouth to speak.
“Marlee, you haven’t tried your cake yet,” Jaimma interrupted, reminding Marlee that they weren’t alone. She took the plate from Jaimma and ate, making the expected appreciative noises.
But her mind wasn’t on the cake. She kept glancing down at the dolphin in her lap and smiling. She couldn’t imagine a more perfect gift. And Tyris’s words when he gave it to her meant even more than the present. Did she dare hope that he already felt lucky because of her?
To think she might be lucky would be wonderful. But could she really believe it? Could she take the risk? She looked up at Tyris. She wanted to.
“Mmm, this is good.” Tyris helped himself to a second piece of cake.
“Don’t eat too much,” Jaimma warned, “or you won’t be able to dance.”
“Hmm. I can live with that,” he said.
Jaimma winked. “Oh well, I guess there are plenty of other guys who’ll happily dance with Marlee.”
Tyris didn’t reply, but he didn’t finish his piece of cake either. And when Beren pulled out his harmonica and started to play, Tyris held out his hand. “You’ll have to forgive me if I step on your toes,” he warned.
Marlee giggled. “Only if you forgive me if I do the same.” She held out the dolphin to him and lifted up her hair. He clipped the cord around her neck, his fingers pausing to stroke the skin just for a second, sending tingles down her spine. Then he led her into the middle of the hall.
Marlee paused. “Give me a minute,” she said.
Tyris nodded and waited patiently while she ran back to the chair she’d been sitting on and grabbed the dress. She ducked into the back room and changed quickly. It fit perfectly. She shivered slightly then went back to the hall where the fire warmed the room.
Jaimma let out a wolf whistle. A few laughs and clapping followed. But they all faded into the distance when she saw Tyris watching her with that smile. He held out a hand and she put hers into it, holding her breath. She never wanted this moment to end.
Tyris pulled her towards him, his arms slipping around her waist, and his warmth seeped through the thin cotton of the dress. Marlee rested her head on his shoulder, ignoring the rest of the world.
Beren’s music slowed to a steady beat, and Tyris swayed with it, his body moving in time with hers. Marlee relaxe
d against him, feeling like she’d finally found the place she’d been looking for her whole life.
She was only barely aware of other couples joining them, but she did feel a sting of disappointment when the next song began with a livelier beat. It lasted only until Tyris swayed against her at the faster pace. Heat swirled through her, and she looked up at him. He was grinning, head on one side. “Having fun?” he asked teasingly.
Marlee nodded, not able to find any words to answer him. She’d always liked dancing, loved moving to the beat of the music, but this was something else. She slipped her arms up around his neck, and he responded by pulling her even closer. They found their own beat, slower than the music, but still in time.
And in that slowing down of time, Tyris bent and kissed her.
Fire jumped through her veins, melting them, leaving her weak all over. When he pulled back, Tyris looked as bemused as she did.
“Okay you two, might be time to take that off the floor, you’re distracting everyone,” Marlee’s cheeks burned at Beren’s comment. A rumble of laughter came from somewhere behind her, and she wished she could sink into the floor.
What was it about Tyris? She’d never been tempted to kiss Nelor like that, right in the middle of the hall. That sort of behaviour had been reserved for the bedroom. But for some reason, Tyris sparked this impulse in her often and frequently in the most inappropriate of places.
He grinned at her, not the least bit embarrassed by Beren’s comments, and she couldn’t help but smile in return. He didn’t kiss her again though, and his dancing was a little more circumspect. Marlee couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed.
After they tired of dancing, they sampled some of the food on the table. Marlee ate far too many of the different types of smaller cakes, biscuits, mini apple pies and raspberry tarts. Tyris did too.
Nelor stood on the opposite side of the table, filling a plate with sweets for Brenda and her children. His caring gesture touched her, and when he saw her and turned away, Marlee felt a moment’s sadness. “I’ll be back in a minute,” she told Tyris.
He looked to Nelor, then back at her. He nodded. “Take your time.”
Marlee hurried after Nelor, wanting to catch him before he returned to Brenda. “Nelor,” she called out.
He turned and gave an uncertain smile when he saw her. “Hi, Marlee.” There was a moment of awkward silence. Marlee’s mind went completely blank. What had she intended to say?
“How are you going?” he asked.
“Good,” Marlee said. She nodded vigorously. “You?”
“Fine,” Nelor replied. The awkwardness wouldn’t go away.
“I just wanted to say, I’m happy for you and Brenda.” Marlee’s words came out in a rush.
“Thanks.” Nelor relaxed and smiled. “I kind of didn’t expect it, but… well, she’s really nice. And so are the kids.”
“I bet you’re a wonderful dad.” This time, only a small tug of sadness accompanied the thought.
Nelor shook his head. “I’ve got a lot to learn. Kids are much harder than I thought. But Brenda’s a great mother, and watching her is teaching me a lot.”
“You deserve it. I really hope the two of you are happy,” Marlee said.
“And I hope you and Tyris are happy,” Nelor replied.
Marlee glanced over to the table where Tyris was still standing, biscuit in hand, talking to Beren. “I hope so too,” she said softly. She couldn’t begin to explain the complexity of the situation to Nelor. Her hand went to the little green dolphin around her neck, and she smiled.
As though he could sense her gaze, Tyris looked up. His head tilted slightly, and his smile skewed to one side. Tenderness swelled up in her and she sighed.
Nelor looked uncomfortable again. Marlee didn’t like the awkwardness between them, but perhaps time would help. She’d cared more about Nelor than any other partner until she met Tyris. The separation was bound to take longer to heal.
“Say hi to Brenda for me,” she said. “I’ll catch you later, okay?”
Nelor nodded. “Sure.”
He turned and walked towards Brenda. Marlee watched for a few moments as the kids jumped around him, eager for the treats he brought. He handled them expertly, making sure each got the special sweet they had wanted, but not forgetting Brenda in the process. He’d grown up in the last few months. And for the first time, Marlee admitted their separation might have been the best thing… for both of them.
Freed from worrying about Nelor, Marlee danced and ate. Tyris stayed at her side, and every time he brushed up against her or touched her more deliberately, the urge to be alone with him grew stronger. When the howls of the wind picked up outside and people began to head home early, Marlee wasn’t even slightly upset.
“I’m sorry your party is ending so soon, Marlee.” Jaimma gave her a hug.
Marlee hugged her back. “It’s fine. It’s just a birthday. We’ll see each other tomorrow.”
“Not if this storm picks up we won’t,” Jaimma said. “I’d say we’ll all be snowbound by tomorrow morning.”
Marlee liked the sound of that. Trapped in her house for several days with no one but Tyris. No visitors to interrupt, no shovelling snow, no visits to the hall. She shivered in anticipation and hoped Jaimma mistook it for a reaction to the cold wind that blew in the door.
“Well, in a couple of days then. It’s been a wonderful evening, my favourite birthday yet,” Marlee said.
Jaimma looked at her, eyes narrowed, then laughed. “Right. Yes, it probably is more than soon enough to be getting home. I’m sure you’ll find other ways to celebrate there.”
Marlee blushed but couldn’t deny Jaimma’s assertion. Her friend laughed again and kissed Tyris on the cheek. “I’ll see you both after the storm.”
Jaimma danced off into the storm, and Marlee turned to Tyris with a smile. “Let’s get home,” she said.
“Sounds like a good plan,” Tyris said. His eyes met hers. He took her hand.
She couldn’t get home fast enough.
But when they arrived there, and Tyris closed the door behind them and began pulling his boots off, she felt lost. What if he hadn’t meant anything by the gift? He didn’t have many belongings. Maybe it was just all he had?
She turned to Tyris, hoping to find the answer in his eyes, but he just stood there. He didn’t step towards her, didn’t take her into his arms. Instead, he gave her a warm, encouraging smile, and waited.
Didn’t he realise that all she wanted right now was for him to take her into his arms and continue where they’d left off back at the hall?
How could he? Every time he’d made a suggestion that they give things a go, she’d backed off. Told him she didn’t want to risk getting hurt. Why would he think this time would be any different?
Marlee fingered the little dolphin at her neck, only barely able to feel the outline through her thick woollen gloves. A lucky charm, Tyris had said, one that helped him get over his fear. Could it help her too? Could it help her cope with the thought of watching Tyris walk out the door and never coming back?
It was unavoidable. Even if she did nothing. If they pretended to be together all this time, one day it was going to be over. And that was already going to hurt far worse than she’d counted on. Could it really be any worse if she gave herself the chance to actually care about him?
“Marlee?” Tyris asked. He waited for her response.
If it would hurt when Tyris left anyway, she should let herself enjoy it in the meantime, shouldn’t she? Marlee took a deep breath and stepped towards him. His arms opened to meet her, a smile on his face. It felt right.
His hands reached for her waist, but to her disappointment, he didn’t pull her close. “Are you sure about this?” His eyes searched her face.
What was he looking for? Had she misread him? He seemed to want this as much as she did, had said he did, but now he hung back. She hadn’t felt this awkward before, not with anyone else. Then again, nothing sh
e’d learned about relationships up until this point seemed to apply.
Marlee searched for the words to explain. “I… I avoided getting involved with you before this because I knew it would hurt when you had to leave. Tonight I realised that it’s going to hurt anyway. Even though we’ve kept our distance, I’m going to miss you, even if we don’t do this.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Tyris said softly. He rubbed his thumb across her cheek.
Marlee shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. She just wanted him to kiss her.
But still he hesitated. “Is it me you want or a baby?”
“I’m never going to have a baby. I just want you.” Her heart ached at her words, wanted to cling to a last shred of hope, but she squashed it ruthlessly. Hope only lead to being hurt. Better to be realistic and take what she could have now.
As though her words removed the last of his hesitation, Tyris bent and kissed her. His lips met hers and ignited an internal flame, banishing from her mind all thoughts of a baby or their future. There was only here and now and the smouldering fire between.
Time seemed to stand still as they kissed. Marlee’s arms moved around his neck of their own accord, and his hands slid down her waist, a surge of heat following them. She stood on tiptoe just to feel them slide lower, cupping her bottom through the thick material of her coat. The temptation to discard it was strong, but it was still too cold, even inside.
She should stoke the fire. But she didn’t want to move.
Well, not move away from Tyris anyway. When he slid his hands under her coat, stroking her back, she shivered in anticipation and wriggled just a little to encourage his hands to explore more. He obliged, letting his hands gently graze the side of her breasts, sending tingles down her spine to pool in her stomach.
Tyris pulled at her coat, and eager as she was, she knew that they were going to need something to keep warm. She pulled back just a little, and Tyris sighed in resignation. “We need to either get under the blankets or light the fire,” she told him.