He was about to ask her to elaborate, but the tremor grew very strong and began to pulse as though it had a heartbeat. Suddenly an image, like a video, arrived in his mind.
He saw Cape Town in South Africa.
He didn’t relay what he saw. For the moment, he was afraid to say anything for fear he would lose the vision. He and Renee had visited the southernmost city of South Africa. They’d taken the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, walked on the beach and spent a lot of money on native jewelry.
“Where are you?” Natalie’s voice brought him back. “I mean, what are you seeing because I know something has captured your mind?”
He decided to risk losing the images as he said, “Cape Town.”
“What?”
The odd sound in her voice, almost a break, drew his attention back to her. Fortunately, the vision remained and continued to take him in the direction of a place called Boulders Beach where the African penguins lived.
As he met Natalie’s gaze, his connection to her seemed stronger still. He covered the hand planted between his pecs. He could tell she was upset though he had no idea why.
For a reason he couldn’t explain, he wanted her to see the penguins. “A colony of penguins lives at Boulders Beach and the place looks as I remembered it. I wish you could see it.”
“I know about the penguins.” Were there tears in her eyes? “I always thought it something of a miracle that they lived there.”
Because it seemed as though the vision had arrived specifically for Natalie, he asked, “How would you like to take a dreamglide trip right now, to visit the penguins?”
At first, she looked almost horrified. Then tears flooded her eyes, her head bobbed, then her forehead landed on his shoulder.
Deep, grief-stricken sobs followed, yet still the vision was intact. The penguins were still there.
He didn’t know what to make of any of it.
He couldn’t imagine why the idea of seeing penguins was causing Natalie so much pain. But it seemed right to fold his arms around her shoulders and hold her.
She responded by crying harder still and sliding her arms tight around his waist.
She held onto him with a grip so fierce his own eyes stung. If he’d thought for a second that the mention of Cape Town or the penguins would have caused her this kind of pain, he would have kept his mouth shut.
~ ~ ~
Natalie held Grant in a vise-like grip. He’d caught her completely off-guard and somehow brought back in the most soul-shredding way, her last moments with her husband six long years ago.
Of course, Grant couldn’t have known about the penguins or Cape Town or her husband, Aaron. She’d never told anyone about their final moments together and about his desire to take their daughter to visit the penguins at Cape Town. Even if Grant had known, he would never have reminded her of such a painful memory by bringing it up. Grant would never be so cruel. She knew that much about him already.
Natalie rarely wept, and she was embarrassed by her tears. She believed in getting on with things, not wallowing in past grief and loss. She’d had counseling and training. She thought she’d done a good job at mourning the passing of her husband and her unborn daughter, Grace.
As her tears subsided however, she found it difficult to let go of the wolf. What he’d seen in the vision had renewed her grief and she had to ride it out to get through it, dammit. She allowed herself, therefore, the comfort of his arms.
He was warm, wolf-warm.
She shifted her head slightly to lean her ear against his chest. His heart drummed an ancient call. She could listen to it forever.
She let her thoughts slide toward his mind. Just for a few minutes, unless this bothers you.
Not at all. Take as long as you need.
That might be an eternity.
She felt him chuckle, his chest rumbling and disturbing the sound of his heart. Then an eternity it is, he said.
She sighed heavily. She understood the dreamglide itself was partially responsible. She felt less inhibited here with Grant. She knew the moment they left this protective space her necessary walls would strengthen once more. His as well, no doubt.
After a few minutes, when thoughts of Aaron and baby Grace retreated, she slowly released Grant. She took the time to savor his powerful arms as they slid down her back and she stepped away from him.