My soup is cooler. It’s good, but I’m not enjoying it as much as I wanted to before the call. Mia asks for seconds, and he gets up, ladling more into her bowl before rejoining us.
“What’s the matter, Red?” he says, staring into my eyes. “Talk to me.”
“Nothing. I’m glad you like it.”
“Honeybee, cover your ears for a second,” he says, leaning into me. “Bullshit, darling. I know a woman gnarled up in knots, and I’m looking at her. What the fuck’s wrong?”
“It’s just…my brother called. He found out about mom’s sessions with you and Mia, I guess.”
His eyes narrow. Flexing his fist on the table, he reaches with his other hand, gently pinching my arm. “And what? He’s pissed?”
“Well, yeah.” I nod. “He thinks you’re dangerous. Evil. Totally unfit to set foot in my parents’ house.”
“Lucky me, you know better,” he says.
I look up, surprised how well he’s taking it. “I don’t know what to do, Marshal. The last thing we need is Jackson up my butt about bringing you around our mother.”
“It’ll work itself out. This crap always does,” he rumbles, a strange smile materializing on his rough lips. “He gives you more trouble, tell him we’ll work it out man-to-man. I’m sure he’d love a rematch.”
“Marshal, no!” It takes several seconds to see his grin, realize he’s joking. I think. “I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid. He said he’d deal with mom and her art, whatever that means.”
“Man’s got a fuck of an ego. I’ve spent enough time around your ma to see she’s not howling at the moon crazy. Just depressed and under-motivated. She’s never been real interested in your brother sticking his nose in her business, I think. He’ll do nothing.”
I pause, thinking. “No, you’re right. He can’t just waltz in and make mom do anything. Nobody can. That’s half the reason she’s never gone in for major treatment. She put up a huge fight every time, and dad never had the heart for it, so…”
“She’s getting better. Saw her working on something that wasn’t just Mia’s smiling face last time we were there. Looked like a big bunch of white trees and some mountains.”
“I hope so. It’ll be a miracle if she ever does landscapes again.” I squeeze his hand, bringing it to my face. His caress helps. I refuse to let the lonely tears I’m holding in fall because I don’t want him to wipe them away, delaying his dinner any more. I also don’t want to ruin it for the bashful little girl next to us.
“Daddy?” Mia perks up, rocking in the chair, her hands still pressed tight to her head.
Smiling, Marshal takes her little arms and puts them down. “Thanks, honeybee. Let’s eat. Even I’ve had it with this grownup crap tonight.”
That makes three of us.
It’s a good old fashioned Iowa snowstorm like I haven’t seen in years.
It’s getting late and we’re just putting Mia down for the night. Yes, we.
For the first time, Marshal lets me sit next to him on her bed. We take turns reading from the big story book in his hands, a weathered old volume of fairy tales that looks like it’s been passed down for a long time.
It’s the end of sleeping beauty. All is right with the kingdom, the enchanted princess, the handsome prince, and their twins.
“Silly. Imagine if it were so easy – making babies with just a kiss.” I tug at his hand and smile. We’re sitting in the kitchen after the story, late night coffee in our hands.
“Yeah. Imagine.” His eyes pin down mine, bringing scalding blood to my cheeks. “I sure as hell wouldn’t wait to break the spell before carrying you off, if it were up to me.”
“No?” My fingers tug gently at his. It’s sweet to see him like this, mind fixed on meaningless what-ifs instead of the many real poisons weighing on his mind.
“No. Red, listen, I’ve been meaning to have a talk. I want you moving in.”
Blinking, I shake my head, doing a slow sweep around the kitchen. “I thought I did?”
“I mean permanently, darling. I want you in this house full time. Whatever you need, I’ll provide, but I don’t want to sign your checks anymore. I want to send you to school full time, do whatever it takes to get you working where you want. I want you happy, safe, and mine.”
A nervous pit opens up under me. It’s a happy one. Taking his hand again, I’m shaking, trying to decipher his words through my own wishful thinking. He can’t be asking for…oh God, what is he asking?
“Marshal, whoa. That’s…really, really sudden. We’ve only been together a few months.”
“And they’ve been fucking bliss. Happiest I’ve been since the war, since I’ve had to fight for the good days with Mia. Happiest since ever. Don’t tell me any different.” His eyes are so bright. Twin blue moons; hypnotic, gorgeous, and powerful. “I get it, Red. You’re a lady of class, you want this to go off proper, so here goes.”