He’s not. He’s kind.
He’s not special, and he doesn’t scare me.
He is, and he terrifies me.
Attempting a smile, I open the bathroom door. I try not to stare as he takes his jacket and tie off, unbuttoning two buttons on his collar and rolling up his sleeves. I attempt to distract myself by sitting and shoveling my sandwich into my face. When I look up, he’s watching me, a small, knowing smile playing on his lips. I don’t move away when his knee touches brush against mine, or when his fingers brush against my arm.
I will not show weakness.
A Heart of Gold Dipped in Black
Evelyn Snow
Paris,Present
Lily, Salem, and Delilah meet us at Gare du Nord station, and I drop to my knees as soon as Delilah toddles over, enveloping her in a tight hug.
“Hi, sweet pea,” I whisper into her ear. She gives the best hugs.
“We’re having sweepover tonight,” she mutters, her brown hair wild and curly.
“Only if we can have popcorn,” I add, smirking. I glance at Lily, who rolls her eyes and nods, knowing she’s already lost the battle.
Benedict bends down, giving Delilah’s hair a tousle. “You need to stop growing,” he says, his voice warm and soft.
“Can’t stop growing, Uncle Beni. Dada makes me eat aww of my brocwi.”
We all laugh. Delilah eyes him suspiciously. “Why don’t you visit more?”
“I would spend every day with you if I could, but I have a very important job.” He rustles her hair. “Maybe I can come visit you next weekend. How about that?” To my surprise, he scoops Delilah up and puts her on his shoulders as we wander out of the station, with Salem doing the honors of carrying our suitcases.
“Okay, I guess,” she adds, and I see Lily smirk at Salem out of the corner of my eyes. Delilah squeals with delight as Benedict starts to jog away, and I find myself smiling.
“What’s that look on your face?” Lily asks, an accusing tone in her voice.
“What?” I shrug.
Salem takes my suitcase too, interrupting us. “Why don’t Benedict and I take Delilah home to nap? You guys go get a coffee somewhere and catch up.” He bends down and kisses her softly. “Do you need anything from here, Evelyn?” He pats my baggage.
“Nope.” I hold my purse up. “I keep my life in here.”
He gives me a quick peck on the cheek, and then he’s off, jogging after Benedict and Delilah, who are dancing to imaginary music far up ahead.
She stops walking and tugs on my sweater, pulling me to a stop. “So? Are you going to tell me?”
I keep walking, ignoring her line of questioning. “There is nothing to report, Lily.”
She scoffs. “Do you know the heart-eyes emoji? That was you, just now, watching Benedict with Delilah.”
I shake my head. “Nope. No way. I was admiring my goddaughter. You and Salem just so happened to produce the cutest spawn,” I retort. I rummage through my purse and shoot a quick text to Zoey that I’m here. “Of course you’d have the world’s cutest child. I am destined to give birth to an absolute troll.” I turn and narrow my eyes at her. “By the way, thank you for booking us into the same cabin. I can see right through you.”
“I’m sorry your first-class cabin wasn’t up to your standards, my lady.” She bows and several people stop to stare at us.
I swat her arm, trying not to laugh. “You know what I mean. You booked us into the same room on purpose. It was never about being nice and paying for my ticket, and you know it.”
She shrugs innocently. “I am on a budget, but if you’d like, I can book you an economy ticket on the way back.”
We stroll to one of Lily’s favorite Parisienne cafés several blocks away from the station, the cool, fall air curling the ends of my hair slightly. The sun is strong despite the crisp air, turning the whites on the buildings a soft orange. We’re seated outside and she speaks fluent French to the waitress, ordering us two coffees. While we wait, I catch her up on graduate school, and she tells me more about her gallery opening later this month. The waitress sets our cups down and walks away. She stops talking for a few seconds, and clutching her white, porcelain cappuccino, she opens and closes her mouth a couple of times before she sighs.
