A Fairy Tale for Big Girls – 13. chapter
First time here? Start with Chapter 1.
He woke up in the chair. He tried to straighten his stiff neck, then turned toward the bed. Lili was sitting there, looking at him.
“Did you sleep in the chair all night?” she asked carefully.
“Did you expect me to leave?”
“No. I just thought…” She trailed off.
“I did promise you I wouldn’t come near you.”
“Yes, I know…”
“Not only are you afraid of me, but now you don’t even trust me?” He frowned.
“That’s not what I meant,” she whispered, lowering her eyes.
“Well. In any case, that only applied yesterday.” He stood. “I’m coming over to you,” he said, lowering his voice, “try not to get scared.”
She looked up at him and waited.
He approached carefully. When she didn’t flinch, he reached for her ankle and unfastened the chain. His gaze drifted to her body. He knew she was naked, holding the blanket over her breasts. He wanted to see them. He gently ran his fingers along her calf. When she didn’t pull away, he continued higher, toward her knee, and looked at her face. Her eyes were closed, her lips pressed tightly together. He understood that she wasn’t pulling away only because she didn’t want to anger him. He took his hand off her and stood, disappointed.
She opened her eyes and watched for a moment as he dressed. Without comment, she climbed out of bed and dressed as well.
He opened the door. Once they stepped through, he took her hand. He knew she would startle. She did. He didn’t let go. When she looked at him, he didn’t lean closer. He only said quietly, “You have no reason to fear me, little one. You least of all.”
She looked away in alarm, but that didn’t surprise him. He held her hand firmly all the way and released it only when she reached her chair.
As they settled into their seats, Lili turned toward the ladies’ table. All the women were watching her. Most of them smiled. Lili got a strange feeling from them. She looked back at her own table in confusion and frowned. Thoughtfully, she reached for her cup of tea when Martin spoke up.
“Does it seem strange to you that they look satisfied?”
She looked at him and nodded hesitantly.
“Elena was nasty to everyone. She bossed them all around. They’re grateful to you for your courage.”
“Courage?!” Lili scoffed contemptuously.
“They think you’ll fall into her hands soon.”
“That won’t happen,” Mark said with absolute certainty.
“Well, they don’t know that,” Martin replied.
“Mark?” Lili began carefully.
“Yes?” He turned to her at once.
“Could you promise me that…” She hesitated, searching for words. “When you find a new favorite, you’ll let me leave?”
Mark looked straight ahead. “Lili, you are not my favorite. You are my…” He broke off.
Love? Was I really about to say love?! He could hardly believe himself.
Martin looked up, and when he realized how shaken Mark was, he understood where Mark’s thoughts had gone. He stared at him, wide-eyed, then looked at Lili. She was watching Mark too, but she didn’t understand what was happening.
Mark cleared his throat. “Yes. If… I come to prefer someone else’s company, I promise I’ll let you leave.”
Lili nodded and pushed the food around her plate with her spoon without tasting any of it.
“But you should be prepared for the possibility that it may never happen,” Mark added.
She stilled for a moment and frowned, then continued moving the food around.
“May I go sit with the girls?” she asked suddenly.
Mark stiffened. Martin, watching his hesitation, said quietly, “That’s not a good idea.”
Mark, still motionless, finally said, “You may. But I’ll come with you.” Then, toward Martin, he muttered, “It can’t get any worse.”
Lili hesitated. “Um, you can see me from here,” she objected.
“You won’t go there alone.”
“Then never mind.”
Mark stood. “I promise I won’t forbid you any question. Or them any answer. I only want to be there.”
I already know what you’ll find out.
She hesitated for a moment, then rose.
“End breakfast and send the others away,” Mark said over his shoulder to Martin, and Martin immediately began carrying out the order.
