Chapter Twelve

Levi

Something had switched on between us. I could feel the tension in the air as Elsie laid her hand over mine on her thigh. I was more aware of her now. Her hand felt differently in mine, and when I kissed her, I didn’t wanna stop.

I shook my head at the thought of that, because I never thought I’d ever get to this point with someone. I never thought that I’d ever get comfortable enough with someone to make love, or want to at least.

“Are you okay?” I glanced to Elsie beside me, who was looking at me with real concern.

I shook my head again. “I’m good, just tired that’s all.”

“You’ve had a long day.”

I smiled, knowing it still wasn’t over. I just hoped Austin had done everything I asked.

Pulling up to the house, I parked close to the back gate. I waited for Elsie to join me and guided her through the yard. As we were about to reach the door, Elsie pulled on my hand. Her books were close to her chest, which made me feel so proud I could burst.

Her head was cast down, when she said, “I just want to say thank you, Levi, for today. It’s been…” her soft voice faded off, ending the sentence with a sigh. I pulled her close, her eyes widening as I threaded my hand in the back of her hair.

“It’s not over,” I rasped, then opened the door to the pool house. I heard Elsie gasp behind me as she beheld the flowers and balloons filling the pool house.

“Levi,” she whispered, and scanned the entire room.

“Wait here,” I said, and moved to the spare back room. As I walked in, there was the birthday cake I’d bought. Throwing my jacket on the chair, I lit the candle on the cake and made my way into the front room.

Elsie was touching a cabbage rose when I approached. She turned when she heard me, and I said, “Tanti auguri, Elsie. Happy birthday.”

Elsie froze, then she dropped the books on the tabletop. Her hands went to her mouth. I stepped closer and closer until I stopped right in front of her, watching as she stared at the birthday cake, tears filling her eyes.

“It’s round, pink and my name is written on it,” she whispered. A sigh came from her throat. “Levi,” she cried and met my eyes.

I shrugged, feeling every ounce of her shock; but I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing. “I wanted today to be real special.” I hung my head, thinking that I’d really messed up. “You said your favorite birthday involved a cake. A pink cake that was round and had your name written across the top. I wanted to remind you of when your life wasn’t so hard.”

“My life has always been hard, Levi. Every day of my life.”

I winced knowing all this had been over-the-top. I was an idiot, trying too hard to make her happy. I turned to walk away, when Elsie grabbed hold of my arm. “Until I met you,” she confessed, almost in a whisper.

Her tiny voice caused my feet to plant onto the ground and heat to fire in my chest. I felt a kiss on my shoulder blade, and she said, “The day I met you, even in that alley, with just a simple cup of coffee, you showed me more kindness than I’d received in years, maybe ever.”

Her forehead fell to my back. “You’ve given me my voice, without judgment. You’ve given me adventures, and kisses. You’ve given me health and comfort… and you’ve given me words. You’ve given me words,” I heard her huff a laugh, “and you gave me light in a mason jar to keep the darkness away.”

I felt her tremble, when she added, painfully, “What have I given you to earn all this? To earn your trust?”

I inhaled sharply and turned back round. Elsie’s head was bowed. Placing the cake on the table, with wax now dripping from the candle, I said,  “You’ve given me… me.”

My voice was low and raspy, but I needed her to look at me. I placed my finger under her chin and lifted her head. Her long light lashes were fluttering on her cheeks. I told her straight. “You never have to hide your face from me. You never have to be shy, not with me.”

Elsie’s eyes lifted, and her blue irises seared mine. I pushed a strand of her long blond hair behind her ear. Her cheeks were still rosy from the wind outside, and I swore there was no one on the damn planet more beautiful than this girl. At least not to me. “I’ve been lost, Elsie. Lost and drowning since I was a kid.”

“Like Leander. Drowning. Lost in the tide,” she added. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Like Leander,” I agreed, and swallowed hard. “Then I saw you. I saw you and you brought me back to me.” I took her pretty face in my hands, and said, “You, the pretty girl with no voice, gave me a voice again. Elsie, you brought me life.” I kissed her forehead, moving my cheek to rest against hers. With my mouth near her right ear, I assured, “That’s why you deserve all of this. Because you’re a life giver. A silent, resilient life giver.”

Tears fell down her cheeks, and I wiped them away with the pad of my thumbs. “Levi,” she whispered brokenly.

“Now, come and blow out your candle.”

Elsie laughed, her high-pitched giggle sounded like heaven to my ears. I lifted the cake and walked to sit on the bed. Elsie climbed on the opposite side and perched on her knees. Making sure I was near the bedside lamp, I placed the cake on the comforter. Elsie shuffled forward.

“Close your eyes and make a wish,” I instructed. As Elsie blew out the single candle, I flicked off the light. The lightning bug mason jar glowed beside her.

I watched as Elsie’s eyes opened, where she quickly looked around, seeing the room plunged into darkness. She looked to me as I moved the cake to the side table.

I covered her hand with my own and instructed, “Look up.”

Elsie frowned, but did as I asked. Her lips parted as a shocked breath left her mouth. I didn’t look up, I watched her instead. I didn’t want to look away as I watched an awed smile spread on her face. I couldn’t look away as she stared at the ceiling of stars.

“Levi,” she whispered through her tears. “What have you done? What are you doing to my heart and my soul?”

For once I went with the words that wanted to spill from my mouth. “I’m falling for you.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks, my nerves flaming with fire. But what I had said was enough to tear Elsie’s attention from the plastic neon stars and focus on me. Silently she edged closer and closer, until her lips fell on mine, her mouth nervous and shy, before growing bolder and stronger.