The Art of Mending Memories

The Art of Mending Memories 39

The Art of Mending Memories

Chapter 39

I was sitting on the couch reading a book when I felt him getting near.  It was a nice presence, warm and gentle.  I felt my muscles relax automatically.  It was something I hadn’t noticed before.  Instead of my muscles tensing for fight or flight, they were relaxing.  Almost as if my body felt safe in the presence of a werewolf.  Then again, the werewolf was Aaron.

I felt Aaron’s presence pause about 15 feet from the door.  I imagined he would be picking up the hour old scent of his brother right about then.  Sure enough, in a second he had sprinted the 15 feet to my door and threw it open.

“Kaelyn?” Aaron yelled frantically.

“Here,” I replied lazily from the couch. “In my house, where I said I would be.  Because when I say I’m going home, I go home.”

But Aaron wasn’t listening.

“Are you okay?  Why was Galen here?  Did he hurt you?  What did he want?’  As he threw these questions at me he ran his hands over my face, as if to make sure I really was okay.  I put my book down and concentrated at not smiling at the feeling of his hands running over my face.  I was angry at him.

“Aaron,” I stopped him, “why did you lie to me?”

Aaron inhaled and took a step back.  He looked away and quickly wiped his hands on his pants.  He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“Do you remember the day after you ‘found’ me on the beach?  When I went hiking and you followed me up Watcher’s Peak?”  It was the first real conversation we had.  I was more calm that the day before, but still nervous because I was about to discover the indigo glow coming from my own skin, proving I was Aaron’s Find.  The indigo glow that still came from my skin.

Aaron nodded, his eyes still cast down. “I remember,” he said in a low voice.

“Do you remember what I told you?”

“That you love the mountains?” He replied weakly, probably trying to skirt around the answer he knew I was looking for.

“I told you never to lie to me.”

Aaron flinched at my harsh tone.  I didn’t care.  If there was anything I could not stand, it was a lie.  Lies created betrayers.  Lies made me feel betrayed.

“Do you remember me saying that, Aaron?”  My voice cracked.  I ignored the knot that was forming in my throat.  I kept my eyes clear.

Aaron nodded his head.

Aaron shook his head. “Don’t,” he whispered.

“Don’t what?” I snapped.

Aaron’s grey eyes lifted and looked into mine. “I know what you’re feeling, Kaelyn,” he reminded me. “But please don’t feel…I never meant to hurt you or betra—”

            “But you did,” I injected viciously. “You did hurt me, Aaron.  You lied to me.”

            “About where I was staying!  That’s not…a big...lie,” he finished hesitantly.

            “You still lied!”

            “I didn’t want you to worry,” he said in a small voice.

            All the anger, worry, and betrayal I had been feeling bubbled inside me.  In a quick, decisive moment, I reached over and slapped Aaron across the face.  His head snapped to the side and his jaw flew open.