IN THOSE WE TRUST

4

Determined to make things right, the aroma of simmering tomato sauce filled the air as I bustled around the kitchen. Every clink of a spoon against the pot was a beat in the anxious rhythm of my heart. Finally, headlights pierced the growing darkness. I smoothed my dress, took a deep breath, and braced myself.

The silence stretched as Damon entered the house. Surprise flickered across his face at the sight of the steaming meal on the table. "Food's ready, babe," I offered, a nervous smile tugging at my lips. My hesitant hug lingered a beat too long before he finally wrapped his arms around me, the tension slowly seeping out.

Dinner was a quiet affair. He pushed food around his plate, his gaze distant. Every muscle in me ached to bridge the unspoken words hanging between us.

"Kira, are you okay?" His voice broke the silence, his hand reaching for mine.

Taking a deep breath, I met his gaze. "We make a good team when we try to get better, together," I said, a small smile gracing my lips.

He nodded slowly, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry for everything, Damon," I confessed, my voice thick with emotion. "I feel useless, not being able to give you a child. Please don't blame me... I already do enough of that." Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over onto my cheeks.

He cupped my face, his touch gentle. "I don't blame you, Kira. It's not your fault." His voice was rough with emotion. "I was heartbroken because you wouldn't talk to me. When I tried, Eva said it would be best to give you space to heal. Knowing she was your best friend, I listened. But seeing you so unhappy..." He trailed off, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb.

"Why would Eva tell you that?" A cold suspicion slithered into my mind. Eva had always been there for me, a shoulder to cry on. "Maybe she thought it would help," I offered, the doubt clinging to the back of my throat, a stark contrast to the warmth of his touch.

We held each other close, seeking solace in the familiar warmth. In the quiet comfort of his embrace, a fragile hope flickered to life. Sleep eventually claimed us, tangled in the sheets and the unspoken threads of a love yearning to heal.