The Sun in the West

Chapter 4

"Hey,"

"Hm?"

Stella's peaceful nature-walk sort of thing was interrupted abruptly. She turned her head. Kit was giving her a shy smile. Stella blinked. She hadn't even noticed Kit fall into pace beside her. Now both of them were walking behind Victoria and Bella.. together.

"..Yes?" Stella asked softly, quirking a brow. The top of Kit's face darkened under the rim of his hat... making his eyes glitter. But he smiled at her nonetheless—it was a bit sheepish. 

"You still look so beautiful. Just the same as before." he said a bit bashfully. Stella felt her face grow pink. She turned her face away from him and dabbed at it. "I-" she stammered, surprising herself at her loss of words. "Thank you." she finally let out, feeling a cool breeze kiss her face as they walked on.

Kit smiled, more to himself than her. "You haven't changed a bit... I like that." he said with a bit of a chuckle. Stella hummed, stepping over a rock in the road and fixing the hem of her dress in the process. "And I see you haven't either. You still haven't learned to tuck in your collar." she said bluntly. Kit breathed a sigh of relief that Stella raised a brow at.

"Oh, thank you for sayin' that." he said, pursing his lips as if having been just assured about a rising dilemma. "I missed you criticizin' me. It's one of the many things I love about you."

Stella rolled her eyes, and a grim look crossed her face. "Yet you never once listened to my criticisms did you?" she said, purposely walking faster, to which Kit took longer strides until he was beside her again. He grinned at her. His teeth had whitened over the years. "I know you didn't really mean it as criticizin'." he said admittedly. Stella bit her lip. She really hadn't, he was right. It had always been more of an acknowledged tease.

"But I will if you want. As a welcome home present." Kit said casually, fingering his collar. Stella nearly stopped in her tracks. Home. The word she never wanted to hear since she left Ruby Point all those years ago, especially not from Kit's mouth. How could he act so.. so nonchalant like this? So casual? After what happened?

"No need, Kit." Stella said softly. Kit's warm smile disappeared. "Those days are over. I will not censure you anymore, especially on these childish things."

Stella turned to look at her husband with a blank face. Something then throbbed in her chest... and she didn't know what it was. Kit's face was down, his brow was furrowed, and his lips were thinned. He looked.. sad.

"Alright." he sighed, biting his lip. Stella watched impassively as his downcast expression deepened ever so slightly. "I'm sorry, you're right. I shouldn't act like that anymore." he said quietly. Stella nodded to herself. She brushed a strand of her hair aside as it fell loose from her bun, pushing it past her ear. She then slightly raised her brows, noticing something as she took a glance to the side, just as Kit hurriedly looked away from her.

They were quiet for a few long moments, the only sounds were the giggles and yaps of Bella and Victoria in front. Kit then softly cleared his throat.

"Your hair looks longer."

Stella sucked in her cheeks, peering sideways at him as the shining sun beat ever so harder on her. "Do you not like that?" she asked contentiously. Her long brown hair had been shorter the last time Kit had seen her. It hadn't been terribly short, a few inches off, really, but just enough to see a difference now. Stella had had it cut over the years, trying to get it as close in length as it had been before.

Kit pursed his lips, and Stella could see him straining a smile. "No, I like it. It looks beautiful." he said, his cheeks hollowing pink. Stella stayed silent.