After returning to the barn, Laurie starts ranting about our latest find. I can tell that Emmett is tired and so am I. So, we plan to sneak away cleverly, making sure not to sound rude, but just before we do go, Laurie goes off to get me some new bandages.
I uncover the old bandages and today, the burns on my hands appear redder than yesterday. Emmett comes close, bringing his hand close before jerking it away as if wishing to take it carefully to view. Instead, I just tilt them back to show the bright red flesh poking through.
He gives me a frown. "Does it hurt badly?"
"A little."
"That will happen with the burns," Laurie explains while returning with the bandages, then lifts his hands, gesturing to them, "from experience." Two large scars strike across each palm.
"Oh no," I reply, "did they take long to heal?"
"Only about ... a month," he says to me. "I kept breaking the healing skin while working." We all grimace. Next, he hands me the clean bandages.
Thank you." I say except he does not give them to me. Laurie awkwardly clears his throat.
"Here," he says while taking my hand unexpectedly, "let me."
"Err," I look between Arietta and Emmett who both look at me confused also, but Laurie persists so... "alright, thank you." Gently, Laurie takes my bare hands and wraps the bandages around each of them. The texture of rough skin on his hands grazes mine now and again, calluses, most likely from the barn work.
"Come back soon to get fresh ones?"
"Oh, of course, thanks."
"You must know the way here much better now, come whenever you like." The look Laurie gives me is soft and gentle. His words sound genuine. I hope that they are.
Once both bandages are done, they feel more secure than when I did them, but when I look up to thank him, his entire face is red. Arietta glares at me, standing next to Emmett from the corner of my eye.
Being polite, we thank him once again and say goodbye, deciding not to say anything else. Arietta chooses to remain behind and stay with Laurie, so Emmett and I head off down the gravelly road. At first, it is silent, so I decide to speak.
"How are you feeling?"
Emmett walks on beside me, kicking a small pebble along the ground. "I feel really good, that was nice, thank you for inviting me."
I smile to myself. "Are you sure? You do know that you do not have to say that if it is not how you truly feel, but I am glad that nothing too weird happened," I reply, then add, "what did you think of Laurie by the way?"
"I am sure, I am glad I went. And I mean, I think he is the first person I have connected with properly."
I gasp jokingly. "The only person?"
He grins, playfully kicking the rock towards me. "As well as you." We laugh. But then it quickly dies out.
"Those carvings on the branch..." I say cautiously.
"Yes. It was like someone had just carved them into the tree."
"Do you think Laurie carved them?"
"Well, it seems very certain, does it not? I mean, he was the only one there apart from Arietta, and us."
"That we know of..." I pause before adding, "I got the feeling someone was watching us, following us. The whole time."
"So did I...hah! Look at this." I watch as Emmett bends down to the sea of gravel to pick up something.
YOU ARE READING
Violet
Lãng mạn~ I wish I could capture this moment forever. The yellow glow of the fire behind me penetrates and shines through the water and onto Emmett's face. I can see all his features, as every curve and line of his face, and every eyelash is highlighted...
