An Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 3

Cal POV

I get home much later than I expected and open the door to find an eerie silence. I don't think much of it at first, and proceed to take off my things. I peek a glance into the living room, looking for any signs of Mare, but when my search comes up short, I start to walk down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Mare, I'm home," I call. It is unusual for her to be this quiet, but Tyton did mention that Mare had to leave training early today and she has been really tired lately, so maybe she is just taking a nap.

I arrive in the kitchen, and there is no sign of Mare, so I start to walk up the stairs to check our bedroom. When I find an empty bed waiting for me, I start to get a bit concerned.

"Mare?" I call out again. I head back down the stairs to check the main floor again.

"Mare, where are you?" My heartbeat starts to rise slightly with my growing anxiety, but a bit of the tension releases as I turn the corner and see her small figure out of the corner of my eye.

She is curled up on the bathroom floor, leaning back against the wall. As I get closer to the door I can hear her faint sobs.

"Mare," I say gently as I walk through the door and slowly make my way over to her. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She doesn't say anything but continues to cry. My heart breaks to see her in this much pain, but I don't know what I can do to help.

I take a seat beside her and open my arms, encircling them around her body. It doesn't take long for her to lean into my touch, and I feel her weight sink into me.

"Shhh. It's going to be okay," I whisper, stroking the back of her head and her back with my hands in what I hope is a soothing gesture.

I can feel her wet tears against my chest as she leans her head against it, and her heaving sobs are like daggers to my heart. I don't know what has happened to cause her this much pain, but I do know that she will tell me when she is ready. There is no use pressuring her for an answer now no matter how much it pains me to stay in the unknown. Right now, the best thing I can do is just be there for her, supporting her.

I plant a small kiss on the top of her head before dipping my chin down to whisper in her ear. "It's going to be okay. Whatever it is we can get through it."

My words don't have the effect that I hoped they would, and she continues sobbing, so I reside to just sit there with her, to let her know that I am here for her, without saying anything that will add to her concerns.

We stay there, sitting on the bathroom floor, Mare curled up in my arms as I offer what little comfort I can, for a long time. Eventually, Mare's tears drive her to exhaustion, and she cries herself to sleep.

I have a million thoughts going through my head on what could be the problem, but each one is about as likely or unlikely as the last. I just have to be patient and wait it out. I have to hold onto the faith that Mare will tell me when she is ready.

When I feel Mare's breathing slow and her body still, I know she is sleeping deep enough that I can move her, and I gently shift so that I can pick her up and carry her upstairs and into bed. She barely stirs the whole time, but when I walk around to the other side of the bed and curl in next to her, she moves almost out of reflex and turns her body to curl into mine, her head finding its spot between my neck and my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her in response and breath some of my warmth into her, hoping that it will relax her.

I haven't seen Mare this upset about something in a while, and there is no hiding the fact that it concerns me. I stare blankly up at the ceiling. I try to close my eyes and get some sleep, but it is no use. Dozens of thoughts swarm through my head, keeping me awake, and my heart aches to see Mare this upset with no way to make it better.