Chapter 21: Affairs of the Heart

“So, where’s Mara?” Jonathan asked, filling a bag with ice.

“She’s spending the night with Sofia,” Celeste replied, grimacing as she slowly took off her coat. “They're getting along pretty well, I think.”

Dark brown eyes followed her as she slowly made her way across the living room. They had been planning this date for a week but an attack had altered their plans. Thankfully Celeste had only received some bruises from the battle.

Shaking his head, Jonathan forced his mind back to the conversation. “You never did tell me why you fought to keep Mara.”

“You never asked me,” she replied with a broad smile.

He smiled slightly in return. “I’m asking you now.”

“I guess one of the main reasons is that I was her,” she stated bluntly. “It took them almost two weeks to locate Aunt Grace and inform her about me. During that time, I was placed in foster care.”

“Celeste, I didn’t know.”

“How could you?” she said with a shrug. “It’s not something I’ve told you before. But I know what it’s like to think that no one will want you. I didn’t want Mara to spend years of her life like that. Besides, she’s a good kid.”

“You’re amazing.” Jonathan gently brushed some hair from her face, revealing discolored skin underneath. “Ice should help this.”

Celeste flinched as Jonathan gently pressed an ice pack to the largest bruise, which ran along her jaw. He tried to pull the bag away, but she quickly covered his hand with hers. At his look of concern, she smiled.

“It’s just a reflex,” she explained, rubbing the hand she held. “You think I'd be use to this by now.”

Jonathan managed a wry smile. “I’d be worried if you were too use to this. Sofia did manage to fare better you did, right?”

“Yes, she did,” Celeste replied, her smile broadening. “In fact, I’d be in worse shape if she hadn’t shown up to help.”

He chuckled softly. “I’m glad you’ve finally seen it that way.”

“Who’s side were you on?” she demanded, looking up to face him.

He raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t realize that we had to choose sides. Is it too late to cast my vote?”

“You make it very hard for me to stay mad at you, do you know that?”

He smiled as he lowered his face to hers. “I try,” he replied before covering her lips briefly with his own. “I love you.”

With wide eyes, Celeste pulled back. “You what?”

“You didn’t want me to say that. Hey, I understand.” With a pained expression, he tried to step away from her.

Celeste’s grip on his hand became a vise, keeping him near her. “Jonathan, I’m sorry.”

He nodded but didn’t meet her gaze. With a broad smile, Celeste cupped his cheek with her free hand. “Jonathan, I love you, too.”

Surprised brown eyes stared at her. “You do?”

Laughing, she kissed him. “Yes, I love you.”

“Then, why did you say you were sorry?”

“I’ve been wanting to tell you that for so long,” she admitted. “I’m sorry that I waited for you to say it first.”

Jonathan smiled. “But you said it.”

“And so did you,” Celeste replied quietly.

This kiss was different. It sealed the link between them, strengthening their already existing bond. They both were so caught up in it, they were unaware when the ice pack hit the floor.

* * * * *

Propping herself up on her elbow, Celeste watched Jonathan as he slept. His dark hair was messed up from sleep, but it was still much more tamer than her red tresses at the moment. Several images of their evening flashed through her mind, making her smile.

With a funny huff, he rolled toward her, jarring her slightly. At the impact, his dark eyes immediately opened. He blinked several times, as if he was unsure about something, before giving her a lazy, sleepy smile.

“Good morning,” she greeted, carefully watching his face.

“Good morning,” he echoed, leaning up to kiss her briefly. “How do you feel?”

“Wonderful, and you?”

He tucked a strand of the wild hair behind her ear. “Never better, but I thought you weren’t a morning person.”

“Usually I’m not, but I don’t usually wake up like this either.”

He mimicked her pose, propping himself on an elbow as well to face her better. “Celeste, you know that we didn’t have to . . .”

She silenced him with a finger against his lips, closing the distance between them. “If I had wanted us to stop, I would have let you know. But I wanted to be with you.”

Removing her finger, Celeste softly kissed him. “I love you but I’m afraid that this might all end between us.”

“I will do all I can to never hurt you, Celeste,” he vowed, his brown eyes steadily reaching hers.

“I know that,” she replied quietly. “But how long will we love each other, Jonathan?”

“Always,” he breathed, pulling her tightly to him. “Celeste, always.”


Affairs of the Heart “So, where’s Mara?” Jonathan asked, filling a bag with ice. “She’s spending the night with Sofia,” Celeste replied, grimacing as she slowly took off her coat. “They're getting along pretty well, I think.” Dark brown eyes followed her as she slowly made her way across the living room. They had been planning this date for a week but an attack had altered their plans. Thankfully Celeste had only received some bruises from the battle. Shaking his head, Jonathan forced his mind back to the conversation. “You never did tell me why you fought to keep Mara.” “You never asked me,” she replied with a broad smile. He smiled slightly in return. “I’m asking you now.” “I guess one of the main reasons is that I was her,” she stated bluntly. “It took them almost two weeks to locate Aunt Grace and inform her about me. During that time, I was placed in foster care.” “Celeste, I didn’t know.” “How could you?” she said with a shrug. “It’s not something I’ve told you before. But I know what it’s like to think that no one will want you. I didn’t want Mara to spend years of her life like that. Besides, she’s a good kid.” “You’re amazing.” Jonathan gently brushed some hair from her face, revealing discolored skin underneath. “Ice should help this.” Celeste flinched as Jonathan gently pressed an ice pack to the largest bruise, which ran along her jaw. He tried to pull the bag away, but she quickly covered his hand with hers. At his look of concern, she smiled. “It’s just a reflex,” she explained, rubbing the hand she held. “You think I'd be use to this by now.” Jonathan managed a wry smile. “I’d be worried if you were too use to this. Sofia did manage to fare better you did, right?” “Yes, she did,” Celeste replied, her smile broadening. “In fact, I’d be in worse shape if she hadn’t shown up to help.” He chuckled softly. “I’m glad you’ve finally seen it that way.” “Who’s side were you on?” she demanded, looking up to face him. He raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t realize that we had to choose sides. Is it too late to cast my vote?” “You make it very hard for me to stay mad at you, do you know that?” He smiled as he lowered his face to hers. “I try,” he replied before covering her lips briefly with his own. “I love you.” With wide eyes, Celeste pulled back. “You what?” “You didn’t want me to say that. Hey, I understand.” With a pained expression, he tried to step away from her. Celeste’s grip on his hand became a vise, keeping him near her. “Jonathan, I’m sorry.” He nodded but didn’t meet her gaze. With a broad smile, Celeste cupped his cheek with her free hand. “Jonathan, I love you, too.” Surprised brown eyes stared at her. “You do?” Laughing, she kissed him. “Yes, I love you.” “Then, why did you say you were sorry?” “I’ve been wanting to tell you that for so long,” she admitted. “I’m sorry that I waited for you to say it first.” Jonathan smiled. “But you said it.” “And so did you,” Celeste replied quietly. This kiss was different. It sealed the link between them, strengthening their already existing bond. They both were so caught up in it, they were unaware when the ice pack hit the floor. * * * * * Propping herself up on her elbow, Celeste watched Jonathan as he slept. His dark hair was messed up from sleep, but it was still much more tamer than her red tresses at the moment. Several images of their evening flashed through her mind, making her smile. With a funny huff, he rolled toward her, jarring her slightly. At the impact, his dark eyes immediately opened. He blinked several times, as if he was unsure about something, before giving her a lazy, sleepy smile. “Good morning,” she greeted, carefully watching his face. “Good morning,” he echoed, leaning up to kiss her briefly. “How do you feel?” “Wonderful, and you?” He tucked a strand of the wild hair behind her ear. “Never better, but I thought you weren’t a morning person.” “Usually I’m not, but I don’t usually wake up like this either.” He mimicked her pose, propping himself on an elbow as well to face her better. “Celeste, you know that we didn’t have to . . .” She silenced him with a finger against his lips, closing the distance between them. “If I had wanted us to stop, I would have let you know. But I wanted to be with you.” Removing her finger, Celeste softly kissed him. “I love you but I’m afraid that this might all end between us.” “I will do all I can to never hurt you, Celeste,” he vowed, his brown eyes steadily reaching hers. “I know that,” she replied quietly. “But how long will we love each other, Jonathan?” “Always,” he breathed, pulling her tightly to him. “Celeste, always.”


Epilogue: A Nocturnal Meeting Homefront