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Amelia hadn’t spoken to him all morning. That was expected for the first two hours or so, especially after her minimal communication with him for two days. But it had been at least four hours now and she hadn’t even looked in his direction or spoken to him.
Sure he had been…too forward the night before. Too handsy. But to be fair, he was only acting how he thought he should. He was her husband after all, despite disappearing for two years just after their wedding night. And not contacting her at all. And just showing up back at their home one day…
He grumbled and rubbed his sweat-slicked brow. The headache from the fight several nights ago was still pounding away and getting worse every day. That nagging voice in the back of his mind was reminding him that his behavior was inappropriate. His defense was that she used to like that when they were together, but he knew that was unfair of him to still think that. She hadn't seen him for two years. Sure she was his wife, but she was also a person. She didn’t belong to him or anyone. She made that very clear in their short courtship.
His back ached when he straightened his posture from cutting the firewood. He sat on the stump, hoping to alleviate the throbbing in his head. His eyes wandered back over to Amelia in the garden. It had really flourished over the last several weeks and was a perfect show of her talents. She was always worried about it and making sure every single plant was watered and cared for. While he had tended to the animals and chopped the firewood, she had spent all her time in the garden. The recent rains had caused many weeds and thistles to pop up, irritating her to no end.
Now she was gathering herbs. The vegetables wouldn’t be ready for another month or so she had said. He watched her stand and wipe her forehead with the back of her wrist. Her weight shifted to rest on her right hip. Hector smirked seeing her backside press against the dress she was wearing. It was old and slightly worn, probably one of the specific dresses she used to work in. This dress in particular had a lower cut neckline as well, but after Amelia had seen his wandering eyes she made a point to keep him at arm's length. If she caught him watching her now, he knew he would receive an earful from her, but he couldn’t help it.
She was beautiful. She had always been to him. He remembered the way Amelia had rolled her eyes at him when he had first told her that.
“Everyone tells me that. You’re no different than all the other boys here.”
It had taken several days after that, but he finally got her to stop and listen to him. He only wanted a few moments of her time. He really didn’t think she would actually listen, but he needed to get this off his chest.
To this day he still can’t remember word for word what he said, but he remembered the feeling. The way he held her hands in his and gently kissed them. All his brain could recall was that he found her beautiful not just in her physical good looks, but in the way she cared for the stray animals in the village. The way her eyes lit up in the library when the new book orders came in. Or when she would regale the children with one of the many stories she would read them. All the ways that she was herself. He found them all beautiful.
And he still did. She still loved to read her books, their weathered and worn spines told him that. Her meticulous care of the garden. Her love of animals hadn't changed either. Hector had gathered that much from the multiple strays that would show up in the evenings. Despite being apart for two years, she was still very much the same woman he married.
And yet, he left her. He had to.
But that night. That blissful night they spent as a newly wed couple was the only good memory he had to keep him sane the last two years. He had to leave, even though it killed him too. And from her reaction when he returned, it was apparent it had hurt her deeply as well.
His mind began to wander through that night. Their sweet and soft kisses, ranging from foreheads to cheeks to necks to hands.They were innocently curled up on their new bed in that very cottage, his gaze flicked to the small house. He remembered when he had specifically kissed the back of her left hand, just below her ring. Whispering how much he loved her and how he'd never been this happy before. She flushed pink all over and froze. For a moment, he worried he had done something wrong.
Then she was on top of him.
Even though it was their honeymoon, he hadn't expected this. She had many unpleasant experiences with past courtships. He told her he wouldn't demand anything from her that night. That he could be patient. Hector remembered her thanking him for understanding.
Amelia had straddled him, her body pressed firmly against his. Her eyes were hooded with desire and want. He asked if she was sure, his hands flexing as he held back. She had taken his hand and pressed it to the skin under the tunic she wore.
"Yes. I trust you Hector."
The tangle of images that flashed in his mind caused a coil of heat to burn deep in his gut. Her light brown skin smooth and slick with sweat. The way her body arced into his. Slim fingers snaked into his hair. The occasional moment of soft laughter when they were tangled up awkwardly and had to pause. Her lips kissing every scar he had. Their breaths were hot, as her body rolled into his.
“Damn rabbits.”
Hector was yanked from the steamy memory. She was on her hands and knees in the garden tossing some half eaten vegetables into a pile. From his angle, he could see her kneeling with her butt in the air slightly. Her face in profile, sweat dripping from her forehead. He sighed as he willed his mind to start thinking of ways to help keep rabbits out of the garden and keep her happy. Maybe I could-
Something shimmered near Amelia’s chest. His eyes focused on what he figured was a necklace that had slipped from inside her dress. Narrowing his eyes to get a better view, he thought how he’d never seen her wear a necklace. What dangled from the gold chain in the hot afternoon sun made his heart skip several beats.
It was a gold ring.
Plain and simple.
Just like the one he had given her two years ago.
Since his return, it was clear to see she didn’t wear the ring he had gotten her. Although he would never admit it to her, the fact she didn’t wear it stung. He had told her that he wore his every day they had been apart, but the eyeroll she gave him after the confession told him she didn’t believe him. Despite all this, only one question blared in his mind.
Was it the same ring?
If it was and she had kept it all this time, what did that mean? Did she still love him? Was it a reminder for her that he might come back? Or was it a reminder to not make the same mistake again?
“How about you finish that firewood instead of staring at me like a wanton.”
Hector was pulled from his thoughts yet again by her voice as well as the aching throb in his head. He glanced to her chest to see the necklace was gone, probably tucked away again.
“I’ll get to it in a bit,” Hector answered her, leaning on the long ax handle. “And I wasn’t staring at you.”
Amelia rolled her eyes and walked over to a small work table a few feet to his right. She began arranging the herbs and plants she had picked. “The rabbits are starting to really get into the garden. Any suggestions to keep them at bay? Without harming them.”
The pain at the base of Hector’s skull was creeping up and towards his eyes. “I’m not sure yet. Give me some time and I’ll come up with somethin.”
“Well how much time?” Amelia asked, clearly annoyed. “The longer we don’t have a solution, the longer they destroy the garden.”
Hector let go of the ax and let it fall to the ground with a thud. He rubbed his eyes roughly, the headache getting worse as his frustration with her grew. She always was impatient. “Look Amelia,” Hector growled. “I’ll make sure to think of somethin to do, but you being irritable isn’t going to help anyone.”
Her lack of response made him look up from the dirt. She was staring at him, like he expected, but her gaze was devoid of the contempt he thought would be there. She was used to him being patient with her surly demeanor, after all he kind of deserved it. Instead, her brows were knitted together with concern. “What’s wrong?”
Hector huffed, “Sorry, it’s nothing.” He stood, picking the ax up and spinning it in his grip.
“Tell me Hector.” Amelia stated her hands on her hips. His gaze on her hardened, causing her tone to soften. “Please.”
“It’s just a headache. I’ll be fine.”
Amelia sighed, “Come with me.” Hector raised an eyebrow at her. She rolled her eyes and gently grasped his hand, “Just come on.”
He dropped the ax and let her lead him into the small cottage. Despite the hot weather outside, inside was much cooler and dim. She led him to a chair and guided him to sit. He plopped into the chair and Amelia bustled over to her herb cupboards. As she pulled out several jars, she paused, as if in deep thought, then quickly set them down. She dashed over to the stove and lit a small fire, placing the tea kettle on the flame. Returning to her jars, she measured out several ingredients into a bowl. Grinding the ingredients together and then placing them into the tea kettle. After several minutes, the water in the kettle was boiling. Amelia extinguished the flame and poured a cup.
Hector saw her add honey to the cup. “What exactly is in that tea?”
Amelia turned to face him, cup in hand, with a smirk, “Relax, it’s just herbs from the garden and some honey.”
She walked to him slowly, to not spill the tea. He watched her hips sway and tried to keep his focus on the cup. A smile played on his lips, “I don’t know. With the way you have been acting the last few weeks, I’m a little concerned what’s in the cup.”
A light giggle bubbled up in Amelia's throat. "Trust me Hector, if I wanted to poison you-" She leaned in, gently setting the cup in his hands. Her mischievous eyes looking deeply into his. "-I would have already done it."
He kept his eyes locked with hers as he took the cup and sipped the warm brew. The different herbs tingled his tongue and after several sips he could feel the warmth spread to his head. The smile on his features came to him easier than before, “Is that so?”
Amelia quietly laughed and averted her eyes, despite the dim lighting he could tell she was blushing. At first she didn’t answer, just busied herself cleaning up from making the tea. Hector continued drinking the tea as it eased his headache and the swimming thoughts in his mind.
He considered asking about the ring. If it was the one he gave her, but doubt clouded his mind.
What if it upset her to ask about it? What if it wasn't the one he gave her? At the moment, he didn't want to risk upsetting her. They were having one of their rare calm moments. Those answers could wait.
"You know," Amelia started. Her voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear her. "I am still upset with you, but you know I'd never actually poison you or hurt you. Right?" Hector's eyes softened and he nodded. Amelia smiled, walking the kettle over to them. "Would you like more?"
He held the cup out, not answering. She filled his cup and put the kettle back. As he slowly sipped his second cup, she brought a cold, wet cloth to him.
She went to place it on his forehead when he stopped her by taking her left wrist. Amelia froze. Hector brought the back of her hand to his lips in a gentle kiss.
Her eyes, full of worry, widened into surprise. The flush in her cheeks darkened and spread down onto her neck and chest. Hector's bright green eyes looked deeply into hers. "Thank you Amelia."
Hector felt like time around them stood still for a moment. Their eyes still locked together. His lingering lips were still touching the cool skin of the back of her hand. There was a flash of something in her eyes for a moment. Before he could consider what it was, Amelia broke eye contact and gently pulled her hand back.
"You should stay in here for the rest of the day. The firewood can wait until tomorrow and I don't want to risk you getting heat sickness." She placed the wet cloth in his hands hurriedly. Hector went to protest but she cut him off quickly. "No arguing. I'll take care of the stuff outside and be back in a bit."
She turned and bustled out the door before he could say anything else. He groaned and leaned his head back against the wall. His mind trying to fathom how stupid he was to screw up again.
Little did he know that Amelia was sitting on the steps outside the cottage. Her face flushed and heart beating wildly. In her grasp was the ring on her necklace. The ring he'd given her two years ago.