Chapter Twenty-Three
Evander watched from the doorway as Miss Finch put her brother to bed. He was already asleep, his eyes closing the second he lay down his head, but she pulled up his sheets and kissed him lovingly on the head.
She was not the boy’s mother, but she acted as if she were. In this way, she set an example that Evander had started to follow. Before they carried Henry to his room, Evander had put Aaron to bed. The first time he could remember doing so in… since Aaron was born.
What sort of father can’t remember the last time he tucked his son in?
But he was getting better. Day by day, he was turning into the father that he had always wanted to be, not the one he was told that he should be. Better yet, Aaron could see it, and their relationship grew in leaps and bounds.
This is what it felt like to change. This is what it means to grow. For so long, Evander had been a certain way, and while he’d always hated himself for it, he hadn’t known how to be different. But Miss Finch changed all that… she changed him.
“They’ve had a big day,” she said softly as she crossed the room toward the doorway where Evander stood. “I’m surprised they lasted this long.”
“I can’t remember ever seeing Aaron so… calm,” Evander said. “You have a way with him.”
“No, you do,” she said. “While I do so love being told how good I am, in this instance, you are to thank.”
“Always disagreeing with me,” he chuckled.
“Only when you are wrong,” she said back with a wry smile. “Is it my fault that you are wrong so often?”
The room was dark, and she stood in its shadows. Dressed in a plain gown, her hair worn back in a tight bun, no make-up on her face to speak of, she was without a doubt the most beautiful woman that Evander had ever seen. She seemed to shine, her skin sparkled, and her eyes burned with passion and intensity that he could not look away from.
As Evander studied Miss Finch, he found it hard to believe that they had not kissed or touched one another in such a long time.There had been plenty of chances to do so. Every night… plenty of moments alone… but Evander had controlled himself.
Why had he done so? It wasn’t because he thought it was wrong to take advantage of her. If anything, he should have wanted to, if for no other reason than to dispel the possibility that their relationship, whatever it was, might be more than one of mere attraction.
Even now, alone again, and Evander was caught between wanting to take Miss Finch by the hand, pull her body into his, and ravish her with kisses until she moaned his name. Only… that felt wrong to do, as if she deserved more than just his lust.
Evander cared for Miss Finch, he knew that now, and he wanted to show her just how much before he did anything else. She deserved that much, at least.
“There is something I’ve been meaning to show you,” he said to her as an idea came to mind.
“Oh?”
“What are you doing right now?”
She looked at him curiously. “I would tell you that I am busy, but I doubt that you would believe me.”
“Come with me…” He took a step backwards into the hallway. “If you dare.”
She laughed. “I think I can take the risk.”
Evander walked ahead, a smile on his lips when he heard Miss Finch following closely behind. While he might have imagined it too, he sensed hesitation in her steps, unsure of where she was being led to…
Was it so strange that Evander was just as nervous? He and Miss Finch had already shared so many personal moments, but what he meant to show her was the most personal yet. And when he did show her, he felt in many ways as if his transformation would finally be complete. No more hiding. No more ignoring who he was. He not only wanted to change, but he wanted Miss Finch to see it and know it too.
He led her down the hall, past his office, and into his art gallery.
Once he reached it, he strode ahead through the dark to a candelabra that stood tall by the easel. The painting was covered by a sheet, and he left it there as he lit the candles’ wicks, setting the room in a dull orange glow that stretched just a few feet.
Miss Finch stood on the edge of the light…
“Come closer,” he commanded of her. “I won’t bite.”
“That’s not what I am afraid of,” she said, even as she stepped forward and into the light. It washed over her, setting her skin aflame, making it so that she glowed orange and red… so that she seemed to burn, just as Evander was burning too.
“Is that…” She hesitated as she looked at the covered painting.