19
(Tharnday, cont.)
Zara turned around from the chiller to see Emeric carrying in some dishes.
“Where shall I put these?” he asked.
“You’re a guest! I’m serving everyone tonight,” Zara protested mildly, reaching to take the plates from him.
“I don’t mind helping you. You serve everyone every day. Let me help you this time,” Emeric insisted, putting the dishes on the counter and returning to the dining table for more.
Zara started putting the dishes into the dishwasher.
“But you’re supposed to be resting and enjoying yourself! I can do this, I don’t mind,” Zara protested more weakly when Emeric returned with another pile of dishes.
“I am enjoying myself,” he replied with a smile. “I’ve been enjoying your company.”
Zara got the dishwasher running, then stopped again, unsure what else to say. She just looked at Emeric again. He was just so different to the shy man she had met previously. He was also so different from other men she had met before. Quietly confident now that he was done being shy. So completely her opposite, but in a very nice way, she realized. She shook her head to bring herself out of her daydream. She had a dessert to finish preparing!
“Why did you shake your head like that?” Emeric asked.
Zara stopped again, thinking of how to answer.
“You’re so different,” she finally said.
“Different than what?” he asked, stepping closer to her.
“I don’t know…,” she drifted off. “I’ll get back to you. I have a sauce to make!”
The moment was gone and she was back to herself grabbing a saucepan to make another joberry sauce, but this time, it was a sweet one to be served with cake and ice cream.
“Can I help?” Emeric asked.
“This time, not really, unless you want to get the table ready,” Zara replied.
“Yes, Chef,” he said, getting to work.
Zara focused on her sauce, but her mind kept drifting to this man who was helping her so good-naturedly. Jeftey had never shown any interest in her cooking, except to eat it. He had certainly never offered to help, just to be around her. Every way you looked at it, Emeric was different – and so far, only in good ways once he’d come out of his shyness. Quickly, the sauce was bubbling away and she started preparing the slices of cake onto a serving dish. The ice cream was placed in nice serving bowls – maybe unnecessary, she admitted, but she never liked to do things by half. The sauce was poured into a gravy boat. Emeric was very attentive and took everything out – almost too quickly, in fact! At last it was done and everyone was gathered back at the table to enjoy their dessert, which was at least as good as the meal itself.
“How do you keep so slim, Akeld?!” Emeric asked. “Eating this kind of food so often!”
“I’ve had to increase my shaze training,” Akeld admitted. “Even then, I swear I’m going to have to buy a new tunic soon!”
Zukie laughed.
Zara smiled brightly at the compliment.
The table empty of people again, Zara started with the clearing up. “Let me help,” Emeric said. “Have a sit down.”
“I’m very particular about the kitchen,” Zara excused and went with him.
“Then tell me what to do,” he insisted. “You’ve slaved away in here – it’s time for you to get a break.”
“It’s faster to just do it.”
“Then I will do it with you so that next time I know how,” Emeric said more insistently.
“You don’t take ‘no’ too well do you?” Zara asked, unloading the dishwasher.
“Those didn’t sound like ‘no’ to me, just challenges to overcome,” he replied as he returned for the last of the dirty tableware.
Zara kept unloading as Emeric brought in the dirty linens. She pointed to the hamper in the corner. Then she stopped and just looked at this man who was in her kitchen. “I don’t understand you,” she finally said.
“What?”
She shook her head. She couldn’t find the words – and the words that were there threatened to come with tears. She started loading the dishwasher again.
Emeric followed her lead and copied everything she did until the easy things were done, then he just watched.
Zara started the machine, then grabbed the dishcloth at the sink, prepared it and wiped the table in the dining room. She rinsed out the cloth once more and put it in the laundry. She turned around and ran into Emeric who pulled her close to him.
“What don’t you understand?” he asked her gently. “You’ve said it several times – not always in words.”
Zara shook her head again. “I can’t find the words.” Suddenly, her tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“I can feel your grief. What happened?” he asked. He coaxed her back to the breakfast nook. He sat and pulled her onto his lap, his arms around her in comfort.
“I put three years into this guy in Jerven. Three years! In those three years, he never once offered to help me in the kitchen. Sure, I didn’t mind doing it myself – I do it automatically. But…,” she shook her head again. Why was she letting herself do this again?
“What happened to him?”
“He drifted away… until I got the news that he was engaged to someone else,” Zara said, the tears returning.
“Zara,” he said gently. “I’m not him. I’m me. I’m different – on purpose.”
She looked at him and his lips pressed to hers, gently. She found herself kissing him back with a longing she hadn’t realized was there. She hoped that everything he said was a promise – a promise for her. She was still scared that he would let her down, but she could enjoy his kisses right now.
“I have to go,” Emeric said. “But we can spend some time together tomorrow night.”
“You can visit me in the kitchen,” Zara said.
“You shouldn’t say that,” Emeric said.
“I am the head chef!” she replied.
“You know where I am too,” Emeric said. “You’re worried about what your sister’s going to say?” He gave a quiet chuckle. “You do realize that Akeld, Artem and Seryan have felt every kiss we’ve shared, right? It’s hard to be secretive when there are empaths all around us.”
Zara smiled. “I’m still so scared!” she replied. “I’ve gone here before – allowed my heart to feel… and it was thrown in my face. I vowed I wouldn’t do it again.”
“Hearts aren’t very good at listening to vows like that,” Emeric said.
“You say it like you’ve had experience,” Zara said.
“Let’s just say that I’ve had good reason to be shy,” he replied. “Now, I really do have to go.” He kissed her again. “See you tomorrow night, if not before.”
She followed him towards the door as he extracted Seryan from Zukie’s kids, then left.
Zara drifted downstairs to her basement apartment.
Upstairs, Zukie and Akeld cuddled on the couch as the kids got themselves ready for bed.
“What are you thinking?” Zukie asked her husband. “You are the empath, not me.”
“Wow,” he replied. “I wonder if that’s what it looked like to your sister when she watched us fall in love.”
“Explain,” she requested.
“Let’s just say… ‘mission accomplished!’” Akeld said, kissing Zukie.
“Say more!” she demanded.
“They kissed. A few times,” Akeld acquiesced.
Zukie smiled. “That’s a great sign!”
“Yep.”
Other Chapters of this set
Acting the Part - chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Building on Promise - Chapter 1
Acting the Part, part 2 - Chapter 10
Spice of Strength - Chapter 1
Maps and Guides
- continents of Alacantis and Kranisis (five maps)
- continent of Almara (five maps)
- countries of Kri'enden and Yezi'im (four maps plus "other places")
- characters, pronunciation and glossary
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Brighid's Blood 2006 and 1200 B.T.C.E. Katja and Rachel are so desperate for love that they cast two love spells one night. But the Guardians do not consider spells "fun", but rather as cries for help from the very depths of your soul. Certainly Katja and Rachel could not have possibly imagined where these spells would take them! |
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Birth of the Neví 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. |
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Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who, through the mysterious “Curator,” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva - a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la - a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie - an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna - an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; Kami - a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| COMING SOON | TO AN EBOOK STORE NEAR YOU!!! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? |
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Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance The Neví have infiltrated the Terrenden Freedom Party. Dr. Jarly is on the run and the Curator still dominates the Terrenden stage. Famous actor, Derick Aiden has released his Neví expose film and now the Neví want him dead... In this collection, we meet more interesting women. Kauri - a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry - an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara - a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; D'zani - who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala - an heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; Moxara - one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
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Lori Svensen
author/designer at A'mara Books
photographer/graphic artist for Viking Visual
verified author on Goodreads
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also on: Whaleshares, WeKu, and Bearshares
