Page 85 of A Legacy of the Light

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“There are thermal vents in the pool over there so the water is always warm. I come here when I need a break. Even camped here a time or two.”

I venture further in, and Tavish follows me as I explore. We entered on the grassy side and I run my fingers through the long blades as we head toward the stony bank next the stream. I walk the full length of the meadow and, as we approach the rock face, there’s an area cleared of grass that resembles a campsite, right where the stream opens to the wide pool.

“Did you do this?” I ask Tavish, turning to face him.

He nods in confirmation. There’s a large log next to a fire pit made of uneven stones. Tavish drops the pack and I perch on the log, watching him as he confidently gets a fire going to ward off any lingering chill.

He joins me and unpacks a large blanket, sandwiches, and fruit for us.

“Hungry?” he asks.

“Yes,” I confirm and he hands me a wrapped baguette. “Thank you.”

The fire keeps us warm and I pull the blanket over my knees before biting into the chicken-salad-filled bread.

“I think I might miss the quiet when I go back to New York,” I confess aloud as we eat lunch. It’s so peaceful here. Even in the city, where it’s busy, it’s nothing compared to the bustling streets of my home.

Tavish doesn’t reply, but scans my face thoughtfully.

“Is it okay to admit that I’ll be sad that I can’t visit?” I ask, turning to face him.

“I think so. No one gets to tell you whether your feelings are right or wrong. You feel what you feel. There’s no need to justify it.” His statement is matter of fact, with the certainty of someone who has rarely been challenged in their life.

“I wish I had your confidence.”

Tavish throws one leg over the log so he’s facing me too and leans forward on his hands, looking down at me. “You have plenty of confidence from where I’m sitting.”

“Sometimes I am confident. A lot of the time I’m not. Before I lost Mom, I was a lot like I’ve been today. It’s been nice to feel like me again, even if it only lasts a little while. Thank you for showing me this place.”

“You’re welcome. And, Elsie, whether you’re sad, confident, laughing, or telling me to fuck off,” he smirks at me, “I think you’re pretty amazing. I’m glad you ended up here so we had the chance to get to know each other.”

Color stains my cheeks and I pull my gaze away.

“Thanks,” I mumble, not quite sure what to do with myself.

I watch a bird hop from branch to branch in the tree across the stream as I finish my food, and release a deep breath.

Tavish suddenly stands next to me. “Come on, let’s swim.”

“I don’t have anything to swim in Tavish.”

He tugs his shirt off over his head, tossing it on the log next to me. “We can swim in our underwear,” he replies casually while unlacing his boots to take them off. The way his thick arms flex with his movements transfixes me.

He looks up at me, fingers paused on his laces. “Unless you’re not wearing any?” his eyes flick down to my chest for the quickest of moments.

“Yes, I’m wearing underwear.” A white lacy bra and a matching thong, but that’s underwear.

“Then what’s the problem?” he asks, kicking off his other boot and unbuttoning the top of his pants.

My eyes glide down his chest and stop where the trail of hair beneath his navel disappears below his underwear.

“Ahem.” Tavish clears his throat, snapping me out of my perusal of his body. Heat spreads from my neck up to my cheeks at being caught.

“Won’t it be cold?” I ask.

“Nope,” he pops the ‘p’. “Thermal vents, remember.”