CHAPTER FOUR-CRAZY CHICKS

Sliding his fingers through the soft dark hair on top of her head, Haldir leaned over the cold metal table and kissed Mory’s soft dusky lips. “I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

Sweeping the back of his fingers across her soft cheek, Haldir closed his eyes and took in one last breath of her. Her soft sweet smell reminded him of his daughter’s kitchen and made him feel, for just a moment, that he wasn’t really so far from his family.

Out of all the women he’d ever known, this human was the one to bring him so much bittersweet comfort.

As the bright, gold light of the angel warmed his back, Haldir looked over his shoulder at Michael. “It’s time to wake up now, old friend.”

The bright sun reflecting against the icy ground outside the window burned into Haldir’s eyes as they snapped open. Clutching at his chest, he struggled to catch his breath. “Oh fuck, Mory. What are you thinking?”

The cool morning air burned through his lungs making him cough off the alcohol and cigarette smoke that lulled him to sleep last night. All Haldir did the whole night was toss and turn and think about Mory until he finally drank enough to make her disappear.

Pushing himself up to the side of the bed, Haldir scratched his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. “Shit!

Why didn’t I knock?”

As the soft flannel that lined his pants slid up the smooth grooves of his leg muscles, he quickly pulled up his pants and tucked in his waffle knit thermal shirt. Haldir tried to think of a way to approach Mory that didn’t seem unreasonable. If she was really that close to the edge, he certainly didn’t want to provoke her.

As the black mist swirled around the front of the pub, Haldir stepped forward then the fog quickly disappeared into nothing. Expecting to see Garrett’s wrinkled old face at the bar, Haldir squinted at the night barkeep. “Good morning Pete. What are you doing here so early?”

Without looking up from his phone, the tall, thin blonde poured a cup of coffee for Haldir. “Ingrid fell in the kitchen and hurt herself quite badly early this morning.”

“Oh shit. Is she going to be alright?” Haldir took a sip of the terrible coffee then shook his head. “Jesus. That’s terrible. Did you make that?”

Pete sighed as he dropped his phone on the counter. “I’m a night time kind of man Haldir. Coffee isn’t my specialty. I expect she’ll be fine. Luckily, that nurse found her and got her fixed up very well before the service arrived.”

Haldir sighed a breath of relief and licked the bitter coffee off his lip. “That’s good. I’m glad she’s alright.”

Feeling the heat being sucked from the room and suddenly replaced by the icy wind outside, Haldir looked over his shoulder to see Mory closing the door behind her.

Pete put out another cup on the bar and filled it. “So, what’s the verdict then Mory?”

As the clean scent of bergamot and lavender gently made its way to her nose, Mory took off her hat and gloves then sat beside Haldir. It reminded her of the Irish Spring soap her parents used to buy when she was little, and it suddenly swept her back to her mother’s dinner table on Sunday evening. “Broken hip. She’s on her way to the mainland to have it repaired as we speak.”

Pete crossed his arms and scrunched up his face. “Christ. How long will she be there?”

Mory rubbed the cold from her hands before taking her cup. “She’s a spry older woman, she should do fine. I’m not sure how it works over here on the island, but she’ll need some intensive physical therapy for a few weeks at least.”

“Oh no. There’s going to be lots of unhappy customers. The miners and fishermen all come here just about every night for dinner when they get back from work.” Pete twisted his lips to the side then scratched the top of his head. “I better call around and see what I can get worked out.”

As her cheeks and ears began to flush, Mory unzipped her jacket. “I’ve already been thinking about that. I think Garrett and I have that part worked out. I’m going to make a big batch of food every day, like soup and sandwiches or something, then when they get back in the evening all you’ll have to do is heat it up and serve it or they can serve themselves. Whatever you think is best.”

Pete curled his lips under and nodded as he thought about how it would work. “That’s a good idea, but what if they don’t like what you serve? Those boys get right rowdy sometimes.”

Mory sipped on her coffee and shrugged as she set it back down. “Well, I’m not their Mother so I really don’t give a damn what they like. They can eat or starve, it’s up to them.”

As he chuckled, Pete tapped his hand on the bar. “Let me know if you need any help in the kitchen, Mory.”

Mory stared at her cup of coffee as she drew circles around the rim with her fingers. “Sure.”

Putting his chin against his shoulder as he looked over at Mory, Haldir stole a quick sniff of home and comfort. “That’s a very nice thing you’re doing for them.”

Mory licked her lips as she picked up her cup. “No, it’s not. That sweet old woman fell down while she was making me breakfast. Least I can do is help out around here until she’s feeling better.”

As he slowly glanced around Mory’s face, Haldir’s hot breath brushed against Mory’s chilly cheek and ear. A breath-taking throb began in the long-neglected parts of Mory’s body. “Excuse me.”

While Mory walked into the diner, Haldir looked over her body. It wasn’t only the visions of her laying in a morgue that kept Haldir awake last night.

While she took off her parka and laid it across the wooden chair that sat behind the counter,

Haldir took a seat across from her. Mory blew out through her mouth as she tried to still her racing heart. “You hungry?” she asked as she looked back over her shoulder.

Haldir grinned then took a sip of his drink. “Starving.”

Looking through the industrial refrigerator, Mory stood on her tip toes to peek onto the top shelf. Finding bacon, she pulled it out then started the griddle. As she laid the rashers across the hot surface, she turned her head back and spoke over her shoulder. “So, they tell me you’re the magic man.”

Haldir pulled his hand down his beard. “Something like that.”

When she opened the refrigerator again and grabbed the eggs, she asked, “So, what’s your deal? You read tea leaves or tarot cards? What?”

“No. I just get visions sometimes.” Haldir rubbed his lips with his fingertips as he watched Mory work.

As the pins and needles began in her fingers then rose through her arms, Mory looked up from the food and took a deep breath. “Really? Weird, that you didn’t catch what happened this morning then?”

Haldir pushed himself back in his chair as he watched the sun beaming through the curtains, picking up the fiery reds and golds in her hair as its rays passed through the room. “I’m not in control of what I see, they just happen when they happen.”

Mory swallowed the burn rising in her throat. “That work out well for you? What I mean is, is it very helpful to anyone?”

Smirking at Mory because he couldn’t tell from her tone if she was being sarcastic or not, Haldir looked down at the counter as he rubbed his fingers against the smooth top and decided to just be honest. “Not usually. I’ve probably hurt more than I helped.”

Mory turned around to face him and nodded as she nervously glanced around the diner. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

As he pulled his brows down in suspicion, he wondered what she meant by that. “You seem easily convinced. Usually you humans need more proof.”

Looking over the food as it continued cooking, Mory glanced back to him. “Humans? You’re not human?”

“Not for a long time.”

Mory put her hands on the counter then leaned in to look him in the eyes. “Like a thousand years?”

Haldir glanced down to her lips before he looked her in the eyes again. “Yeah. Just about.”

As her eyes darted around his handsome face, Mory inhaled sharply through her nose before she turned back to the griddle. “Just because I don’t believe in your bullshit story doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear it all. Continue please.”

Haldir chuckled through his nose at Mory’s honesty. “No, I think I’d like to hear about yours now.”

As she cracked the eggs against the side of the griddle, Mory shook her head. “Trust me. By the sound of it, your life is vastly more interesting than mine. Tell me some of your trials and tribulations, old man.”

When she pushed the arm down on the toaster, Haldir crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly as he waited for a response. “Why don’t you tell me about what’s in your coat pocket?”

Gasping in a soft breath, Mory looked down to the floor then closed her eyes. “No. I don’t think that’s something I care to talk to you about.” When the toaster popped, she took the bread out then put it on a plate.

As she worked, Haldir leaned over the counter and clasped his hands together. “You don’t seem very impressed with my skills.”

“You’re going to have to work harder at surprising me, Merlin. I’ve been around the block a time or two.”

Setting the plate of food in front of Haldir, he put his hand on top of Mory’s. “That sounds like a challenge I don’t mind accepting, Morana.”

As the warmth of his touch pushed away the cold nothing in her veins, Mory shook her head. “Believe me, you can’t handle this level of crazy.”

Slowly taking her hand back from Haldir’s heavy grasp, he saw a familiar look in Mory’s gaze. The guilt and shame in her amber eyes was reminiscent of another lost soul. “Jesus, you remind me of my daughter, you know that?”

Mory tore off a piece of her sandwich and popped it in her mouth. “I got to say, that’s kind of weird. Is she a raging bitch too?”

“Nah. Just a scared, smart mouthed little girl, really.”

Mory rolled her eyes towards the window as a fishing boat came into view. “Yep. That sounds just like me alright.”

The more he talked with Mory, the more Haldir realized she wasn’t quite as fragile as he had thought. “Well, I suppose it’s easy to find your courage in the bottom of that bottle of pills.”

Mory licked her lips before looking back to Haldir. She crossed her arms as the reality of what he said hit her. “I know you like to help people and all, but you’re wasting your time here, Mr. Fix-it. I don’t want your help. Believe it or not, I’m comfortable with how this is going to end.”

“Hmm!” Haldir snorted out his nose. “Well, I suppose you’re shit out of luck, because I’m feeling very helpful right now and I’m not comfortable with it at all.”

While she searched the cupboards as she planned tonight’s meal, Mory said, “Knock yourself out if it makes you sleep better at night. But just like your other visions, you got this one all wrong. There’s nothing you can do for me.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m full of surprises Morana.”

As she picked up a can then set it back down, Mory chuckled to herself. “Yeah, that’s what you all say. I haven’t seen one of you deliver on it yet.”

Haldir was surprised by Mory’s banter. From all he’d seen and what James told her, he’d expected her to be a more difficult person to get to know. “I’m sure that’s true, but you’ve never met a man like me before.”

Mory leaned over and rested her head against her hand on the counter as she looked at Haldir. “Mmm-hmm. You got a thing for crazy chicks or something?”

Leaning down to meet her eyes, Haldir pursed his lips slightly as he considered just kissing her right there in the kitchen. “No, not really. Just the one.”

She grinned quickly as she glanced around his face then finally settled on his eyes again. “Well, if that’s the case, I’ll let you know as soon as I start spiraling out of control again. Now get out of here, I got work to do and you’re distracting as hell.”

Realizing how close they were, Haldir glimpsed down between their bodies. As he took in the curve of her breasts as they nearly touched him through her fuzzy white sweater, Haldir nodded. “We can finish this conversation at dinner.”

As he took the sandwich from the plate, Haldir took another bite. “Thanks for breakfast. I’ll see you tonight.”