Chapter 37: Tears of Connection
Thea’s gaze drifted to Ryder, her eyes locking onto her finger, still nestled in his lips. A soft smile played on her lips, but before Ryder could notice, he looked up and asked, "Where is the first aid box?"
"In the living room.." she replied.
As their eyes met, Thea’s smile quickly disappeared, leaving behind a neutral expression.
Ryder returned from the living room, the first aid kit in his hand. He approached Thea, his eyes locking onto hers. "Give me your hand.."
"It’s okay, Ryder. I’m fine.." Thea said softly, attempting to reassure him, but her words only seemed to deepen his concern.
"Give me your hand." he asked again. Thea sighed and gave him her hand. Ryder gently placed it on the counter table, took out a band-aid, and carefully cleaned the wound. He then applied a thin layer of ointment to the affected area and finally covered it with the band-aid.
Ryder offered to help with lunch, his gaze holding Thea’s with a soothing intensity. She handed over the knife, feeling a flutter in her chest.
"Did you know how to chop vegetables?" she asked, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "Yes.." Ryder replied confidently. He expertly diced the vegetables, his hands moving with a gentle strength.
Thea stood close, captivated by Ryder’s skilled hands.As the slicing was complete, Thea stepped forward,"Now let me do the rest."
Ryder’s lips curved into a gentle smile. "So the little girl knows how to cook?"
Thea’s smile grew wider. "The little girl have grown up now and know many other things.." she replied.
"Like?" he asked, his voice low and inviting, his eyes locked onto hers.
"Like the little girl who started to fa..." Her words faded, and she bit her lip, stopping herself before she could finish.
"Why did you stop?"
Thea’s lips curled into a playful grin as she finally answered, "Like she fell in the lake." She arched an eyebrow, her tone light and teasing. "Is that the answer you were hoping for?"
Ryder’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "When did that happen, Thea?"
She grinned, unable to hide her amusement. "Really, Ryder? You didn’t actually think I was being serious, did you?"
Ryder shook his head,"No..."
Thea’s laughter was soft and throaty. "I made it up-I almost had you fooled," she said, her eyes dancing with mischief as she turned back to the stove.
Finally, they completed making their meals for lunch.
Thea hurried to summon her Grandma from the room. "Grandma, lunch is served!"she announced her voice resonating through the corridor.
After their satisfying lunch, Ryder bid Thea and Grandma Grace farewell and headed home. As soon as the door closed behind him, Grandma Grace turned to Thea with a warm smile.
"Thea, dear, could you come to my room for a moment?" Grandma Grace requested.
"Yes, Grandma, coming." Thea replied, quickly drying her hands. She followed the familiar path to her grandma’s room.
As she entered, Thea asked, "What happened?" Her eyes scanned the room, but all seemed well.
"Come and sit beside me." Grandma Grace said, patting the cushion next to her.
Thea settled into her seat, her attention drawn to the elegant wooden box resting in Grandma Grace’s hands. Its surface was etched with elaborate patterns, each detail suggesting a story untold. Thea recognized the box-it had always been present, yet always closed. Somehow, she sensed it was more than just an heirloom; it was a silent keeper of her mother’s memories and mysteries.
"Thea, I think you have recognised this box." Grandma Grace said, her eyes misting with memories as a soft smile played on her lips.
"This box holds something precious." she said quietly, her tone reflective and tinged with a gentle nostalgia.
Thea’s eyes locked onto the box,"You showed it to me when I was little," she said, "but you never let me open it."She had seen it before, tucked away in Grandma Grace’s wardrobe.
A hint of a smile crossed Grandma Grace’s face, even as tears brimmed in her eyes. "This was your mother’s wish," she said, her voice trembling. "For me to give this to you when you grew up." She paused, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "It’s the last remains I have of her."
Grace’s aged fingers lingered on the box as she passed it to Thea. "Your mother wanted you to have this," she whispered, her voice fragile with memory.
Thea’s fingers wrapped around the box, feeling the familiar weight of it. Grandma Grace’s eyes, filled with a mix of sadness and nostalgia, met hers.
"Now, open it." Grandma Grace said, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Okay, Grandma.." Thea said softly, her hands shaking ever so slightly as she carefully lifted the lid.
The treasures inside the box-sparkling jewelry, yellowed letters, and faded photos of her parents’ smiling faces-overwhelmed Thea with emotion. As she gently caressed a photo and smiled, tears welled in her eyes.
Grandma Grace’s voice trembled with emotion as she reached into the box and gently lifted out a delicate ring. "Thea, this is the ring your grandfather gifted to your mother on her 20th birthday." she said, her eyes welling up with tears. "Keep it safe, dear one."
Memories flooded Thea’s mind as she gazed at the ring and the other treasures in the box. She recalled the countless stories Grandma Grace had shared with her, stories of her parents’ unwavering love for her, and the devastating loss that had torn them apart far too soon.
Thea’s mother, Cheyenne, was the beloved only daughter of Grandma Grace. Tragedy had struck when Thea was just a tender 5 years old, claiming the lives of both her parents in a devastating car accident. Grandma Grace had been by Cheyenne’s side in the hospital, holding her hand and whispering words of love as she took her last breath, a memory that still lingered in Grandma Grace’s heart like an open wound.
The tears in Grandma Grace’s eyes were evident as she remembered the promise she made to her daughter - to look after Thea and keep her safe.
Thea’s fingers closed around the ring, and suddenly she felt her mother’s presence all around her. Tears streamed down her face, but they were no longer just tears of sadness - they were also tears of connection, of love, of knowing that her mother’s spirit lived on through her.
