Willow by Donna Lynn Hope Page B

numb. Haven helped me with the helmet and as he was securing both of them to the bike, I turned to look into the nearest window. I laughed as I tried fluffing my matted hair but it was pointless so I began twisting it and just as I began to reach for my pocket, Haven swiftly retrieved my clip and secured my hair in place for me.
    He reached for my hand and we stood there like statues until my thoughts returned and I pulled away from him. I didn’t know what was happening between us and for some reason, it unnerved me. He unnerved me . The feelings I had were new to me. They were both unfamiliar and captivating. I stepped away from him, torn between wanting to be with him and wanting to run. I was drawn to him but it scared me and I couldn’t figure out why.
    “You don’t need to run,” he announced, as if he were reading my mind. “I’m not going anywhere.”
    I stared up at him, not wanting him to know his penetrating vision had any kind of effect on me. “I am; I’m cold, let’s go inside.”
    The coffee shop smelled of warm spices and baked goods. A large white fireplace was adding further warmth to the room and there was a red couch near it, with a coffee table centered in front. Further into the narrow shop were small tables and chairs. Paintings graced the walls and they were all for sale, each one having been painted by an amateur artist. I stopped in front of the first one that grabbed my attention. A Native American girl wearing white deerskin was sitting on a fur rug with a gray wolf resting beside her. Their harmony was matchless. They stared back at me as if they had a story to tell. I looked away from their painted faces to look at the sticker hanging from the frame. My eyes widened and before I could turn to walk away, Haven joined me. “It’s interesting that you chose this one first. It appeals to you?”
    I continued to stare but nodded. “It’s the perfect depiction of attachment…” I lifted my hand and pointed towards their eyes. “They look like they could stand up and emerge from the portrait.”
    The girl staring back at me had long dark hair that seemed to be ruffled by a light breeze. She was almost untamed in her beauty. She had a feather secured in her hair and a white choker necklace fastened to her neck. The protective wolf beside her, apparently gray at first sight, had hints of tan coloring as well. His eyes were slate gray and he appeared relaxed and content by her side.
    For the next few minutes we looked at all the paintings and then we went to the counter where we ordered chai latte’s and a couple of bagels with egg and cheese. Once more, Haven reached for his wallet before I could open my own. He handed the barista a bill and told him to keep the change. Traces of déjà vu came back to me as I remembered our very first encounter. I knew it would do no good to argue so I thanked him.
    The barista told us it would be a few minutes and to go ahead and pick out a place to sit. Haven led the way to the red couch. “Ladies first,” he said, extending his hand. I slid past him to sit near the crackling fire.
    I removed my jacket and reached for a napkin when I saw that our order was ready. The latte was still too hot to drink so I began taking bites out of my bagel while Haven observed and grinned intermittently.
    “You’re making me self-conscious,” I teased.
    “Is that all?” He questioned, continuing to chuckle.
    His confidence and charm was such that I tried not to feel out of my league while with him. He seemed much older than his years, older than me in fact and I was the one people referred to as an “old soul.” Yet, while sitting alongside him, so near that I could feel the comforting coolness of his breath, I recalled the vision of him sitting at the table with Anne, his body rigid as he looked at the photo of my mother.  Curiosity got the better of me so I put my bagel down and picked up the latte. I sipped and softly asked, “Back at the house…when you