It’s #BookQW and Fern must ‘attempt’ her heart’s dream!
More from Chapter 27: (I’ve cut out any spoilers!)
Few others had hair like theirs, and none as straight or long—falling to their waists—as their black strands. Fern’s was now done up in more than a dozen braids, and Merlin’s blew free in an undulating plume, giving him a rather wild look.
She studied her dad, not willing to think of how utterly scared she was to even attempt this. Because if he said, No, I don’t want to know you, it’d be over. For years, she’d been hoping and wishing for this moment, fighting Mom for even a word of what he was like, dreaming about a person who made her who she was.
Even at this distance, she could tell he was tall. The heads of those nearby came to his chin. Merlin turned briefly, his profile revealing olive skin, the same nose as hers, and a full beard, black like his hair, covering his upper chest. Although Beri had laughed at her earlier question, Merlin did look like actors who played the magician, though definitely younger and without the flowing robe. Like most of the men, he wore a linen colonial-style shirt with rusty-brown leather pants, a matching waistcoat and knee-high boots. He looked like he would be interesting to know.
“Does he know who I am?” Fern asked.
Raven shrugged. “Ready?”
What would she say to him, the father she’d waited her life to meet? A dozen things rushed through her mind. Did your bones hurt, too, when you grew so tall? Will you come to my graduation? Did you love my mom? Can we please try to be father and daughter?
The possibility he would turn away from her left her heart racing.
~~~
What a poignant passage, especially this week when we gather and are thankful for family and friends. Even though I wrote it, it’s been a while since I read this section later in the novel, and it’s gripping my heart.
And my dear readers, I have a treat for you: for a limited time, The Witch of the Meadows is free! Download this cozy fantasy ebook from my payhip store or wherever ebooks are sold.
The Windborne novels are available in paperback – perfect for holiday gifts!
~~~
On a personal note:
Like many of you, we are cleaning up, preparing for the holidays and company. Fall moved fast after we arrived home.
The leaves are coming off the trees and the cats are looking for warmth.
On a sunny day, I was happy to spot honeybees from the hives we used to help care for at our church. They were drinking at a fountain put in specifically for the colonies and feeding on asters I planted.
Years ago, a friend split her asters to give me these because they attracted far more bees than others in her garden. Seeing these plants and the bees was a gut punch, because that that friend passed away a month ago. It’s hard to fathom how much another person’s life has meshed with yours. I met Nancy Wiseman around 1986 while helping with a birding trip for a nature center I worked at. She became a good friend, a kind and generous soul who shared my love of all things nature, John Denver, and photography. Many of the photos on my nature blog, The Squirrel Nutwork, came from Nancy, but, ever-modest, she didn’t want to be recognized. I hope to get a tribute up there soon.
Sorry to be quite melancholy. Consider yourself reminded this is a good week to touch base with your loved ones!
And thank you for being here! Laurel
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