Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Anya squeezed her daughter’s hand gently. “Then what makes you think he is not honest with you now?”
Fiona’s mouth fell open.
“Raynor spoke of Tarr in the message he sent informing us of finding you. They were few words, but those words painted a picture of a man who spoke the truth and honored his word. It is not Tarr you doubt, Fiona. It is yourself.”
Anya brushed back the hair in Fiona’s face. “I was like you, brash and outspoken.” She laughed. “Oleg would say I still am, but my nature was driven by fear. Fear of not being loved, since most young men showed little interest in me.”
“None showed interest in me.”
“That is because we are strong women, and it takes a man of great strength and patience to love such special women. I doubt Tarr understood you when first you met.”
“He did not even know who I was, Fiona or Aliss.” Fiona smiled. “He did tell me he admired my skills and courage, more than once.”
“He began to discover your true worth. Only a man of equal strength can do that, a man that does not fear the discovery but embraces it. I think Tarr has embraced all he has learned about you and is proud to love you.”
“I am a fool.” Fiona hung her head.
Anya lifted it. “Love is being foolish, foolish is being in love. All is forgiven when love is true. Do you love Tarr?”
“With all my heart.” Fiona near wept. “It frightens me how much I love him and I worry that—”
“He will not love you as much?”
Fiona nodded.
“Tarr is a man of his word, Fiona, if he tells you he loves you, believe him.”
“He told me to believe him and he told me he would tell me he loved me every day of our life together.”
“How beautiful and unselfish, for I tell you there will be days he may feel differently,” Anya said with a laugh.
“Tarr loves me,” Fiona said as if accepting it for the first time.
“Know it in your heart and it is so.”
“My heart has known and accepted it far longer than I have.”
“Then tell him this,” her mother urged.
“He must think me a fool.” Fiona grimaced. “I called myself a fool before leaving him.”
“Do not worry. He probably thinks himself an idiot.”
“Why?” Fiona asked surprised.
“Because he sits now wondering what he did wrong.”
“He did nothing wrong.”
“But he thinks he did, and he berates himself for it and wonders how he can make it right.”
“I hurt him,” Fiona sighed.
“It is not the first hurt and it will not be the last,” her mother advised.
“He told me he would never make me cry.”
Anya laughed. “Oh, dear, sweet daughter, as much as he believes that he will not make you cry, he will, though not intentionally, and he will be distraught by your tears and seek to make it right between you. It is inevitable; it is love.”
“Does love bring more grief than pleasure?”
“That is up to those who love.”
“I have brought grief to our love,” Fiona admitted with reluctance.
“Then it is time to turn it to pleasure.”
Fiona looked doubtful.
“Patience with yourself. This is all new to you, and it will take time to understand. Let your heart lead you and forget everything else.”
“That is easier than it sounds.”
“Let go of the fear, Fiona, and it will be much easier than you think.”
“The fear has kept me cautious all these years.”
“You need it no more,” her mother said gently. “You have me and your father now. We may have failed once to protect you girls, but I give you my word we will not fail again.”
Fiona smiled. “You are telling me that if you thought Tarr no good for me you would stop this marriage.”
“Immediately. Oleg and I want what is best for you girls even if it means losing you to a husband when we have just found you.”
“Our parents were like that, putting Aliss and me above their needs.”
“You do not know how happy it makes me to know that you both were loved. I feared you might have suffered a harsh life. I am glad, so very glad you had loving parents.” Anya sniffled. “Though I cannot say it does not upset me that I missed all those years with you.”
It was Fiona’s turn to comfort. “We have many more years ahead of us, and between Aliss, Raynor, and me you will have many grandchildren to spoil.”
Anya kissed her cheek and whispered, “Do not keep me waiting.”
Fiona hugged her. “I am anxious.”
“I would bet that Tarr is eager.”
“What if he thinks me insane?”
Anya grinned. “Insanely in love with him. Go to him with nothing but love on your mind. Let no doubt enter your thoughts, and be ready to love him with all the passion your heart holds for him. Believe me when I say your actions will be enough. There will be no need for talk.”