The Tragic Tale of Teddy Woven novel Chapter 13

Luna made a small meow, urging me to join her in the kitchen. Her master was not far behind, subtly watching me from around the pale white wood of the doorway. Bravely I stepped forward, allowing my fingers to lightly rub against the left side of the hallway wall. I stopped over the archway, still feeling that heated gaze from him. My body was starting to respond to him, but I forced that thought away and bent down to pet the back of Luna’s ear. She purred instinctively, loud enough for Teddy to hear. He abandoned his post to clear away his dishes.

“Hello Luna,” I whispered. She was brought upwards to rest in front of my chest, cuddled like a small babe that had just been born. She was sweet and innocent, and I found myself being drawn to her immensely.

My right hand drew out my chair and I happily took a seat. She was the cure I needed to calm myself down, a welcome distraction from the lustful look that continually escaped Teddy’s eyes. I suppose it was unintentional, but this morning it had increased more than ever before. A lot can be said in a person’s eyes and looks, and Teddy’s was most telling.

Luna soon grew bored of me and wanted to be put down. I had no choice but to lay her down on the kitchen floor and watch her small paws pad their way towards her master.

While I was eating I could hear him speaking to Luna. “Hello, little Missy,” he affectionately cooed. “You missed me?”

I glanced upwards to see he was just drying off his hands with a dish cloth. His whole attention was on this small creature, completely forgetting I was still in the room with him.

“You’re going outside today?” he continued, before he bent his knees and reached for his cat. “Or are you going to spend the day with me again?” His dark brown eyes searched out her pale blue ones, and once they connected a warm smile spread across his face. “I know you like Sela too.” A happy laughter escaped him before he averted his gaze from his cat towards me. “I’m speaking to her aloud. Forgive me. I am used to living alone.”

“I’ve heard it is normal to speak to your pets.”

“Yes, but…” he looked down at Luna with something of a smile. “She’s my only friend.”

“Now, you have another one.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, Teddy,” I confirmed for him. “I am done with my food now.” He watched me rise up from my chair with a surprised look to him. “Please move so I may wash my dishes.” He moved to the right, allowing me enough space to place the dishes down in the sink. I could feel him staring at me again, examining my side profile as I soaked the water upon the pure white plate. Luna squirmed in his arms, forcing him to place her upon the kitchen floor. He never moved when I reached behind him to obtain the kitchen towel, probably enjoying the closeness of our bodies. “Anyone tell you that…” His gaze strengthened two-fold. “You have a certain look to your eyes.”

“What kind of look?”

“I can’t describe it.”

He blinked slowly, and then finally dropped his eyes from mine. I laid the dish towel down on the edge of the countertop; Teddy was quick to retrieve it and fold it neatly to his liking. His quirky mannerisms were exhibited once again, an uncontrollable side to him that Teddy had trouble hiding. “I like it neat,” he said as an excuse. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No.”

His head jerked backwards, for he was puzzled by my answer.

“No, you never offended me.”

He looked down at my lips, and I could see the strain to his jawline since we were standing so close together. A sharp gust of air escaped his partially open lips, and then he suddenly looked over his shoulder as though we were being watched. “We should go,” he said as a way of command. He left the spot as quickly as he could, abandoning a crumbled dish towel over the countertop in the process.

***

“I specialize in landscape paintings.” The canvas was brought upwards, braced hard against his chest because of the weight and sheer size of it. “I live along the English coast.” He shrugged his shoulders, but it looked amusing when his arms were spread so far apart. “I thought I might as well make a living out of it.”

“People would kill for a house like this.”

His face darkened substantially, a dangerous pulse of anger ignited in his eyes. “What did you say?”

“It’s- it’s,” I stammered out nervously. “An expression. Slang.”

He lowered his painting, which brought a wave of sadness to me. I stepped forward to stretch out my hand. “I like how you added the wildflowers in the foreground. Red campions,” I pointed out with my finger hovering over the canvas. The man in front of me nodded his head in agreement. “Yes, and there is…” I tilted my head with a mischievous smile. “White bluebells! Weren’t you worried it would blend in with the white foam of the sea along the coast line?”

“Never even entered my mind.”

I stepped forward even more, until I was right on top of him and the painted canvas. “It looks nice at dawn.”

“It looks nice at any time,” he relayed in almost a hush. “I could take you there, if you don’t object.”