Free Black Dahlia (The Dahlia Trilogy of The Gilded Flower Series Book 2) by Vivian Winslow

grief.
    “And it could be another five, who knows.”
    “You’ll never leave these islands, will you?” Dahlia asks the question, already knowing the answer. It’s Kai’s self-imposed prison.
    He leans over and kisses Dahlia tenderly on the lips. “The waves are beautiful today, like you. Let’s surf for a bit. You’re appointment is in two hours.”
     
    “How did you convince her to see me again?” Dahlia asks. “I thought you said she’s pretty sought after.”
    Kai shrugs. “The Old Woman’s always been kind to me, and I help her out with errands and chores whenever she needs it. She’s kind of a surrogate aunt if you will.”
    Dahlia falls quiet, wondering what the Old Woman will see, if anything. It seems only right to visit her one last time before she returns home. Although she hasn’t yet decided where that will be, she has some idea. Already, she feels different from the shattered, broken woman who was lying on the Old Woman’s cot a few weeks ago. And by the woman’s expression, she notices it too.
    Quietly, like the last time, she approaches Dahlia with a warm smile and cups her face in her small but strong hands.
    Her deep brown eyes search Dahlia’s for a few moments before motioning her to lie down. She moves her hands over Dahlia’s body without touching her, stopping for a moment when she reaches her knees and ankles.
    “What is she doing?” Dahlia asks Kai.
    He smiles and holds his finger to his lips. The Old Woman looks from Dahlia to Kai and smiles. Laughing, she begins speaking rapidly to Kai. After a moment, concern passes over her and she pauses, holding a hand above Dahlia’s heart. Kai and the Old Woman continue to speak a few more minutes. Dahlia resists the urge to interrupt, knowing full well that Kai will tell her everything, just as he promised.
    As soon as the woman stops talking, she turns to Dahlia, bows slightly, smiles, and leaves her alone with Kai. If Dahlia weren’t so aware of herself in the moment, she would have sworn she was reliving her previous experience.
    They walk out in silence. As soon as Kai opens the car door for Dahlia, she says, “You’re not allowed to make me wait to tell me what she said.”
    Kai laughs, playfully pushes her inside and closes the door. “Patience is an underrated virtue, Dahlia.”
     

Chapter 31
    “She still saw you under the water and still saw the same person who looked like you but wasn’t you pull you out,” Kai begins.
    “Why don’t you skip ahead and tell me what I haven’t already heard.” Dahlia grabs hold of the door handle as the jeep rocks over the uneven road.
    “Fine. She says you look better than before. Your life force has grown.”
    “Does she know?”
    “About what?”
    “About us?”
    Kai smiles widely. “Probably. She winked at me when you weren’t looking. She noticed your body changed, the tension and unhappiness has been released.”
    “I assume you want to take full credit for that,” Dahlia replies.
    Kai reaches over and runs his hand up Dahlia’s thigh. “Not full. Partial for sure.”
    Dahlia moves his hand and says, “None of that until you finish telling me.”
    Kai sighs and pulls the car over.
    “What? Is it that bad?”
    He shakes his head. “No, but I want to give you my full attention when I say it.”
    “Okay,” Dahlia says nervously.
    “There’s no need to be nervous. Just listen.” Kai’s expression turns serious.
    “I love you, Dahlia.”
    Dahlia’s jaw drops. This isn’t what she was expecting, or even hoping, to hear.
    “Don’t worry, Dahlia. It’s not like that. I mean, maybe if you stayed, one day it would become more. It’s just that,” he pauses, “I want you to know that I love you. When I’m with you, when I’m in your presence, I feel at peace. There’s no struggle to impress you, or be someone I’m not. You’ve become a close friend. I will always be here for you.”
    Dahlia nods.
    “And you’ll always know where to find me,” Kai