Free Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe

flickering nervously, made his guilt worse.
    ‘It’s just family, really,’ he said, looking down at his hands.
    ‘OK.’ Jane’s tone was stiff, wounded. She scraped her chair back. ‘How long for?’
    ‘Not long.’ He looked up, smiling. ‘You’ll hardly know I’m gone.’
    It was dark outside his house. The dawn was attempting to break as Luca walked quietly through the gate and up to the back door. A couple of wild cats stood like sentries either side of it, their ears gleaming and curious. Luca nodded at them. Some unspoken greeting between animals. The wild cats had never evolved to anything more than wild cats, but like all cats they had that knowing, sharp intelligence, that extra sense.
    Opening the door seemed to create a cacophony to Luca’s ears, though in fact it hardly made a sound. He was feeling extra sensitive. Nervous of seeing his family for the first time since he’d left.
    He saw straight ahead of him that the light was on in the kitchen. Someone was already up.
    ‘Who is it?’ A young female voice, slightly shrill and wary. ‘Lowe, are you up already?’
    Luca peered around the kitchen door to see Dalya bent over a book at the table. She looked up, at first blinking in confusion, before her brain caught up with her eyes.
    ‘Luca!’ she gasped. ‘You came!’
    ‘Ssh.’ Luca moved towards her, putting his arms around her and pressing his head to hers. ‘You’ll wake them.’
    Dalya wriggled in his embrace. When she looked at him, her eyes were bright, glad to see him.
    ‘You remembered!’ She was pleased, two pink spots of pleasure on her cheeks. ‘I didn’t think you would …’
    ‘Of course.’ Luca let go of her and sat down next to her on the bench. ‘But I also need to see Ulfred.’
    ‘What’s wrong? Is it Jane? Has something happened to her?’ she said anxiously.
    ‘Nothing’s wrong. And Jane is fine. Really.’ He ruffled her hair. ‘I just need to ask Ulfred about something.’
    ‘Oh.’ Dalya closed her book. ‘We miss you. Henora doesn’t say it, but she is sad. I didn’t think you were going to come back.’
    ‘In truth, neither did I.’ Luca shrugged. ‘I realize I have disgraced this family.’
    ‘Henora has softened towards you. At first she was furious, and would not have your name spoken, but now … well, she has begun to talk about you. Memories of when you were young. I think she regrets her harshness.’
    ‘And Ulfred?’
    ‘Ulfred has always understood. You know him. He is more forgiving than her. Henora says that you and he are like peas in a pod.’ She shuddered a little. ‘Which means that she and I are alike, no doubt.’
    ‘Identical,’ said Luca teasingly.
    ‘I wouldn’t mind her strength,’ Dalya said sombrely, all of a sudden.
    ‘Me neither.’ Luca sighed.
    ‘But you are strong. Strong enough to follow your heart.’ Dalya yawned. ‘They’ll all be up soon. Are you going to sit here waiting for them?’
    ‘No.’ Luca looked alarmed. ‘I … well, could you tell Ulfred that I will wait for him outside. I don’t want to cause a fuss.’
    ‘OK.’ Dalya nodded. ‘Will I see you again?’
    ‘I hope so.’ He took hold of her hand. ‘Thank you, Dalya.’
    The necklace was still there in its bag in his pocket. Such a tiny delicate chain, yet it might have been a lead weight the way he was so aware of it. Luca walked out into the middle of the field opposite the house and sat down in the long grass. It was hot and he lay back, waiting for his father – if his father were to come.
    Eventually he heard the rustle of the grass and he sat up, seeing Ulfred advancing towards him. His face betrayed no emotion whatsoever. Luca began to think this might have been a bad idea.
    ‘Luca.’ Ulfred nodded at him. ‘How are you, boy?’
    ‘Good.’ Luca got to his feet, unsure whether to shake his father’s hand or embrace him. There was a formality between them that had never existed before.
    Ulfred glanced back at the house.