“My sister carved it. She was so creative. I’m sure she would have been an artist or sculptor if she’d lived.”
“I think she loved you very much, and you loved her, and that what happened wasn’t from carelessness on your part. It could have been you who fell, just as easily.”
“I learned to believe that, eventually.” He looked at her sadly. “My parents never did, though.”
“They blamed you?”
“Yes. I was the older child, and the boy. That made me responsible for what happened. My mother, who claimed to be psychic, said that she’d dreamed that I hated Melinda. That was the opposite of the truth. Melinda and I were so obnoxious in all the same ways that we adored each other. But Mother trusted her dream more than she trusted me. I was banished, you might say, to one of the strictest military academies in Virginia. From the time I was twelve years old, I came home only for holidays and a few weeks during the summer. I can’t say that there wasn’t some relief in being away from them. I think they’d disliked each other for years before the accident. Afterward, the relationship only got worse.”
“And when you were eighteen …” Her throat closed. She stared at him, waiting.
“I was home temporarily, getting ready to leave for college. It was the first time I realized how violent my parents had become toward each other. Throwing things, screaming at each other. One night I came home from a party and … found them. There was a gun.” She saw a muscle flex convulsively in his throat. “Both of them. Dead.”
Elena sat up and put her arms around him. “How could anyone accuse you?”
“There was never any serious case against me, not even an indictment, just lurid newspaper articles and a lot of gossip about the bitterness in the family. The coroner’s report made it clear that no third party was involved in what happened.”
Audubon hugged her hard and said with strained lightness, “So that’s the sordid story of my family. Honestly, it won’t hurt my feelings if you double-check the details.”
“I’ve already seen the proof. I declare you innocent. Case closed.” She sat back, wiping her eyes. “And now I understand why you don’t think much of the idea of marrying and having a family.”
The old memories faded from his eyes. His expression gentled so much that she became very still, almost enchanted. “I was afraid you wouldn’t think much of marriage—at least not in connection with me—after hearing my story.”
Under the solemn flannel, her heart began to race. “I remember a discussion once about bookstores, dogs, and cats. Marriage was mentioned briefly, but it never stood a chance.”
“Bookstores, dogs, cats, marriage, children. It all goes together in my mind.”
“But you have a very manipulative mind, dear man.”
“But I thought you’d learned to enjoy that about me, dear woman.”
“Is this a marriage proposal?”
“I’ve never been involved in one before, but, yes, I believe that’s what it is.” Growing serious, he took her face between his hands. “Elena, please marry me.”
“Please kiss me.” He did. “Yes.”
“Please say yes again, and dress it up.”
“I love you with every bit of my heart, and I’ll make flowers bloom for you as long as I live.”
“Nice,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms. “Very nice dressing up.”
Much later, in the quiet, she reminded him that he’d promised to tell her his full name. He smiled against her lips. “I promise to tell you on your eightieth birthday, when all of our children and grandchildren are gathered around to hear. It should be a dramatic moment.”
She laughed softly. This fox would always be sly. Still, she wouldn’t mind the wait.
The Silver Fox and the Red-Hot Dove Page 18
