Page 52 of A Winter Redemption

But he didn’t know what to do. He was out of his depth. They were meant to end at the Solstice. They’d agreed upon that. And he couldn’t tell if what he felt were true, long-lasting feelings or just affection. And he couldn’t tell if Ketho actually cared for him beyond a short fling.

He needed to speak to someone who knew and understood love.

Because he’d started to wonder if he was in it.

Aryn knew about love. He and Sero clearly were deeply in love. And they’d had similar difficulties in their relationship. Aryn had been from Bordertown. Sero had lived in Ores. Now they were together. Aryn could give him advice.

But he couldn’t talk to Aryn. It wouldn’t be right. He was far too busy dealing with his children. But Jarne needed to talk to someone.

Because he didn’t want his relationship with Ketho to end. He didn’t think he could bear that.

* * *

“Hello, Mila,”Jarne said. “Do you have a moment to talk?”

Mila smiled widely. She came out from behind the counter and towards him. “Of course, my dear. What do you want to talk about?”

“Ketho,” Jarne said, getting straight to the point. When they’d returned from ice skating, Ketho decided to take a nap. Jarne took the opportunity to speak to Mila.

“What about him?”

“I have feelings for him,” Jarne said. “But I don’t know the extent of the feelings or if they are true feelings. How do you know if you truly care for someone?” He paused. “How do you know if you are in love?” Now that he had decided to speak to someone, he saw no reason to be indirect.

Mila blinked for a moment. “Well, you just know, dear.”

Jarne frowned. “It’s just I married a man, and I have come to the conclusion that we didn’t have a loving or even an affectionate marriage. So I’m not sure how to assess my own feelings now.”

“Well, how do you feel about Ketho?” she asked.

Jarne stared at the wall behind her. “I like talking to him. I like spending time with him. He makes me laugh and puts me at ease. He listens. He challenges me and makes me think about who I am and what I want to be,” Jarne said. He paused, thinking. “I dislike it when he’s not here, and the idea of parting makes me want to wrench my chest open.”

Mila took his hand and squeezed it. “It sounds like you are in love.”

He swallowed, giving a sharp nod. He’d expected as much. “What do I do now?”

“Well, you tell him, of course!”

Jarne shook his head. “We were only meant to be together until the Solstice. I’m meant to return to Bordertown. And he’s meant to remain here.”

“Tell him. Talk to him,” she said. “You’re not the first to have such problems. Aryn and Sero lived in different places when they met, and look at how happy they are!” She shook him. “Work something out.”

“But what would I say?”

Mila laughed. “Well, that’s obvious. You should say exactly what you just told me.” She hugged him.

Jarne didn’t know what to do with his arms, but finally he wrapped them around her.

“And I know he is a wanderer,” Mila said. “But I’ve never seen him so happy as he is with you. I see how he looks at you. You can make it work.” She squeezed him. “I know it.”

Jarne nodded, although he couldn’t imagine it would be that simple.

ChapterThirty-One

Ketho lay in bed, watching Jarne.

Jarne picked up some dried grass. He stared at it, sniffed it, twisted it in his hand, and then put it back down on the desk. He stared at the wall for several moments. Then he picked up the long grass again.

“Everything all right?” Ketho asked.