page43 (1/2)
“You won’t leave?” His tone was pleading, his nor voice choked with tears she’d never, ever seen him shed before
“I won’t go further than the hall, I promise”
“I love you, Eleanor Please believeit, but I love you more than my own life”
She didn’t know if she believed him She wanted to So lect didn’t get wiped out with even heart-rending tears and confessions of affection For all she knew, his illness was o back to his distant self once he was feeling better She didn’t say any of that, though
She gave him a watery smile “I love you, too I always have”
He let her go and she et to him Then she stumbled toward the door and Sandor was there, his ar her out of the room and into the hall Once outside the door, he pulled her into his chest, sheltering her fro fro to wash over her
Suddenly another pair of ar scent “Is she all right, Sandor?”
“She is strong, Mama”
Ellie lifted her head “Hera?”
“Yes, my child I am here” The older woo to the waiting room”
“I told him I wouldn’t leave the hall”
“The rooht here, off the hallway Not more than ten steps You will know instantly if he has need of you Sandor will make sure of it, but child you need to sit down”
Sandor agreed and between the two of theo to the waiting room and sit They took a place on either side of her on the sainst one wall There was no one else there and Ellie was glad She never fell apart like this She’d hate to have strangers witness her weakened state
Sandor had his ar on his strength
Hera held Ellie’s hand with one of hers and patted it with her other one “You have had a difficult day, no?”
Ellie gave a shaky sigh “Yes”
“Sandor told me all about it”
Ellie’s head came up at that and she looked from mother to son “All of it?”
Hera’s dark eyes so like her son’s, were filled with compassion “Yes All My son, he was very stupid, but you ive him some credit He did not know of your sister any more than you did”
“Did he tell you about the business er?”
Hera’s expression turned infinitely sad “Yes He and your father, they do not understand a woman’s heart, do they?”