Gwynn put on a silk sleeping gown, walked up behind him, and held his waist. She didn’t say anything. Instead, she merely hugged his shoulders from the back.

…

Noah’s body stiffened in response.

After a brief moment, he asked tenderly and softly, “Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”

At first, she shook her head. Then, however, she nodded. “A little, yeah.”

He responded faintly, “Okay.”

It sounded like a regular response, but Gwynn didn’t see how tears filled up his eyes. He might’ve waited for her in Brookesville for four years, but he had been waiting for her to forgive him for far longer.

It was true. She said she had only forgiven him a little.

The fact was that that was enough to make him feel grateful!

Sensing that he was trembling slightly, she hesitated a little before asking softly, “Are you crying, Noah?”

The only outcome for offending him was a punishment.

Holly had drifted off to sleep.

The next thing Gwynn knew, she was swooped up and carried into the fitting