Chapter 13 - THE WAITRESS WHO FOUND HER VOICE
Mave's life changed slowly.
Not because Declan bought her a mansion.
Not because he paid her debts and expected gratitude.
But because she finally began asking what she wanted for herself.
She enrolled in an animal behavior and welfare program.
She wanted to work with frightened animals.
Animals like Shadow.
Animals like Brutus.
Animals that had been punished for reacting to pain.
Declan supported her decision.
But Mave insisted on paying her own tuition through scholarships, savings, and part-time work.
He respected that.
Margaret's condition remained unpredictable.
Some days were difficult.
Other days were filled with laughter.
Mave visited often.
Declan sometimes accompanied her.
Margaret liked him.
Especially when he brought flowers.
One afternoon, Margaret looked at him.
“You love my daughter.”
Declan froze.
Mave nearly dropped her coffee.
“Mom!”
Margaret smiled.
“I may forget things, sweetheart. But I'm not blind.”
Declan looked at Mave.
Then answered honestly.
“Yes.”
Mave stopped breathing.
Margaret nodded.
“Then don't make her smaller.”
Declan's expression softened.
“I won't.”
That evening, Mave and Declan walked through a park.
Autumn leaves covered the path.
“You meant what you said?” she asked.
Declan looked at her.
“Yes.”
She swallowed.
“About loving me?”
He stopped.
“Mave, I've spent most of my life being feared.”
His voice softened.
“Then you walked into a room full of armed men and told me I was wrong.”
She smiled faintly.
“And instead of hating you for it, I started wondering what my life would look like if I listened.”
Mave's eyes filled.
Declan continued.
“I love you.”
She looked at him for a long moment.
Then whispered:
“I love you too.”
He smiled.
A real smile.
Warm.
Almost disbelieving.
May you like
And when he kissed her, it was gentle.
Nothing like the violence that had once defined his world.
