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Chapter Eighty-six

Penulis: NYDIA WILLIS
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-17 05:35:51

"I'm just saying," Richard replied, leaning back against the kitchen counter, grinning at her, "if you're going to keep making pancakes like that, you could just marry me."

Rita rolled her eyes and slapped the last of the pancakes onto the growing stack. "You flirt like a boy who hasn't had a serious relationship since kindergarten."

And I eat like one, too," he replied, snatching a strawberry from the bowl beside her. "So technically, I'm consistent."

Amiriam, who was seated at the breakfast nook with Luke and James, nearly choked on her orange juice laughing. "Richard, stop. You're going to scare her off."

"She's not scared," Richard said confidently. "She's impressed. Look at her eyes. That's admiration."

Rita gave him a slow, unimpressed stare. "That's irritating. Learn the difference.".

Luke chuckled as he passed James another slice of toast. “Don’t mind him, Rita. Richard’s version of flirting is just persistent stand-up comedy.”

“And you’re all lucky to witness it firsthand,” R
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  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-eight

    "You received the offer, didn't you?" Luke murmured.Amiriam did not glance over her shoulder. She was standing in the window of her flat, the light of the evening spilling through the glass and burning gold on the tips of her curls. Her fingers tensed on the letter held in her hand."Yes," she said finally. "It came this morning."Luke drew closer, his voice quiet but even. "Where is it?“Chicago. Lead research coordinator for the Mental Health Equity Initiative.” Her voice trembled slightly, but she caught it before it cracked. “It’s what I’ve been working toward for years.”Silence stretched between them.“And?” Luke prompted gently.Amiriam turned to face him. There were no tears in her eyes, just clarity—the kind that comes after weathering too many storms. “And I’m scared.”Luke took another step toward her. “Of leaving?”No," she replied, "of wanting to go."His gaze probed hers, stillness comprehension settling over him. He held out his hand but still did not touch her. "Then

  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-seven

    "I don't want to rush," Luke whispered, his fingertips tracing along Amiriam's wrist as if he intended to stay there forever.Outside the window, the sky was a rich purple color, the border of twilight leaving everything else behind into a quietness of night. Her apartment lights were dim, casting golden shadows on their faces, warm and forgiving.Amiriam looked at him, her eyes full but unwavering. "Then don't. But don't go shy either. Not if it's true."Luke's throat tightened as he swallowed. "I've meant it for years."They sat across from each other on the bed's edge, neither leaning forward, nor back. Between them lay a hesitant sort of safety—learned in recent weeks of laughter, forgiveness, silent letters exchanged and returned, and shared pain no longer needing explanation.James remained with Rita and Christiana for the evening. The apartment was still, the world beyond it progressing more slowly than usual. It was just them.Amiriam breathed out, grasping Luke's hand. "I don

  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-six

    "I'm just saying," Richard replied, leaning back against the kitchen counter, grinning at her, "if you're going to keep making pancakes like that, you could just marry me."Rita rolled her eyes and slapped the last of the pancakes onto the growing stack. "You flirt like a boy who hasn't had a serious relationship since kindergarten."And I eat like one, too," he replied, snatching a strawberry from the bowl beside her. "So technically, I'm consistent."Amiriam, who was seated at the breakfast nook with Luke and James, nearly choked on her orange juice laughing. "Richard, stop. You're going to scare her off.""She's not scared," Richard said confidently. "She's impressed. Look at her eyes. That's admiration."Rita gave him a slow, unimpressed stare. "That's irritating. Learn the difference.".Luke chuckled as he passed James another slice of toast. “Don’t mind him, Rita. Richard’s version of flirting is just persistent stand-up comedy.”“And you’re all lucky to witness it firsthand,” R

  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-five

    "Already morning?"The voice was hoarse, brittle as the sound of dry parchment's edge, and unmistakably Jackson Oden's.Luke froze in place, the coffee in his hand nearly spilling over as he snapped his eyes up from the hospital floor to the man in the bed. For days now, Jackson had been silent—alive, but subdued beneath the maze of wires and monitors. And now, just like that, he was awake.“Dad…” Luke’s voice trembled, not with fear but with the weight of waiting. “You’re awake.”Jackson blinked slowly, adjusting to the pale light above. His face was wiser than a week earlier. Soffer, too. Or maybe it was just the relief surging in Luke's chest."Get straight with it, Luke," Jackson croaked, and then released a shuddering breath. "Time is unkind. Love is gentle."It hit Luke like a punch to the ribs. The truth of it. The simplicity.For a moment, Luke could do no more than nod, for the rest of him would not work. The silence hung heavy with all that he wished to say—about the battles

  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-four

    "Are you sure that you want to do this tonight?" Amiriam asked quietly, her voice breaking the stillness of the evening.Luke glanced over at her as they walked slowly down the gravel driveway that headed into the garden behind the Oden estate. "I've been sure for a while. Just never finding the nerve to bring you here."The stillness of night closed around them like a cloak. Scent of jasmine and roses mixed with the sweet, damp musk of wetted earth. It was peaceful—too peaceful, it seemed, for what lingered in the air between them.Amiriam looked straight. Lanterns glowed softly among the hedges, as if ready to watch something sacred. "Your mother's garden?"Luke nodded. "Yeah. She did all the flower planting herself. Even when she was sick, she'd come out here. Said it helped her breathing."Amiriam hesitated. "I remember her hands. They were always filthy. She'd still ask you for a cup of tea like nothing was wrong."He laughed a short, almost-sentimental laugh. "She was like that.

  • RECKLESS DESIRES: THE ODEN LEGACY    Chapter Eighty-three

    "Luke! Luke, hurry!"James's high-pitched yell cut the quiet morning like the sharp report of a starter's pistol, dispelling Saturday's gentle hum. Luke nearly spilled coffee as he jumped from the kitchen table, his heart pounding at the urgency in his little brother's voice."Only for this morning!" James exclaimed, racing into the living room where he stood proudly, holding a single sheet of paper between his small hands.James was wearing pajamas with a dinosaur on them, hair standing up in every direction, but his eyes were sparkling with excitement. "We did essays at school yesterday," he announced quickly. "Miss Clara said we could do our hero. I picked mine."Luke exhaled, releasing his shoulders. "You scared me. I thought something was wrong."James beamed and thrust the paper into his hands. "Just read it!"Luke took it out and sat on the couch with James in his lap. The boy squirmed with hardly-contained enthusiasm as Luke read through the messy scrawl and many-colored stars

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