2 month later
"Good morning, Zuri!" The moment one person noticed his presence, there was never an end to the greetings that followed. "Zuri!" a voice called from the side.
"Have you heard? Gerald's wife has brought forth two bundles of joy this morning!" James announced.
"Really? Boys or girls?" Zuri asked, balancing a bundle of dried straws upon one shoulder.
"A boy and a girl. Both take after their mother, is what I heard. Better than taking after their father, I say," James remarked.
"Indeed." Zuri agreed, and both men laughed.
"I shall pay them a visit when I return from my errand, You?"
"Same," Zuri replied, gesturing to the straws upon his shoulder.
"Very well." With a wave of his hand, James went on his way.
"Zuri, Zuri, Zuri!!" A child came running toward him, baring her teeth for the world to see.
Seeing her approach, he crouched down to her level. "Aye, Mabel, you will wear my name out."
The child giggled as she finally reached his side. "Have you heard? Laura gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl!" she announced enthusiastically.
"I just did," Zuri nodded.
"I am off to see them. Will you come?"
Her big brown eyes filled with anticipation.
"As soon as I drop this off."
"Alright! See you there!" the child said gladly.
His hand touched her head, gently ruffling her hair before she ran off.
"Good morning, Zuri…"
Some young ladies with baskets balanced upon their heads, greeted as he passed by.
He flashed them a soft smile.
"A fine morning ladies."
They squealed and giggled, brightening the morning even further with their youthful laughs.
He reached a small hut and knocked.
"Zuri, is that you?" A voice called from behind the house. He walked around it, and there was an old woman, weaving baskets.
"Did you receive the corn bread I sent?" the woman asked with a welcoming smile.
Mirroring her gentle expression, he placed the bundle of straws before her.
"It was delicious, as always, Beulah."
After delivering the straws to the old woman, he continued toward the house of the latest parents in Wisteria.
"May the peace of Phineas be upon this house," he blessed as he entered.
There were people gathered inside the small house, everyone laughing and exchanging pleasantries. More greetings started coming his way as he stepped into the place.
"Congratulations, Gerald."
"Thank you, Zuri. You know, I still cannot believe that Laura and I have created two lives."
"That excited, I see."
"Oh, certainly. I am glad she is well, and so are the babes." Gerald beamed. "Come, Laura and the twins are in here."
Even the bedroom was crowded. Everyone wanted to meet the newest additions to Wisteria.
A few stood beside the bed, whispering with admiration and delight about the babes and how tiny they were, some leaning over one another just to catch a glimpse of them.
As Zuri's gaze drifted across the room, almost instantly, he found her.
Damaris.
The woman who was the reason he now received so much attention.
As always, he noticed her first.
That had not changed in two months.
She sat there holding one of the babes wrapped in swaddling cloth, a bright smile upon her face.
Indulge her…
About two months ago he had told himself those words.
Indulge her…
He had.
He had done as she asked.
He had acknowledged her—and the people of Wisteria. He had tried being more…
Sincere.
"Oh, Zuri, you came," said Laura, her face pale from the strain of birth.
At the sound of his name, Damaris lifted her head.
Their eyes met.
A familiar grin spread across her face.
Indulging her had been, perhaps, the most enjoyable decision he had ever made.
***
Soon after he arrived, Milcah and some of the other older women chased everyone out of the cottage, claiming the mother and her babes needed rest.
"Where are you off to?" Damaris asked, grabbing his wrist.
Zuri's gaze shifted to the hand that held his. Once again he was reminded of how striking the contrast between their skins was.
He was nearly as white as a ghost, while she was the color of a fresh chestnut broken out of its shell.
"Use your words. Do not just stare," she reprimanded him.
He could not say exactly when it had started—perhaps after he had begun to acknowledge her as she had wanted—but whenever he fell into his habitual silence, she would call him out, reminding him to speak rather than merely watch.
"Home, Damaris," he breathed out, shaking his head. "Where else would I go?" He muttered loud enough for her to hear and began to move on, only to be pulled back.
"Have you forgotten? We promised to help with the rye harvest today."
His eyes squinted in a taunting manner. "There was no we. You made the promise, so you must keep it."
As though he had won a non-existent battle, he smirked, jerked his wrist free from her hand, and turned toward the path leading to his cottage.
"Hey, you—My Lord Gardener—STOP!" she yelled, authority resounding in her voice, and his feet paused of their own will.
With theatrical flair, she bound her hair up roughly, rolled up her rumpled sleeves, and rested her hands upon her hips as she walked toward him with a smirk.
Standing face to face, her gaze raked over him—from his head down to his toes—before returning to meet his eyes.
She rose onto her toes and laid on hand upon his shoulder, drawing herself closer to him.
"I think," she began, his breath stilled. "'Tis finally time I use my first wish."
At those words, the breath he held flowed out as he thought,
Ah, those darn wishes.