Chapter 112 ONE MISTAKE
WILLA'S POV
"That's not true," I refuted emphatically with a shake of my head. "That's not true at all."
Gallahan let out a humorless laugh. It was short-lived but it rang heavily with the kind of bitterness that left my own mouth dry.
"Please, Willa. Let's not lie to ourselves. It's pretty clear to me that my past, my history, and my flaws have always loomed over us. Like a guillotine ready to chop my head off. One wrong move. One failure. Then I'm out. It's all over for me. The words I heard from you tonight just proved that you have been waiting for me to give you a reason to cut me off."
"No," I denied, my vehemence making my voice loud and sharp. "It's not like that, Gallahan! Do you think so little of me?"
"Willa..." Gallahan sighed, running his fingers through his mussed-up hair. "It's not because I think so little of you. And perhaps it's really not true. But you've made me feel that way. Tonight more than ever."
I tried to swallow the growing lump in my throat, but it stubbornly remained lodged, so constricting that it was making it hard to say anything back.
"We're supposed to be partners, Willa. But it's hard when you are so quick to let go of my hand so you can point an accusing finger at me."
I remained rooted to my spot, standing like a stone statue.
Horrified.
Guilty.
Ashamed.
All three mingled and swirled in an angry eddy, leaving me feeling cold.
I found it hard to do anything but stare at Gallahan as the chasm, which I thought no longer existed between us, seemed to deepen with every second that ticked by.
Self-righteous. Judgmental.
Gallahan had told me that before, and I had thought so foolishly that I already had outgrown such tendencies.
Clearly, I thought wrong.
"I... Gallahan, I'm sorry. I didn't... It's not..."
Gallahan gazed right back at me with the saddest smile I had seen a person ever wear. His eyes mildly glistened with tears, and his frame sagged under the weight of exhaustion and resignation. It was as if I had completely drained the life and the fight out of him.
It sent a wave of cold panic all over my veins as my heart squeezed painfully with every loud beat.
"Maybe I should leave," he suddenly said as he made a move to stand.
The very notion of him leaving managed to give my legs the strength to move again. Quickly, I closed the distance between us until we were standing with just a hair's breadth away from each other.
"No, don't go. Please, Gallahan. I don't want you to go."
I looked up at him, slowly lifting a hand and carefully placing it against his cheek.
"Willa," Gallahan sighed softly as his eyes fluttered close.
Just then, a small timid voice chimed in, surprising me and Gallahan.
"Mommy? Daddy? Are you fighting?"
Gallahan and I whirled around so quickly and saw both Calisto and Gillian standing in the middle of the stairs, looking entirely unsure of themselves.
"I'm sorry, sweethearts. Did we wake you up?"
Gillian nodded as she carefully clambered down the rest of the stairsteps until she reached the bottom landing. Calisto trailed behind her, looking purposefully at his feet rather than at me or Gallahan. It was an irrefutable tell-tale sign that he was still upset about today's canceled plan.
The twins then ambled towards us with their hands entwined. But Calisto seemed to be against the idea of getting too close because he subtly stopped Gillian from walking further, making them stay and stand right next to the armchair. It was as if using the piece of furniture as a safety boundary between him and Gallahan, whom he was still upset with.
"Hello, Cal. Hi, Gil," Gallahan greeted gently, almost cautiously. "I'm sorry about-"
Gallahan's apology was cut short when Gillian made a sharp gasp. It was dramatic enough to draw Calisto's attention, making him lift his gaze and ultimately see what exactly had his twin sister gasping.
"What happened, Daddy?" Calisto asked, gawking worriedly at the stubborn bruise on Gallahan's midriff. It was still mildly glistening with the generous amount of salve I had lathered on it earlier.
"Ah..." Gallahan chuckled, rubbing a hand against his nape. "A lot of creature hunters attacked me on my way here. That's why I was very late. But I'm fine now. Mommy had patched me up. Except for this stubborn bruise that needs a bit more tending."
"Oh... You're really okay?"
Gallahan offered Calisto a reassuring smile. "I am, Cal. Don't worry about me, hm? I'm a strong wolf. This bruise is nothing."
Calisto nodded and said nothing more.
"But you know what," Gallahan went on, sounding careful yet also casual. "I'll feel even better if you can forgive me for being so late. I'm really, really, really sorry about today."
Calisto shrugged, but I knew how he had already forgiven Gallahan as soon as he saw the bruise. And the explanation Gallahan provided was just a balm to soothe whatever lingering disappointment and sadness Calisto still had.
"I will forgive Daddy if we go to the castle tomorrow."
This verdict drew out a surprised yet amused chuckle from Gallahan.
"Alright. I'm sure Mommy and I can talk it out and arrange that."
Gillian, who had been quiet since her loud gasp upon seeing Gallahan's injury, didn't seem too keen to drop the matter just yet.
Ever so observant and sharp-minded-a contrast to Calisto who mainly operated with his pure heart and sensitive soul-Gillian asked with a no-nonsense kind of tone, "Why were you attacked by creature hunters, Daddy? Why do they keep on trying to hurt you? Are they still angry at you for the war?"
Gallahan blinked, obviously not expecting the onslaught of blunt questions from our daughter.
Then he smiled, the very same sad one he gave me earlier.
"Perhaps Daddy can answer your questions tomorrow," I suggested as kindly as I could. "We all need rest tonight, your Daddy even more so."
Gallahan had gone through so much tonight already, and I had even added to the pain and stress from the way I reacted earlier. Digging his history-one that seemed to be inundated by trauma and violence-was neither appealing nor wise at the moment.
But Gallahan didn't share the sentiment.
"It's fine, Willa. I might as well talk about this now and lay all my cards on the table. Maybe it'll help you and the kids understand me better."