Touched By Sunshine, Maria Brunelle [list of ebook readers txt] 📗

The shrill ring of the old rotary phone wounded the stillness in the room. He sat motionless, breathless, not daring to move lest the caller somehow sense him there. Dark hair tangled down the back of his neck, a dusty cap sheltering his face, while the wind beat at the windows behind him.

In the dark room, only memories were left and were even they not to be trusted? The phone rang again. Steel grey eyes stared passionlessly. His long fingers gripped the arm of his chair. These cold, bent fingers, the nails slightly wider at the ends, were at one time warm with affection and purpose. His thumb worried its callused pad against the chair.

The phone peeled off one last ring. His teeth chewed on the thick lower lip and he glanced down. Motorcycle grease from bikes gone by rested in the ridges of his toenails. He much preferred to go barefoot. After all, he was born that way. The smell of stale tobacco hung heavy in the air and mixed with the scent of wet fur from the gold retriever resting at his feet.

Sluggish humidity gave way to a light breeze. He unfolded his lean six-foot frame from the shadows, tugged at the faded jeans hugging his hips and took several long strides to cross the room. The gravity that had been pulling at the bags under his eyes let go as he gently placed his hand on the glass and peered out across the yard. When had the sun come out?

His eyes widened and he triple-blinked rapidly as a sudden sun shower salted the sky. A rainbow spilled over the horizon and dove into the water diamonds glistening in the bay. He faltered in the doorway before venturing out into the rain. Turning both work-worn palms upward, he stepped cautiously onto the patio, out into the open, risking his vulnerability.

His guarded gaze melted into pure glee and the blueberry blue of his eyes shone with the kiss of the sun. A raindrop hung heavily from a long, black eyelash and for a moment, the man looked through a little boy's eyes and life rushed humming under his skin. His full lips curled up into a childlike grin.

Fear forgotten, his bare feet began tapping out a dance in the puddles beneath him. Arms outstretched and chin tipped to the sky, the man surrendered himself to the cleansing freshness of nature. He turned and spun and tossed his cap aside to enjoy the cool rain in his hair. A deep, rolling Irish laughter reverberated from his chest. Everything about him radiated his restored spirit. Freedom!

As suddenly as it began, the rain stopped. Gazing across at the dead sunflowers lining the driveway, he felt renewed. Maybe it was time to restore harmony. Picking up a trowel and a pack of seeds, he strolled down to the greenhouse with a youthful energy to his steps, and a safe, new warmth in his heart from being touched by sunshine.

Publication Date: 09-29-2009

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