The Darkness We Hide

“So,” Gareth said over the phone the next afternoon when Michelle called him, “what should we do today?”

“I have an idea,” she replied, sipping her coffee.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“How about we hit Pike’s Place and get some fresh fish for dinner?” she suggested hoping he would say yes. “I know it’s a little touristy, but the market side of it is usually right off the farm.”

“I’ll get my keys and pick you up,” he said, smiling to himself as he put his car in gear.

Unbeknownst her his mate, he was already

“Sounds good,” Michelle said, happily. “That gives me time to shower.”

“If you don’t mind waiting, I could join you,” Gareth joked, laughing.

“As nice as that sounds,” she giggled, blushing, “I think I’m gonna pass.”

The rest of the day was spent by the two of them down at the pier, exploring the art galleries that lined the market itself, watching the street vendors, music makers, and laughed at the antics of the fish throwers. Michelle even got a picture of Gareth putting change into Rachel, Seattle’s own public bronze piggy bank.

After a lunch of fish and chips they walked the three levels of treasures that Pike’s Place had to offer and had a wonderful time. Gareth found small trinkets for all of his nieces and nephews for Christmas.

“How many kids are you buying gifts for?” Michelle laughed, her eyes widening as he added yet another hand carved wooden toy to the pile.

“Well,” he said, trying to decide between a cricket with legs that moved and made little chirping sounds when pulled behind a child on a string, or a carved duck with leather feet that made slapping sounds when pushed from behind on its pole. “I have five brothers and three sisters. They’re all married with at least one kid each. Anna has two kids and Davis has three so, eleven total.”

“Wow,” Michelle said, trying to keep her mouth from dropping open. “That’s a lot of kids.”

“Yeah,” Gareth smiled sheepishly, choosing the cricket.

“Should we take these to the car?” she asked, eyeing the many boxes and bags he’d just purchased. “I’m not sure carrying all of these through the lower levels is a good idea.”

“I agree,” he replied, handing the vendor his credit card. “I’m having them shipped to my parents’ place in Montana. The whole family gathers there for Christmas.”

“Are you sure?” Michelle asked, not even wanting to think about the cost involved is mailing all of those toys. “The car isn’t that far.”

“Don’t worry,” Gareth assured her, “it saves me the possibility of forgetting one of them.

“And,” he added signing his name on the receipt, “my mom will do all the wrapping.”

“That’s gonna need a lot of paper,” Michelle said shaking her head dubiously.

“Mom loves it,” he replied, taking her hand. “She has a whole closet designated to wrapping paper for different holidays. She even found paper for Halloween.”

“Wow,” she breathed. “That’s a serious wrapping habit.”

“Yeah,” he laughed, steering them through the crowd of other people. “She kinda makes Martha Steward look like an amateur when it comes to that sort of thing.”

“People are lucky if they don’t get a present from me in the same bag I bought it in,” Michelle smiled.

Gareth simply chuckled leading her into a shop full of Middle Eastern treasures.

“Look at this belly dancer costume,” he said, holding up a sheer bra and pantaloons set covered in bangles.

“Yeah, no,” Michelle laughed, shaking her head. “I definitely do not have the figure for that.”

“I would disagree,” Gareth leered seductively.

“Still ‘no’,” she said, shaking her head as she looked through books on ancient Egypt.

With a sly smile he returned the garment to its rack and picked out a beautiful blue and gold scarf for her instead.

Wrapping it around her shoulders, he kissed her tenderly.

“How about this?” he asked, watching her examine herself in a mirror.

“It’s beautiful,” she sighed, caressing the soft fabric.

“Then it’s yours,” Gareth replied signalling the proprietor.

“Oh no,” Michelle protested seeing the price. “It’s far too expensive.”

“Call it a late birthday present,” he said over his shoulder.

“Oh Gareth,” she sighed, fingering the soft linen. “Thank you.”

“Happy birthday,” he replied, kissing her on the cheek as they stepped back into the busy market.

Stepping into the walkway, Michelle accidentally stumbled into a group of teenage boys, stepping on the toes of one of the largest.

“Watch it bitch,” the teen hissed, roughly pushing her away.

“I’m so sorry,” Michelle said, sincerely apologetic.

“Stupid cunt,” another of the teens spat, moving to loom over her.

Out of nowhere, Michelle heard a terrifying roar as Gareth rushed from nowhere, grabbing the boy by the throat, lifting him off the ground, pinning him to the wall behind them.

“What did you call her?” Gareth demanded, his teeth bared as he squeezed the boy’s neck.

The young man could only manage guttural sounds as his hands pulled frantically at Gareth’s grip.

His companions seemed to be weighing their options of successfully rescuing their friend verses running away.

“Gareth,” Michelle implored, pulling desperately at his arm, “Gareth, let him go! He’s just a stupid kid. It’s okay, I’m okay.”

Seeing the look of fear on her face, Gareth felt the rage slip away. She wasn’t afraid of the kids, she was afraid of him.

Dropping the kid, Gareth pulled her into his protective embrace.

“Crazy mother fucker,” the boy called as he and his friends ran off into the crowd.

“Gareth,” Michelle panted, grabbing handfuls of his shirt, “what the hell was that?”

Gareth simply held her tighter, burying his face in her hair.

Michelle pushed on his chest until he let her go.

“What the fuck?” she demanded, ignoring the looks of wariness passersby were giving them.

“I’m sorry,” he said, reaching for her.

“No,” she said, stepping away. “They were just stupid kids trying to look tough in front of each other. They didn’t deserve that.”

“I had to protect you,” he replied, his shoulders slumping.

“I don’t need to be protected, Gareth,” she said flatly. “I told you that.”

Turning, Michelle moved away from him, not sure where she was going but wanting to be away from him.

“Michelle,” Gareth growled, hurrying to catch her. “Michelle!”

“No,” she said over her shoulder, shaking her head as she continued walking away.

Catching up to her, Gareth gripped her arm, pulling her out of the crowd into a small hallway.

“Let go of me,” Michelle demanded, trying to shake off his grip.

“Michelle,” he said, refusing to let her free. “I said I was sorry. I didn’t think, I just reacted out of instinct.”

“Let me go,” she demanded again, hitting him futily in the chest with her fist.

“Okay,” he said, relenting. “Please don’t walk away.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Michelle asked with a laugh.

“I shouldn’t have grabbed the kid,” Gareth admitted, nodding his head in confirmation of his guilt. “I should have let you handle it.”

“You’re right,” she agreed angrily. “They were just a bunch of stupid teenagers trying to look tough in front of each other. I’ve been called worse names in my life than ‘cunt’ or ‘bitch’, it didn’t bother me.”

“I know,” he replied sadly, “but it bothered me.”

“I wasn’t your fight,” she countered hotly. “I told you, I don’t need you to fight my battles for me.”

“I’m sorry,” Gareth breathed, “I know I was wrong, but I don’t know how to fix it.“

Seeing the sadness in his face and hearing the sincerity in his voice, Michelle couldn’t help but forgive him. Stepping forward, she put her arms around his waist, holding him tightly.

With a sigh of relief Gareth returned her embrace, holding her tightly. Gently, he kissed her on the top of the head, relishing in her scent, knowing in his heart that he wouldn’t risk losing her.

“Come home with me tonight,” he said into her hair.

“What?” she asked, looking up into his eyes.

“Come home with me,” he repeated, kissing her gently.