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He settled by the hearth fire with eyes never straying from his mother’s radiant face. After Larkspur had been taken from them, there had been few heartfelt smiles to share. But the world moved on, mercilessly, and though the son would never truly recover from the loss of his father, open wounds were closing and starting to heal. It was wonderful to see his mother smile again. The female didn’t answer the question to his satisfaction, but this was not noticed, for everything about her at that moment seemed to radiate happiness. For a mere moment, he could pretend everything was okay.
Blackened brows lifted as her fingers squeezed against his biceps and caused a gentle rumble to bloom within his throat. It had always been the black man’s wish to make his mother proud. It made him want to think this unhappy work was actually worth it for just a few moments. He wished for his family’s approval, and it was the only reason why he hadn’t thrown away hammer and steel long ago. Black lips smiled, coated with genuine affection for the woman that showered him with her love. He hated himself each time he had to go away. No more..
Pan grunted in a slightly belated response; acknowledging the simple fact that hard labour had made him the giant he had always hoped he would become. Still, he knew he would always be standing in the shadow of a dead man. Larkspur had been irreplaceable.
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