Just holding her was the greatest feeling Kaella had ever known and she swore she would do everything in her power to make her happy.
Delia, meanwhile, continued seeing Finn. He was fun, but most of all, he was free and unrestrained and he made her feel grown up when she was so fed up of being a child.
They pushed their romance forward, each wanting to impress the other, and took no care of the future or the outside world.
Delia begun inviting him to her home as well, mostly when her parents were occupied but not only then. Partly she wanted to show her parents how mature and independent she was and partly she unconsciously dared them to say something against him. Finn didn't really seem to care either way.
It was one afternoon that Delia spotted him by their woodshed, grinning as he was taking some of the wood out. It took her a few moments to understand what was going on, but then it became obvious that Finn was actually stealing the wood. Even if she had no idea what his reason might be.
"What are you doing?" Her voice was higher and sharper than she had expected it to be, her shock and disbelief far too obvious in it.
Finn was still grinning, not looking stressed at all. "Relax! It's just a joke!"
Delia had no idea what kind of joke would stealing some wood be, but she bit her tongue right before she could say so. She didn't want to look boring or uptight to him.
"A... joke?" That sounded even lamer in reality than in her head.
"Sure! Don't you think it's funny? I bet they would look for it and make fools out of themselves."
"I... I guess?" Delia forced herself to laugh, but after a while the fake laughter turned into real one as Finn described how her parents would react to a prank. Some of the scenes he presented in vivid colours were actually funny.
"And do you know what's even better?"
He dragged her even farther behind the house, safely away from anyone who might overhear them and then begun describing his second, nightly life. Sneaking out from home after dark to play even bigger pranks on unsuspecting people or make his own life better by a bit of thievery.
Delia supposed she should should be shocked, but instead she found even bigger respect for Finn than she already had. It seemed so exciting, so daring and bold, that when Finn asked her to join in one of his nightly trips, she agreed without a second thought.
As the night draw nearer, she was unable to stay still for a moment. She did her best to feign sleep, shaking with excitement, and waited for her parents to finally go to bed. It felt like ages until she finally heard the bedsheets rustle and crept silently out of her own bed, giddy with the thought of Finn waiting for her and the night they would have.
She was so excited she never thought to check if both her parents were really in bed.
"Delia? Where are you going?" Her mother's voice was surprised rather than angry, but it still froze Delia in her tracks.
"I'm..." she searched for a passable excuse, anything other than stealing with Finn, but nothing turned up. She could just stand there and think of her friend waiting for her to show. Would Finn think she was a coward after all, that she got cold feet at the last minute?
"Why aren't you in bed?"
A few moments of silence and then Delia finally got an idea. "I... I thought I heard something strange behind the house and wanted to check it out. It could be..."
Before she could continue, Alysanne's face grew even more serious. "There could be wild beasts, robbers, anything! You're coming inside right now and we're locking the door."
Delia wanted to argue, but just one look at her mother made it clear it would be useless. As she was marched back in the house, she cursed herself for picking what was obviously the worst excuse ever, her mother for being such a coward and the stars for not letting her sneak out undetected in the first place.
After that night she didn't see Finn for several days. She did her best to be a good girl around her parents, avoiding anything suspicious or too rebellious, but she was screaming inside. She was almost sure her exciting friend would never want to see her again.
Some time later Alysanne went into labour, slightly sooner and much faster than she expected. Tomas tried to send Delia for help, but the baby seemed so eager to come to the world the whole thing was over before she could get back. The midwife could only help to wash the baby and make sure the mother was all right before she left again.
Alysanne was exhausted, but her eyes were shining with happiness as she held her newborn son. After all the years and all the misfortunes, here they were, maybe not exactly as Tomas and she had pictured, but close enough.
"His name is Devin." She said as she handed the baby to her husband.
Tomas couldn't be more delighted. After years when he had come to terms with perhaps never having more children, little Devin was perfect. He was exactly as Tomas had dreamt after his wedding.
He immediately took charge, fussing over the baby and making sure everything would be just right for him. In his eyes Devin was the best baby alive and Tomas was determined his life would be perfect.
Delia was just as excited as her parents were, but her reasons were slightly different from theirs. It wasn't she didn't like her little brother, but with her parents distracted by the baby, she was finally free to meet Finn and join in his secret life.
The village at night was completely different, the silence even more striking than the dark. For Finn and Delia, it felt as if they were the only two people around, kings of the night who could do anything they wished.
Delia wished the night would never end, but when i did, the kiss Finn gave her when they parted just out of sight of her house was at least some consolation. When she crept to her bed, she was almost floating with joy.
Time went by and Delia was gaining more and more self-confidence. She had made friends with Jocelyn, a young women from the village, and her advice about catching attention of boys and men was showing. Delia was more than eager to learn, partly because of Finn and partly just to feel adult and wanted.
Most of the time was Finn his usual easygoing self, but there were times when Delia could swear Jocelyn's advice was working. She revelled in each of his acts of tenderness, completely oblivious that there was someone watching her.
Marcus had seen Delia in the market, flitting around with a smile, and was drawn to her almost against himself. She seemed so free it almost insulted his love of order, and so happy with Finn, he almost couldn't stand it. Especially with Finn, who he knew very well was a bad influence.
There were times when Markus wanted to do something to split them apart, but he always stopped himself in time. He had no plan, didn't even know what to do with the girl afterwards. He would wait until he was sure and until everything fell into place.
Jocelyn, meanwhile, had become a frequent visitor at Delia's house, moving around as if she owned the place. And while Alysanne did her best to please her, Tomas had far less patience with a guest that had no respect for her hosts.
"All I'm saying is that you really are dragging poor Delia down. Living in a middle of a wood in a... you call this a house?"
Tomas just barely stopped himself from snapping at her, hands balled into fists.
"I suppose Delia's shabby dress is because of the fine you had to pay, but... do you have no self-respect?"
At this, Tomas simply turned and walked outside, careful of losing his temper. Jocelyn glared after him.
She rather envied Delia her easy charm and especially her loving family. She didn't know whether she wanted their appreciation or to ruin it for Delia, but she definitely hated being ignored.
Time passed without many visible changes and soon it was baby Devin's birthday.
Alysanne baked a cake for the occasion, even though Devin wouldn't be able to eat it yet. The healthy baby was a treasure she was still surprised to have, a promise and a pledge made to the future.
Delia joined the celebration with far less enthusiasm than her parents, already thinking about her next nightly excursion with Finn.
Tomas cared less about promises and symbols. He just couldn't take his eyes off his son, his pride and joy.
