The Marvelous Elijah’s Return

What did you just say

The sound of her room door opening made Peach raise her head off the pillow and gazed at her mother, standing in the doorway, smiling at her. “Can I come in?” Miss Grace asked cheerfully, closing the door behind her and stepping inside the room.

Slowly, Peach sat up from the bed, hugging her knees as she rested her head on her kneecaps, feeling a sense of sadness welling up within her as she watched her mother approach her with a warm smile and sit down beside her on the edge of the

mattress.

“James made chicken soup for dinner with rice and vegetables.” Miss Grace told her kindly.

Shaking her head slowly, Peach said with a sad smile, “I‘m too full already, Mama.

You should go ahead and eat without me.”

“Peach, you have been in here all day and have barely put much in your stomach. That‘s not healthy!” Miss Grace chided her, gently squeezing Peach‘s hands. One look at her mother and Peach could see her concern clearly written across her wrinkled brows and pursed lips.

The sight made Peach‘s heart clench painfully in her chest, making her realize what her behavior was doing to her mother, so she smiled saintly and said, “Okay, let‘s go.”

The dining hall was quite peaceful when Miss Grace and Peach walked to the table, sitting between Rookie and Ryan.

Suddenly Matt entered the hall, and when James saw him alone, he frowned, mumbling,” Elijah is not joining us?”

Shaking his head slightly, Matt sighed and then said, “He won‘t even answer the door.”

The room fell silent after Matt‘s words and everyone stared at each other quietly for a moment, feeling a mixture of feelings stirring inside them. “Dish some food in a bowl, and I will take it to him,” Peach said, raising her gaze to meet James‘ concerned

ones.

Silently, Miss Grace darted her eyes towards her daughter with a soft expression on

her face.

though

in her eyes. Giving her mother an encouraging nod, Peach stood up from the seat and picked up the tray that Elijah set before her, mumbling, “The worst that can happen

Peach drewla silent breath and walked away from the table with the tray tightly in her grips. Striving

track.

to act so

to calm herself down, Peach knocked softly on the door and waited patiently before calling out,

said, “I got a tray of

would lie and say it‘s delicious if that would get you to eat, but I

I

knob turning interrupted her and Peach

rubbed his hand over his tired eyes while he gave a small smile and said,

on his desk, and turned around to

as she was about to step past him, Elijah grabbed onto her wrist and pulled

eyebrow as he studied her appearance. Peach shrugged, trying to

A small smile touched Elijah‘s lips as he released her wrist and said, “Sit and help me finish this, would

her eyes, Peach immediately shook her head. But Elijah gently grabbed her by her shoulders and sat her down in

the other chair and pulled it closer until they were sitting face to face, looking at her fluttering lashes. Slowly, he brought his hand towards her forehead and Peach winced when his warm palm brushed against her skin, causing goosebumps to rise across her entire body. “Your mother said that you weren‘t feeling okay this morning,” Elijah commented softly as he examined her face closely, brushing a stray curl back behind her ear. “Are you

at the unexpected answer, watching him curiously. At this point, she didn‘t know what she was expecting to hear. But this

blinked

warily. “We should eat before the

that had fallen over

topic of Melina and his relationship further. But she simply smiled when he handed her a spoon and said, “You should also

other.” Peach explained as she placed another piece of chicken into her mouth and watched him expectantly. For a few moments, Elijah just stared at her

a steak.” Elijah replied,

nodded thoughtfully and then said, “Mmhm… I think I will be a dessert, maybe

a sense of relief wash over her as she listened to the gentle laughter and playful banter

getting closer to Elijah is a risk because he

be good to you… that he won‘t do anything

smiling when she heard