Noctisardor Bypass [m] sola fide

the clock twitched its clicking hands.
anselm and heda maintained their cordial near-silence. the desire of their encounter had twisted back into shame for her. he had wanted to take her, but he hadn't, and he had never sought her again after that. 
the encounter had wrecked whatever tinge of self-confidence she might have gained, though heda was not yet aware of that.
the lagoon called to her, for she had found a place at its mossy streamside where soon she would bring gideon and ezra for their baptism. the evening was no exception; heda carried daffodils to line the small clearing, passing through the rendezvous.
"amadeo." the young mother set down her things, offering the dark man a smile grateful for his company. "how are you?"