[reaction.]
Oh, it was wonderful, better than any of the childish fantasies he had while growing up. Dietre’s heart ached at the lingering feeling of being surrounded by and full of that much love. Parents who adored each other, siblings to laugh and tease. No looks of contempt, no sneering hatred, no sickened disappointment.
Had his parents ever gazed at each other the way this mystery couple did? He wished he could have stayed by them longer, if only to bask in their perfection. But the rest of it was good too, being so carefree, secure, and confident in where your place was in the world. It was almost as if that little girl had no idea what fear was. That hadn’t been true for him as a child, not at all.
Why had this vision come upon him? Was it a memory? Or was it a look into something happening miles away, but right now, today? His only guess was that it was Repose’s doing. Did it matter? A beautiful dream was what it was. It caught him by surprise as he sat reading in bed, and left him sighing in wistful longing when it ended.