A part of him did genuinely feel bad for not paying that much attention to the story she was telling. He’d ask to hear it again later when he was less distracted by everything. The man tried to make a point to not ignore her stories. He knew how much they mattered to her and how rare it was that Maria had people who wanted to listen to her. Not as much now, no, but the scars were not healed. They never would be. And while he was not exactly the best at understanding her side or empathizing, he tried to at least provide her with an honest set of ears. Because Blaise did want to know about her happier times. He rarely saw them growing up and especially as an adult until the last few years. He knew her as the solemn, quiet, and ignored child then later as the suppressed, intimidated, an unsure adult. He knew her damage better than her joy, and it was something he had worked hard to remedy now that the world had finally changed for the better and she was her own person.
He grinned at her as she smiled. It was a perfect day out. Had it not been, he was not above rescheduling everything to make sure it was just right. “I don’t mind,” he assured her simply before looking out over the river. “It’s nice seeing you so candid out here.” She had become far better at home with being okay with attention. Maria, with the right crowd, was not shut in and shy, of course. He had to find that crowd to learn this, but it was not as though here was the only time he heard her so animated. It was simply refreshing to see that course through her so freely. And it felt like every time they came here, a bit more of that youthful joy returned to her. Like another piece was returned to the puzzle.
“I don’t think I could over state how much I love coming here with you,” he told her and let his eyes drift from her to the scenery around them. He loved Spain, Portugal, and much of Morocco. It all had such a flair to it that was so unique and eclectic but rich and familiar. He knew why, of course, as much of it was Arabic in influence, but it was refreshing. It was a break from England each time to see something more than dreary towers of cold, gray stone and grim-faced statues of colonizers. It was lively. Warm, bright, and vibrant. And, of course, picture perfect. “I love you,” he told her definitively. A statement true as water being wet and stated as simply. Blaise then looked back at her and let a smile slide wide and bright