A Brand New Ending (Page 43)

Her fingers pressed against her trembling lips as she tried to make sense of his words. Truth lit from his body, his eyes, his aura. This wasn’t about just sex. He was being completely vulnerable, standing before her, asking for a chance to see if they had something still worth fighting for. She’d been so focused on battling her body’s weaknesses, he’d managed to sneak past her emotional barriers.

“And what happens when it’s time for you to return to California? How do we possibly make a long-distance relationship work?”

“I believe if we want it bad enough, we can make it work. Look at Mia and Ethan. They managed.”

“They were in the same state. Plus Mia moved upstate to be with him full time.”

Frustration shot off him. “Right now, I don’t care about the logistics. Right now, I want to see if what we have is real and can grow. I’m looking for you to be open to getting to know me again. We’ve both changed, and we may not fit in each other’s worlds any longer. But, God, Ophelia, I still ache for you. If I don’t try, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“What about our divorce?”

His jaw clenched. “I’m asking you to wait on the divorce until the end of the winter. Give us some time. I swear to God, if you still want to go ahead with the divorce when I leave, I won’t fight you. I’ll make sure it gets done. Just give us these next two months.”

She turned away and walked to the stove. Her thoughts spun.

Opening herself up for another heartbreak was like playing Russian roulette, right? Why would she possibly consider such a crazy offer?

Because you still have feelings for him, her inner voice taunted. Because you’ve never gotten over him or been able to move on.

Was this a way to truly learn to let him go? Being able to explore every aspect of the man he’d become, beyond the ups and downs of youth?

They’d been practically babies, believing their passion and talent were enough. Married at eighteen in secret like some big adventure, ignorant of what messy reality might emerge. They hadn’t been prepared.

Did she owe it to herself to see if their relationship could blossom now that they were older and wiser?

They had a specific timeline.

When it was time for him to leave, she’d know. And if they did agree their marriage could work, they’d be able to see things clearly enough to make the next step. This time with their eyes wide open.

Slowly, she turned to face him. “I don’t want to get hurt again.”

“Me neither.”

“I’ll keep an open mind. See how things go. No promises.”

He rubbed the top of his head, then nodded. “Fair enough. Let’s start with today.”

She pursed her lips. “What do you want?”

“Besides dragging you back to bed and waking you up properly?” His grin was very wicked and very male, and her skin peppered with goose bumps. “Spend some time with me today. Let’s go for a ride later on.”

“A ride? It’s freezing. The trails are closed.”

“Just a leisurely walk to get the horses some exercise. There’s no snow in the forecast, and the wind-chill factor is low today. It’ll be good for us to get some fresh air.”

She remembered how they’d loved to ride together, racing across the meadow as they chased the sinking sun. Guiding the horses through shaded, woodsy paths while they talked nonstop about everything. Her heart ached at the memory. “Okay. One p.m. works for me.”

“Perfect. I’m going to work, then to visit Ethan for a bit. I’ll see you later.”

She expected him to close the distance and kiss her. Instead, he shot her a devastating grin and disappeared, his bare heels echoing on the stairs.

The breath whooshed out of her lungs. This was uncharted territory. She’d agreed to be open to exploring a relationship with Kyle again. Maybe even to sleeping with him.

No, definitely sleeping with him.

There was no way she’d be able to fight off their intense attraction—and she didn’t want to.

The only way to give their relationship a fair shot was be honest and vulnerable enough to fall.

She just didn’t know if she was able to give him her whole self anymore.

Her mind whirling, she began to prep for breakfast. She needed to spend the next few hours catering to her guests. She had two new arrivals tomorrow; from their brief phone conversation, she already sensed they’d be divas. They were doing something with the SUNY New Paltz campus and thought it would be cool to stay at a B & B rather than a hotel. She remembered when Mia had first arrived. She’d thrown out a bunch of demands, obviously not thrilled about spending the summer outside of the city. But even from the first, Ophelia sensed a kindness in her, evident after she fell hard for her brother. Maybe her two new guests would prove her initial reaction wrong.

At noon, she decided to make a quick stop to check on Patrick. She was still uneasy about him being alone in that big farmhouse by himself. All those years of misery and boarding himself up couldn’t be undone so quickly. He had no social network, and no one else in town gave a crap what happened to him.

But he was still Kyle’s father. And he was trying. She wanted to make sure he hadn’t had a relapse. If he did, she’d be hit with the guilt that she hadn’t made him go to the hospital.

Packing up the leftover breakfast quiche and a cinnamon roll, she took the short drive to his house. This time, when she knocked on the door, he didn’t look as surprised to see her. His hawklike nose practically sniffed in anticipation of the goodies she held in her hand, but he pretended it wasn’t a big deal when he invited her in.

“I’m feeling fine,” he said.

She studied his face.

Yes, his eyes were clear and his throat didn’t sound like he was fighting for breath or wheezing.

“You look better. I brought you some breakfast.”

“Didn’t have to do that,” he grumbled as he reached for the bag.

“I know. Just had some leftovers to get rid of. Want some tea?”

“Aren’t I the one who’s supposed to be offering you stuff?”

She smiled as he sat at the kitchen table and tore into the sweets. “Probably, but I make better tea. What are you doing?”

The table was littered with shoeboxes and scattered papers. A bright blue photo album lay open. Curious, she bent over to examine it, but Patrick quickly slammed the book shut.

“Just some pictures,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

She nodded, allowing him his privacy. The kitchen was tidier this time, so she just straightened up and made two cups of green tea, adding a squirt of honey she’d brought over the last time. When she sat down with him at the table, she noticed he’d pushed the boxes and papers to the far corner, away from her prying eyes.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better. What are your plans this week?”

He gave a snort. “Plans? Besides my visit to the Queen? Nothin’ much. Just cashing my social security check. That’s a big day at the bank for seniors. They pretty much have a party.”

She smiled at his biting sarcasm, sipping her tea. “Do you go to AA meetings now?”

“Yeah. Three times a week, at least until I’ve been sober a year.”

“Do you have a sponsor?”

“Yeah. Why all the questions? Curious about alcoholism?”

“Curious to know how a man who’s been cruel his whole life begins to change.”