Page 72 of Kissing Her Rescuer

“I'm sorry.” Eva lowered her voice. “She got here early yesterday morning. Must have left Statem in the middle of the night. I didn't realize she'd left without saying anything until Carrie, the sweet thing, told me how her mama was worried that she would be in so much trouble when she got back.”

Yes. Eliza didn't even know the extent of his anger. Hurt. Pain. And she'd taken Carrie.

“Did she say how long she planned on staying?”

“Just a few days. She needed to clear her head and figure out her next move. I assumed you might have proposed, but she hasn't confided in me yet.”

He had proposed. It wasn't down on one knee, but she knew he wanted to marry her.

“I bought her a house.”

There was a long pause.

“Eva?”

“I'm sorry. This is hard for both of you. I'll try to talk to her.”

Part of his mind wanted to reply with, “don't bother,” since Eliza obviously didn't want a relationship, but the other half wouldn't let him give up. They were a family.

“I’ve got to go. She took Carrie out for ice cream, and I hear them coming back now. Bye.”

He hung up, grazing his thumb over the screen saver picture of Carrie. He had a few major decisions to make. If he went after them, Eliza might run farther, dragging their daughter into her rash decisions.

But if he stayed, he was right back to where he was six years ago, sitting on his hands waiting on Eliza to come to him. No matter what he decided to do now when she came back to Statem, she was in for some major changes.

He gave up on them once.

He wouldn’t do it again.

“Areyou sure you don't need to go to the doctor?” Eva dumped Eliza's untouched food into the trash. “Carrie's stomach bug lasted twenty-four hours. You've been nauseous for like three days now based on when you said it started.”

Actually, it'd started the day before then, but she wouldn't mention that. It was strange, but now she blamed the stress from Dewey. What did he think of her? Everyone in town had to know she was gone by now. She'd answered Juliana's text with a simple, “I'm okay,” before turning her phone off. She watched Eva wash her plate, too tired to offer her help. Had Eva talked to Dewey? She wasn't sure how close the two of them were.

If she did, she didn't let on. It was better that way. Eliza could stay ignorant of the disaster she'd left for a second time. The guilt ate at her, making the pain in her stomach worse. Based on Juliana's text, everyone in town was freaking out, worried something horrible happened to her and Carrie. She set her elbows on the table, propping up her chin in her hands, chewing her fingernail. She'd screwed up again. Poor Dewey. He didn't deserve a nut case like her.

“I'm surprised you have any fingernails left to chew.” Eva sat down across from her, sliding over a hot cup of tea. “Maybe this will settle your stomach.”

“Thanks.” She took a cautious sip. Closing her eyes, she let herself say the one thought that had circled around in her mind for the past two days. “I love Dewey.”

“I know you do.”

She sagged back in her chair. “Then why isn't that enough? I want it to be enough. I want to skip along in life, not worried about the future.” Her stomach cramped again. She hissed through her teeth. “Not physically sick from the thought.”

“A future with Dewey is nothing like you had with Zach.” Eva's voice grew tense. “My brother is a better man.”

Eliza nodded. “I know. I know. That's why this is so confusing. It started to feel the same way it did in Alabama. Zach had the money. Zach made the decisions. I had nothing. I know Dewey wouldn’t make me feel bad on purpose.” But he had. He’d bought the house she tried to save for. Bought her a car. She never even had a chance to try and do it herself.

Eva shrugged. “We all have our issues. I have a hard time with Marshall working so much. It makes me feel like I'm not a priority to my boyfriend. That I take a back seat to a paycheck, and he doesn't care if I'm even here. But, when I start to feel that way, I talk to him about it. He knows that's an insecurity of mine. You need to give Dewey a chance to reassure you. I hate to point this out, Eliza, but you are not in a financial position to rely solely on yourself.”

Eliza sat back, emotionally drained. “I know.”

“Eventually, that might change, but what you get paid for being a sometimes reporter at theDispatchisn't enough to support you and Carrie. Money, or not having it, was such a big deal with Zach, that you've linked the two together. Dewey wants to support you and Carrie. To him, that's how he shows his love.”

And she'd rejected him. She sipped on the tea, feeling tears coming to her eyes. “Excuse me.” She left the table and headed to the bathroom.

Facing the mirror, she leaned on the counter. Another cold sweat broke out across her skin even though she wore a tank top in Eva’s air-conditioned house. God, she'd really screwed up this time. She splashed water on her face, washing away the tears. She didn’t deserve a pity party.

She jerked upright as she caught sight of her reflection.

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