Page 19 of Hardy

Hardy started at her for several secondsbefore clicking the lock open on the car.She opened the trunk, andstarted to load the groceries into the trunk of the car.

Taking a seat in the passenger side,she waited for them to pull out of the car before turning toHardy.

“So, shopping?What do you thinkof it?”

He rubbed his temple.“It’s fine,Rose.”

“Not woman’s work?”

The wince on his face had Rose sittingback.

“I was just having ajoke,” shesaid.

“I know, Rose.I know you’rehaving a joke, and to anyone else it would be funny, but I was afucking bastard to you.I mean, we didn’t go shopping until thismoment.It’s fucking wrong of me, and I’m so sorry.I’m your oldman, you’re my fucking old lady, and you should have been able torely on me.”

He slammed his hand against the steeringwheel, and Rose tensed up.She wasn’t afraid, but she wasn’t usedto Hardy having angry outbursts, either.

“What is it?”

“What is it?It’s me.Inever fucking realized what a total asshole I was, still am.Imessed up, and it’s all my fault.”

He shook his head, and she was amazedby how angry he was.

“It was a long timeago.”

“No, it wasn’t, and don’ttry to make excuses for my behavior.”

She held her hands up insurrender.If he didn’t want her making excuses for what he did,then fine.She wasn’t going to try to make him feel better if he didn’t wantto.

Pushing some hair off her eyes, sheleaned her head against the window.

“I’m sorry,” he said,reaching over to take her hand.

He locked his fingers with hers, andemotion clogged her throat.What was with her always feeling closeto tears?It had to be the pregnancy.She wasn’t usually a womanwho found tears all that easy to produce.

Produce?

She was going crazy now.

“I’m going to do better.I’mgoing to be the kind of guy you can rely on, I promise.”

“Hardy, you don’t need tomake promises to me.”She wasn’t expecting anything from him.Overthe years she’d grown used to him.

He squeezedher hand.“Yes, I do need tomake promises.I need to make a lot of promises, and to make up forall the shit I put you through.”

She glanced over at him.No words cameto mind, and so she looked out of the window.There was no point intrying to find the right words.

Letting out a breath, Rose wondered ifthings would ever be right between them.

****

Hardy fired up the barbequewhile Rose was inside marinating the steaks and preparing thebutter.He loved his steaks with lots of butter, spice, andpepper.Theroses had been placed in the ground, and he was happy with the waythe garden had turned out.

“Looking good,” Baker said,coming up beside him.

“Yeah.It’ll look evenbetter with the steaks on.”He looked toward the kitchen door tosee Rose at the counter chopping.She still wore sweats thatcovered her full body.

“You really do love her,don’t you?”

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