Page 28 of Hard Candy Christmas

“Chase, I never meant to cause that, I hope you know that.”

“When you left, Belinda, I didn’t. I wasn’t sure what your intentions were. And I waited for you to come back. To say it was all a mistake and find your way back to my arms again. But when the time came that I knew you weren’t, I got drunk. And pretty much stayed drunk.

“I could handle it all pretty well and not too many people knew how bad I had gotten. But Tori did help me out with that. She’s also happily engaged to a rancher out here, in fact.”

“She told me. And I’m so happy for her.” I watched her as she licked her lips and then her gaze met mine. “She told me to wait for you. To not lose hope.”

I sucked in a breath, feeling that to my very soul. The thing was, I loved this woman beside me, and everyone knew it. Okay, maybe it was time I admitted it. The problem was, what happened when she grew bored and ran away again?

My heart could not take a second leaving, I just knew that.

I barely made it out alive the first go around.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say.

Belinda’s hand took mine, our fingers interlocking. God, I wanted this woman so badly, she had no idea. And I knew there were never any guarantees in this world, but it sure would be nice to know there was some kind of promise if need be. Like only death could separate us.

“Can you tell me what happened ten years ago?” I questioned her and she gave me a sad smile.

“Can I tell you tomorrow?”

That was the best answer I’ve gotten in ten long years.

“I’ll take that, Belinda, and I’ll hold you to it.” I swallowed my fear, my hand cupping her cheek. “Then I can share with you just how much hope you need to hold on to.”

That was the line I was drawing. I was just hoping she was willing to meet me halfway now. Because I wasn’t going to lay my heart out for her to stomp on if she wasn’t going to give me the same. And I wasn’t going to give her the chance to hurt me, so it was time to confess.

Chapter Fifteen

Belinda

“Did you have fun last night, Belinda?”

“I did, thank you. Chase didn’t lie when he said the lights were gorgeous.”

“They didn’t get home till late,” my mom chimed in, and I rolled my eyes. “Good thing I don’t have a curfew on her anymore.”

“Right, Susan. I should pick a bone with Belinda though, and what she gave my son.”

“Oh god,” I groaned, dropping my head down, glad that mixing the potatoes was an easy ditch. “I didn’t mean to,” I cried, looking at Martha, who was only grinning.

“Did you two talk?” she softly asked, and I looked past her as Chase walked into the room, causing my heart to flutter.

Now was the time to confess. Then he could take that information and do what he wanted with it.

“We did. However, I need to get everyone’s attention.” I glanced at my grandma who nodded, and my mom who gave me a smile. “Let’s sit at the table.” I took the seat between mygrandma and Chase, taking comfort from his hand on my thigh. I just hope he keeps on giving me his strength and not getting upset at me.

“What’s going on, Susan?” Chase’s mom asked as she sat down. I looked at my grandma and took her hand.

“Betty has been in and out of the hospital for over ten years,” I started. “She’s had major hip surgery a few times now. She’s fine, the doctors say, with the help of pills. She still has to see them regularly, but God willing, all surgeries are done.”

“How can that be, Belinda? Those types of medical bills are astronomical, and there’s just no way the three of you could have paid that off,” Chase chimed in.

I turned to face him and lifted my brow. His eyes searched mine and then slowly, they opened wide with understanding.

“That’s why you left?” he questioned.

“With my amazing math skills, I applied for some casinos out in Nevada. There was a big one that was in need of those skills in Lake Tahoe. The pay was something I’d never see around here. It wasn’t ideal, and these two ladies hated doing that to me, but I loved my family far too much to not help pay this debt down.”

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