Page 12 of A Family Affair: The Ring
Melanie bit her bottom lip, determined to push past his resistance.“There are things I should have said and didn’t, and I think it would help both of us if we had a conversation about it.”That seemed to annoy him.A lot.
His lips flattened, the left side of his jaw twitched.“You think it’s going to help me?”He shook his dark head, those lips she’d once known so well pulling into a scowl.“Whatever happened, I don’t need reasons, excuses,oran apology.It was a long time ago, and I’ve moved on.”He shoved his hands in his pockets, stared at her as though he could see right into the unrest that lived in her soul.“If you haven’t been able to do that, I’m not sure what to say.”
“I see.”He was not going to listen to her because hehadmoved on and didn’t need anything from her, especially a conversation or an apology.Could she blame him?She’d sided with her mother’s confusing and questionable story that tagged Will as a liar…only he wasn’t lying.
“Look, I’m sorry you felt the need to come here, but it wasn’t necessary.Not for me.”
He eyed her as though he’d never touched her, never kissed her, never—
“Life moves on and that’s what I did.You should do the same.”
There’d been a time when he’d spoken to her with such tenderness, promised to protect and love her…and then… She cleared her throat, let the truth spill out.“But what if I can’t move on?”The darn tears threatened to fall, but she couldn’t let them.Not in front of him.“What do I do then?”
Those blue eyes flashed with heat for a second before they turned to ice.“You see a counselor and have them help you figure it out.I’m not your guy.”Coldness spread through his next words.“I haven’t been your guy in a long time.”
“I did this to you, didn’t I?”
More staring, a clench of his jaw.“Did what to me?”
A sip of air and then she forced out the words.“I made you cold and unfeeling.”
The laugh said she gave herself too much credit for her ability to affect him.“You might not have moved on, but I have.I’m just a little smarter than I was with you.”Pause, then a hard “It’s called self-preservation.”
Before she had a chance to respond, a car pulled into the driveway and a blonde woman rushed out, carrying a bag of groceries.“Hi!Sorry I’m late.I brought the steaks.”She slowed as she approached Melanie, offered a smile and a hand.“I’m Delaney.And you are…?”
“Melanie Russell.My grandmother was Esther Russell.”
The woman squeezed her hand, her pretty face a mix of sadness and empathy.“I’m so sorry to hear about Esther.She was such a lovely woman.”After the millisecond condolence, she turned to Will, leaned on tiptoe and kissed him on the mouth, leaving a pale sheen on his lips.“So—” she turned back to Melanie.“How do you know Will?”
How, indeed?We were going to marry, have children, grow old together… So many dreams so many—
“We went to school together.”
No emotion in her ex-fiancé’s voice, not a hint of melancholy or regret.Melanie kept her gaze on Delaney, forced a smile and held it in place until her cheeks hurt.“Yes, we knew each other years ago.”
The woman’s laugh turned giddy.“This man knows everybody in town.”The smile she gave him bordered on hero worship.
“Well, it was very nice to meet you, Delaney.”Melanie shifted her gaze to Will, caught him studying her.“Goodbye, Will.Nice to see you again.”
Melanie didn’t draw a full breath until she was on her way back to her grandmother’s.She should have waited to contact him, prepared a speech instead of trusting her gut to guide her.Why had she assumed she’d know what to say?
Because she thought she still knew him?
She didn’t know him at all.
How had she expected the encounter to go?Even back in the day, when they were planning their future together, he’d been hesitant to share his true feelings.But when he finally did, the emotion had poured out, letting her knowshewas the reason for his ability to share, she was everything he’d ever wanted.That’s exactly what he’d said the night he gave her the engagement ring and asked her to marry him.Oh, but they’d had plans, so many of them.If only they’d gone straight to Magdalena...not decided to celebrate at the hotel.
If only...then.
What would have happened if they’d witnessed a similar event between her mother and his father later, after they were married?Maybe at a Christmas gathering or a birthday party?Would Melanie have believed Will then, stood beside him and ignored her mother’s pleas to remain silent?I would never betray your father.Never.Surely, you must know...
How many hours had Melanie replayed that scene, the tiny details, the expressions, the touches and almost touches between Mr.Callahan and her mother?A parent was supposed to protect their child, do what was right by him or her, not use them to save themselves.
But that was exactly what happened that day, and it would take years for Melanie to understand the truth.
8
O’Reilly’s Bar & Grille had been around a long time, but since Nick and Delilah Borado had gotten involved, the place had a trendy, upscale feel.Chicken avocado sliders, roasted red pepper hummus, stuffed portobello mushrooms, all compliments of Delilah O’Reilly Borado.Now that couple’s story was interesting and almost unbelievable.
