Page 54 of A Family Affair: The Ring
No, she could not.“If she can leave you alone and let other people live their lives, then we all owe Harry a lot.And maybe heisready to be Godfather.”
“He’s ready.I understand Miriam Desantro plans to invite her to Harry’s house for the annual baking event she and Cash’s Aunt Ramona started a few years back.Invitation only and you have to know your stuff to get an invitation.”
“I’m guessing Harry’s behind that as well?”
“The guy wouldn’t say, but no doubt he is.”His voice shifted to a serious tone.“I’m sure you haven’t heard, but he also contacted my father who called to talk to me.”
“You talked to your father?”He shrugged as if it were no big deal, but they both knew it was a huge deal.
“I did.Hard to believe but we had a decent conversation.”He eyed her, cleared his throat.“He had a few things to say about making good choices and how the wrong choice can destroy you.”
“How did Harry even know where he was?”
The raised brow and laugh said she had underestimated Harry Blacksworth.“Harry knows a lot of people and he’s got an investigator friend who lives here in town.Lester Conroy.Lester’s married to Phyllis at the diner.When Harry sets his mind to something, nobody’s going to stop him.”
“But the other things he’s doing… Like with your mother and the makeover and giving her a chance… He doesn’t have to do that.He’s just a good person.”
Will toyed with his glass, shifted his gaze to hers.“He said he knows what it’s like to be left behind where no one ever expects you to do the right thing.So, when somebody gives you a chance, no matter what, you are not going to disappoint them.I get it.”
Had his voice dipped just now?“Well, I’ll make sure to give him my vote of confidence before I leave.”
A throat clearing, a sip of scotch.“About that… I hear you’re heading out in three days.”
“Would the same source be Harry Blacksworth, or did you come upon your information elsewhere?”
“Harry keeps me posted when there’s something he thinks I should know.”
“I see.”She didn’t know how she felt about that comment.Should she be angry or annoyed, or…
“There really are desserts in the fridge.Pumpkin cheesecake, cannoli, key lime pie.”He paused, added, “And your favorite wine, because Harry’s all about adding the special touches.”
“And where exactly do you fit in, Will?Are you one of the special touches?”
“I guess that depends.I know you’re leaving, and I know I screwed up, but there are a few things I need to tell you.”
“Haven’t we been through everything already?”She would not let herself hope again.
“There’s never been anyone like you and I can pretend and avoid my feelings, but it doesn’t make them any less true.I’m not asking you to give me another chance or even to forgive me, because I’m not sure I deserve it.Someone recently told me that I keep blowing up our relationship because I’m afraid of the control you have over me.It makes me too vulnerable…too fragile.He was right.Everything he said about what I’ve done and why is dead on.”
“Would that person happen to be Cash?”
A nod, a quiet “It was.Of course, he tried to tell mebeforeyour ex showed up, but why would I listen, right?Everything was going great with us, and I could tell you I was all in and I thought I was… But there was a small piece that just could not do it.When I saw that guy standing there, I shut down.He spotted it and I don’t blame him for setting me up to act like a jerk.If I thought someone was going to hurt the woman I loved, I probably would have done worse.And if the bonus was the potential to get another shot with her?Who could refuse that?”
Melanie clenched her hands in her lap, sat very still.This was the most vulnerable and open she’d ever seen him.She glanced at the bottle, noted there was no more than an inch or two gone, so unless he’d started drinking at home, this was therealWill Callahan talking.“Why now, Will?You’ve had so many opportunities to show me what was really in your heart and even when you told me you had, you weren’t 100% in.”
“You’re right.I thought I was and all those years when you were living a separate life, I insulated myself from caring about anyone becauseI knewI was never going to be over you.Then you showed up and it scared the hell out of me.All those feelings came back, and it was too much.I didn’t know what to do with them, so I just avoided them…and then…”
“And then we slept together?”
A shrug, a clearing of his throat.“It wasn’t just that.Iwantedto be with you, and I wanted a life with you, but I didn’t know how to do it.When you hide behind rules and assumptions, sometimes you lose your way because it’s easier to just put things in a column, add and subtract.But the day I came to see you when your ex was here, and you tried to tell me what was real and what wasn’t?I refused to believe you.I would know, wouldn’t I?I’d been duped once, and I wasnotgoing to be duped again so why not burn it all down?But when you walked back into the house and closed the door, that was rough.That’s when I understood you weren’t coming back and that was on me, because this timeIwas the one who didn’t trust or believe.”
He dragged a hand over his face, and when his gaze met hers, she didn’t miss the brightness in those blue eyes.“I am so sorry for every time and every way I hurt you.I love you, Melanie, and no matter what happens between us, I will always love you.”He blew out a ragged breath.“You deserve happiness and I hope you find it.Just don’t settle for someone who can’t commit 100% because you’re too good for anything less.”
Had he really just admitted he’d never stopped loving her?And that no matter what happened between them, he would always love her?Yes, he’d said that, too.Tiny wisps of hope fluttered in Melanie’s heart, settled in her soul.“I do deserve 100% commitment from the person I give my heart to...no hiding from feelings or fear.But I’m not sure if you’re sayingyoucould be that person, or if you just want me to know I’m worth it.”
“I…I…” He opened his mouth, closed it.“I have no right to ask for another chance, but if you give me one, I promise I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much I love you… How good we are together.”He held her gaze, eased a hand across the table.“From this moment until I take my last breath.”
Everything she’d ever hoped for was a touch away.“It won’t be easy…”
