Page 4 of Christmas Ever After
Gabriel did as she instructed. He opened his eyes and met her gaze as she slid the pillow under his head. He reached up and touched her hair. “You’re so beautiful.” His voice was hoarse as he spoke. “If I could choose again I’d choose you.”
A tear slipped from her eye. He wiped it away with the pad of his thumb. “Some things can’t be fixed.” Her lips wobbled as she spoke. “You can’t go back.”
“But we can move forward…”
She shook her head. “There’s too much you don’t know.”
“Then tell me…” He hated that he hurt her. Gabriel would do anything to change that. She was right though. He couldn’t undo his previous choices. All he could do was move forward.
“When you left…” She paused and took a deep breath. “I didn’t tell you…you had made your decision. I didn’t want to get in your way so I kept it a secret, and then it didn’t matter because I…” She glanced away and said in a low tone, “I was pregnant but I lost the baby. So in the end I had nothing left of you.”
His heart shattered. Gabriel couldn’t say anything to that. How could she have not told him? Would it have made a difference? Did it now? He was drunk, but he’d never forget what she’d said. “I’m sorry.” The words were inadequate, but they needed to be said. “Maybe one day you can forgive me.”
She shook her head and stood. “There’s nothing left to forgive. Get some sleep. She walked away before he could respond. Ivy had given him a lot to think about…
Chapter 5
Ivy had left Gabriel sleeping on her sofa. She hadn’t wanted to face him and left to open Serendipity Lane. She had actually arrived an hour before the store officially opened, but that hadn’t mattered. The store held one thing that made it more appealing than her apartment—there was no Gabriel around to make her feel embarrassed. She still couldn’t believe she’d finally told him about the baby. He was drunk though. Perhaps he’d fail to remember it.
“You’re here early,” Holly said as she came from the back room. “I thought you’d take the day off. You had a rough day yesterday.”
“I’d rather work,” she told her. What she didn’t say was that Gabriel had spent the night in her apartment. That would take the conversation in a direction she did not want to go. “I’d just wallow in self-pity if I stayed home.” And she wouldn’t be able to avoid Gabriel…
“I suppose,” Holly replied. “I’m going over to Witch’s Brew for coffee. Would you like me to bring something back?”
She could use a jolt of caffeine. “Yes, bring me my usual.”
“One white chocolate mocha coming up,” she said. “I’ll make sure to have extra whip cream added too.”
“Thanks, sis, you’re the best.” Ivy grinned. Holly knew her too well.
“Don’t you know it.” Holly winked. “We’ll discuss the Christmas Eve sale when I return. I have some ideas for those last minute shoppers that want to find something extra special. I’ll explain later.” With those words Holly flitted out the door like a fairy who had lost her wings. She floated, but not always gracefully so she bounced around instead.
The door opened and bells rang through the store announcing the presence of someone. “Did you forget something?” Ivy asked without glancing up. Holly could be absentminded at times.
“Yes,” a man said. “I forgot to tell you I love you.”
Ivy looked up and met Gabriel’s gaze. Why did he have to come in? His eyes were bloodshot and he looked like hell. “I thought you’d sleep longer. I left you a note.”
“I appreciate it,” he said. “You were quite welcoming when we both know I don’t deserve it.”
Gabriel moved farther into the room. He stopped at the counter and placed a box down. It was small, white, and tied with a silver bow. “I’ve had this for years. I had hoped one day to give it to you, but well, you know what decisions I made instead.”
She stared down at the box. Ivy was afraid to open it and see what was inside of it. “What is it?”
“Open it up and find out,” he suggested.
Ivy picked up the box but she didn’t open it. She stared at it as if it had grown horns and would attack her at any moment. “You’ve had this for how long?”
“Since the last Christmas we were together…before I was offered the scholarship. I had grand dreams and I wanted you to be a part of them all. I never imagined that I’d leave and you’d stay. I started carrying it with me since I returned…I don’t know…hoping…” He swallowed hard. “Open it.”
She pulled on the ribbon and untied it. Ivy let the silver ribbon float to the counter. Slowly she lifted the lid and pulled out a blue velvet box. She set the white box down an held the blue velvet box in her palm. Ivy was afraid to open it. She had a feeling she knew what it was. She flipped open the top and a ring was nestled inside. It was a snowflake on a platinum band. Around the snowflake was tiny sapphires that outlined the edge making it sparkle like blue ice. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s not an engagement ring,” he said “It was meant to be a promise. That no matter what we’d always be together and you could count on me. I couldn’t give it to you when I realized that I couldn’t make that promise. If I’d known about the baby…” He paused a moment and took a breath. “It might have changed things. I would like to say I’d have stayed, but I was selfish. I hate that I left you and I want to try to make that up to you. If you’ll let me I would like to make that promise to you now.”
She swallowed hard. Her emotions were overwhelming her. “This is too much…” She wanted to tell him that she could give him another chance. That she still loved him. “You just returned.”
“I know. I’m willing to wait as long as it takes. You’re worth it. All I’m asking is for a chance to prove that I love you.”
