Page 68 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
Though as soon as she stepped out into the hallway, she stopped in her tracks.
As strong and confident as always, Jaxon strode straight for her, and in four large strides, he had her in his arms and embraced her tightly. She could feel the warmth radiating from him, and she melted into his hold, her voice breaking. “Jaxon...”
He planted a gentle kiss on her cheek, before wrapping his arm around her waist, holding her close. “Let’s get you out of here.”
She nodded, feeling a part of her broken heart begin to mend with every step she took down the hallway.
Twenty-Two
Just before entering the hotel near the hospital after landing in Phoenix, Charly gently pulled on his hand. He glanced to her as she asked, “Can we take a walk? I just need to clear my head before trying to sleep.”
“Of course,” he said.
She started walking in the opposite direction from the hotel. He followed, stepping into stride with her. They crossed the street and entered a small city park with lighted pathways and trees of all kinds. There were benches next to sturdy oak trees, which he guessed had been there for years judging by their massive canopies. They passed a sign that read Welcome to Margaret T. Hance Park. Established 1991.
“Did you come here a lot when you lived here?” he asked as they strolled along the wide paved path.
She nodded. “This park is named after the city’s first female mayor. I always felt...strong when I came here. It helped me see past the little stuff I was going through to show me that with hard work anything is possible.”
He glanced sidelong at her again and gave a small smile. “That sounds like something you would appreciate.”
“Margaret Hance was an incredible woman,” she said softly. “She most certainly inspired me.”
An elderly couple strode by hand in hand, and Jaxon’s chest warmed. He wondered if he would have even noticed them before he’d met Charly. She made him look at people in love in a whole new light—and with envy.
“I’m so sorry this has happened to Marcel,” he said to her, uncertain these were the right words. “All of this must be very confusing.”
“I’m sorry too,” she said. She stopped walking and then turned to him. “And yes, it’s confusing, because I wanted this for him.”
Jaxon gathered her in his arms. “What do you mean?”
“I wished for the worst possible things to happen to him after he was unfaithful to me,” she said, her voice hitching with emotion. “I caused this.” At these words her tears began to fall.
He pulled her closer, leaving no space between them, feeling her trembling in his arms. “You didn’t do this, Charly. You don’t have that kind of power.” He didn’t let go until her shaking stopped before he pulled back enough to look into her watery eyes. “Don’t take on his wrongdoings as yours. It’s not your burden to carry. What you feel is because of his actions, and none of it would have been felt if he hadn’t cheated—that is the only truth here.”
“The girls said the same thing to me,” she offered. “But...all this just feels...”
“Hard to understand,” he offered.
“Yeah,” she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. “Exactly, because yes, there was heartbreak, but there were also happy times.”
He smiled, brushing his thumbs across her cheeks, taking moisture with them. “Keep those good memories close.”
“But the bad happened too,” she whispered.
“Make peace with those,” he said. Not knowing if she needed this or not, he drew her close, hugging her tight. “It’s okay that you loved him. It’s okay that you hate him. It’s okay that you’ll miss him.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “All of it, Charly, is okay.”
She was silent a moment. He thought maybe he’d said something wrong, but then she clung to him and cried, her body trembling against him.
He dropped his head into her neck and held on, well acquainted with loss, and knowing sometimes the best thing to do was say nothing at all.
When her crying quieted, she wiped her face and began walking again.
The rest of the walk around the large pond was met in silence. Jaxon let her be with her thoughts, but he kept his arm around her, knowing he’d never let go.
As soon as he and Charly returned to the room, he found his bag had been brought in, and he set Charly’s bag next to his. One look at her and she seemed exhausted—like her spirit had been completely drained. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand, leading her into the bathroom.
She followed silently and watched as he turned on the faucet, running her bath. Before heading out the door, he gave her hand a squeeze. “Relax. You need it.”
