Page 125 of Meant to Be

“Those are just rumors,” I said. “Joe doesn’t believe them.”

“Where there’s smoke there’s fire,” Curtis said.

“Are youseriouslycomparing infidelity to murder?”

“It wasn’t murder,” Curtis said. “It was a tragedy—and yes, it was criminal—but none of this is a reason for younotto marry the love of your life.”

“Elna?” I said, turning to her. “Will you please explain this to him?”

Elna cleared her throat and said, “I think you’re missing the point, Curtis. It’s not that her father’s crimes are the reason not to marry Joe. And it’s not whether Joe will believe that she didn’t know…because I, for one, think he will believe her…. It’s that Cate sees this as further proof that she can’t live the Kingsley life.”

“But shecan!” Curtis said.

“But maybe she doesn’t want to—” Elna said.

“She doesn’t want to marry the hottest guy in the universe who is madly in love with her and treats her like absolute gold?” he said.

“Maybe she doesn’t want the pressure that comes with that. The constant scrutiny. The feeling—misguided though it is—that she isn’t good enough.”

I nodded and said, “Yes. All of that. Thank you, El.”

“But you love him,” Curtis said. “Doesn’t love conquer all?”

“No,” I said. “It doesn’t. And besides—if I truly love him, I need to let him go. He’ll be better off without me.”

“I don’t believe that,” Curtis said. “And neither do you. I know you don’t.”

“Yes, I do! Elna, help me out here….”

Elna sighed and said, “I can’t help you. This isn’t for me to decide. Or Curtis. Or the press or Dottie or Joe. You have to figure it out for yourself.”

I sighed and told her that I already had.

“Fine,” Elna said. “Fair enough. But you still have to get up, get dressed, and get on with your life.”

I nodded, knowing she was right.

“And you have to go talk to Joe,” she added. “You have to tell him what’s up. You don’t have to marry him, but you owe him an explanation.”

“I can’t tell him the truth,” I said, adamant. “He’ll just try to convince me it’s okay…that he understands…that we’ll make it work.”

“Because itwillwork!” Curtis said.

“But I don’t want it to anymore. I don’t. I don’t want this,” I said, now crying.

Elna put her hand on my arm and told me to calm down.

I nodded, taking a breath.

“Just go talk to him, Cate. Tell him a modified version of the truth. Tell himsomething.”

“Oh my God, that poor man,” Curtis said.

“He’ll be fine,” I said, as sickening images of Joe with other women filled my head. “He’ll move on fast.”

“That’s not fair,” Curtis said, shaking his head. “Just because he’s a Kingsley doesn’t mean he can’t have a broken heart.”

“He’ll be fine,” I said again, wondering if I ever would be.

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