Page 41 of Something Old

She slowly stood, the world tilting around her. She wobbled and Ethan stood, his muscular arms supporting her.

“You don’t have to do this,” he whispered. “I’ll take the lamp.”

Again, he was sacrificing for her. She looked at him, his expression resolute. He was going to protect her, no matter how much he wanted the answer.

She laid a hand on his cheek for a moment, then turned to the group. “No, I need to do this. You all deserve answers. I left to protect all of you.”

Shock and confusion registered on everyone’s face.

She held up her hand. “Let me explain.”

She looked at Anna. “You hated me, or were jealous of me or whatever, from the day we became roommates. But we overcame that and were friends. I had enough hatred from people who professed to be my friend. I couldn’t stand to see you change, too. Maybe it was cowardly. But there it is.”

She looked at Brigid. “You wanted to be a lawyer. Being the friend of an infamous con artist wouldn’t help you at UT Law or in getting a job.”

She finally faced Caroline. “Your father lost a lot of money in the scheme. He was a senior partner in a law firm. Associating with known criminals and family members is not a good idea. I’m sure your father told you this, Caroline.”

Caroline nodded, tears in her eyes. “I would have ignored him.”

Delaney patted her shoulder. “I know you would have.” She straightened and faced the group. “I was dealing with a lot of shit. They attacked my mother verbally and physically, so much so she had a breakdown. Then my father died. All because of me.”

Anna laughed. “You really think a lot of yourself, don’t you, Delaney? The complete collapse of a man and several families. It’s all about you, isn’t it?”

“It’s very simple. My lifestyle was extravagant. You pointed it out to me often enough. The media pointed it out gleefully. My father didn’t have the money to support us in that manner. I should have known, should not have demanded, should have been less spoiled, as you called it, Anna.”

Ethan grabbed her arm and turned her around. “You think you were to blame? This was all a punishment, a way to redeem yourself? You know you’re not to blame for his actions. He could have said no. He lived beyond his means, too.”

She was shaking her head before his words finished. “My father tried to say no, many times. But I always pushed, expected, demanded. I was a Winters and deserved the trip to Europe, shopping in Paris, a weekend in Vail. Once he died, someone had to step in and deal with the fallout.”

She turned to the group. “I was a coward. I couldn’t bear to see you all hate me.”

Anna stood and walked over, wavering a little on her feet. “So, you pushed us away before we could push you away? I get that. But it was still stupid. We would never have repudiated you. We loved you. Even me, while I was totally jealous of you and kind of secretly glad when you lost everything.”

“Bitch,” Delaney said, but with no actual heat.

The two girls laughed, wiping tears from their eyes. They embraced and were quickly joined by Brigid and Caroline. Soon, the group was crying and laughing. Delaney caught Ethan’s gaze from across the fire. He was serious and pensive, filled with questions of his own. She hoped he bought her story.

There was one truth she could never tell. Why she’d broken up with him.

* * *

Ethan strolled along the water’s edge, letting the waves lap against his feet. The ocean was still fairly calm for the Gulf, but by this time tomorrow, it would be a frothing mass of water, debris, and anger. Kind of how he felt at this moment. Delaney’s story, her explanation of why she withdrew, was plausible, believable, even acceptable.

To everyone but him.

He knew Delaney. She’d met everyone’s gaze, except for his. And she’d never directly addressed why she had left him, lumping him in with everyone else. She’d never actually mentioned Wyatt or Matthew, either, but she had been engaged to Ethan, more than a friend. She owed him more, a better explanation, a more personal explanation. He was glad she didn’t bring it up in the group. That was a topic better left to a private discussion. Somewhere deep inside, a little voice asked, was it worth upsetting the status quo now to pursue the line of questioning, or would it be better left alone?

“Ethan? Is everything okay?”

As if conjured out of his mind, Delaney’s voice broke in to his thoughts. He turned. She was standing just beyond the waves, wrapped in a blue blanket, wind whipping the short strands of her hair against her head. Her face was hesitant, unsure, closed, not the face of someone who wanted to clear the air. Despite that, she had followed him. A part of him was satisfied she was still tied to him, that she still looked for him when he wasn’t present.

He walked out of the splash zone and onto the soft sand to stand in front of her. He searched her eyes for a long moment, then framed her face with his hands and kissed her, long, slow, and deep. It was a kiss designed to connect emotionally, not a prelude to sex. She sagged against him, her hands braced against his chest. After a minute, he pulled away, hands still on her cheeks, holding her in place, and he looked deep into her eyes, seeking answers he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear. Her eyes fluttered down and away, avoiding the intimacy.

He dropped his hands and buried them in his pockets. She pulled the wrap farther around herself, like a shield against questions. She stepped around him to the hard-packed sand, the waves tickling her toes in her sandals.

“Why did you come down here?” he asked, ducking the real question.

“I wanted to make sure you are okay. You were quiet for the rest of the game and then slipped away. I was worried.”

---