Page 77 of Something Old

He laid a hand on her shoulder. “Only if you let them. You give them the power over you.”

Her heart warmed at his words. “I know. That’s why I’m leaving Houston. Everything is gone. I quit my job. My mom moved to Arizona. In fact, I’m supposed to drive over there in a few days.”

“So, what’s keeping you? You’re going in the wrong direction.” His voice was soft, but she thought she detected a hint of something in it. Of hope.

She turned back to him. “I had unfinished business here. I wanted to see if you’d give me a third chance.” She grabbed his arm when he would have walked away. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I made a mistake. I made two mistakes, and I’m sorry. I don’t know how to make it up to you.”

“How am I supposed to trust you anymore, wondering if today is the day you’ll walk out? Or tomorrow? I love you, Delaney, but I can’t live like that. I won’t live like that.”

And with those last words, her heart shattered forever. She blinked rapidly to fight back the tears that gathered in her eyes. She dropped her hand and stepped back, fumbling with her purse. Backing away, she also grabbed her bag on the ground. Not making eye contact, she mumbled, “I’m sorry, Ethan. I shouldn’t have come. I wish you all the best with your vineyard. Goodbye.”

She turned and stumbled out the door.

* * *

Ethan steeled himself against the urge to chase after her. This was for the best. Letting her go protected him from another final blow that he would never recover from. Love just wasn’t enough.

He walked to the door and stared out at the parking lot, at the Toyota Corolla packed to the gills with stuff. It amazed him that she hadn’t bottomed out driving up his dirt road, given how laden the car was. Delaney was fumbling with her keys at the car door, dropping them in the dirt. Her shoulders slumped, and she dropped her head against the top of the car. Her shoulders shook with sobs and his heart twisted.

His father’s words came back to haunt him. “She left for you, because she loved you.”

Could it be true? Did she truly love him and thought she was only protecting him? Suddenly, he knew what he had to do. If he let her go, he was letting go of his last chance at true happiness. Maybe he was being stupid, but he had to take this chance. If she broke his heart again, well, that was a risk he’d have to take. She was his one true love, and he would never be happy without her.

In seconds, before he even knew what he was doing, he was at her car, bending down and picking up the keys before she could grab them.

He palmed them and put them into his pocket.

She lifted her tear-stained face to his. “Ethan, give me my keys. Please.” Her voice shook as if she was on her last bit of strength.

He shook his head. “No.”

He stepped closer, crowding her against the car. “You asked if I had a position open for an event planner. Sorry, we’re not filling that position right now. But there is one position open.”

“As harvester. Yeah, you were pretty clear about that.”

She looked everywhere but at him. He grabbed her chin with two fingers and tilted her head so she was forced to see him. “There is one other position. As my wife.”

He watched expressions chase across her face as his words sank in. Sadness, disbelief, shock, then finally hope.

Her mouth dropped open, and she stammered, “But I thought...”

He put his arms around her and pulled her close. “I was a fool, a stubborn, angry idiot. I can only be happy with you. Can you be happy living on a farm in the middle of Texas?”

She dropped her bags and wound her arms around his neck. “As long as you’re there, I can be happy anywhere.”

He pulled back slightly. “Even here?”

She nodded. “Especially here.”

He lowered his lips and kissed her. There it was. His world was now complete. He finally got his girl.

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