She was not his.
The thought hit her hard. Their love was like a faded map, the once-bold lines and vibrant paths now blurred and indistinct. Each crease and tear a testament to a destination never reached. The landmarks that once seemed so familiar now appeared foreign, as if the very landscape of their deep affection had shifted, leaving behind only a relic of the past—a guide to a place she could no longer find.
She lifted. “Look, I’m going to go get the guest room ready. You’ll stay the night.”
She held her hand up to his immediate protest. “We both know there’s no hotel open this late. Not unless you drive clear to Jackson Hole, and even then—” She let her voice drift off. “You’ll stay here.”
This time, he didn’t argue. He simply stood. “Thank you, Reva.”
He took his watch off, the one his grandfather had given him upon passing the bar exam, and laid it on the coffee table next to his mug. She knew it was engraved.“I’m expecting big things. Love, Pappy.”
Thankfully, he was not here to see Merritt’s tumble from grace.
Minutes later, they ascended the stairs, each step seeming to creak under the weight of Merritt’s revelation. The hallway light cast long shadows, stretching their forms into ghostly silhouettes that merged.
At the top, they paused, standing side by side, facing their separate doors. The space between them was charged with what remained unsaid. They exchanged a glance, a silent conversation of regret and resignation, a mutual acknowledgment of the boundary they dared not cross.
“So, if you get cold, the thermostat is on the wall next to the door.” She pointed in that direction.
He nodded. “Thanks.”
With soft, bittersweet smiles, they whispered their goodnights.
Merritt turned to his door, hand resting on the knob for a moment too long while she lingered, her gaze tracing the familiar lines of his back, memorizing the moment.
As their doors closed softly, the quiet of Reva’s room enveloped her like a shroud, the echo of their footsteps a testament to what might have been and the poignant acceptance of what was.
4
Reva barely slept. Just before dawn, sheer exhaustion finally took over and she dozed, slipping into a deep, yet fitful, slumber and woke with a start with sunlight beaming through her window.
Immediately remembering the previous night’s surprise visit, she bolted up and threw back the covers. “What time is it?” she murmured out loud, searching on the nightstand for her watch. “Oh, my goodness!” It was nearly seven a.m.
She scrambled from the bed. Without bothering to put on her slippers, she quickly crossed to the window and peered out.
His car was still there.
Her breath caught and her mind raced wondering if he was awake, or like her, had he fallen asleep. They didn’t quit talking until nearly four in the morning.
It didn’t matter. Right now, she needed to focus.
She tore off her bathrobe and donned a pair of jeans and a cute blue sweater. In the bathroom, she ran a brush through her hair and pulled it back into a pony, then washed her face and brushed her teeth before racing down the stairs. Thankfully, Merritt had always claimed she looked beautiful without makeup.
As soon as the thought entered her mind, she chased it away. She had no business trying to be attractive to her ex-fiancé. Especially now.
Merritt was sitting on her deck, looking out over the river, with a cup of coffee in hand. She got a cup and joined him.
“Hey,” she said as she folded into the neighboring Adirondack. “I’m sorry I slept late.”
Merritt gave her a weak smile. “Daybreak isn’t exactly late. Besides, I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
Reva let his statement hang in the air. She gazed out at the water tumbling over the riverbed, letting the sight steady her. “Did you sleep okay?”
“No,” he admitted. The sallow look under his eyes confirmed his statement. He leaned over his knees gripping his mug. “I suppose you need to get to work.”
“It’s Saturday. But?—”
He straightened. “I need to go. I don’t want anyone to find out I’m here.” There was worry in his voice.
