“I’m ... tired. Talking is hard.” Dad’s right hand fluttered at her. “Do it for me.”
Certain that her face was crimson, Anna couldn’t think straight. Just stared at her father.
He stared back.
She wasn’t going to win this. “Should we go into the other room?” She dared a glance at Joshua.
“No.” Dad’s hand tapped the blanket. “Talk. Now. Then we can ... catch up.”
Nothing like being scolded by her father to make up with the man she wanted to marry in front of said man when they hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in three years. And Dad wanted to witness the whole thing.
Not awkward at all.
“I’ll spare you both from any excuses on my part.” Joshua set his cup down. “It was all my fault. I never should have left the way I did. I’m truly sorry, Anna.”
She dropped her jaw to say something, but words wouldn’t come.
“Will you forgive me?” His voice was soft as he moved around the bed to her side and took her hand.
His touch sent a jolt up her arm. She stared at their hands for a second. “I told you earlier, there’s nothing to forgive.”
“That’s untrue and you know it.” He squeezed her hand tighter. “I’m sorry, Anna. Will you forgive me?”
She couldn’t think with him touching her. Because all it did was make her yearn for more. “Um ... yes. I forgive you.”
The lines in his face eased and his shoulders dropped as if he’d released a heavy burden. “Thank you.”
“Good. Now that’s ... settled.” Dad grinned.
As if it were that easy.
Her gaze collided with Joshua’s, and she almost broke under the compassion she saw there. Almost.
He opened his mouth, but she held up a hand. “Let’s catch you up with Dad and then we can talk more later.”
“I’d like that.” Joshua shifted his gaze back to her father and asked about his work.
Grateful for the distraction, Anna worked to stuff all her feelings back into the box she’d hidden them in all those years ago. But her heart was having none of it. Why was love so hard?
The afternoon passed as Joshua got caught up on all of the Lakemans’ findings. Anna kept busy bringing different sketches over for the men to look at, and Dad’s excitement about the fossils they were hoping to dig made her smile.
When Mr. Gilbert arrived with his legal paperwork, she left him with her father and walked Joshua out to the front. “Thank you for coming today. That meant a great deal to him.” It meant more to her than she could express as well, but she worked to keep her expression neutral. Joshua would be leaving again soon and they hadn’t resolved anything. Not really.
“May I come see you—and your father—again tomorrow?”
The air between them practically sizzled with the tension. She’d love to go back to that day three years ago and change the course of the conversation that started their argument. But she couldn’t. This was where they were now. She’d have to accept that.
“I’d like that. So would Dad.”
“It was wonderful to see you.” He took her hand and kissed it. The shock of his warm lips on her skin kept her still for several seconds.
By the time she’d regained her senses, he was riding his horse down the lane.
TUESDAY, JUNE11
People in town treated him different now that his father was dead. Gone were the pitying glances. Most glanced at him with a wary eye, but at least people spoke to him.
Which was nice. Julian wasn’t much of a people person, but several women expressed their condolences for his loss. It made him feel better. Stronger.
