“And you?”
“I’ll stay long enough to make sure Cliff shows up when he’s supposed to tomorrow.”
“He’s sleeping in your room?”
“It is the Beds for Vets suite.” Zach laughed, but without real humor. “I’m going to take the chair and keep an eye on him.”
“There’s a cot you can use.” Sarah gave him a soft smile. “You could put it across the door. That way you can get some rest. You look as if you haven’t slept much in the past few days.”
He hadn’t. He’d needed to ensure Cliff hadn’t run. Not that the man had said or done anything to give that impression, but Zach hadn’t been willing to chance it.
“I’ll take you up on the cot. I’ll rig the window to where it’ll wake me if he attempts to open it. A few hours of sleep would be good.”
He doubted he’d manage to, though. He might forever be haunted by Isabelle telling him she never wanted to see him again. She’d said it before, but tonight her gaze had held a tortured look that warned she’d never let him close again, pretend or otherwise.
“Things won’t seem so bleak once you’ve rested,” Sarah assured. “Isabelle needs you more than she realizes. Just as you need her more than you’re ready to admit.”
To keep from having to respond, Zach downed his milk. “Thank you for your kindness, Sarah. To me and to Bodie. He’s a lucky man to have found you.”
“I’m the lucky one that he found me.” Sarah smiled. “Just as you’re lucky to have found Isabelle.”
Zach couldn’t argue with her on that count. Having met Isabelle did make him feel lucky. It also made him feel guilty for what he’d done to his own family. Nothing like what Cliff had done, but he’d abandoned them and shut them out of his life. Isabelle’s words rang through his head again, flaying into his resolve.
Sarah studied him a moment. “You’re really leaving, aren’t you? Are you headed home?”
Home? Zach scoffed at the thought, knowing he had to readjust his attitude prior to going to Georgia or nothing would change. Maybe it wouldn’t, anyway. His parents’ mansion had never felt like home. Not the way Pine Hill did.
Not the way Isabelle did.
Not long after, a few cookies in hand, Zach made his way to his upstairs suite. Freshly showered and shaven, Cliff sat in a wingback chair opposite of the bed, eyes closed.
“You planning to tie my wrists to the bed?”
“I didn’t do that last night.” Although he’d considered it.
“You also didn’t sleep. I figured you’d need some shut-eye tonight.”
Zach shrugged. “I’ve gone without longer.”
“We both have. That’s why we’re here now.” Cliff sighed, then stared at him with eyes that strongly resembled Isabelle’s. “You’re leaving after the wedding?”
“There’s no reason for me to stay in Pine Hill.”
“Other than my daughter?”
Zach snorted. “Isabelle can’t stand me.”
Cliff shook his head. “You can deny the way she feels if it makes leaving easier, but you know the truth.”
“The truth is that regardless of how Isabelle feels, she’ll never allow herself to trust me. Honestly, she shouldn’t.”
Cliff’s blue gaze didn’t waver. “Because you’re like me?”
Zach wanted to deny his question, to say he was nothing like the man, but the reality was, from the beginning he’d empathized with Cliff, had understood how the man could walk away when he believed he’d had no choice and that he was doing his family a favor.
“What’s your story?”
At Cliff’s question, Zach’s gaze lifted. “What do you mean?”
