“He lied to me?”
“No. He was completely truthful with you. He loved you more than the air he breathed. You were his happiness. The family he’d been dealt was broken. Hurtful, and it would have hurt you if he’d shared it.”
She leaned forward, sobbing.
He leaned over, stroking her hair. “Sometimes we make decisions that we think protect the ones we love. They aren’t always right.”
Grandstaff pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “Natalie, you do have family. We are family. And there are people in this town that feel like you are family.”
“Family can be strangely difficult,” she said between tears. “In a wonderful way. I’m glad we’re family.”
Grandstaff turned and gave Randy a nod. “Your friend,Randy. He’s a good man. He took a chance putting this all together. For you.”
Randy sat in the last pew, barely able to stand the way his heart was breaking for her.
He wanted more than anything to rush in. To rescue and console her.
Please let this have been the right thing to do.He held his breath.He’d forced this to happen. Believed it to be the right thing, coming from the right place in his heart.
“I saw why Jeremy loved you so much when your kindness touched me.”
Her shoulders lifted as she dragged in a breath.
“I’ve mourned him silently for so long. I want to be here for you. For us to remember and honor him together, as family.”
She raised her head. Sniffling. “Everyone knew?”
“No one meant malice, my dear.”
Shaking her head, she swept at tears with a trembling hand. “Why, then?”
“I promise you. No one took any joy in not telling you.” His voice strained, as if he was holding back a flood of emotion. “We wanted you to love this town. To feel closer to your husband. To find your own way, before there’d be a right timeif everto fill in the blanks for you. When you showed up, it was as if my prayers had been answered. Please. Please tell me you’ll forgive me.”
She got up and ran out of the church.
Grandstaff crumpled in that first pew, and Randy wasn’t sure which one to check on first.
“Go to her,” Grandstaff yelled. “I’m fine. Please. Take care of her.”
Randy turned and ran outside looking for her.
She was in his truck holding the puppy, rocking.
“Natalie?”
“Please take me home.”
He got in the truck and drove her to the cabin.
She turned to him, eyes swollen, looking exhausted. “I need some time alone. It’s all just too much.”
“I don’t want to leave you.” He blew out a breath. “I’m going back to Orene’s. I was trying to help. Natalie, this is good. You’ve got family. People love you. The past is the past, does it even matter? I just want to make your future good and honest and no secrets and—”
“I know you’re trying to help. You are. Please. I’ll call you later. I promise.” She clamored out of the truck and ran across the bridge.
His heart hung heavy. He prayed this had been the right thing to do.
“I love you,” he said. When she was out of his view, he backed up the truck and drove over to Orene’s with only a hope for forgiveness on his mind.
