A few minutes later, I’m stuffing my clothes into my bag when Tony knocks at the door. His face falls when he sees me packing.
“Don’t go, Caro.”
I fling a pile of t-shirts into the bag as tears threaten my eyes.
“Coming back was a mistake.”
“No.” Tony closes the distance between us. “Letting you go was a mistake.”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt him.” I swipe at the tears with the back of my hand. “Violence isn’t always the answer, Tony.”
He takes a step toward me and catches my hand, stopping it on its way to the bag.
“He hurt you, Caroline. He lied and cheated and made you think you’re a failure.” He tilts my chin so I’m looking into his eyes. They blaze with intensity. “And I won’t let anyone get away with doing that to you.”
His expression is earnest, open and honest. I see not the young boy that I fell in love with, but the man that he’s become, struggling with his demons, trying to do the right thing.
“Will Paul live?” I whisper, because I don’t wish death on anyone, no matter what they did to me.
“I only roughed him up a bit. He’ll be fine.” He says it as if he’d like to have done more. “I won’t apologize for it either. Anyone comes for you Caroline, or threatens my baby girl, I’ll protect the both of you with my life.”
His eyes blaze with passion, and I know he means it.
My heart softens. Tony isn’t a monster. He’s the product of conditioning, of a life in the military where he was sculpted to do what was needed to protect our country. And now he’s doing what he needs to do to protect me.
I didn’t understand it as a young wife, but I understand it now. Tony isn’t a bad man. He’s the best kind of man. He gave up all that was dear to him to serve his country, and for that alone, he’s a hero.
My will softens, and I crumple onto the bed. Tony is there with me, his arm wrapping around me and pulling me close.
“I missed you so much.” And I don’t just mean the last few years. I mean every time he left me when we were married. I missed Tony so much I got used to having an empty hole inside of me.
“You won’t have to miss me ever again, honey. I’m here for you now.”
He scoops me up off the bed, and I give a shriek when he lifts me into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?”
He plants kisses on my raw eyelids, and I lean against him as he carries me down the hallway.
“I’m taking you to our bed, honey.”
I surrender to him, to my feelings. I surrender to giving this man a second chance, to letting him love me and letting my love flow to him in return.
As he lays me on the bed, the first rays of dawn peep through the window.
10
TONY
Caroline clings to my neck as I lay her on the bed. I’ve never seen her so vulnerable. The fact she trusts me with her most raw, inner self fills me with a new responsibility.
I won’t let her down this time. I’ll be the man she needs me to be. I’ll support her in any way that I can. And I’ll never leave her side.
Her hair sprawls out on my pillow, fanning out like it used to when we were young.
She’s the only woman I’ve ever taken to bed.
My buddies thought I was mad, staying celibate after the divorce. But I made my vows to stay faithful for as long as I lived. So that’s what I did.
