“Cav-cav!”
I hold her tighter, my walls going up. “What do you want, Calvin?”
“To talk. To apologize. To…” He stops, looking at Ella. “To explain some things. Please.”
For the baby’s sake, I tell myself. I’m listening for the baby’s sake. “Fine. Talk.”
He glances around the empty beach, then back at me. “The dig. I halted it. After you left, I stopped the excavation. The tomb is still covered, secured, exactly as we left it.”
I stare at him. “But you’re going to hire another archaeologist and start again?”
“I don’t want to.” He takes another step closer. “It was your discovery, Georgia. Your theories that led us there. Your expertise that decoded the mapping system. It wouldn’t have been right to bring someone else in to finish your work.”
“But you said—you told me people would be lining up to take my place.”
“I know what I said. I was angry and hurt and lashing out. It wasn’t true. Or it might have been true that others would want the job, but I didn’t want anyone else. I wanted you.”
Ella is still squirming. I set her down but keep a firm grip on her hand.
“Why didn’t you announce the discovery?” I ask. “You were so adamant about immediate press coverage.”
“Because you were right.” His voice is quiet. “Those people, whoever they were, they deserve respect. Their story deservesto be told completely, carefully, with the dignity it merits. Not rushed for headlines. Not used as a weapon in my personal war with my father.”
Something in my chest loosens slightly. “You didn’t announce it atall?”
“Not a word. I’ve fielded questions from the board, from potential investors, from my father. But I haven’t said anything about what we found.”
“Why?”
“Because you taught me something.” He meets my eyes. “You taught me that some things matter more than recognition. More than proving people wrong. More than immediate results.”
The wind whips my hair around my face, and I push it back with my free hand. Ella is pulling, wanting to go to Calvin, but I hold firm.
“That’s good,” I manage. “That’s the right decision. For the discovery.”
“I did it for the discovery.” His voice is raw. “But I also did it for you. Because even though you weren’t there, even though I’d driven you away, I wanted to honor what you taught me. About patience. About respect. About doing things right instead of doing things fast.”
“Calvin,” I whisper.
“I wanted the headlines,” he continues, the words rushing out now. “I wanted recognition from the archaeological community, from the press, from my father. I wanted proof that I wasn’t wasting my time, that my grandmother’s stories were real, that I could be more than just a businessman. But Georgia…” Heshakes his head. “All of that means nothing compared to your approval. Your respect. Your…”
He stops, and I see him struggling with something.
“Your what?” I whisper.
“Your love,” he finishes quietly, and I suck in a quick breath that makes me dizzy. “I wanted your love, and I destroyed it because I was too scared to choose it over my pride.”
Tears are burning my eyes.
“I’m in love with you,” he says. “I’ve been in love with you since somewhere in the middle of the desert. I love your brilliant mind and your fierce heart and the way you challenge me. I love how you are with Ella, how you can shift from work to mother without missing a beat. I love that you called me out when I was being an ass. I love…” His voice breaks again. “I loveyou. And I let you go because I was terrified of needing someone. Of giving you the power to hurt me. But not having you… that hurts worse.”
“Stop.” I can barely see through my tears. “Just stop.”
“Georgia—”
“You told me I was replaceable. You let me walk away without fighting for me.”
“I know. And I will regret that for the rest of my life.” He takes another step closer. “But I’m here now. I’m fighting now. I’m telling you that I was wrong, that I’m sorry, that I want another chance. Not when it comes to the project. That’s not what I’m talking about. I want you. Both of you. I want to be part of your family, if you’ll let me. I want to build something real and lasting and?—”
