She shook her head.
Good. Because he didn’t want to go anywhere without her. “What will you do?” he asked.
“I haven’t figured that out quite yet. I don’t know what I want.”
“What about me?” His voice cracked. He coughed, clearing his throat. “Do I get any say? What about what I want?”
She shrugged. “You don’t want me involved. You don’t want me around. Your life was much easier.”
“Of course, I want you. I’ve always wanted you. Who do you think funded the allowance?”
Her skin assumed a pale, green pallor.
His stomach dropped to his knees. He didn’t want to hurt her. He was only trying to illustrate his point. His love never wavered. He was patient and steadfast.
He’d been a jerk.
With her chin down, she looked so small.
His gorgeous, glorious, gregarious wife shrunk to the size of a doll. She looked like a toy to be picked up and played with or tossed aside at someone else’s discretion.
Had he been guilty of using her? He’d never intended to tell her the truth. However, once the words slipped free he wouldn’t pretend she misunderstood.
Her reaction validated his worst fears. “I’m sorry.”
She shook her head.
“He never stopped missing you. I’d catch him on his phone, scrolling through your posts. He’d walk to the lighthouse every afternoon. I caught him there once. Crying with a picture of you. He couldn’t apologize. I don’t think he knew how to start.”
She turned to stone, her features hard and carved. “But he didn’t look out for me. He wasn’t worried about how I’d provide for myself.”
Xavier wasn’t the only Hale too proud to be happy. She knew the truth now. There were no more secrets between them.
Christopher reached for her icy hands and squeezed. Groveling wasn’t his style. But he could learn from others’ mistakes. He wouldn’t let pride ruin him. “Stay here. Please. Let’s take a real chance. Nothing and no one is holding us back now.” And he meant it. His parents had passed years ago. Her father was gone. He had reached an age where he no longer cared about any outside opinion.
Except hers.
It was the two of them against the world. He’d fight everyone. But he couldn’t battle her.
“What would I do?”
“Whatever you wanted.”Just stay.“Cook, come up with special events, just be here. Be you.”
“Would we be partners?”
He leaned forward and brushed the hair off her face. With his thumb, he traced the gentle line of her cheekbone.
He wanted no more secrets. No more hiding. Just the truth from both of them forever. But he wasn’t sure they could coexist in a business. Was that the only way forward?
Under his touch, she trembled, leaning into his palm.
She couldn’t make herself more vulnerable and open to him.
He held back, unsure he could do what she wanted and relinquish control. The town would cheer. Zach might lead a parade down the boardwalk if the charges were dropped and he was released from prison.
From the corner of his eye, a burst of light caught his eye. He turned and stared outside. The sky brightened as an orange glow expanded, bright as the sun.
For a long moment, he didn’t breathe. Was this a sign from the heavens pointing him the direction Ashley wanted? She had been his sunshine. Improbably, a new day dawned.
