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“Did you get it?” he asked.
She nodded her head. “Yes, but I… I lost you. I shouldn’t have let my parents talk me into it. Though I convinced them on our wedding, I should have cut ties then.”
He crossed his arms as heat flushed through his body. Life wasn’t fair at all.
“Allen?”
He wouldn’t break. In the past, he would have given into her spoiled ways, wanting to appease and keep her happy. Those days were over. He didn’t answer.
Crystal touched a hand to her chest. “I don’t remember you being like this. You've changed.”
“I like it,” he said.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“You’ve said it already,” he said.
“Don’t be like that, Allen!”
His nostrils flared. “Like what? Truthful? You didn’t even give us a chance to fix it. You chose your family over me. You didn’t even tell me face to face you were leaving. I find out with a note and later that day your parents’ lawyer calls.” He inched closer. “I loved you with everything I had. I would have given you the world if I could. I loved you, Crystal.”
“I didn’t mean any of it. I loved you too. I need you to understand.” She cupped his face. “I couldn’t remember, Allen. After all the trauma I went through in the hospital, the doctors didn’t think I would recover. You seemed like a nice guy, but my parents thought it was best. They kept telling me it was the right decision, but then I remembered how horrible I was. I let my parents into our marriage and I ruined things for us.” Her hands fell from his face. “I didn’t know about your Mom until later.”
Allen blew out his cheeks. He understood, but it didn’t change what happened. “Crystal…”
“Don’t shut me out. Not now.” She locked eyes with him once more. “I need to tell you—”
“Can you go, please?” He turned away. He couldn’t look at her anymore. Her tears were too much.
“Allen, I can't. I have to—”
“I need you to go.”
She reached her hand to his arm, but he pulled away.
“I’ll let myself out,” she said.
***
Heather stirred the last of the spaghetti as the garlic wafted off the sauce. She tried not to bounce on her toes, but tapped the spoon against the pot after tasting her mother's secret sauce. Heather licked her lips in approval, getting the recipe right. While she could stand longer on her feet, she didn’t want to overexert herself.
Spaghetti was on the bottom of her meal plan list, but it was quick and simple. Parting her lips, Heather grinned at nothing. Wow, she felt corny. If silly grins and giggles were a sign of being in love, she was falling deeper and deeper.
She warded it off, but staying away from Allen proved impossible. Tonight she would tell him. He said how he felt, and while she hinted at it, she hadn’t shared her heart. Hearing her front door open, Tinsel barked.
“Sis?” Sonia called out.
“In the kitchen,” Heather said.
“Are you ready?” her sister asked.
“Almost.” She turned to see her sister frown. “What’s wrong?”
“Last night I heard Mom on the phone. I think she‘s bringing her boyfriend to meet us.”
“That’s a good thing. We can give him the third degree.”
Sonia raised an eyebrow.
