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Louisa sent them all back.
For one long morning, her doorbell was silent. She spent her morning playing with the baby, baking a chocolate cake and trying not to think about Rafael. He wanted her back. That much seemed clear. But when was he going to stop sending her gifts? How long would it take to show him that her trust and forgiveness couldn’t be bought?
Was Rafael ever going to come to her himself?
Then, the doorbell finally rang at last, and she braced herself to open it, knowing it would be Rafael.
Instead there was a messenger holding only a single rose—and a note.
I have something to tell you. Meet with me.
Please.
Rafael
She took a deep breath. Then, she nodded. “D’accord,” she told the messenger. She was curious, she told herself. That was the only reason. That, and the fact that Rafael had actually written the note himself. She supposed she should be flattered!
The messenger nodded with a smile and said in French, “There is a car waiting outside to escort you and your baby to the airport. No need to pack anything for either of you. Monsieur Cruz, he has arranged for everything.”
But Rafael wasn’t waiting for them on his private jet. By the time the plane touched down at the private island, the Greek island she remembered all too well, Louisa could not pretend to herself anymore that she felt only curiosity. She wanted to see Rafael. No matter how she tried not to feel it, she missed him. Wanted him. And some part of her still wished he could love her. Though she now believed he never would love anyone.
But Rafael wasn’t waiting for her on the tarmac. He wasn’t waiting for her in the beautiful whitewashed house on the private island.
This was her island, now.
Had he changed his mind about meeting her here? Had he given up his pursuit? Was he just going to leave her in sole possession with the baby, the lonely queen of this island?
The house was empty. A strange disappointment went through her as she passed empty room after empty room.
She tucked her sleeping baby into the lovely elliptical crib she found in the newly decorated nursery. Closing the door softly behind her, she looked out at the orange and scarlet sunset. She walked across the empty house. She opened the screen door and went out on the terrace beside the infinity pool. Blinking back tears, she looked around her and remembered all the places where they’d once laughed, where they’d shared meals, where they’d made love. Past happiness surrounded her like the echo of ghosts.
Folding her arms, blinking back tears, she lifted her chin and stared out at the red twilight over the darkening blue sea. How had everything gone so wrong?
Her love hadn’t been enough to save him.
It hadn’t been enough to make him love her back.
But as she wept, Louisa suddenly heard a voice behind her.
“Forgive me.”
With an intake of breath, she whirled around and saw Rafael. He was coming toward her. His figure was dark as a shadow in the deepening night. Only his eyes seemed like pools of light, gleaming at her with the intensity of fire.
“Forgive me,” he said again. She was frozen by his gaze, unable to move as he came toward her. He took her in his arms. Holding her with his gaze, he brushed tendrils of hair back from her cheek. “I was so wrong.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her by placing a finger on her lips. He looked down at her, and she realized he had tears in his eyes as well.
“I love you,” he whispered. “I love you
, Louisa. You and only you. Since the day I took you to my bed, there has never been another woman for me. You are my lover. My friend. The mother of my child. Most of all—you are my wife. I love you.”
She stared up at him, unable to breathe.
He lowered his head toward hers as his hand stroked her face. “Can you ever forgive me?”
She shook her head, unable to speak.
“You sacrificed so much to protect me. I know everything now. My mother told me everything. I cannot live without you. Not just for Noah’s sake, but for my own. Everything I am, everything that’s good, is because of you.”
