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“Then why didn’t you tell me you were having doubts?”
“I tried a few times but you—you misunderstood me, and—”
“So it’s my fault?” He didn’t yield. He didn’t give an inch, but neither did she.
Even though she hated confrontation, she was prepared to do whatever it took to make him at least understand her feelings. “I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault. Only that I didn’t find it easy to say, and every time I tried you thought I was saying something else, so in the end I didn’t say anything at all and honestly I wasn’t even sure my doubts were real. I was doubting my doubts.” She tried to laugh, but her body refused to cooperate. She felt as if she was fighting for her life. She was certainly fighting for her love. For their love.
He turned away again, as if looking at her hurt too much. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“So—what?” Her throat felt thick. “This is it? You don’t love me anymore.”
He gave a humorless laugh. “You think I can switch it on and off? I wish I could. I still love you.”
“Then—” She spread her hands. “I don’t get it. Why can’t we talk about this and move on?”
“Because what happens next time, Rosie?” His voice was raw. “Next time you have an issue you want to talk about, something that is worrying you, something that maybe threatens our marriage, are you going to talk about it? Or are you going to hold it inside until it gradually infects what we have. I can’t marry someone who doesn’t feel they can talk to me. It’s fundamental for making a relationship work.”
She couldn’t breathe.
Tears made it hard for her to see him. She felt strange. If he’d told her he didn’t love her anymore, maybe she could have accepted it but to tell her he loved her but was still breaking it off—it was like being kicked hard in the chest. She felt broken. “I can’t believe you’re being so stubborn.”
“I’m doing what I feel is best.”
She made a last desperate attempt to understand. “Is this about your dad? Are you scared?”
“This is about us, not my dad.”
She didn’t believe him. There had to be more going on, surely? But if he wouldn’t talk to her, what could she do?
Underneath the thick blanket of misery, she felt the stirrings of anger. Anger that he wasn’t prepared to talk it through with an open mind. Anger that he was so easily throwing away what they had.
“Don’t do this, Dan. Seriously, don’t do this. You said you knew me. If you truly know me then you’ll know I struggle with confrontation and difficult conversations. I’m working on it. I’ve probably made more progress in the last day than I have in the last ten years, but you have to be patient.” She swallowed. “I’m asking you to be patient.”
He turned away. “It’s over, Rosie.”
In that single moment anger eclipsed misery. “Yeah? Well, it’s good to know that what we had was worth fighting for. You say you can’t marry someone who won’t talk to you, well, I can’t marry someone who won’t listen and is so inflexible.” She stomped away and somehow made it back to the snowmobile. Scrubbing the tears from her eyes, she jammed the helmet back on her head and sped back down the trail. She wanted to find somewhere warm to sob in comfort. Frozen tears were no one’s idea of fun. And she could feel herself wheezing. If she went to the main lodge she ran the risk of bumping into Catherine. She couldn’t handle her parents right now. Which left the tree house she’d been sharing with her sister.
With luck, Katie wouldn’t be there.
She delivered the snowmobile safely back and made it to the tree house.
The first thing she saw was the Christmas tree glistening, and the second thing was her sister. She was wearing her coat and scarf, and pacing across the living room.
So luck wasn’t on her side.
With a sigh, Rosie tugged open the door and was instantly enveloped by her sister.
“I’ve been so worried. You didn’t answer your phone.”
She hadn’t even heard her phone. “I was busy. Why are you wearing your coat indoors?” And then she noticed the suitcase. “You’re leaving?”
“I—I’ve ruined everything.” Katie stopped hugging her and took a step back. “You’re mad at me, and I don’t blame you. And Mum and Dad are probably mad, too, because of my performance earlier. And I’m not even going to think about what Dan and Catherine probably think. It’s best if I leave, but I couldn’t l
eave before checking on you first. How are you doing?”
“Your wish came true. The wedding isn’t going ahead.”
Katie’s skin color matched the snow beyond the windows. “That wasn’t my wish. I didn’t want that. I wanted you to be sure, that’s all. I didn’t mean this to happen. I’m so, so sorry. You didn’t find him?”
