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Meanwhile, the Cinderella team's owner had been left with a broken heart and a glass slipper that had shattered into a million pieces. Hours later, as she stood at her bedroom window, her eyes swollen and her chest aching, she wondered how she was going to find the courage to go on. She had suffered a betrayal so deep and wrenching that she felt as if she had been ripped apart. For the first time in her life, she had dared to hope that she was worthy of love, only to discover, once again, that she was wrong.
She had no more tears left. Her insides were as empty as a broken vessel. I loved you so, Dan. Why couldn't you have loved me back.
The following Tuesday afternoon Sharon was putting the last of the poster paint away in the cupboard when Dan walked into the classroom. She was a mess, as usual, and she tried to tuck her shirttail back into her slacks. Why did she always have to look her worst when he came by?
"You missed the kids. They left almost an hour ago."
"I wish I could have gotten away earlier."
"I'm surprised you could get away at all." She fumbled nervously with her shirt cuffs as she rolled them down. "When are you leaving for Miami?"
"Tonight. We have our first practice Wednesday morning."
"One more win and you're in the AFC Championship."
"Too bad we have to beat the Dolphins to get there." He slipped his hands into his pockets. "I have to meet some reporters at five-thirty. Why don't we go grab a quick bite to eat?"
"I didn't know you were stopping by, and I promised my sister I'd go shopping with her." She saw that he looked edgy. "Is something wrong?"
"It can wait."
"Are you sure? I know how tight your schedule is. We didn't even get to see each other after the game on Sunday."
"I'd rather have some privacy. This probably isn't the best place to talk."
She wasn't a naturally assertive person, especially around him, but she wanted to get this over with. Making her way to one of the small tables, she drew out a chair and sat down. "Everyone's left, so we won't be interrupted. Let's talk now."
He should have looked ridiculous as he lowered his large frame into the tiny chair next to her, but he accomplished the move as gracefully as he did everything else. Just looking at him made her feel awkward and unsure of herself. When would she feel comfortable with this man?
He picked up her hand and trapped it between his. "Sharon, you're one of the nicest people I've ever known."
Her heart began to pound in dread. She'd been waiting for this moment for weeks, but now that it was here, she wasn't ready.
"As soon as I met you, I realized that you were everything I admired in a woman. You're sweet tempered and kind…"
He listed her virtues, but instead of being flattered, she wanted him to let her hand go. Everything about him was too big for her—his size, his reputation. He was too good looking, too strong, too rich. Why couldn't he be ordinary like her?
He rubbed her hand. "For a long time now, I've been playing around with the idea that the two of us might have a future together. I suspect you know that."
He was going to propose, and she would have to accept, because a woman would be insane to turn down a man like him. Life was getting ready to hand her the gold ring, so why did she feel as if she wanted to jump off the merry-go-round?
"… that's why it's so hard for me to tell you I've made a mistake." He looked down at her hand.
"A mistake?"
"I've been leading you toward something I thought was right, but I've only recently realized that it's not."
She sat up straighter in the tiny chair and permitted herself the first flicker of hope. "It isn't?"
"Sharon, I'm sorry. I've been doing a lot of thinking about the two of us in the past few days…"
"Yes?"
"This is all my fault. I'm old enough to know myself better and not make this kind of mistake."
She was afraid she'd expire from the suspense if he didn't get to the point soon.
"As special as you are, and you are special—As important as this relationship has been to me…" Once again, his voice trailed off.
