AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Okay.” It was like a weight lifted off her shoulders. It was a relief to admit everything that she had been thinking and feeling since their son died. It was a relief to have someone to help her bear the pain.
They were together now.
Forever?
She had to know.
She had to be sure that Fin wouldn’t change his mind again.
“You’re not going to shut me out again, are you?” Chloe could hear the vulnerability in her voice, but she didn't try to hide it. She needed Fin to know that she couldn’t take him shutting down again.
Fin leaned back, lifting one hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, then his hand lingered on her cheek. “I can't promise you I won't lose my temper or get angry about something. But I promise you that whatever life throws at us, we are in it together.” It was his turn to radiate vulnerability. “You're not going to walk away again, are you? The next time something goes wrong, you’re not going to up and leave?”
Giving him the same honesty he had given her, she said, “I can't promise you that sometimes I won't need space or some time on my own. But I promise that I won't ever walk away again. Next time, we deal with things together.”
His body relaxed at her promise, just as hers had relaxed at his.
It seemed like Charlie was right, after all. Sometimes things weren’t as they seemed. She’d thought that Fin blamed her for the baby’s death, but he hadn’t—he had blamed himself, just asshe had blamed herself.
But blame and guilt only brought them unhappiness.
Maybe forgiveness and acceptance would bring them happiness.
“Can I take you home?” Fin asked.
“I’d love that.”
*****
8:24 P.M.
Fin put his arms around Chloe’s shoulders as they walked from the car parked in the driveway to the front door. She leaned into him easily, like seven months of anger and hostility and guilt had never happened.
Could things really be this easy?
Could they both let go of their guilt and make things work?
He wanted to believe that they could, but it was hard to believe that they could just slip back into the relationship they’d had before.
He wanted it to work, more than he had ever wanted anything else in his life. He had just been afraid that Chloe might think differently once things had calmed down. So, although he had stayed by her side while she’d been treated, he hadn’t wanted her to feel like shehadto take him back.
Fin knew that after the way he’d treated her the last few days, he didn't deserve her forgiveness. And he’d been worried that once things settled down and she was safe and no longer fighting for her life, that she would realize that and rethink wanting to get back together.
What he hadn’t been prepared for was her confession that she blamed herself for their baby’s death.
She had misinterpreted his shock for anger and babbled apologies at him.
He didn't want her apologies.
He had wanted to rip her pain right out of her body and make it his own.
His anger had probably helped to fuel her guilt, despite the fact the anger had nothing to do with blame over the baby’s death.
But that was behind them now.
Now they were on the same page.
He had the woman he loved back. It felt surreal. Emotions clogged up inside him. He still hadn’t gotten over the fear of not knowing where Chloe was and what was happening to her.
