AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t know. I thought you probably forgot all about me.”
“If only.”
Tears pricked my eyes, but I would not give him the satisfaction of allowing them to fall. “This was a bad idea.”
“You’re taking that wrong.”
“How should I take it?”
He stared out into the serene winter landscape, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “The only problem I have with you, Isabelle, is that you are every bit as wonderful as I remembered you to be. All these years I hoped I was wrong about you—about what could have been. Now, more than ever, I feel the sting of the life stolen from me.”
Stolen from him? Did he think I stole his life from him? I couldn’t ponder it then, as my heart began beating wildly out of control, making me feel flush for knowing he had never forgotten me and thought I was wonderful. But a single tear escaped, for all that had been lost—for what could have been. “If it makes you feel better, you’re not as wonderful as I remember.”
He chuckled. “I know. It’s been an interesting twenty years.”
“I’d really like to hear about them.” Truly, I would. I wanted to know all about his life.
He turned and met my eyes. I recognized the pain swirling among the aqua, almost as if it were hard for him to look at me. “Someday I will tell you, but not today.”
“Why did you ask me to coffee, then?”
“Because, when that reporter was harassing you this morning, all I could think to do was protect you. Then when I took you in my arms, I felt like I got my life back. It was the first time in a long time I felt like myself.” In those sentences, my Patrick showed up. The one who was never cautious about owning his feelings and sharing them with me.
“Me too,” I admitted, throwing my own caution to the wind for once. I had promised myself one day I would tell him what he meant to me. Maybe that day would come sooner than I’d thought it would.
He smiled, pleased. “Perhaps we should do something about that.”
“Perhaps.” I played coy. “Any suggestions?”
He opened his mouth to say something, but my phone started buzzing repeatedly, out of control, even.
Whomever it was, I was annoyed with them. I had been waiting for a moment like this for twenty years. “I’m sorry. Let me turn it off.” I handed him my mug before I reached for my bag to retrieve my phone, which was still going crazy. I began to worry that maybe Charlotte needed me. I grabbed the phone to find out I had probably over a dozen messages from various friends and family members, including my mother.
Mom:I can’t believe you’re engaged and you didn’t tell me. Call me. Now!
Raine:Oh my gosh! Congratulations, I just heard the good news. I need details and an invite.
Charlotte:Izzy, call me as soon as you can. You’re kind of all over social media.
Kind of? What did that even mean? No one cared about me. I was only related to someone who was getting married to one of the most famous men in the world. I began to hyperventilate, feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath. How did this happen? Of course, I knew how. Dave the dirtbag and all the otherdnames I was thinking in my head. He was playing his hand and doing it well. My hate for him now covered all the continents.
“What’s wrong?” Patrick asked.
I held up my phone, shaking. “News of our so-called engagement has been announced. By Dave, I’m sure,” I stammered, trying to get air into my lungs.
Patrick grinned, to my surprise.
“This doesn’t bother you?”
“I’ve been accused of worse things.”
I couldn’t think of what those things might be at that moment. I had way more pressing matters. “What do we do?”
He placed both mugs of coffee on his dash before taking my phone and setting it down. Then he did the most unexpected thing. He took my hands in both of his. His touch allowed me to take a breath. I felt so at home—at peace, even.
“Maybe there is a reason we both find ourselves in Fair Hollow at the same time.”
“Maybe,” I squeaked, freaking out about this engagement nonsense and hoping beyond hope Patrick was thinking of the same reason as I was.
