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“James,” she moaned again, softer this time, moments later.
“Yeah, sweetheart?” he whispered, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her, taking some of her weight.
“Can I see the rest of the cabin now?” she asked innocently, and he threw his head back, laughing.
CHAPTER8
MELANIE
PRESENT
This was heaven.
Sitting in the warm sun overlooking their property on their front porch, the fields and hills seeming to surround them with peace, the porch swing slowly moving back and forth, a warm breeze in the air.
His arms were around her, their fingers latched together as if he didn’t want to let go of her any more than she wanted to let go of him.
“Love you, sweetheart,” James murmured as his head dropped, and she felt his breath against the skin of her neck.
“I love you…”
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
She jerked awake, her hand flying out automatically to his side like it had since the day he had left.
It was the same every morning.
There was just a moment between when sleep left her, and reality intruded, that she forgot that she was alone. That he wasn’t here holding her, his arms wrapped around her, and in that moment, she could breathe.
Then that feeling of unimaginable agony would fill her chest and her lungs would seize.
She rolled her head into the pillow, the one that was supposed to be his, but no longer smelled like him, and let go of the sob in her heart.
“Ahh!” she cried out, the pillow muffling the sound as the knock on the door sounded again, and she flinched.
God! Couldn’t people just leave her alone!
She threw back the covers with an angry wave, swiping at her tears and quickly slipping on her slippers, the floor being too cold without them, then stomped through the house toward the front door.
The house was dark, with only a single light on in the living room to guide her way, nothing bright and colorful to reflect that it was Christmas morning.
Nothing cheerful.
No Christmas tree.
No lights and presents.
The room was a direct reflection of how she felt.
If she couldn’t have James, then she didn’t want any of it.
The chill of the room swept over her, giving her goosebumps through the nightshirt she was wearing as she reached out, and with a flick, unlocked the door and threw it open.
“Why can’t—” The words died on her lips at the sight before her.
