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“You know men are really terrible,” Izzy said. “And I include Chase in this sometimes too.”
Beth was sitting on the couch on Izzy and Chase’s deck, trying not to think about how it reminded her of sitting out on Finn’s deck with him.
She felt bruised and sore, like her heart had been ripped out of her chest, but fundamentally, she knew she’d be okay.
She hadn’t wanted to cry in front of Izzy and Indigo, but she hadn’t been able to help it when they’d asked her what was wrong. And instantly she’d been surrounded by warm, feminine comfort. She hadn’t had that before, and it felt good, so she’d let herself have it.
What Finn would do now was anyone’s guess, and she wasn’t sure what would happen if he was serious about not marrying her. She would go on, though. Because this was only heartbreak. It wasn’t grief or the black pit of depression. And this time she wasn’t alone. She had her friends—hell, she had the whole town—to help her through it.
“They are,” she replied, wishing the chamomile tea Indigo had thrust into her hands was whisky instead, because she could sure use it now. “I hate them.”
“Me too,” Indigo said in solidarity. “They’re the worst.”
“And Finn Kelly is the worst of them,” Beth added.
“He is,” Izzy agreed.
“Stupid Levi comes a close second,” Indigo muttered.
“Beth?” The voice was deep, male, and utterly unwelcome.
The three women turned to see Finn standing at the bottom of the steps in front of Chase’s house, staring at them.
Izzy stood up, frowning furiously at him. “You’re not allowed here, Finn Kelly. Why don’t you go back home?”
Beth’s throat had closed, because he was looking at her intensely and for the first time there was nothing guarded in his expression. Every emotion was laid bare for her to see.
He didn’t look at Izzy. “Beth, I want to talk to you. Please.”
“Why?” She didn’t move. “Have you come to a decision? Because if you have—”
“I was wrong,” he interrupted quietly but very firmly. “I gave you a whole bunch of excuses about what I could and couldn’t give you, but in the end, it was all bullshit.”
A shiver whispered over her skin, her eyes filling with tears. “What do you mean?”
“I was protecting myself because I was afraid. Afraid of loving you and what it would mean, and how it would affect my memories of Sheri… God, it was so much crap.” He took a breath. “Losing her hurt…it hurt a lot, and I didn’t want to open myself up to that kind of pain again, but…” His black eyes burned. “You did. You opened yourself up to me and to the town, even after everything you went through. You showed me what true bravery is, Bethany Grant, and I can’t…shit, I can’t let that go.” He took a step toward her. “Because the truth is, honey, love was never a choice when it came to you. I’ve been in love with you from the moment I met you.”
The breath caught in Beth’s throat, her vision flooding with tears.
“Well,” Indigo said. “That’s quite the speech.”
Finn didn’t even blink. “Beth, you’re my sunshine. You light up the dark places inside me. You’re strong and understanding and generous and caring. You’re brave and beautiful. Sheri wanted me to be happy, and I know I can be. But I can only be happy with you.”
Beth took a ragged breath and got to her feet and found herself almost running down the steps to him. Because how could she hold back after that?
She couldn’t. She didn’t want to.
She’d told him she’d be here for him, and she was. She always would be.
Finn held out his hand to her, oddly formal. “Please, come with me. I want to show you something.”
Perhaps it was a mistake. Perhaps she shouldn’t have believed him. But he was here and she couldn’t refuse.
Izzy made shooing motions, looking a bit misty-eyed, while Indigo gave her a big thumbs-up. So Beth took his hand and he led her back up the driveway to his house. Then, strangely, over to the outdoor bath that was full of hot water and was steaming gently. There were rose petals floating in it.
“Sheri wanted an outdoor bath,” Finn said. “So I made her one. She had one bath in it, then decided she hated it and never used it again.” He glanced at her, his gaze full of intensity, the door to his heart wide-open now, letting her see everything. “She’d be horrified if it was never used though. She’d want it to be enjoyed, and so would I.” He lifted Beth’s hand, grazing a kiss over her knuckles. “I’ll always love Sheri. She’ll always be part of me. But my future is with you, if you want to share it with me.”
Tears were falling down Beth’s cheeks, but she didn’t stop them. Instead, she reached up and cupped Finn’s cheek with her hand. “Of course she’s part of you. Sunny is part of me. We don’t lose them. We loved them, and because we did, we get to keep them forever. Love is the best way to remember, don’t you think?”
