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An hour passes. I finally get a response.
Riggs: Kalim will get you at eight for the flight home.
The hairs on my neck rise.
Me: Where are you?
Riggs: On my way to L.A.
I gape at the screen for a moment, then call him again.
He sends me to voicemail.
Me: What are you talking about?
Riggs: I meant what I said, pet. I love you, but the ball's in your court.
I stare at his message, feeling sicker.
How did we get here?
Tell him you forgive him.
As much as I tell myself to let it go, something stops me. I reread our brief exchange, and all I can do is cry, wondering why this is so hard. But I also wonder why I forgot the vow I made to him. As angry as I am about what he did, part of me can't argue with his reasoning.
I made the vow. He didn't force me to say it. I put those words together and made that promise all on my own.
Then why am I having such a hard time upholding it?
Has so much changed that I can no longer keep my promise of unconditional love to him?
The answer never comes. When it turns seven, I shower, dry my hair, and wait for Kalim. I continue deciphering all that happened between us and whether I'm willing to forgive Riggs and accept all of him—faults and all.
There's a knock on the door, and I get a sliver of hope that Riggs has returned. I open the door, and my heart drops.
Kalim holds out a cup of coffee. "Good morning, Mrs. Madden. Riggs said you'd want this. Are you ready?"
Mrs. Madden.
My heart sinks. It seems cruel to hear those words after everything that transpired between Riggs and me. And it's just like Riggs to still make sure I'm taken care of even though we may be at the end.
The thought of us no longer being together makes my stomach flip.
I realize Kalim is waiting for an answer, so I take the coffee and reply, "Thank you. I'm ready."
But nothing has ever been further from the truth. I have no idea what lies in front of me, and the wedge between Riggs and me has grown. I didn't know how to make things right before we left for Detroit. And I sure don't know how now.
And the fact Riggs is willing to walk away hurts. Knowing how he sees things, I can't blame him. The easy thing to do would be to tell him what he wants to hear and move past this issue. Yet I can't seem to do it.
12
Riggs
One Month Later
With everything going on between Blakely and me, I forgot about her father. He's stayed away from the office since after the charity event. There was only one time he approached the building, and I had already revoked his access.
I've watched the video footage over and over. Seeing him arguing with the security to the point they had to remove him physically gives me great satisfaction. But since then, he's not attempted to come close.
