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“Brent…” I start before he cuts me off.
“Don’t. Whatever you’re going to say, unless it’s the absolute truth, keep it to yourself.”
Okay, this isn’t going to be easy.
“I’m sorry for lying and for giving you the wrong last name, but I can explain. Can we go outside so Nora doesn’t hear me?”
“It’s freezing outside,” he says in a flat tone. “I like being in the warmth.”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I want to be able to explain this all to you without her walking in.”
He takes a few seconds to study me before pushing off the doorframe and wordlessly stepping onto the porch. He stands there and waits for me to break the silence.
“Well, let’s hear it, Penelope Maxwell,” he says.
I want to literally turn around and run, but I need to face this, so I stand my ground. He closes the door behind him. He’s right, I can see my breath, and a chill works its way down my spine.
He crosses his arms across his chest, leveling me with such a serious look that I almost shrivel up on the spot.
“You’re right, my real name is Penelope Maxwell and I’m an actress who lives in Manhattan, has paparazzi following me around all the time, and has more money than I know what to do with,” I start.
“When you found me in the middle of Main Street, I’d found out through the tabloids the day before that my fiancé was cheating on me with someone random. I decided to pack my bags, leave my phone and computer in my penthouse, and drive until I wanted to stop. I didn’t want the paparazzi to find me.” I rub the edges of my coat in between my fingers to calm my nerves so I can get through this.
“I had no idea that my car was having issues, I have a driver in the city, and it broke down here in Winterberry.”
“So, why the lie?” he asks. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were when I first came up to your car?”
“I wanted to be anonymous for the first time in years. And I wanted privacy to nurse my heartbreak. So, when you asked me what my name was, it just came out.” If I could go back in time and tell the truth on that very first day, I would. My lie will be something I regret forever.
“As the weeks went on, I fell more and more in love with this town and felt like if I told the truth, I’d be looking at the same face you’re giving me right now.”
“I just don’t understand,” he says. “You’ve been around my daughter, my parents, my lips on yours…” he stumbles over his words, like he’s trying to make sense of everything. “You had so many opportunities to tell me the truth and you didn’t.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry for that. I didn’t expect to be here any longer than a night and now, I can’t imagine leaving Winterberry.” I cup my hands in front of my mouth and blow into them, trying to warm them up.
It takes everything in me to say those words and to finally be honest. I don’t know what he’s going to say, but I have to lay it all on the table.
“Brent, in the weeks I’ve known you, and your family, my feelings have grown.Realfeelings. I know you don’t have a reason to believe me right now, but I need you to know that how I feel about you is real. The night we spent together was real.”
He looks at me like he wants to say something, but nothing comes out. I’m dying to know what he’s thinking, if he feels the same.
When he finally speaks, he says, “Penelope, I’m sorry, I just don’t know what to believe from you anymore.”
“I deserve that. And I understand,” I reply. Tears build in my eyes, and I need to be on my own.
Because I did this to myself.
I could’ve had it all, but I chose to lie, and that’s on me.
I turn to leave, but Brent grabs my hand to stop me walking down the steps and off the porch. I turn around, as he grips my hand, and look up at him.
“Brent…”
Click. Click. Click.
“What is that?” he says, dropping my hand. We both turn toward the sound.
My blood runs cold when I realize what it is.
