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He reached for her hand again.She hadn’t realized she’d pulled away.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how sorry I am for the way I left like that.But I don’t regret my decision, Maureen.”
He squeezed her hand, and the simple act of it made her want to cry.
“I was devastated, Adam.”Her voice was quiet, almost unrecognizable.“I didn’t think I would survive it.”
“But you did.”
She looked up into his eyes.“I did,” she said simply.
“And you understand?”
Maureen nodded.“I do.”She inhaled deeply.“I didn’t at first,” she admitted after a moment.“But in time, I did.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, simply looking into each other’s eyes.“You have a family.”
She nodded.“A beautiful family.”
“I knew you would.”
And that was why he’d done it.That was the entire reason he’d stood her up all those years ago.“Five sons and two sort-of daughters.”
“Sort of?”
She laughed.“It’s a long story.”
“I’d love to hear it.”Adam stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.“I’d love to hear all of it.And it turns out that I’m newly retired, and I have nothing but time.”
Elise’s words from earlier echoed in her head.You always think you’ll have time.That’s a lie.
“Adam, would you like to go dancing with me?”
“That’s not what I was expecting you to say.”He chuckled.“But, yes.Of course.I’d love to go dancing with you, Maureen.More than anything, I’d love to hear all about your life, dance the nights away with you, and drink lemonade on a dock, looking out at the lake.I know it’s been decades, and this might be a little bit forward, but I would hate myself if I didn’t say it, and I’m far too old now for regrets.”
She sucked in a breath.
“All those years ago, the timing wasn’t right.We were on different paths.”
She nodded in agreement as he spoke.
“I don’t regret the way my life turned out, and I’m sure you don’t either.”
“I don’t.”
“But I do regret one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Not looking for you earlier.”Adam looked into her eyes.“I told myself that when I finally retired, I’d look you up and see…”
“If I was married?”
He nodded.
“I couldn’t come to grips with it in my head,” he said.“More than anything, I wanted you to be happily married and have a house full of children and grandchildren.But at the same time…” He dropped his head and gave it a shake before looking up again.“Truthfully and selfishly, I was terrified that you would be happily married and wouldn’t welcome the intrusion of an old boyfriend in your life.I know how that sounds, but I really did only want you to be happy.”
“I know,” she said with a sad smile.That was never more true than now after she heard his version of how things went that summer.She’d always known why he left, but to hear it from his own mouth, after all this time, hit differently.
