Part 32 (2/2)

”Yeah,” said Tess. She felt as if something precious was slipping through her fingers and she didn't know how to stop it.

”You know,” he said, ”this place used to be our summerhouse. When Melanie was alive. And after she died, I moved up here to...get away from it all.”

”Yes, so you said.”

Ben frowned. ”I'm not sure it's the right pace for me, though, this rural life. I don't know. It was perfect at first. But then...well, I was thinking of maybe starting over again in a more...urban area.”

Tess nodded. ”Back to Philadelphia?”

”I don't know. How do you think I would like Was.h.i.+ngton, D.C.?” he asked.

Tess looked at him and saw that his face was pink. She felt as if the weight on her heart had turned into a balloon. ”Are you thinking of moving there?”

Ben chewed the inside of his mouth. ”How would you feel about that?”

Tess's mouth dropped open. ”Do you mean it?” She pulled back from him and searched his face for any sign of teasing. ”Really?”

”I don't want to crowd you, Tess. I know you have your job, and Erny.”

Tess shook her head. Then she put her arms around him and embraced him as tightly as she could until he let out a little groan of pain.

She let him go. ”I'm sorry. Are you okay?”

He put his hand on his bandaged chest. ”It's just...this. Oh baby, wait until I get rid of this.”

Tess and Ben smiled into each other's eyes and an unspoken admission pa.s.sed between them that they were both imagining that day. Living for it, in fact. Tess could feel all her senses tingling at the thought. ”I can't believe it,” Tess said at last. ”I felt so blue coming over here. At the thought of leaving you.”

”I can't lose you. I can't afford a mistake like that,” he said seriously.

Tess smiled. ”Me, neither.” She nestled carefully under his good arm, her face against his shoulder.

”I think I'll keep this place, though,” he said. ”We'll want to visit here.”

From the safety of her position in his arms, in his heart, she looked around the room. ”I guess it has a lot of good memories for you,” she said. ”I can understand that.”

Ben did not reply.

Tess looked up at the mantel and frowned. ”You took down the painting of your...of the woman in the woods.”

Ben nodded. ”Yeah.”

”I just want you to know,” she said, ”that I'm not going to be jealous of your memories. I mean, you lost her and no one can really take her place in your heart.”

Ben frowned. ”About that...” he said.

Tess heard the reservation in his voice and turned to look at him. ”Ben?”

Ben sighed. ”I need to tell you about that. It's not exactly what you think.”

In his eyes she saw him struggle with something secret and painful that was coming to the surface. She was not afraid. ”Tell me,” she said settling back down beside him. ”I want to know everything.”

ALSO BY PATRICIA MACDONALD.

Married to a Stranger.

The Girl Next Door.

Suspicious Origin.

Not Guilty.

No Way Home.

Stranger in the House.

The Unforgiven.

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