Part 25 (1/2)
”Then what?”
He tried to say it, to admit that he'd killedSharon, but the words wouldn't leave his mouth. ”Nothing.
Never mind.” He faced himself in the mirror every day. He couldn't bear to face Julianne, too. To have her look upon him with disgust.
She shook her head and he knew she was giving up, that she wouldn't push him.
”I booked my flight for next Monday,” she said.
A shot of loneliness iced through his veins. ”So soon?”
”It hurts too much to stay here.” She sank onto the edge of the sofa, as if her legs had gone as weary as her heart.
Bobby wanted to hold her, to pretend this wasn't happening, but he asked about her plans instead.
”What about your car?”
”I've arranged to have it transported home, along with the rest of my belongings.” She paused, took a breath. ”I'm sorry about not following through on the boutique. But I'll give you all of my files. I have a good start.”
He didn't care about the store. He wanted his woman. His child.
”And what about our son or daughter?” he asked. ”Are we going to s.h.i.+ft the baby back and forth?”
”We'll do the best we can. Be the best parents possible.”
”I know.” But the knowledge that he wouldn't see Julianne and the baby every day was tearing him
apart. ”Have you worked out everything else? Lined up a job? A new apartment inPennsylvania?”
”I'm going to stay with Kay and her husband until I rent a place. And I'm not worried about a job. I'll find one.”
Of course she would. She was a capable lady. Strong. Independent. Beautiful. ”I'll send you a check every month. Enough to-”
”Bobby-”
”Don't argue. Give me this much. Let me help you.”Let me feel as if I matter , he thought.As if you can't live without me.
They looked at each other for a moment and then he said, ”I'm going to miss you.”
Her eyes watered and her voice broke. ”I love you, Bobby. More than you could ever know.”
Unable to stop himself, he sat next to her and held out his arms.
But she didn't fall into his embrace. She didn't cry in his arms. Instead she shook her head, refusing the
shallow comfort he offered.
Loving each other wasn't enough, he thought.
He looked into her watery eyes and saw her strength, her beauty, the Irish temper that kept her from
breaking down.
”I'm sorry,” he told her. Sorry he couldn't be the man she needed him to be. That he couldn't marry her.
”You should go,” she said, her voice cracking just a little.
Knowing he didn't have a choice, he left the cabin, then stood in the wind and asked the Creator to stop
time before Monday.
To keep Julianne here.
Chapter 13.
On Monday, Julianne waited on the porch. Bobby had offered to drive her to the airport and he was due to pick up her up at any moment.
She b.u.t.toned her jacket, warding off the moisture in the air. Could she actually go through with this?
Could she leave him? Live so far away from the man she loved?
When she saw his truck coming toward the cabin, she hugged herself.
He parked and climbed out of the vehicle. He wore a denim s.h.i.+rt, blue jeans and a brown leather jacket.