Page 65 of Unforgiven

“Fine.” She reached for her cup, took a sip, and then jiggled her foot while she seemed to struggle with finding the right words to say. “I don’t know if we’re serious or not, Seth. Sometimes Lott acts like he’s very serious and wants to marry me someday. Then other times . . . I don’t know.” Frowning slightly, she picked up her cup and put it down again. “What do you think I should do?”

“Talk to him.” That was the right advice, anyway. Of course, what he was itching to do was visit Lott and order him to stop playing with Melonie’s emotions. But he was pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well.

“I don’t know what I would even say.”

“All you have to do is tell him what you told me.”

The wrinkle that had been threatening to mar her forehead deepened. “But shouldn’t Lott be the one to tell me his feelings first?”

For the first time in their conversation, Seth knew how to answer her. “Sorry, but most men aren’t real good at sharing their feelings.”

“What about you?”

He chuckled. “Obviously not. If I was better, Tabitha would have trusted me enough to let me stay there last night. Instead, I walked back here and was so worried about her I stayed up half the night debating about whether or not I should go back and camp out on her front porch.”

“I hope you didn’t. That would be creepy.”

“I didn’t.” But that didn’t mean he didn’t regret his choice. He was still concerned that Tabitha was frightened and all alone.

“What are you going to do now?”

“As much as it pains me, I’m going to honor her wishes for at least a couple of days.”

Melonie blinked. “Really?”

“I don’t have much of a choice.” All he had to do was remember what she told him. “Tabitha doesn’t want me around.” He searched for something to add, anything that might make himself sound a little less pitiful, but decided not expanding on the obvious was the best option.

Reading his silence, Melonie gazed at him. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m more worried about her than my bruised heart. But, hey, listen . . . if you think Lott is the man for you, don’t give up on him. But don’t rush into anything either. You both have lots of time.”

“I’ll try to remember that. Now, will you come over for supper?”

Seth wasn’t sure if he wanted to. There was so much between them that couldn’t be removed or forgotten. On the other hand, they were his parents and he loved them. They weren’t perfect and neither was he. “Jah. Yes, I’d like that.”

Melonie’s smile lit up the room, and she jumped up and threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Realizing that she was already heading to the door, he followed her. “That’s it?”

“Jah. I’ve got things to do, and you need to take a shower.”

“I reckon so. I probably need to eat something too.”

She smiled at him. “And put on fresh clothes while you’re at it.”

Looking down at his rumpled clothing, he grinned. “Anything else?”

“Nee. I’m really glad you’re coming over tomorrow night, Seth.”

He couldn’t say he was “really glad” he was going, so he did the next best thing. “I’m really glad you came over here today. Thanks, Mel.”

Her expression softened as she slipped her feet into her boots. “Anytime. Anytime at all. I love you, Seth.”

Seth helped her into her cloak and adjusted it on her shoulders. When she turned around to face him, he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thanks for that. And . . . I love you back.”

Watching her hop on her bicycle, Seth felt like he had gained a new perspective about his relationship with Tabitha. It was time he took some of his own advice. He needed to not give up on them, which meant he needed to be more patient with her and himself. He’d waited this long for her, so he could wait longer.

There was no need to push too hard or rush into anything. A counselor in the halfway house he’d lived in briefly after being released had been fond of saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day. He was pretty sure that solid, meaningful relationships weren’t either.

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