Page 80 of Hot to Trot

She plucked a blade of grass and tore it until little remained, much as John had done earlier. The bits scattered around her bare feet, a symbol of their relationship. Torn, scattered, never to be whole again. "But you weren't."

"That's why I came here. I needed to tell you. I thought I was being selfless, but Monica helped me see I wasn't being fair.You deserved the truth. You deserved to make your own decision about your life. I needed to fix things with you before I could move on in my life. So I came to Texas."

She nodded, her heart conflicted, a regular occurrence these days. She wanted to be angry, hold fast to the bitterness that had been her constant companion for many months. Somehow it didn't seem to matter as much as it had weeks ago. Somehow the gash in her heart had healed. “You were doing what you always did. Protecting me."

He slid his hand along her arm. At one time it would have warmed her, but now she felt nothing. "I always wanted the best for you."

She studied his tanned hand against the fairness of her skin. She'd loved him once. But no longer. Her heart had moved on before she even realized it, and filled itself with tender new feelings for Adam. "I can forgive you, John, because I no longer carry that burden of heartache. I won't lie. You hurt me, but I'm in a new place in my life. I won’t go back."

He dropped his hand and stared out at the dying vines clinging to the wooden fence a few feet from them. "I had hoped we might have a second chance. But if I go away with your forgiveness, I can live with that."

She didn't say anything more.

"So that guy. Is he the one who's helped you move on?" he asked eventually.

“I don’t know. He’s …something.”

"He doesn't have your passion."

'No, but he needs it."

John threw his head back and laughed, startling her.

"What? The man is a walking time bomb. You saw what happened when his emotions got the best of him. I gotta find his pressure value before he blows.” Scarlet grinned as she said it. Mostly because it was true.

"Don't ever change, love," he said, tenderness etched on his face.

She shook her head because she wouldn't. She was who she was, and nothing, not even love, could alter her.

They shared a peaceful moment, silent as what they’d once shared found its rest. Finally, John rose and held out a hand. "Shall we?"

She accepted his hand. "Your cancer? Are you better? Or..." She didn't want to think about John being worse.

"It's in remission for now."

"I'm glad to hear that. Life wouldn't be good without John Hammerstein in it."

He curled an arm around her, and she allowed him to hug her. "You are so special, Scarlet. They broke the mold when they made you."

She gave him a squeeze. "Thank you for finally telling me the truth."

"I will always be sorry I hurt you. Do know that I loved every minute of life when I was with you. And if this new fellow doesn't treat you like the queen you are, I will personally take him to task. Tan his hide."

Scarlet's lips twitched. "He already knows I'm a drama queen. I just hope he thinks I'm a risk worth taking."

"Well, if he doesn't, he's an idiot."

"I'm definitely not an idiot."

Scarlet and John turned toward the sound of Adam's voice. He stood next to a pecan tree.

John didn't acknowledge Adam. Instead he dropped a light kiss on her cheek. "If you ever need me, you know where to find me."

John walked toward the house, stopping to study Adam. For a moment, they looked like dogs squaring off over a soup bone. Might as well have hackles up and tails straight. But when Johnextended a hand toward Adam, he took it. "You've been handed a treasure. Don’t squander it."

Adam nodded but didn't respond. He released John's hand and approached Scarlet. A moment later they were alone, or as alone as two could be across the street from a town picnic. She could hear the shouts of children and the twang of a banjo in the background.

"You feeling okay?"

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