Page 481 of The Christmas Wife

"What made you decide to forgive him?"

"It wasn’t just one thing." I wind a strand of hair around my fingers. "Or maybe, it was the way he knew I was resistant to Penicillin, something I tend to forget."

"But he remembered?"

"He did…when the doctor asked. If he hadn’t, I’m sure he’d have recommended Penicillin for me, and that wouldn’t have any impact. Frankly, that shook me a little. That he knew it and had the presence of mind to bring it up to the doctor, when"—I swallow—"when my own father doesn’t know that about it."

"Oh, honey." She walks over and sits down on the couch next to me. "I’m so sorry."

"Of course, he seems to be coming around. He did stand up for me at Arthur’s New Year party."

"The one where the Witches of Eastwick were kicked out of?"

I laugh. "The same. And he came to my rescue when they were horrible to me, too."

She nods.

"No one has been in my corner for so long. All those years growing up and feeling on my own, trying to win mystepmother’s approval. It’s only after meeting Eddie that I realized I was looking for a place to call my own. I was looking for…" I glance about the living room with its elegant, yet comfortable couch; the deep armchairs; the fireplace he lit earlier; the Christmas tree up in the corner, which he hasn’t taken down yet, at my request; the windows that look out on the garden; the floor lamps lit at intervals; the lush carpeting on the floor—all of it is so Eddie and yet, also, so me. If I'd picked out the furniture for the place, I’d have probably ended up with the same look. "Home. I was looking for somewhere to belong to, but meeting Eddie made me realize home is wherever he is."

"You realized all this while you were away?"

I nod. "I know it should have taken me much longer, but for that small accident I had. It shook me, and all I wanted was Eddie by my side, holding my hand and telling me it would all be okay."

She smiles a little. "And you’ve forgiven everything he did?”

“Do I forgive him for spying on me without my permission and for replacing my contraceptive pills?”And for almost taking the life of a man who was responsible for what happened to him and his friends. A man whose actions emotionally scarred a twelve-year-old boy for life?I shake back my hair. "I do.”

Besides, who’s to say what's right and wrong.Aren’t these rules made by man, after all?

She begins to speak, and I hold up my hand. "All I know is, good or bad, he’s mine. He stalked me because he wanted me. He replaced my birth-control pills because he thought he was tainted by the incident. He was sure if I found out what he’d been through, I’d never want to be the mother of his child.”

"And now?" She tilts her head.

"Now, I believe he loves me enough to never do anything to hurt me again."

She looks into my features and her smile broadens. "I’m so happy you and Ed found each other. I always worried about him. Of all the Seven, he’s the one the incident affected the most. He’s the one who seemed to carry the most secrets. He’s also the most sensitive, though he never showed it. I always hoped he’d find a woman who’d love him as he is and you, my dear friend, are the perfect foil for him."

She throws her arms about me, and I hug her back. When the doorbell rings, she sniffs and breaks away. "I invited Gio and the girls. I hope you don’t mind. It felt like the right time to celebrate."

She walks away and opens the door, and when my friends join me, I can’t stop myself from smiling widely. I’ve found my tribe, and my man, and oh my god, it’s everything I hoped for, and more.

"Is there a party in progress?" My husband walks past Gio, sprawled in one of the armchairs, and Penny, in the other. Both are holding glasses of champagne. Summer and Abby are in the kitchen, getting us all some snacks. He approaches me, leans a hip on the arm of the couch, then leans in and kisses my forehead. "How’s my wife doing?"

"I’m perfect." I beam up at him.

He holds my gaze, and when that tiny divot appears in his cheek, I fall for him all over again. He leans in and kisses me. I allow myself to sink into his embrace, to draw in his scent and curl my fingers around that rock-like bicep of his, when the sound of someone clearing their throat infiltrates my subconscious. My husband softens the kiss, surveys my flushed features, and a smirk curls his lips.

"I’m off then, Ed," Nathan rumbles from his position in the doorway of the living room.

"Don’t forget the site visit tomorrow," my husband says without taking his gaze from my face.

"Site visit?" Nathan frowns.

"It’s one of Arthur’s new pet projects. A bakery he’s set on acquiring."

"A bakery?" Nathan stiffens. "The fuck does he want to do that?"

"You know the old man," Eddie manages to tear his gaze from mine and train it on Nathan. "Once has his mind set on something, he’s not going to veer from it."

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