Page 109 of When Morning Comes Around

He held her a little tighter. “He’s fine. Sorry, I shouldn’t have worried you like that.”

“What is it then? What did he call about?”

“He wants you to call him. He wants you to call him because Dale’s here.”

She stared at him for a moment, her brain was refusing to process what he’d just said. “Dale’s where?”

“Here, in town. He went to the garden center this afternoon looking for you.”

She shuddered involuntarily. “Why?”

Dom shrugged. “I don’t know. Your dad thinks he’s up to no good.”

She let out a short laugh. “Dad’s seen him? I bet that went well.”

Dom shrugged again. “He wasn’t thrilled about it, and he wants you to call him.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay. I will.” She was starting to process the shock when it occurred to her that Dom might have even more questions about why Dale was here than she did.

She ran her fingers down his cheek. “You know you have nothing to worry about, don’t you?”

He leaned down until his forehead rested against hers. “I want to believe that.”

She kissed him. “You’d better believe it. Whatever he has to say, he’ll just be trying to work things to his advantage. In fact, if I have to see him, have to talk to him, will you please come with me?”

The corners of his lips lifted up in a small smile. “If you want me with you, I’ll be there.”

“I want you there. I should call Dad and see what he knows.”

By the time she got off the phone with her dad, she wasn’t much the wiser. Well, she knew that Dale was staying at the lodge at Four Mile Creek, but she didn’t know what he wanted. She wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t told her dad much.

Dom brought her a drink, and they sat down on the sofa. She leaned into his side, and he wrapped his arm around her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I just don’t feel prepared for this.”

“You don’t need to see him, you know.”

“You don’t know him. If he’s come all this way, it’s because he’s determined to see me.”

A little shiver ran down her spine when he scowled. “It doesn’t matter what he wants. All that matters is what you want. If youdon’t want to see him, you tell me. I can be pretty determined myself.”

She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Have I told you today that I love you?”

She felt him relax, and that beautiful smile of his touched his lips for a moment. “You have, and I know I’ve told you that I love you, too, but I’ll never get tired of it. I mean it, Sadie. If you don’t want to see him…”

She blew out a sigh. “I don’t, but it might be the easier path to take. I just wish I knew what he was up to.”

“Where’s Leanne with the divorce?”

“She filed, and now he has twenty-one days to respond. After that, there’s a waiting period of ninety-one days until it can be finalized. Although, Leanne said it might take a lot longer than that if we get into a battle.”

“Do you think he’s come to try and take you home with him?”

The question took her by surprise, so much that she sat upright. “No! There’s no way I could see him doing that – and I hope you know that there’s no way I’d ever go back to him.”

He ran his hand over her hair. “I know you wouldn’t.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I know it, but there’s a part of me that’s worried. I know it’s not rational, but that doesn’t mean it won’t slip out now and then.”

She hugged him tighter. “I love that you’re so honest about it.”

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