Page 61 of His Weekend Wife

He nodded. “Work, work, work.” He sighed. “It can certainly be a demon.”

“It pays the bills.” Realizing what she said, she cleared her throat. “Even a rich man like Declan Knight must work.” She turned her gaze toward the water, watching the ripples and the sea gulls flying above.

“Yes, even a rich man must keep the hammer to the grind.”

A relaxed silence came over them as each stared out along the amazing view. Roe shifted, turning to face her ever so slightly. “Tell me, what do you do, my dear?”

She couldn’t very well tell him that she waitressed tables, but she didn’t want to lie, not to a kind gentleman. “Actually, I’m getting ready to graduate with my master’s in social work.”

His eyes widened. “Wonderful. Such an altruistic career, but I could see the gentleness in your eyes immediately. You have a tender kindness about you.”

“That’s very nice of you, but I must say, it’s the amazing surroundings that attribute to my aura.”

“Then you need to live along the water, my dear.”

“I could never—” She stopped herself. Affording such a luxurious place wouldn’t be a problem being Mrs. Declan Knight. “Get Declan out of the city.”

“He may change his mind. I once lived in the city myself and never thought I could leave.”

“Did your wife convince you?” she chuckled.

“No, no, I’ve never married.” A sadness covered his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry.” She clasped her hands in her lap.

He lifted a shoulder and let it drop. “I was in love once. I was a young boy in Italy. I took a job at her father’s vineyard. I saw her in the distance, her beautiful long ebony hair blowing in the breeze. She caught me staring and she smiled. I was caught off guard so much that I fell off the ladder where I’d been plucking grapes.”

“Were you okay?”

He laughed. “Once she came to my side I was perfect. I would have fallen off that ladder a hundred more times to have her by my side.” His smile faded. “Unfortunately, time wasn’t on our side.”

Ash’s heart grew heavy. “What happened?”

“Her father disapproved.” He looked out into the distance as if he could look directly into the past. “I was a young, poor lad and she was a beautiful woman from a well to do family. I had nothing to offer. Two years after she came to my rescue from that ladder, she married a man who gave her the beautiful things she deserved.”

“I’m sorry, Roe. Your heart must have broken.”

“For two wonderful, heartfelt years I was granted heaven here on Earth, and once she married, I knew I’d never love another with such great force again. I came to America and swore I’d never look back. Yet, I don’t need to when my sweet darling Eliza still lives in my every waking hour.”

Ash blinked back the mist in her eyes. “Do you know what she’s doing today? Maybe there’s a possibility?”

“I have often thought I’d retire and visit home, but it’s been so long, nearly forty years. What would I say to her?”

“Taking a risk doesn’t mean we won’t be hurt, but not taking a risk assures us that we will always live in curiosity of what could have been.”

He smiled. “How about you, my dear. You speak of such risk. Have you taken such a risk? With Mr. Knight perhaps?”

She swallowed. “I’m afraid I’m not quite the risk taker I once was.”

“Can an old man give you some wise advice?” he asked. She nodded. “Don’t live with regret as I have. If I had my days to live over again, I would have whisked Eliza away and showed her how special she was to me every day of our lives.”

“Your life’s not over, Roe. There’s always a chance at new beginnings.”

“Thank you, my dear.” He stood, gaining his balance on weakened legs. “I’ve enjoyed our talk.”

“I have too.”

“You stay for a bit more. See what the silence offers you.” He winked.

Long after Roe had disappeared back up the worn pathway, Ash still sat by the water. And, amazingly so, the silence did offer her a lot. It told the story of her heart…

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