Page 48 of Control Line

“You just said she loved me; did she not tell you that?” Barney knew Zee loved him. It was the last words she’d spoken.

“Yeah, but that’s different. Focus. You need to talk to her. Apologize, and by apologize, I mean grovel. If you’re lucky, she’ll forgive you or at least give you a chance to earn it.”

“How can she forgive me? I can’t forgive myself.”

Barney dropped his head to the steering wheel. He felt a whisper of a touch at his shoulder. A trembling touch that disappeared before it ever truly existed.

“Trauma does crazy shit to the tongue. And you were traumatized. You’ve pushed everyone away since the whole death thing.Everyone. But finding out that it was someone you trusted, someone who was supposed to care for you who did that? That hurts like a bitch. It’s so impossibly hard for the heart to process, so the part of the brain that protects us takes over and, well. . .anyway, Zee understands. She’s even upset with herself for lashing out. But remember, you weren’t the only one betrayed by him. Zee, for a second time even, when she realized he was the one who devastated the man she loves.”

There was a profound sadness in her words that Barney wouldn’t question. There was also insight.

Barney had been so wrapped up in his own betrayal he didn’t even think about what it was doing to Zee.

“Here’s the deal. Whether she forgives you or not, it will start to heal the wound that was created. As it is, it’s gashed open and painful. If left like that, it will fester and infect everything around it. Even if she doesn’t accept you and your pretty words, which she totally will, just saying them will help you both move on. It will slow and eventually stop the toxic spread. So, even if you won’t do it for you, please, do it for her.”

Emerson knew the way to manipulate him for sure. He cared more for Zee than himself.

“Thanks.”

The somber Emerson was replaced with the chipper one at lightning speed. “Sure, anytime. But, if you hurt my girl again, I’ll remove a favored body part before I sic my in-laws on you. Understand?”

Every word was spoken with a smile, one that scared the shit out of him. She hopped out of the truck and walked away. Turning over the engine, Barney headed toward the cabin. If he gave too much thought to his actions, he’d chicken out. Seeing her would be painful for them both, but it was the right thing to do. When his phone rang, he didn’t want to pull his eyes from the road, so he hit the speaker button and hoped it was someone he wanted to speak to.

“Mr. Barnes, how are you today?”

His lawyer rarely called him unless there was progress. It’s mattered little now, he had information for him that might cut some investigation fees off his mounting bill after the discoveries three days ago.

Barney didn’t answer the courtesy question because the truth wasn’t a typical,fine, how are you. “I’ve been meaning to call you. I know who stole my identity and how. He was a college buddy I lent my insurance card to. I’m sure I’ll have to answer for that, but it should help speed things along.”

“I know, surprising right? Anyway, no need to worry about that. We have what we need. Proving you’re you and breathing is just a matter of paperwork. The biggest concern we need to discuss is the child. How you want to proceed.”

“WHAT?” Child? Whose child?

“The child? I’m sorry, I assumed Miss Kessel discussed the revelations in the letter, and I use the term letter loosely. She brought me all the information she had, the cremains release, the urn, the letter.” He sighed. “It seems Mr. Morrison had a child, or rather you have a child. Legally, anyway. Once we sort out your identity, we need to petition for the birth certificate to reflect the biological father.”

“Miss Kessel?”

“Yes, she was waiting for me bright and early at my office three days ago. Thanks to her, you’re about to get your life back, Mr. Barnes.”

“I gotta go.” Barney ended the call as he arrived at the cabin.

He burst through the door declaring,I fucking love you and I’m so sorryto her empty cabin. Gambler was gone, too. Back at her place, he checked her schedule. Short hike, Alpha trail, two hikers. He groaned when he read the names.

It didn’t matter, what mattered was Zee. Emerson’s words haunted him as he jogged up the trail. It was theshe may not forgive youpart that terrified him. He didn’t doubt her ability to, though. Not after she took all that to his lawyer and exposed her past and pain to help himafterwhat he said.

The voices coming from around the cover of trees had him stopping in the middle of the trail and dropping to one knee. He hadn’t planned to propose, but it just felt right.

Zee came around the tree cover first and stopped dead in her tracks with Mrs. Malone almost running into her. Mrs. Malone gave Zee a gentle push as she gifted him with a sweet smile and a hand to her chest. She approved.

Mr. Malone and Gambler came into view once Zee was standing right in front of him, but he only had eyes for her.

“What the. . .awe, bet.”

With a trembling voice, Zee questioned him. “What are you doing out here, Barney?”

“I’m trying to convince the most amazing woman in the world to make me the happiest man in it by begging for her forgiveness and her hand. Marry me?”

Barney swallowed the lump in his throat when she crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her hip to the side. Barney thought Emerson was dead wrong. Zee was nowhere near forgiveness, until he looked in her eyes.

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