Page 115 of The Candlemaker

Freedom.

“I’m sorry about that.”

My head snapped up as Chandler strode back into the kitchen, a different kind of hunger on his face.

“What happened?” I wanted to talk about anything except the elephant in my chest.

“The deal’s done—or will be done,” he said, a tentative smile breaching his face. “GC Holdings has nothing left. My acquisition of the company will be finalized this week.”

Done.

Relief spread through me.Why was I worried?It was over—or would be soon.

“That’s great.” I went to him, knowing how hard he’d worked to finally erase this last piece of his father’s legacy.

“I have to go back to Boston this week,” he interrupted, the single sentence spearing straight through my chest. “I have to meet with them. Review the terms. Signed papers. This is only the first step. Once I take control of the company, I’ll have to split up all the pieces. Sell what’s failing and revitalize what’s left. By the time I’m done with it, no one will be able to recognize any of the pieces that belonged to him. Like a butterfly from a caterpillar.”

Pain speared through my chest.By the time he was done with it, I wouldn’t recognize him.

“My doctor’s appointment is this week. Another ultrasound,” I croaked, only able to cling to concrete things at the moment.

His jaw tightened and released. Twice. Like two gunshots to my heart. “I’ll try and make it back?—”

“No.” I shook my head and stepped out of his hold, something wild breaking loose inside me. “Don’t.”

“Frankie, please?—”

I ignored his pained voice and moved around him, beelining for the front door and hoping Gigi and Lou had finished their conversation or taken it elsewhere.

“Frankie, please.” He caught up to me on the porch. Before I turned, I noticed how the sky was devoid of stars tonight, like even they didn’t want to risk my wish being made on them.

“I can’t do this, Chandler. I’m sorry,” I said, lifting my chin.

“I’ll be there. I’ll be at the appointment.”

“Even if it’s the same day as your meeting?”

“I—yes.” His hesitation was his downfall.

“I’m sorry, Chandler.” I forced myself to be strong. “You can be a part of our baby’s life. A part of my life. But not…not like this.”Not where he had the ability to hurt me like this.

“Please, Frankie. You don’t understand,” he protested, taking my balled fist in his. “I have to do this. After what he did, I have to.”

“I do understand,” I said softly. I remembered the anger that gnawed inside me, waiting for the moment I turned eighteen so I could change my name. I remembered the need to destroy anything and everything that tied me to the idea of my father after how he’d hurt Mom.

And that was why I couldn’t be angry at him. I knew his hurt. I knew why he needed to do this. No one deserved to be chained to the past like that, especially by someone they loved—by someone who loved them.

I just wish his own happiness was the key to unlocking that chain and not his vengeance.

“I love you, Frankie.” His hands tightened around mine as he repeated the words against my fingers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said, tears leaking down my cheeks. “But it’s not enough.”

It wasn’t until I went to pull my hand from his that I realized there was something in it.His label.I uncurled my fingers and held it out for him to take.

“This is yours,” I said softly, watching as he took the crumbled paper like I was giving him the remains of my heart—my heart that had the word freedom etched into its very beat.

It was what I was giving him.Freedom. Because I loved him too much to take it away.

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