Page 35 of A Package Deal

“So you’ve said, and it concerns me that you haven’t shared your burdens with me. I thought that’s the direction we were headed in.” If he was going to do this, he’d do it honestly and calmly, laying all his cards on the table.

“Aren’t we?”

“No. I can’t be with someone who won’t share their life with me. Who won’t let me in. The girls and I have already been discarded, and I’ll be damned if I sit by and watch it happen again.”

Nelie flinched. “I’m not discarding you or them.” She sat taller and pulled her hand away, but she hadn’t denied hisnot sharingaccusation. Chet sighed as their end rushed toward him.

“I know what’s going on. I’m not an idiot.” Pain laced his words as he relived what he’d seen.

“Well, you sound like one.”

“I saw Croix here the other night. Late. I saw the two of you hugging through the kitchen window.” Nelie rolled her eyes.

“Is that what this is about? He was dropping off the papers.” She pointed at the stack. She sounded immune to his pain.

“At that hour?”

“It’s tax season. He works late. And what were you doing out after the girl’s bedtime?”

“Bread run. And the hugging?” he asked through clenched teeth.

That’s what had put him over the edge. Krista was Croix’s wife and one of Nelie’s oldest friends. Krista who was working in Florida and had invited Nelie to come down for a vacation. Were Nelie and Croix taking advantage of the situation? If Chet were rational, he would have laughed at the thought of either of them having an affair. But he would have laughed shortly into his marriage, too. And toward the end, it was Heather who’d been laughing. No, there was nothing rational about this.

“He was comforting me. As a friend. I’d gotten some surprising news that I was dealing with. Croix’s not exactly Mr. Sensitivity, so he hit a few hot buttons in his attempts to help, and I cried.”

“That’s just it, Nelie, I should have been the one holding you. I should be the one supporting you with whatever you’re going through. It should be me.” He thumped his chest, choking out the last sentence.

Nelie took several shaky breaths, as if finally feeling Chet’s words. She swallowed and reached for his hand. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. He didn’t pull away. Her hand was cool and trembling, and Chet hoped he’d gotten through to her. That there was a chance to save them.

“Right now, I feel like I’m on the edge of the Grand Canyon and everything I want is on the other side, but the ground underneath me is shifting and if I make one false step, I’ll lose what I have, let alone what I want.” Nelie’s admission all came out in one shaky breath.

“Let me help you shore up the ground underneath you. Let me get you to safety, and then we’ll build that bridge. We can build a great life together, but you’ve got to let me in,” he pleaded.

“I don’t know what it would look like or how all the pieces would fit together. It’s more of a dream at this point, I guess.” She sounded lost.

“I don’t know either, but whatever you do, you need to build it in truth.” Her brows furrowed, and his finger covered her mouth when she opened it, most likely to deny his truth sucker-punch. “I’ve watched you do everything for everyone, but until you start doing what you want, you’ll always be standing on wobbly ground. The world is your oyster, Nelie. Crack it open and see what happiness looks like.”

“I am happy,” she said as she swiped at a tear, grimacing.

“Avoiding the people who love you makes you happy?” he asked, laying his heart out for her to trample.

“You love me?” She smiled and her tear-filled eyes brightened.

“God help me, but I do.”

“Then why does it sound like you’re breaking up with me?” Chet should be ecstatic that she’d caught on and his mission was successful, but he couldn’t pull the trigger. Not when she needed him and not when they could make this right and build a life together, but they had to do it honestly.

“No, I’m giving you the space to figure out what you truly want. Not what others think you want, or what they want you to be, but whatyouwant. And if you decide that’s me and the girls, then no more secrets. I need a partner who will let me in and who I can trust.” Chet stood, and Nelie looked up at him. Tears ran freely down her face. He caressed her cheek, swiping at the drops. “I love you, Nelie. There’s nothing you can do or say that will scare me away, but I can’t be the only one in this relationship.” He kissed her, tasting her tears, and her lips clung to his when he pulled away. “I’ll make other arrangements for the girls.”

“That’s not fair!” Nelie sprung to her feet. “They shouldn’t be punished because we’ve hit a bump in the road.” She might not be fighting for him, but she’d fight to keep the girls in her world. And she’d always been honest with them.Unlike me.

“I’ll think about it,” Chet said, kissing her forehead before walking out the door. Nelie was great with the girls, and they adored her. He was tempted to cave. Nelie was right. Just because they’d hit abump in the road—which felt more like the Rocky Mountains—the girls didn’t need to suffer.Only me. But if I give in, Nelie loses any incentive to dig deep and figure out what she wants.

Chet didn’t know what to do. Girls or no girls.? He wanted what was best for Nelie, the girls, and himself. And it was all four of them together. Forever. The only thing standing in his way was a blond dynamo refusing to let him in and his principles. “Stupid principles,” he muttered as he pulled into traffic to pick the girls up from school.

Chapter 20

NelieparkedinMrs.Hart’s driveway and turned off the engine. She stared at the side door, dreading the upcoming conversation, but knowing she couldn’t put it off. Not when she knew the one thing, the most important thing, she wanted in her future—Chet. And Ava and Piper. And to make a family with them.

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