Page 54 of Every Promise Broken

“Yeah, he was happy to have a new sweater.”

“How are you guys doing?”

My brows pinch. “What do you mean?”

“The house has been a bit quiet the last few days,” she offers. “Did something happen?”

You mean, aside from me tying him up in the barn and making us come?

“We’re fine,” I reply instead. “Nothing happened.”

“That’s your response to everything, boy.”

Laughing again, I say, “Well, it’s true.”Sort of.

Nana glances up at me, lips pressed thin. “If you say so.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask.

She stops walking, placing a hand on her hip as she peers up at me. “I’m just saying, I know how easy it is to let things get comfortable or stagnant. Don’t take what you have for granted.”

“Nana, where is this coming from?”

Is she onto us? Have we not done a good enough job?

“You boys have been married for a while now, and I remember when your mom and dad were about where you two are. The ranching can very easily take over your life. The chores, the repairs, the tasks. All of it. It can take over and leave you verylittle if you aren’t careful. Just never forget to love your husband, Connie. Never forget to make time for him because there will never be another one like Whit for you. Trust me when I say that. That man loves you to the end of the earth, and anybody can see.”

Oh, how I wish that were true.

I’m not an idiot. I know how lucky I was when I was married. Know how much Whit loved me, and there’s not a day that goes by when I don’t wish I could get that love back. I had him, and I lost him, but damn, if I won’t ever stop trying. Especially with him back in our house for the time being. Having him so close to me, seeing the way I so clearly still affect him, it gives me hope.

“You’re right, Nana,” I murmur. “Whit is it for me. Nobody could ever compare, nor would I ever want them to.”

20

Whit Bowman

My headlights shine a narrow path as I drive down the long gravel road leading to the house. I’m exhausted beyond belief after the day I’ve had, and I haven’t been this happy to be home in a while.

Not that this is myhome, but it’s the closest thing I have to it for the time being, so I may as well learn to appreciate it.

Every couple of days, I stop by my actual house when I get off work. One, to have some alone time before I have to head back to the ranch and face Conrad, but two, so I can check on everything there and make sure nothing is out of order. If I wasn’t so damn tired tonight, I would’ve done that, but I just don’t have it in me.

Pulling up in front of the barn, I’m surprised to find Conrad’s truck gone. He’d mentioned cooking dinner, and I was looking forward to it. The dinner, that is. I wonder where he’s at. A sense of relief floods my system, knowing that I’ll get to dodge having to face him for another night. We have yet to talk about what happened in the barn on Saturday, but that’s been a relief. I just don’t know what to say.

My mind is a mess.

My heart feels tattered.

And my nervous system is in overdrive.

I know it’s because I need to face this already. Avoiding problems isn’t in my nature, but I’m terrified about what’s going to come from discussing it with him. What happened was a mistake…or at least, that’s what I keep telling myself, but nothing about it felt wrong. Just like the night of Sterling’s party, every single thing about our encounter felt like coming home. It felt like a weight off my shoulders. Like I could breathe for the first time in entirely too long.

But what does that mean?

After I grab my briefcase and the plastic bag filled with my barf-covered cardigan, I climb out and head inside, unsure of what I’m going to find when I get in there. If Conrad is gone, does that mean Nana is too? Do I have the house to myself? The lights are on, so I’m sure that’s not the case.

I walk through the front door, setting my briefcase on the bench as I toe off my shoes and shrug out of my coat. It’s bitter cold tonight, and I’m pretty sure we’re supposed to see snow by morning.

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