Page 18 of Almost True
“So… you don’t do the tree farm anymore?” I tried, hoping to break through.
“That’s still my primary focus. I’ve worked to add in more landscape work, but—” He glanced out the window sharply. “But I’m obligated to my in-laws.”
Stones dropped down into the pit of my stomach, piling up so quickly, my chest felt heavy, my torso rooted to the spot even though the restless energy in me wanted to send me springing from my seat. “In-laws?”
He heaved a large sigh. “In the same way you didn’t mention your last name and everything that entails, I didn’t share everything about me. I—I’m sorry.”
I spoke slowly, ignoring the tumbling, tossing sensation, and channeling calm like the boss I was. “You’re married?”
He blinked slowly, so slowly I would’ve thought he was embarrassed or ashamed of himself, except when his gaze hit mine upon opening his eyes, an ache twisted its way through me. That wasn’t shame or guilt.
That was something else entirely.
“I was married. Now I’m not.”
My heart rate picked up. I knew what this was, and I didn’t understand why it made me feel a little sick to my stomach, but I had to be certain. I’d been manipulated enough to know you had to hear the words, whatever they were, however horrible they’d be, or in the end it was only yourself you could blame when things went wrong or the truth came out and you weren’t expecting it.
“You’re divorced?”
Only a slight sideways jerk of his head, and he said it. “Not divorced. Widowed.”
CHAPTERTEN
Aidan
Everything was going wrong. Every damn thing, and there wasn’t a way to get this back on track. I saw the pity. The shade of her cheeks blanch. Her throat work to swallow, her brilliant mind scrambling for something to say.
“I’m sorry.”
I shook my head, internally raging at the situation. Why couldn’t it have stayed simple? Hadn’t we both enjoyed it when it’d just been Maddie and Aidan, not Madeline Reynolds, CEO and out of my league, and Aidan Wallace, widowed father of one—and she didn’t even know about Luca yet.
“Truly, I am.” She reached out but pulled her hand back before she touched me. “But I’m also sorry that you’ve felt in any way deceived by me. That night…”
Staring into the darkness of my half-consumed coffee, I finished for her. “It was a fantasy.”
A smile flashed, but it looked more pained than pleased. “It was. And I didn’t realize it was like that for you, too. But now I’m glad it was for both of us, at least.”
I nodded, not sure I understood completely, but getting it on some level. We’d both been escaping.
But the reality of that meant something very clear now, in the light of day, in the minutes that ticked by during this version of life. The smooth tabletop of the café under my hand. The glittering sun outside. The responsibilities waiting for me around every corner.The real world. “I don’t regret it. But I think that’s probably it.”
What good would it do me to pretend this could go anywhere? I’d had the thought a thousand times since I’d agreed to show up yesterday, but it wasn’t going anywhere. No amount of normalcy—sipping coffee at the local café or chatting about mundane parts of our lives—would erase the disparity between us.
She dipped her chin, a physical acceptance, but didn’t speak for a moment. When I stood, she did, too, knocking the table and making a loud enough clatter that everyone looked in our direction. She ducked her head and focused out the window, shielding herself from embarrassment, I supposed.
I reached the door and held it open for her. She slipped past me and glanced up. “You’ll keep the contract?”
My heart lurched, but I couldn’t tell whether it was for fear she didn’t want me to or fear she did. I was counting on this contract, though. I needed it.
“If you still want me.”
Her lashes fluttered, until I realized how that might sound and abruptly continued with, “To do the job. If you still want me to do the job, I mean.”
“I do. I chose you based on your recommendations and portfolio, and there’s no one else I want to do the job.”
Relief swept in. “Then I’m in.”
“Maddie! I’m so glad to see you!” Sarah James came out of nowhere and wrapped Maddie in a surprisingly familiar hug.
