Page 17 of Unexpected Danger
“I can’t marry you.”
“You can’t?”
“I’m sorry, Brodie.”
“But…”
She turned from him, and her shoulders shook as she quietly sobbed. He attempted to comfort her, but she broke free of hisgrasp and walked to his truck without looking back. He followed her and reached for her arm.“Londyn, wait.”
She turned to face him but didn’t meet his eye.
“Help me understand.”His words came out more terse and louder than he’d intended.
She flinched, and Brodie removed his hand.“Please.”
She shook her head and bit her lip.
Brodie needed her to explain. Needed to know the why of her answer.
They stood there beneath the moonlight, the ring tucked haphazardly back into his pocket.“Londyn, I love you.”
She dipped her head, and he lifted her chin.“I love you,”he repeated.
His heart broke into a million pieces when the words he longed to hear were not spoken in return.
It was the only time he’d nearly lost his temper with her, and even then, he’d remained calmer than he ever thought possible. Only by God’s grace, because some strange emotion of hurt, anger, fear, and disbelief all rolled into one settled in his stomach.
Somewhere, a car horn beeped, and the streetlight flickered.
“Do you love me?”he’d whispered.
Londyn said nothing.
Just left him there to have his heart torn from his body in one fell swoop.
He drove her home and walked her to her door as he always did. This time, there was no inviting him in for a movie and popcorn. No goodnight kiss. No “see you tomorrow” before he left. Just another muffled apology before she shut the door and walked out of his life forever.
Brodie gave her space, hoping she’d reconsider, but he’d not force her to love him or to marry him. She had to do that on her own.
A week later, Londyn texted him to say she was moving out of town. Just like that. No explanation. No saying she would miss him. Nothing about the enduring friendship they’d shared for nearly two decades or the subsequent dating relationship.
Just,“I’m moving.”
Mom had grieved as though she’d lost a daughter.
And Brodie as though he’d lost the love of his life.
Because he had.
He’d gone over that day over and over again in his mind at least a million times. Would she still be here if he hadn’t proposed? Should he have gone after her? Should he have visited her apartment to say goodbye before she left?
Brodie had wanted to say so much more. In hindsight, it was better that God held his tongue that day. No sense in driving her further away.
If that were even possible.
He had only heard from her a handful of times since. Each time, he’d responded with a lackluster response. He’d pridefully acted as though her decision had little effect on him.
Numerous times, he wrestled with whether to text her more often, but in the end, hadn’t. Mom had. She’d heard from Londyn on occasion, although only to say “hi” or “hope everyone is doing well,” and one time, an apology. Never an explanation.
