Page 42 of Words from the Heart
“Parker.” Delilah stood, guiding him into the bed, “When you’re healed, I promise to be so disrespectful you will want to punish me. But for now, I need you to get better. Ok?”
“Fine. When we going to have that talk?”
“Talk?”
“Oh… you thought I’d forgotten you promised to tell me what was on your mind, did you?”
“No. I just thought you needed rest.”
Parker crossed his hands behind his head and leaned into the frame, “I’m rested.” He watched her as she fidgeted on her feet. “Come, sit. What are you so scared about?”
“Everything.” Delilah let out an exasperated sigh.
Parker brushed his hand down her cheek, “You don’t need to be scared.”
“Parker,” she stood and paced in front of him. Taking a deep breath, she started to spew every emotion inside her chest. “When I left for college, I thought my life was beginning.” Delilah paused, glancing at Parker over her shoulder, “I had no idea it was really the end. John was not the man I thought he was. He controlled everything I did. He kept me from the only woman I knew as mom. He took my career from me and left me a shell of a woman. Then Momma Belle died. She died and I wasn’t here – I know what you’re going to say, that she made peace with that, but I haven’t.”
Delilah stared out the widow, “Then I came home and met you. You are confusing, pushy, and make me feel things I wasn’t ready for. And then Ed, my horse – the only thing left connecting me to her – died. Or at least that’s what I thought. The letters she left for me were filled with pain, love, and insight. And when Hank told me you’d been in a car accident, my heart stopped.”
“Delilah,” Parker whispered her name.
“No, let me finish. Parker, I’ve been running. My whole running and looking for something I thought I was missing. But I realize what I was running from was here in Alabama this whole time. You brought something back to life inside me, something I didn’t even know existed. Momma Belle was right.”
“Right about what?”
“She said I deserved more. She said the man I needed was here, waiting for me. Parker,” Delilah turned to face him, “I’m not scared.”
“Not scared of what?”
“Loving you.”
