Page 80 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘Why not?’
He shrugged. ‘Because it sounds formal. It’s something you’d say to someone who’d done his duty. Not someone who…’ He shook his head and looked straight ahead, his mouth pulled into a tight straight line as if determined not to utter another word.
‘Who?’
He looked at her and heaved a deep sigh. The determination vanished. ‘Not someone who loves you and who would do anything to protect you and those you love.’
‘Oh,’ she exhaled. His words filled her with happiness, but they also added to her sense of guilt. She knew she loved him, had always loved him, but there was no way she could say it, or act on it.
He turned away, raking his fingers through his hair. ‘I’m sorry. That was dumb of me. You don’t want to hear that right now.’ He rose to his feet. ‘Look, I’ll leave you in peace and —’
‘Sam,’ she said, and he stopped talking mid-sentence. ‘It’s OK. More than OK. It’s just… timing, I guess.’
‘Right. I’m sorry.’
She shook her head. ‘No apologies required. This is weird for all of us. I need time to process everything.’
‘Yep, of course. You’ve got it.’ He spoke too quickly, obviously regretting what he’d said and wanting to move on.
‘Please, Sam, don’t feel you’ve said anything untoward. Your words, they made me feel…’ She sighed. ‘So good. And I know my future is with you, but I can’t talk about it now. It feels all wrong.’
His face lit up at the word future, and a lovely slow smile settled on his lips.
‘No talking required,’ he said, the smile refusing to subside.
In every fibre of her being, she knew she loved him and trusted him, not only with herself but with the people she loved. And she would tell him that, but not yet.
‘I need time,’ she said.
‘You have it. I’m not going anywhere. I only want you to do what’s best for you and Liam. No-one else. We have all the time in the world.’
She extended her hand to him, and he took it and brought it to his lips. She closed her eyes and, for the first time, felt that perhaps he was right.
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘So,’ asked Kate, ‘what did the solicitor say? You’re not liable for Alistair’s debts, are you?’
Jen shook her head, tossed down her bag and sat down on a wicker chair on the verandah. Kate poured her a glass of lemonade.
‘No. There aren’t any, apparently.’
‘What?’ asked Kate. ‘But…’
‘I know. He was heavily in debt, even taking into account the money I left behind. I saw the paperwork. But it’s been cleared.’ She took a long swig of lemonade. It was a warm day, and she’d been dreading the meeting in Wellington to go over Alistair’s affairs. But it had taken a surprising turn.
‘Cleared? By whom?’
Jen replaced the glass on the table. ‘His grandfather. You remember I contacted him after Alistair died?’
‘Yes, of course. I remember you saying he was devastated.’
‘Yeah, he was.’ She sighed. ‘Well, it seems he took it upon himself to sort out Alistair’s estate. Paid off his debts and wants him buried in the family churchyard. The undertaker has said they’ll organise everything.’
‘Well, that’s a surprise.’
‘Isn’t it just? And it’s not the only one.’
‘What else does he want?’
