Page 28 of Twin Flames
‘I’m not sure. I think it’ll be a while yet.’
Daniel and Cara had barely spoken during her time away. She sat down wishing she was anywhere but in this room with her about to be former fiancé.
‘The talk seems to have been a success; several key people reached out to make enquiries about hiring me, so that’s promising. I think I may have a contract about to come through.’
‘Wonderful. And what did you do in the evening? You seemed pretty busy,’ Daniel probed as he searched her face. ‘I assumed you must be preoccupied with the group because I couldn’t catch you on the phone.’
‘Yes. I’m sorry I wasn’t very responsive. It was all a bit hectic. Daniel. . .’
‘Yes?’
‘I’ve got something important I need to tell you and. . .I’m sorry, but I don’t think you’re going to like it. I’m just going to come out and say it.’ Cara stuttered a little; a habit that bothered her as a child, and occasionally resurfaced when she was nervous.
‘Let me guess. You want us to move to Seville?’ he said with a wry smile.
‘No, of course not. Please be serious—this is hard enough as it is.’ His attempt to lighten her mood only irritated her.
He picked up her hand, pressed it to his lips and then held it in his. ‘Okay, sorry, my love, go ahead. There’s nothing you can tell me which we can’t handle together.’ He paused, ‘You’re not sick, are you?’ He sounded shaken.
‘No, I’m fine. It’s not that kind of thing. It’s, it’s—I’m afraid I can’t marry you. I’m calling off the engagement. We’ve rushed into this, and I can’t go through with it. I’m sorry, Daniel. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but there’s no other way.’ The words spewed out of her mouth.
‘What? Why?’ he said. And then a few seconds later, ‘I see.’
She looked at his stunned expression and saw he didn’t see at all. He was trying to piece the puzzle together.
‘What happened in Seville? We were fine before you went. I don’t see you for a few days, and suddenly you’re calling off our engagement! It makes no sense. Calling off our future, as I understand it. Correct?’
He’d become cold and officious with the sudden shock. His tone was formal and clipped; he was now committed to gathering data. If there was one thing he was good at after years in court, it was asking questions and making people squirm. Cara could see he’d slipped into his barrister persona and expected the worst. She chose her words with care. ‘I’ve been having second thoughts for some time. You know I was never keen to get married. It’s nothing to do with you; I’ve never wanted to be married. I thought we were okay as we were, but you were so keen to formalise things. I didn’t want to disappoint you.’ Sentences tumbled from her lips, but her explanation sounded feeble to her own ears, and she abruptly ceased talking.
‘Okay. So, let’s not get married then. Let’s be together as we were before the engagement. It’s not my preference, but I can live with it if that’s what you want. Marriage isn’t the be-all and end-all. I know you aren’t particularly conventional. I’ve always admired that; actually, it’s one of the qualities I love most about you.’
Tears glistened on her lashes as she saw the hurt in his eyes. She put her head in her hands; looking at him was too difficult. She couldn’t stay with him any longer, but telling him was excruciating. She wished she was back with George on the road to York. They were married and free to love each other without these complications.
Except for being hunted down for execution!
She pulled herself back to the present with an effort. ‘I can’t, Daniel.’
‘Why not? Why can’t you? What’s happened? Something has happened, and you’re not telling me what’s going on. None of this makes any sense.’ He was angry, and his words cut through the air. ‘You’re not telling me everything. You at least owe me the truth,’ he snapped.
He’s right. I do owe him the truth, but the truth is too incredible. Well, you see Daniel, I met a man called George who I’ve been in love with for at least five hundred years, and I don’t want to live without him. Um, he wouldn’t believe me even if I told him the truth!
Instead, she said, ’I understand why you’re angry, and I’m so sorry. It’s not something I planned or expected. All I can say is that when I was in Seville, I had time to think about things from a different perspective. I think it’s better we make a clean break of it. It’s not fair on you for me to stay in the relationship when it’s not the way you want it.’
‘Please don’t decide for me what I want and what’s fair on me. What’s fair on me is that you don’t throw it all away with nological reason.’ His tone was severe. Cara felt reprimanded like a wayward child in the headmaster’s office.
She drew a deep breath and calmed herself. ‘Sometimes, there isn’t a logical reason; not everything can be analysed and proven. It’s just a feeling. I can’t carry on as we are. I’m being as honest as I can with you even though I knew you’d be angry and you wouldn’t like it.’
‘Well, thank you very much. Am I supposed to be grateful that you’ve bothered to drive over here to rip my heart out of my chest? Is that it? You seem to think you’re doing me some kind of favour!’ He burned with anger and paced about the den from one side to the other. ‘Can you really say you don’t love me?’ He dropped onto his knees in front of her, and he gripped her shoulders as his eyes beseeched hers. His stance softened as she looked back at him. ‘Cara, my love. Please don’t do this. We’re supposed to be getting married next year. You’ve got cold feet, that’s all. Don’t turn it into a drama.’
‘I’m sorry, Daniel. My mind is made up. It’s not going to change. I wish it were different, but that’s how I feel. You’ll find someone who wants the same things you do; someone who’ll be thrilled to marry you. Perhaps you’ll marry someone from Manchester, so you can move near your kids again. You’ve tried to hide it, but I know that’s what you want. It’s what you deserve, and I can’t give you that. York will always be my home.’
He sank onto the sofa with a sigh. The anger had left him, and he looked crumpled. Cara’s heart expanded, and she reached out to him. ‘I’m sorry Daniel. I’m grateful for the wonderful times we’ve had but staying together isn’t the right thing for us. I know that now. You’ll see it too once you get over the shock.’ She released him and rose from the sofa. ‘Please forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do.’ She picked up her handbag and headed for the front door.
‘Cara. Wait.’
She stopped and turned. ‘Yes?’
He ran his fingers through his usually immaculate silver hair, it was dishevelled, and his eyes looked haunted, ‘Is there someone else?’
