Page 95 of Devotion: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 1)

He told me he loved me on our wedding day. I never told him I loved him, but now was the time I showed him and told him.

Just as my courage finally picked up, and I took a step to the building, I saw a familiar tall, strong figure come out of the building with a blonde woman on his arm. My heart stopped beating in my chest, and my throat closed from pain.

It was Lachlan with Layla. I watched them in a daze, motionless, waiting to see if they’d see me. As the door of the building shut behind them, they went in the opposite direction from me, her hand wrapped around his biceps, his stride firm and powerful walking away from me.

He said he loved me.The words he spoke on our wedding day gave me the courage I needed.

“Lachlan,” I called out, although I worried my voice was still too soft.

Till I saw him stop and turn around. Even at our distance, I could feel his gaze warming me to the core. With the last bit of courage, I took a step, then another, and slowly walked over to him. He stood unmoving, his eyes watching me as I approached him.

I stopped mere two feet from him.

“Hello,” I whispered softly, as I soaked up every line on his face.

“Hello,” it was Layla’s voice that greeted me. I looked over at her and was surprised not to see her gloating. Her eyes actually held sympathy and compassion.

I swallowed, unsure where to start. I didn’t anticipate having witnesses.

I looked back to Lachlan’s unmoving features.

“I would like to explain,” I spoke softly to Lachlan. “Please.”

Layla jumped in. “I’ll let you two have some privacy.”

“Thank you,” I told her. She’d never know how grateful I was to her right now, although my eyes never wavered from Lachlan as she walked off.

Silence stretched, sound of Layla’s heels on the pavement echoing and distancing with each step.

“Lachlan, I…” I struggled where to start, my hands nervously pulling on the button of my cardigan. “I don’t think you are a spitting image of Hunter,” I started softly. It was hard to organize my thoughts at this moment. “Yes, there was striking resemblance when I first saw you, but as the days went on, I didn’t notice it at all. I couldn’t mistake you for Hunter. Seeing my mother that day got me all worked up, and I lost it. I made a mistake.”

I took a deep breath, realizing Lachlan wasn’t going to make this easy on me. “Anyhow, I told you my mother,” I cringed at that word but I continued, “...her and I were never close. But after my son died, I hated her.”

“Why?” it was the first word he uttered since I approached him.

My heart was beating wildly and my first instinct was to close myself off, to eliminate the possibility of more pain. But I pushed through.

“The night my son and husband died, I came back early from a business trip,” I explained in a low voice. “I wasn’t scheduled back for another day but I missed my son, Hayden.” My voice almost broke as my son’s name left my lips. “Hunter and I were struggling, and before I left for my trip, he gave me his wedding ring… to figure out if I wanted to stay married.” Shivers ran down my spine and I wrapped my arms around me. “Anyhow, Hunter wasn’t expecting me. When I got there, I should have seen the warning signs but I missed them all. I checked on my baby, tucked the blanket around him, and went to our bedroom.”

I glanced at the river, remembering that night. My mind could be so cruel at times. I remembered each step I took that night, each little crackling sound through the eerily quiet house, each moan, the picture of my mother and Hunter in our bed. But I couldn’t remember the exact shade of Hunter’s eyes, how soft Hayden’s hair felt under my fingertips or his favorite word.

My eyes burned from unshed tears and I quickly blinked and returned my gaze to Lachlan, focusing on now.

“I never made it through the bedroom door,” my voice was a whisper, as I tried to tamper the feeling of guilt. “My mother and Hunter were there.”

“Eve,” Lachlan’s eyes were full of pity and sorrow, and the thought I had before came back. I should have warned him how damaged I was. He finally realized how broken I was. He saw my scars on my wrists, but he never knew how deep they went.

“I just wanted you to know,” this time my voice was firm, surprising even me. “...that I should have never put Hunter’s sins on you. And I should have trusted you.”

Layla came back at that moment. “I am so sorry,” and she really sounded sorry. “I feel horrible but unless we leave now, Lachlan, I’m going to be late.”

“That’s ok,” I told her quickly, in a low voice. ”We are done.”

I glanced at Lachlan for the last time.

“Goodbye, Lachlan,” My voice trembled as his name left my lips but I was proud of myself as I walked away from both of them. If only my heart didn’t stay behind.

As I turned the corner from his building, I stopped unsure what to do. Maybe I should just go back to my apartment now? I wasn’t sure how long I stood there before the chill in the air got worse as it got darker and shook me out of my strumpor.

---