Page 25 of Winter's Kiss

“Did he say that?” He asked.

“Well, he didn’t ask me to stay, so doesn’t that pretty much say it?” Mark laughed and cleared his throat with a shake of his head.

“Well, no. I mean, do you say everything you want?” He had a point; one I hadn’t considered. I wanted to stay and yet I said nothing to him. I never declared my desires.

“If I said I wanted to stay, how would I know that he wanted me to stay and wasn’t just asking me to stay because I said something?” Mark laughed at my rambled question. “Anyway, he’s not over his wife, that much I knew pretty clearly.”

“His wife?” Mark asked with a furrowed brow.

“His wife, well, he’s a widower.” Mark arched his brows and licked his lips with a tilt of his head.

“How long?” He asked simply.

“A little over a year,” I replied softly.

“Did you ever think that perhaps he didn’t say anything because he couldn’t? Even if he wanted to?” I sat in silence with his question, Mark with a continued explanation. “He lost the woman I assume he loved. He opened to a stranger, in one way or another. I mean, enough for you to want to stay there with him. Maybe he needed more time to wrap his head around what he was suddenly feeling for you. Course, I’m just assuming here.”

Mark was right, I thought. He knew little, and yet he spoke clearly and from a man’s point of view. Could Mark be right?

Had Rowland just needed more time to wrap his mind around everything that had happened between us? There was only one person who could tell me one way or the other.

When I left Muddy Waters, I promised myself I wouldn’t put Theo or Anna in the middle of anything with Rowland and me. I would allow them to tell me anything of knowledge they thought I should know. Otherwise, I would let it go. I wouldn’t push. That was until my conversation with Mark. I stood at the window of my bedroom, my stare out into the distance.

I had returned from my date, of course, greeted by my sister and her million questions. There wasn’t a question that she felt saddened the date didn’t go as she hoped, but it didn’t matter. Mark and I wouldn’t be going on a second date, but at the very least, I knew I had made a new friend. Someone I could speak to openly. Without judgment and with unbiased advice.

With a slow movement to the bed, I grabbed my phone and took a single moment before I pressed the single button that brought Theo’s number to a ring. I had no expectations of what Theo would and would not tell me. I figured he would speak nothing that would be seen as a betrayal to his son. Yet, I needed to try. I needed to know if Mark was right. Had I misjudged the situation?

“Well, this is a surprise. How are you tonight?”

His voice sounded happy, pleased to be getting a call from me. With a smile, I climbed onto the bed and positioned myself in the center with my back against the headboard.

“I wanted to know if you had a minute to talk.” I paused. “About Rowland.” I could hear Theo exhale. Had I made a mistake? I waited a minute, the line silent.

“I’m not sure I’m the one you should be talking to about him.” He was right. I knew he was, but what was I supposed to do? Call Rowland? The thought made my stomach hurt, and my heart race.

“I can’t call him,” I answered, even without the direct question.

“Why not?” He asked. Was he serious?

“What would I say?” I asked.

“Perhaps that you love him.” Theo’s words hit me in the gut. I had felt it, yet not wanted to admit it to myself, let alone say it out loud. I knew Rowland wasn’t ready to love me, or anyone.

“Who said I loved him?” I asked with a shaky tone, Theo with a laugh on the other end of the line.

“Call it a hunch.”

“A hunch, huh? Are you the only one who has this hunch?” I asked, nervous about his answer. I could hear Theo exhale, followed by the sound of shuffling in the background.

“I dropped off the wood…” my heart sunk at the sound of his voice in the background, and my eyes closed. “Should take a day or two to complete.”

Tears built in the corners of my eyes, my breathing shaky.

“Is Trevor going to be there?” Theo asked. My lips pushed to a quick smile while tears fell down my cheeks.

“Yeah.” I heard him again. It didn’t matter what he spoke about, or even how short the words were. The moment I heard his voice, I melted. I missed him more than I thought. “I’m heading out.” I wanted to hear more, a silent wish he would stay, when Theo quickly spoke.

“Son, have you thought any more about that thing we spoke about?” My brows furrowed; my head tilted with the question Theo asked. What had they spoken about?

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