Page 54 of Love In Harbor Falls

“Fine. I have to go. The delivery guys are here.”

As I dictated where each piece of furniture would be placed, I saw Colin’s truck pull up. He climbed out and started walking up the stairs of the deck with his hands tucked into his pockets.

“Hey.” He smiled.

“Hey.”

“I stopped by the gallery, and Luis told me you were home. Wow. Nice furniture.”

“Thanks. I figured it was time to do something out here.”

After the delivery guys set up the last piece, I signed the invoice, and they went on their way, leaving the two of us alone. A nervousness fell over me, for I knew the confrontation was inevitable.

“Can we talk for a minute?” Colin asked as we stepped inside the kitchen.

“You know, I really need to get to the gallery.”

“I know, but I get the feeling you’re avoiding me, and I want to know why.”

“What makes you think that?” I turned away from him and put the coffee cup and plate in the dishwasher.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fact you’re ignoring my calls and text messages. Listen, Addy, if this has anything to do with me canceling our bowling date, I’m sorry. I didn’t have a choice.”

I stood there with my back turned to him, chewing my bottom lip and bracing myself for the conversation that was about to take place.

“Why didn’t you tell me that the woman sitting at the bar was Olivia? Why didn’t you tell me she was back in Harbor Falls?” I asked as I turned and faced him.

“Ah.” He slowly nodded his head. “So that’s why you’re mad at me. I didn’t tell you immediately because I was shocked and needed time to process it. I mean, come on, suddenly, she’s back after two years and without a warning? I know you can understand that.”

“I suppose I can.”

“I was going to talk to you about it the night we were supposed to go bowling, but then she called and begged me to come over that night because she needed to talk to me.”

“So you just ran over to your ex’s house? The girl who cheated on you, called off your engagement, and left you for another man in Seattle? What possibly could there be to say?”

I knew that was a low blow, but I wasn’t about to stand there and let another man lie to me.

“Yes.” Colin lowered his head. “I figured that would be the end if I heard her out.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, Adalyn, it is. She’s pregnant, and the guy didn’t want the baby, so he broke up with her and kicked her out. She came here hoping I would forgive and care for her and the baby.”

The sickness I felt intensified.

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her that I could forgive her for what she did, but I don’t love her, and I’m not responsible for her or her child. She cried but understood. She asked me if I was seeing someone, and I told her yes. She wanted to know who, and I said a beautiful woman who owns the art gallery in town.” A smile crossed his lips.

I took in a deep breath as I leaned against the granite countertop, and he took a few steps towards me.

“I’m sorry. I really am. I should have come right over here that night and told you. I like you, Adalyn Richards. I like you a lot and love spending time with you.”

The sincerity in his voice gripped me.

“Colin, I’m not anywhere near ready to get involved with someone. I need you to understand that. After what Darren did to me, I have a lot of trust issues, and I’m working on that. I really am. And right now, I need to do what’s best for me. You had two years to figure things out after Olivia left. It hasn’t been that long for me, and I hope you can understand that.”

His eyes stared into mine for a moment without saying a word, and I knew he was caught off-guard.

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