own.”
There was no hint of self-pity in her voice. Indeed, what he heard was the kind of strength and determination that must have gotten her through the turmoil of those days when her life had been turned upside down. His admiration for her grew.
“You’re a remarkable woman,” he told her quietly. “But then I always knew that.”
She frowned at that. “Did you really?”
“Well, of course I did,” he said, surprised that she needed to ask. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because you let me go,” she said, her eyes filled with emotion. Then she looked away, and when she turned back, her face was as expressionless as if they’d been discussing the weather. “Well, that’s neither here nor there.”
“Destiny, please, let me explain,” he began. They’d each played a role in the way things had turned out. The fault wasn’t only his, though he bore the lion’s share of it. That made it his duty to set things right between them.
“There’s nothing to explain,” she said curtly. “We can’t change the past. Rehashing it is a waste of time. I made a choice back then. So did you. All either of us can do is live with the decisions we made.”
“But I want you to understand,” he said, feeling helpless and frustrated because he knew that no matter what he said, no matter how sincere the explanation he offered, it would never be enough to change what had happened.
She looked him in the eye, her own gaze steady and unyielding. “I do understand,” she said quietly. “I really do, William. I just can’t forgive you.”
7
D estiny’s declaration lingered in William’s head long after they’d parted. Her insistence that she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—forgive him had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. The woman had a stubborn streak, and if she’d made up her mind to keep him at arm’s length, it was going to take a monumental effort to change that.
Years ago, he’d been daunted by her stubbornness. He’d given up in the face of her silence, rather than fighting for her. He didn’t intend to make that mistake again. The keys to a successful campaign were going to be seeing her often, surprising her frequently and never again letting her think for an instant that she wasn’t the most important person in his life.
En route to his office, he stopped by a florist’s and picked up an enormous bouquet of red poppies. On the card, he wrote, “When you see these, think of me and summer in Provence. William.”
When he reached his office, he gave the flowers to Malcolm and asked him to personally deliver them to Destiny. “I know I could have had the florist do it, but I wanted to get your impression of things over there. You’ll be able to tell me if everyone’s in a frenzy now that she’s shaking things up.”
“I’ll see what I can discover, sir. Anything else?”
“No. That will be all. I’m taking the rest of the day off. Why don’t you do the same? Finish up your Christmas shopping. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Malcolm nodded. “I do have a few last-minute holiday purchases to make. Thank you, sir.”
Satisfied with his morning’s work, William set out to do a little Christmas shopping of his own. He’d already bought gifts for family members, staff and friends. Destiny was the only person left on his list. It was essential that he find the perfect present, something that would be a constant reminder of the past, as well as a hint of how enduring his love had been. It was a lot to expect from one little gift, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’d relied on a present to say what he hadn’t been able to put into words. He’d often done it in those blissful years when she’d kept him tongue-tied.
Provence, 1982
William had never been so totally beguiled by a woman. He’d been with Destiny for more than a year now and he was still enchanted. She was like the sunset, reliable, yet ever-changing, always magnificent.
He’d ignored all of the
There was no hint of self-pity in her voice. Indeed, what he heard was the kind of strength and determination that must have gotten her through the turmoil of those days when her life had been turned upside down. His admiration for her grew.
“You’re a remarkable woman,” he told her quietly. “But then I always knew that.”
She frowned at that. “Did you really?”
“Well, of course I did,” he said, surprised that she needed to ask. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because you let me go,” she said, her eyes filled with emotion. Then she looked away, and when she turned back, her face was as expressionless as if they’d been discussing the weather. “Well, that’s neither here nor there.”
“Destiny, please, let me explain,” he began. They’d each played a role in the way things had turned out. The fault wasn’t only his, though he bore the lion’s share of it. That made it his duty to set things right between them.
“There’s nothing to explain,” she said curtly. “We can’t change the past. Rehashing it is a waste of time. I made a choice back then. So did you. All either of us can do is live with the decisions we made.”
“But I want you to understand,” he said, feeling helpless and frustrated because he knew that no matter what he said, no matter how sincere the explanation he offered, it would never be enough to change what had happened.
She looked him in the eye, her own gaze steady and unyielding. “I do understand,” she said quietly. “I really do, William. I just can’t forgive you.”
7
D estiny’s declaration lingered in William’s head long after they’d parted. Her insistence that she couldn’t—or wouldn’t—forgive him had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. The woman had a stubborn streak, and if she’d made up her mind to keep him at arm’s length, it was going to take a monumental effort to change that.
Years ago, he’d been daunted by her stubbornness. He’d given up in the face of her silence, rather than fighting for her. He didn’t intend to make that mistake again. The keys to a successful campaign were going to be seeing her often, surprising her frequently and never again letting her think for an instant that she wasn’t the most important person in his life.
En route to his office, he stopped by a florist’s and picked up an enormous bouquet of red poppies. On the card, he wrote, “When you see these, think of me and summer in Provence. William.”
When he reached his office, he gave the flowers to Malcolm and asked him to personally deliver them to Destiny. “I know I could have had the florist do it, but I wanted to get your impression of things over there. You’ll be able to tell me if everyone’s in a frenzy now that she’s shaking things up.”
“I’ll see what I can discover, sir. Anything else?”
“No. That will be all. I’m taking the rest of the day off. Why don’t you do the same? Finish up your Christmas shopping. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Malcolm nodded. “I do have a few last-minute holiday purchases to make. Thank you, sir.”
Satisfied with his morning’s work, William set out to do a little Christmas shopping of his own. He’d already bought gifts for family members, staff and friends. Destiny was the only person left on his list. It was essential that he find the perfect present, something that would be a constant reminder of the past, as well as a hint of how enduring his love had been. It was a lot to expect from one little gift, but it wouldn’t be the first time he’d relied on a present to say what he hadn’t been able to put into words. He’d often done it in those blissful years when she’d kept him tongue-tied.
Provence, 1982
William had never been so totally beguiled by a woman. He’d been with Destiny for more than a year now and he was still enchanted. She was like the sunset, reliable, yet ever-changing, always magnificent.
He’d ignored all of the
Similar Books
