Starlight in Her Eyes by Joann Durgin

missed being held by a man but never had that truth hit her as hard and fast as it did now that she rested in Colin’s arms. Only Colin could give her the comfort she needed. How was it possible he’d become so important to her in such a short period of time?
    He held her, absorbing her shudders.
    Surrendering to her quiet sobs, Serena leaned into him and inched her hands around his waist.
    “Cry, sweet Serena. I’m here.”
    Colin continued to hold her until her flow of tears ebbed. How much time passed, she had no idea, nor did she care. Her only concern was that Lily might hear. The sound of Colin’s steady heartbeat gave her reassurance.
    Pressing a soft kiss to her hair, he whispered for her to wrap her hands around his neck. In one swift movement, he swept her into his arms and carried her into the living room. Carefully lowering her onto the sofa, he settled beside her.
    Tucking her legs beneath her, Serena rested her head on his chest as he gently stroked his hand over her hair.
    The time for embarrassment had passed as she laid bare her soul. Everything tumbled out, even the things she’d never told another person. The horrible, spiteful, hateful feelings she’d kept hidden inside. Shameful things.
    Through it all, Colin kept his arms around her, holding her close.
    Finally spent, she heaved a huge sigh. “And there you have it,” she said. “You must think I’m a bundle of twisted nerves, insecurities, and faults.”
    Colin leaned back so he could look at her and placed two gentle fingers beneath her chin. “Nothing could be further from the truth. If it’s possible, I have more respect for you than before.”
    “I can’t believe I said all those things. I thought I’d confessed everything to the Lord, but it seems I still have some lingering, unresolved issues.” She sniffled and gave him a small smile. “God’s working on me.”
    “He’s working on all of us. None of us are immune from pain. You’ve suffered a terrible loss, and from what you’ve shared with me about the state of your marriage when Graham died, I’m sure it made the grief process that much more difficult. I’m so very sorry, my love.”
    Serena snapped up her head at Colin’s unexpected endearment. “Please don’t misunderstand. Our marriage was quite good for a number of years. For someone whose dad was in the limelight, Graham was remarkably levelheaded. But then, as his own fame grew, he seemed to grow more distant. It’s as though he outgrew me. I wasn’t exciting enough for him. When I was pregnant with Lily, I’ll admit I wasn’t the best wife. I was an irritable, miserable, exhausted, huge mess.”
    Colin grunted. “Don’t think for one moment that gave him a reason to stray. If anything, the fact that you were carrying his child should have made him more committed to the marriage. I don’t want to hear you belittle yourself to excuse Graham’s shortcomings as a husband.” He shifted on the sofa. “I need to ask you something, but feel free not to answer.”
    Serena’s heart beat faster. Usually when someone said such a thing, it was followed by a hard-hitting and potentially hurtful question. What more could Colin want to know? He cared for her and he’d listened patiently as she’d poured out her heart. And he was still sitting beside her.
    She looked him in the eye. “Ask away.”

9
    “Was Graham involved with Paulina?” Colin’s gaze was sympathetic and at least he didn’t appear to pity her.
    “Not to my knowledge,” she said. “To be honest, I don’t know the identity of the woman he’d been to see the night of his accident. I know that might sound unbelievable, but I suspect she was the last in a string of at least two or three other women. I don’t have proof of that, but he stayed in town overnight many times in the last few years. If there were more women, for Lily’s sake—and perhaps my own—I don’t ever want to know.” Wiping the back of her hand over her eyes, Serena