Tears fell on the back of her hand and she realized she was crying. “Aaron, why didn’t you tell me?” she whispered. If he really loved her, he would have shared this hurt with her, shared that very private bit of himself. Love didn’t cut someone off and shut them out.
She wiped her hand and got a tissue to dry her eyes and her cheeks. Knowing she would have to pay attention to her driving, she focused on the car lot as she turned the key in the ignition.
She drove to the Cozy Inn and stepped out of the car, gathering packages to take inside. She hoped she didn’t see Aaron before she reached her suite. She wanted to compose herself, think about what she would say.
She would have to make some decisions about her life with Aaron.
She would see him tonight at dinner. Once again her life was about to change. The sad part was that she would have to start to cut Aaron out of it and see far less of him.
Stella was tempted to confront him with the information she’d learned and ask why he hadn’t told her, but instead she wanted him to tell her voluntarily without her asking about it. There was no way she would accept his marriage proposal when he didn’t even trust her enough to tell her something that vital. And if he still loved his first wife with all his heart, Stella didn’t want to marry him.
Sadly, he wasn’t ready to marry again—at least not for love. He had to love his late wife and child enormously still, maybe to the point of being unable to let go and face that they had gone out of his life forever.
Deep inside, her feelings for him crashed and shattered.
Eight
For their dinner tonight, Stella wore one of her new sweaters—a pale blue V-neck—and black slacks. She wore his gold-leaf necklace and bracelet but fought tears when she put the jewelry on.
She went to meet him, her body tingling at the sight of him while eagerness tinged with sadness gripped her as she crossed the Cozy Inn lobby. Aaron was in a black sweater, jeans and boots. She really just wanted to walk into his embrace, but she had to get over even wanting to do so.
“You’re gorgeous, Stella. I’ve missed seeing you all day.”
She smiled at him as he took her arm. As soon as they were seated, she picked up a menu.
After they ordered and were alone, he looked at her intently, his gaze slowly traveling over her. “I can’t get used to the change in you. I’ve seen women change hairdos, men shave their heads and grow mustaches, a lot of things that transform appearances, but yours is the biggest change I’ve ever seen. I never expected you to change this much. It’s fabulous.”
“Thank you,” she said, beginning to wonder if he would lose interest if she returned to looking the way she always had. The minute she thought about it, she remembered that it wouldn’t matter because she was going to see him less often.
“Several people have called to thank me for getting you on television because they’ve found the agency they need for help.”
“Good,” she said. It was the first bright bit of news since she had sat down to dinner with him.
“Club members have been getting word out that the entire town is invited to the TCC Christmas festival, so I think we will have a big turnout.”
“That is wonderful,” she said. “It should be a happy time for people,” she said. “For a little while that evening, maybe they can all forget their losses and celebrate the season. I know it’s fleeting, but it’s better than nothing.”