He laughed. It was a dry, brittle sound that in no way conveyed true amusement. “I haven’t seen my wife in a week. She won’t return my phone calls or texts. I have no idea if she’s okay or where she’s staying and she asks me what I’m doing here when I finally track her down.”
She swallowed nervously but she held her ground. It was mean-spirited to make him stand out in the cold, but she didn’t want him to come in.
“I was going to come by tomorrow to pick up my things,” she said in a low voice that barely managed to hide the tremble. “If that’s all right with you.”
“No, it’s not all right with me,” he bit out.
Her eyes widened and she took a step back at the vehemence in his voice.
“Can we go somewhere and talk, Ash?”
She shook her head automatically. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
His lips formed a grim line. “You don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re pregnant with my child. We’re married. We’ve only been married a short time. And you don’t think we have anything to talk about?”
She closed her eyes and put a hand to her forehead in an automatic gesture.
“Ash? Is everything okay?” Pippa called. Then she came up behind Ashley. “Who is it?”
Ashley turned. “It’s okay, Pip. It’s Devon.”
Pippa’s expression darkened, but Ashley held up her hand. Pippa reluctantly turned to go back to the living room but she called back in a low voice, “I’ll be right here if you need me.”
Ashley returned her attention to Devon. “I know we need to talk. I just don’t think I’m up to it right now. This has been hard for me, Dev. I don’t expect you to believe that, but this isn’t easy.”
His expression softened and he took a step forward, snow dusting off his hair as he moved. “I know it’s not, baby. Please. There’s so much I need to say to you. There are things I need to show you. But I can’t do that if you won’t talk to me. Give me this afternoon. Please. If you still don’t want anything to do with me, I’ll take you over to the apartment myself and I’ll help you pack your things.”
She stared back at him, utterly befuddled by the pleading in his voice. He almost looked as though he were holding his breath. And his eyes. They looked…bleak.
“I—I need to get my coat,” she said lamely.
The relief that poured over his face was stunning. His eyes lightened and he immediately straightened, hope flashing in those golden depths.
“And shoes,” he said. “I brought some from the apartment. I wasn’t sure you had any you loved here.”
She gaped at him. “You brought my shoes?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Six pairs. They’re in the trunk of the car. I chose those I thought would be warm and would protect your feet from getting wet in the snow.”
Something loosened in her heart and began to slowly unwind.
“That would be great,” she said softly. “Let me go get my coat and my cap. If you brought a pair of boots, that would be perfect.”