"Not… not that I know of."
"So your fears—while genuine—are based on what's happened with your family?"
Eliza nodded. "After he told me, I thought I could handle it but he's right. He said he saw the judgment on my face, but I couldn't help it. He's been married.Twice."
"Honey, I doubt many people go into marriage thinking, oh, I can't wait to get divorced. It sounds as though he was genuinely embarrassed by his past and that's why he didn't want to tell you."
"I know. I think he is but—"
"But?"
"But he'sendedtwo marriages already. How do I know he won't end another and I'll be strike number three?"
"Does he seem to be that type of man? One who doesn't take his responsibilities seriously?"
Eliza thought of Carter and his loving relationship with Piper, the way he was with his employees and his business, Lincoln and his family… "N-no, but—"
"Do you not believe he's changed?"
Changed? "I don't know. I hope so. Ithinkso. But how would I ever know for sure?"
"That's where faith comes in," the woman said. "Can I share a secret with you?"
Eliza sniffled and blinked at the woman, nodding and laughing at the same time. "Of course. I've just embarrassed myself in front of a guest. Please tell me something that will help me feel better."
"I will then. Do you see that hunk of a man standing over there? Balding, a bit of a belly? Blue suit?"
Eliza smiled at the description and sniffled. "I do."
"Well, that beautiful man is my husband, and between the two of us, we share five marriages."
Eliza sucked in a gasp so sharp it nearly choked her and she coughed. "Oh. I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply—"
"Stop apologizing, dear, and listen. I told you that to say this—life happens. Usually when we least expect it. In Bart's case, alcohol ended his first two marriages. Then he got sober. As to my first husband… well, I was young and stupid myself, and when I couldn't hide the bruises anymore, I decided enough was enough."
Eliza stared at her new friend, hanging on to every word. "And the… fourth?"
A sad smile flickered over the woman's lined face.
"My Arthur passed away a week after we'd wed. Car accident."
"I'm so sorry."
"Me, too. But then," she said, inhaling, "I met Bart. And even though our pasts were full of mistakes, we fell in love. Next month will be our thirty-fifth anniversary."
Eliza inhaled sharply. Thirty-five years? After all ofthat? “That's wonderful."
"It is. And had we not moved beyond our mistakes and fears, we wouldn't be here today celebrating this wonderful day. Everyone makes mistakes of some sort, but it's how we pull ourselves out of them and move forward that matters most. Bart hasn't taken a drink in all of these years and is a changed man. I changed, too, because I found my self-worth, and the brief love I knew with Arthur made me realize I didn't want to spend my life alone. It hasn't been easy, but we are both committed to living our best life with each other."
"That's… I think that's what everyone wants." She certainly did. And when she thought of the next thirty-five years or more, the image of the man beside her took the form of tattooed arms and a blinding smile and sexy whispers in her ear.
"Yes, well, now you must decide. Do you think your young man has changed from who he once was?"
"He has. I-I think he has.”
"Well, then, can you really blame him for wanting you to see the man is, rather than the one he's embarrassed about? Especially if he knew of your fears? It sounds to me like he wants very much to be the man you need him to be."
"I made him feel less than," she whispered. "How do I fix that? Carter will always think I doubt him now."
