“It’s true. And I want you to know that I’m leaving now because of one thing.”
Despite herself, she wanted to know. “And what’s that?”
“Because I love you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul, and I’m going to do everything in my power to make you love me, to earn that trust that you so willingly put in me at the very beginning. I’m going to show you, Amber, that we should be together and you will come to me again. I promise it.”
She shook her head, which was reeling from his words. She opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his hand. “I’m going. And I won’t return until you want me to. But I will do everything in my power to make you want me. Everything,” he said, as he returned to his car.
Without watching him leave, she entered her house and closed the door. She leaned against it and closed her eyes. But it didn’t stop the tears from tracking down her hot cheeks. She waited until she heard David get in the car and drive off before she brushed away the tears, turned on the light and filled the kettle.
This was her life, and it was a genuine one, one she understood. And she refused to stray from it to a world where she didn’t even know which version of a person was the real one. That way lay madness and vulnerability, and she refused to do that ever again. Even if it meant a broken heart.
David walkedto his car without a backward glance. He couldn’t bear it—couldn’t bear to think of what he’d done to Amber as anywhere near equating to what had happened to her in the past. And couldn’t bear to think that she put him in the same category—someone who wanted her, only to use her. But hadn’t that been the truth?
He’d prove to her that he loved her and could be trusted with her heart, that he’d do anything for her. But, as he roared off down the road towards his apartment in Christchurch, he wondered just how the hell he was going to do that.
9
David poured two coffees and joined his sister by the window which overlooked the waterfront and the tricolore—the French national flag—and stalls and kiddie rides that were set upon the usually empty reserve. He could see the sign for Amber’s café and the occasional bob of a flame-haired woman who was constantly in his mind, whether he saw her or not. It was good to feel she was near.
Zoe turned to David and took a sip of her coffee. “Aren’t you going to join in?”
“What?” David asked, knowing full well what his sister meant.
“The French Festival.” She nodded to the scene outside the window. “Looks like fun.”
Fun wasn’t the word that sprung to his mind. It looked like heartache. “Have you been?”
Amber had disappeared, and he scanned the flapping canvas and bobbing heads before finding her again and relaxing.
“Yes,” said Zoe. “I was there this morning. They even had a temporary path laid on the grass which I could navigate.”
“That’s good.”
“Yes.”
There was a pause as they both sipped their coffee, and David watched the bobbing red-head.
“Can you see her?”
David swung around to face his sister. “Who?”
“Who do you think? Amber, of course.”
“What makes you think I’m looking for her?”
“Just a wild guess.” She sighed. “Come on, David. You’ve got to cut yourself some slack.”
Something crumpled in him then and he said down opposite Zoe, his back to the lively scene outside the window. “How can I? I stuffed up.”
Zoe wheeled her chair closer, so it bumped against his knees, and stared at him. She huffed a sigh of frustration. “For as long as I can remember, you were always there for me. And since Mum and Dad died, you’ve played an even bigger part in my life. But, you’re right, you’ve stuffed up here, big time. But you’re not the man I think you are if you don’t do something about it.”
David rubbed his eyes. “I’m trying. I’m re-working my business.”
“I’m not talking about business. I’m talking about Amber. You said you loved her and, if that’s correct, you need to do whatever you have to, to make things right between you.”
“But I don’t know what to do. If she doesn’t want to see me, I can’t make her.”
“Maybe not. But you’ll have to do to yourself, what it is you’re doing to your business. You’ll have to show her you’ve changed.Ifyou have.” She sat back. The challenge issued.
