He didn’t know. He didn’t understand.
And once he did . . .
Tears swelled upward from her chest, an ocean of sorrow for what might have been.
As ever, Alis heard the words that she did not say.
Pulling back, he pressed his forehead to hers. “I haven’t felt this happy since we were last together, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for yourself. What am I missing, lass?”
“Alis—” Chrissi attempted to back out of his arms, but he stopped her.
“Don’t retreat, Chris. I love you. I’ve never stopped lovingye. I see that now. Please. Love me, lass. Be with me.” He searched her face, eyes tracking the tears falling in earnest now.
“I don’t think there is enough f-forgiveness for that.”
“Ye truly can’t forgive me? I was young and thoughtless and—”
“No, y-you misunderstand.” Her fingertips skimmed his beard.
He turned and pressed a kiss to her palm.
How Chrissi had wanted to avoid this. Anything but this.
To witness his love turn to hatred before her very eyes.
But now . . .
The reckoning had come.
“I forgave you years ago, Alis.” She told him the spare truth. “It is you who will not be able to forgive me.”
He stilled at that, brows drawing down. “Pardon? What do I have to forgive?”
Chrissi stepped back, and this time he let her go.
His brow drew down, his expression turning wary.
Her heart fractured into pieces.
A sob tore from her lungs. And then another.
Anguish and loss and grief...long buried and yet, somehow, never far.
Alis took a step toward her, but she stayed him with an uplifted hand.
Her ribs heaved. A terrible shivering wracked her muscles.
“What is it, Chris? Tell me.”
It took two more spasms of her lungs to get the words out.
“I was increasing, Alis. When I left Italy, I was with child.”
ALISTAIR FROZE, HIS body cemented into place as immobile as the stones around him.
“Pardon?” he whispered.
Chris had covered her face with both hands, hiccupping gasps lifting her chest.
