I draw in a deep breath. “It was a few weeks after you moved away—the weekend before I was heading to Auckland. We were in the car and Dad was t-boned by a truck driver who went through a red light.”
His eyes grow wild and search mine. “What? Were they okay? Is that why they’re not here?”
I nod. “They were both killed instantly. I was lucky to survive. But I broke both legs and had a spinal fracture.”
“Oh God, Cassie. I had no idea.”
“It’s not something I like talking about.”
“I’m so sorry. Your parents … Mine have no idea that happened. I used to call your house to try and talk to you, but the phone would just ring and ring and then one day the line was disconnected.”
“That’s when I came to stay here. This was my grandmother’s house. She took me in, and we sold our house. After she died, I met Mark and he moved in with us.”
He cups my cheek. “I have so many questions for you.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’ve reached my limit tonight. I really need to get some sleep.”
Patrick brushes my lips with his. “Okay. I won’t push you. Not yet, anyway.”
For a moment, I just stare into his eyes. He’s being so understanding and while it’s sweet, I want him to push me. I want to rage at him for what he did to me back then.
But I can’t.
I can’t bring myself to do it when he’s here for me.
Rolling over, I close my eyes as he makes himself the big spoon.
For just a little while, I can enjoy the warmth of his body behind me.
His hard chest against my back gives me comfort.
His legs tucked behind mine make me feel less alone.
His hand rests lightly on my stomach, and I know I’m safe here with him.
My mind and my heart are still conflicted but in this moment, I’m more at peace than I have been since Mark died.
I know if Sophie needs anything, she’s got Patrick.
And just as I thought, it doesn’t take long for sleep to pull at me.
I never thought I’d ever fall asleep in Patrick Cross’s arms again, but here I am.
My headache’sgone by the time sun peeks through the small gap in the curtains.
I think back to the last time I woke up with him. At leastthis time he’s not crowding me in. It’s almost like he knows to back off in his sleep.
How the hell did we get here? I never thought I’d ever see him again. And now he’s stepping in in the absence of my partner—the man I thought I was spending the rest of my life with.
Guilt weighs heavily on me, especially as we’re in the same house where I lived with Mark. And we’re lying in the same bed I slept in with Mark.
But Mark would approve of this. When he knew his time was limited, he gave his blessing to us.
I still miss him. At the same time, Patrick has worked his way into my heart again.
One day soon, I’m going to have to front up to the fact that he’s Sophie’s father. The day that happens, he’ll be a part of our lives forever.
That’s not a bad thing, but it’s a scary thing. I’m not sure what kind of relationship he’ll want with me, and I don’t know how angry he’ll be when I tell him. There’s a part of me that’s frightened that he will walk away and just want a relationship with Sophie. But there’s also a part of me that’s frighten that he will want a relationship with me.
