She shudders. “No. I…can’t.”
The music swells, and laughter bursts from inside the restaurant.
“Give me another chance. Give us?—”
“No!” She pushes me away as she stands up. I fall on my ass. She looks at me with tears in her eyes that break my heart.
“Go away, Gustave. Leave me alone. You’ve done too much damage.”
She runs away, inside the restaurant. I sit on the ground like a fool.
Once I get my breathing in order, I stand up, brush off my pants, feeling like the pompous ass she’d accuse me of being. A part of me had thought that I’d show up and she’d forgive me. She’d be mine again.
I didn’t want to believe that this would be a possibility, that she wouldn’t be able to forgive me.
“You hurt her,” a voice says from behind me.
I turn to see her mother. “Oui, I did.”
“You know, you’re the first man she’s ever fallen in love with?”
I nod. I do know that. “She’s the first woman I fell in love with.” That’s the truth, too. I didn’t know love until her. What I felt for Simone, even in those early days, is a pale representation of what I feel for Tara.
Estrella studies me for a long moment, her dark eyes steady. She crosses her arms. Her bracelets and bangles clattering softly.
“She’s stubborn,mi hija?*,” she says finally. “Has been since she was little. When she was five, she found a hurt bird in the street. It was freezing, dying. I told her we couldn’t save it. But she sat all night with it in her hands, crying, praying, refusing to let go. When the bird died—there was no saving it—she cried and cried and cried. That’s Tara. When she loves, she loves until it hurts.”
I swallow hard, my throat thick.
Estrella’s smile blooms slowly. “She’s not angry because you hurt her pride. She’s angry because she trusted you…and you didn’t trust her back.”
Her words strike with surgical precision.
“I destroyed her trust,” I whisper. “I don’t know if I can fix it.”
She tilts her head. “Do you love her?”
“With everything I am.” My voice breaks. “I wake up thinking of her. I go to sleep hating myself for what I did. I don’t care about my name, my family, or my reputation anymore. I only care about her.”
A small smile flickers on her lips. “Good. Because if you didn’t mean it, I would’ve thrown you out on your fancy French ass.”
Despite everything, I let out a shaky laugh.
Estrella steps closer, resting a hand on my arm. “Tara forgives slower than she loves—but shedoesforgive. You have to show her. Words won’t be enough. She needs toseethat you’ll fight for her.”
“I’ll do anything.” I mean it. “I’ll move mountains for her.”
She studies me a moment longer, then nods once, satisfied. “I can see why she likes you so much. You won’t give up on her, will you?”
I shake my head. Give up and dowhat? Gowhere? Without Tara, what the hell do I have? Nothing.
“That’s good, Gustave, because love like yours doesn’t happen all the time. It’s a miracle.”
I blink hard, emotion catching me off guard. “Gracias?*,” I manage to say.
She squeezes my arm before heading toward the kitchen. “Go easy on her. And remember, actions speak louder than apologies,Comte.”
“I can do that,” I say, even though I have no idea how.
