And then my grave will warm and sweeter be.
For you shall bend and tell me that you love me.
And I will sleep in peace until you come to me.”
As the song drew to its close, as the band tightened and moved the song toward its climax and conclusion, Daniel wanted nothing more than to shut out the victory rising in him. He wanted to deny its powerful aura. He wanted to turn away and close his eyes to its light. He wanted to despise her. She’d cured him of love; if he believed anything else, it would mean he was still in love with her, that he’d always loved her and probably always would.
“Oh, Danny Boy, Oh, Danny Boy,
I love you…so…”
The song ended. The band huffed. Then, everything was silent. With promise in their eyes, they all waited for him to say something, anything.
Even knowing that, his mind came up blank. After an awkward silence, Angie got the hint and began shuffling for the exit.
“Well, we’ll take that as our cue. C’mon.”
A mass exodus of musicians made their way out of the shop, trickling out until only Daniel and Samantha remained.
“I have a lot of things to say,” she eventually blurted out, taking the final closing of the door as a green light to speak. “Do you mind if I just come out with it?”
“Yes. Because I have some questions to ask you first.”
She settled onto the piano bench. With her hands in her lap and her shoulders drawn in, she made herself small. “Okay.”
Dammit. There were too many questions to ask, to many variables and uncertainties. He considered his first move before asking the first thing that came to mind. “What the hell was that?”
“‘Danny Boy.’” Her eyes flickered with fear. Unlike when they first started dating, this time, she didn’t try to hide it. Such a small change in her, but one that lifted up the pieces of his cracked heart. “Didn’t you like it?”
“Like it? I…I loved it, but you can’t just waltz back into my life and expect—”
“No, I don’t expect anything.”
“Then why did you do it?” The war inside of him slung arrows and swords in every direction, threatening to tear him apart. He wanted to believe in this new Sam, wanted to open his heart and let her in. But how could he? “Why are you getting my hopes up—”
“Because I love you.” A pause. They locked eyes and he was lost in her. “I love you and I don’t expect you to ever give me another chance, but I love you and I had to tell you. And because I’m sorry.”
“You are?”
She didn’t ask if the question was about if she loved him or if she was sorry, probably because she knew he was asking about both.
“Yes,” she answered both unanswered questions simultaneously. “I’m sorry for what I did, for the ways that I hurt you, for all of the lies and deceit and selfishness. I can never erase it. And I can never make up for it. But Iwillspend the rest of my life trying to be a woman who could one day be worthy of you, knowing every day that you will never take me back.” Nervous energy got the better of her; she rose from the piano bench and began pacing. “I didn’t want to come here until I had done something, you know? Really, really done something to change my life. And to make sure it never happens to anyone else, ever again. So, I came here today to tell you. Or, to sing it to you. I love you and I’m sorry and thank you for showing me that a life without love isn’t one worth living.”
Their eyes met again. This time, she was the first to pull away.
“I guess I’ll just go now. Don’t worry. I won’t bother you again.”
Samantha turned for the door, but he caught her hand in his. Soft eyes found his once again.
It wasn’t a decision, reaching out for her. But he didn’t regret it. Part of love—real love—was forgiveness. And in this moment, he loved more deeply than he ever had before in his entire life.
“Who says I would never take you back?”
“What?”
Pulling her close, he took her other hand in his, cradling them and drinking in their warmth. “You think I stopped loving you?”
“I—”
