I’m heartsick and tired of arguing with him. We have argued more these past few days than the entirety of our relationship, and it’s unsettling me as much as being surrounded by the ghosts of my past is. Seán has always been my rock, but it feelslike that’s slipping away. Exhaustion waylays me, and all my fighting spirit flees. “Okay.”
I don’t protest when he takes my hand, letting him lead me back toward the restaurant. His grip tightens when he spots Callan.
“Don’t start anything, Seán, please,” I say quietly. “Just walk past him and say nothing.”
He’s bristling with rage, but he doesn’t say anything as we reach the restaurant entrance and Callan. My ex tries to catch my eye, but I avoid eye contact, silently begging him to return inside and not interfere. “Astrid, are you okay?”
“Don’t,” I whisper under my breath when I see Seán’s mouth opening to launch a scathing attack, no doubt.
“I’m fine, Callan. This doesn’t concern you.”
He doesn’t say anything else, but I feel his eyes glued to my back as we walk to Seán’s car, get in, and drive away.
“I’m sorry, darling. I’m sorry,” Seán says, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me as I get changed into my walking gear.
“I can’t talk to you right now, Seán.”
“Come downstairs and eat, please.”
“I’m not hungry,” I say, tying my hair into a high ponytail.
“You’re right. I was jealous, and I overreacted. That guy triggers me.”
I lift my head and sigh. “This is stressing me out, and you’ve got to let it go. I’m not working directly with him anymore. Callan is steering clear of me, like you asked. Riley has replaced him on-site, and Travis has taken over as the main client liaison. Callan listened and took action to resolve the situation. He has acted respectfully towards you, and you need to show him thesame consideration instead of acting like he’s the devil’s spawn any time you see him. We are going to run into him around town, and you need to find a way to deal with it. I’m the one he betrayed, and if I can handle it, then you can too.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.” I shove my feet into my sneakers. “He had a date with him, so your intel was incorrect. He’s not single. That should set your mind at ease.”
“That was Riley’s wife, and my intel is never wrong. Neither are my instincts.”
“Seán, please.” A sob breaches my mouth. “It feels like I don’t even know you anymore. This behavior is hurting me.”
“I’m fucking up, but don’t say you don’t know me when you do. You know I like to be in control, and this situation feels uncontrollable.” He stands and comes toward me, opening his arms. “Please let me hold you. It feels like I’m losing you.”
I lean into his embrace, pressing my cheek to his chest. “I hate all this fighting. It’s tearing me apart.”
“It ends now.” He tilts my chin up and kisses me softly. “I’ll rein in my jealousy.”
“I would really appreciate that because you have nothing to be jealous about.” I slide my hands up his chest. “I’m with you. I love you. Please trust me.” I stretch up and kiss him. “I need a walk to clear my head.”
“I don’t like you walking in the dark by yourself.”
“Nothing will happen to me in Ryemont. This is one of the safest places to live. I’m walking the trail I often walked as a teen. It’s safe, but I’ll have my cell and my pepper spray with me, and I won’t be gone for long.”
“Okay. I’ll keep you some dinner.” He hugs me close. “I love you, and I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” I kiss him one final time before heading out.
“What the hell?” I mumble to myself when I park my rental at the spot where the entrance to the Whispering Woods once stood. Tall wooden gates enclose the space, bordered by high fencing that appears to surround the forest all the way around. A keypad is mounted to the side of the entrance gates alongside a plaque that reads:
The Whispering Cabin
PRIVATE PROPERTY
Private property? Since when? It’s taken me days to pluck up the courage to come here, and now I’m pissed I can’t see my lake.
Sitting in my car, I recall all the happy times I had here. The afternoon Callan and I took our sisters swimming, and we almost kissed in the lake. The night he set up a gazebo and reclaimed my heart under the stars. Lazy summer days spent wrapped around one another on the beach. Times spent exploring every inch of the woods and the lake hand in hand, imagining a different ending for the Scottish inventor and his heartbroken wife.
