Why hadn’t I told her…Should I give her the truth? Sure, why not? I’d never see her again anyway. I’d sworn off going back to Willow Harbor for Christmas next year.
Because I was going to surprise you and then I accidentally overheard your fiancé declare his love for you and plan to get you back, and I decided to leave.
Congrats, by the way. I wish you the best. You dodged a bullet with me anyway. I’m a mess. There are things I’ve done that even God can’t forgive Hannah.
-Jack
I sent it and blocked her email too. Out of sight, out of mind. She’d be married by next Christmas and probably be pregnant with her first kid the Christmas after that. She was on a trajectory I’d never be able to give her.
I dated. Yes. But I didn’t fall in love, and I wasnevergetting married. Better to cut her loose now, even though she might be mad at me because we had sort of started something special in India. I wanted what was best for her, even if I had to look like a jerk.
“Chloe!” I yelled out the cracked-open door.
My assistant was back from Italy and currently jet lagged. She shuffled into my office with heavy eyes and slow movements.
“Did we give the final payment on those orphanages in Tanzania?” I asked. I was addicted to building orphanages now. The more, the better.
She yawned and then nodded. “Construction starts next week. Grand opening New Year’s Day next year.”
Good. That was good. I needed to use my money for good or my guilt would eat me alive. The worst of it all was that my mother would have loved Hannah. A church-going girl, singing on the worship team, family oriented. My mom would have been begging me to do anything possible to romance her.
I sighed, shaking my head.
Stop thinking about Hannah.
I glanced at Chloe, who’d leaned against the doorjamb and fallen asleep for a second.
“Go home and get some rest,” I told her.
Her eyelids snapped open. “No, I have work to do. I’m so behind.”
I smiled at my friend. “You work too much. I think we should hire another assistant to work under you and take the load off. And I won’t lower your pay. You’ll still be the richest executive assistant in the world.”
She grinned at that and then shuffled closer to my desk. “Jack?”
“Hmm?” I was already checking new emails.
“I love you, and so I’m going to tell you the truth.” She sounded more alert, and I met her gaze.
When our eyes locked, I saw that whatever she was about to say was serious.
“You made a mistake with Hannah. You should have fought for her.”
My breathing turned rapid, and my hands coiled over the keyboard. “I barely knew her. She and that guy have history.”
Chloe leaned forward and held my gaze, suddenly looking wide awake. “She was special. If you want something special, you have to fight for it.” Then she turned and walked away, muttering a sleepy, “Good night.”
Her words sent me into a spiral. I was feeling more lost and alone than I ever had. And in that moment, I was envious of Hannah’s steadfast faith in God. I needed something steadfast right now, but instead, I felt like I was drifting at sea, about to drown.
Chapter Twenty-Six
JACK
Christmas Eve
I couldn’t believe nearly a year had passed since Luke had proposed to Hannah on Christmas and I’d blocked her number. She’d tried to call my office about six months ago, but I had Chloe tell her I wasn’t interested in taking her calls and then she stopped. It felt like a total jerk move, but I was in survival mode.
I’d broken my rule. I’d gone and fallen for her.
