They’d been so close.
But it wasn’t the loss of the house that had her fighting back tears as the crew packed up their tools and loaded pickup trucks. It was hearing Cash say “we’re done” over and over again in her head.
He’d broken his promise.
Which one? The one to love, honor and cherish her? Because he hadn’t broken that one, not yet, and that was the one she cared about the most. What was a book deal she’d worked for seven years to get if she didn’t have the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with? Didn’t he see that she was willing to give up everything for him? To live in a trailer and work construction just so they could steal kisses between projects? And sure, one day the novelty of hiding in a closet together would wear off, but the time they spent working side by side told her that what they had would stand the test of time.
We’re done.
A car horn honked, and she turned to see her parents’ SUV lumbering into the clearing. “What on earth?” She started in shock and then actually rubbed her eyes as if she could clear the vision of them getting out of the car and taking in the house.
“Mom?” she said, just loud enough to get her attention.
Mom turned quickly, her face lighting up. “Sweetie!” She tapped Dad’s arm and motioned for him to come along.
In seconds, Maggie was wrapped in their loving arms. “I-I—What are you doing here?”
“The trip was fantastic.” Dad rubbed his stomach as if he’d just finished off a great meal.
She blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “You guys are so tan.”
Mom twittered. “Termites are my new favorite bug. Seriously. If it weren’t for them, we never would have taken this trip.”
Dad leaned over and kissed her cheek—looking as smitten as ever with his wife of almost 40 years.
“That’s great. But what are you doing here?” A couple trucks pulled out. She glanced over to see Timmy waving at her. She waved back, feeling like this was all some strange dream and she’d wake up to her real life any second.
“We brought you some souvenirs and the house is already closing in on us, so we decided to drive them on up.” Mom’s grin melted as she really looked at Maggie. “What’s going on?”
“And what’s that?” Dad pointed to her left hand.
Maggie lifted it and stared at the giant rock Cash had placed there less than five weeks ago. It seemed out of place while talking to her parents. They’d been gone and she’d acted impulsively, and really, she’d wanted Cash so badly on some level that she’d just gone for her dreams. All of them. The book. The house. The husband.
Cash broke into their small circle. “We failed.” He took Maggie’s lifted hand, turned it over, and slapped a red paper into it. As he closed his hand around hers, the paper crumpled between their palms. “I’m sorry, Mags. I guess some stars just can’t line up.”
Maggie gasped and tightened her grip on his fingers.
“Cash Diamante?” Dad growled.
Mom’s head moved like she was watching an accelerated tennis match. “You’re married?” She gasped, putting the pieces together.
“We were.” Cash stepped back, taking his hand out of her hold and tugging the stitches open that he’d painstakingly applied to her broken heart.
“Weare,” Maggie insisted.
“Not for long.” He stepped away, headed toward his motorcycle.
Dad rounded on her. “Youmarriedthat guy? What on earth were you thinking?” He turned to Mom. “I told you it was a bad idea to leave the country, but you—”
“Don’t you start with me. You wanted to let loose, and don’t think I was the one who packed a Speedo,” Mom shot back.
Maggie shoved between them and after Cash. She caught up just as he threw his leg over the seat. “Don’t. Don’t go.”
He refused to look at her.
“Cash, I know things look bad, but this isn’t the end of the world, and it doesn’t have to be the end of us.”
“We made a deal. I tried to be a man you could count on. But I’ve failed you—again.” He started the engine, and the noise was deafening.
