“But you regret it,” I said softly.
He closed his eyes. “Yeah, I do.”
I placed a tentative hand on his arm. “But don’t you see? By showing true repentance for what you have done, then you can find redemption. All one has to do is ask for forgiveness to whatever higher power or being you believe in.”
Rev shook his head.“As long as I keep doing it, then I’m not truly repentant, am I?”
More than anything I wanted to make him feel better, but at the same time, I knew I had to be honest with him. “No, I suppose not.”
Jerking a hand through his tangled hair, Rev sighed. “Maybe that’s why coming to Mexico was so important to me. It was vital I do everything within my power to help Sarah. That somehow there would be redemption. That it all came together because of what I’d been through and because of what Breakneck had done for me.”
At that point I felt my heart might burst with the magnitude of respect and admiration I felt for him. Maybe even some form of love. I realized then I could go the rest of my life, and I would never meet another man like Rev.
I scooted down the bed to be closer to him. “Rev Malloy, I think someone would have to try very, very hard to find a man with as pure a heart and kind a soul as yours.”
His expression clouded over. “You’re wrong.”
“No. You just keep trying find those bits of redemption, and all the pieces will fall together.”
“I really want to believe that.”
As I surveyed his face, I realized something. “You know, I don’t think I know your real name.”
He winced. “It’s Nathaniel.”
“That’s a beautiful name.”
“I’m glad you think so. The only person who gets away with calling me that, though, is my mother.”
“It makes sense it’s a biblical name since your father was a minister.”
“You think I look like a Nathaniel?”
Tilting my head at him, I replied, “I think you look like a Rev to me.”
Rev laughed. “I’m glad to hear it.” He glanced at the clock on the desk. “Think you can sleep now?”
The prospect of being in the dark, alone, and facing my nightmare again caused my stomach to churn. “Would you lie down with me?”
K
“Just until I go to sleep.”
As he appeared to be fighting his emotions.
I pulled back the covers so we could both get inside. Rev turned out the light on the nightstand. Once we had laid down, I scooted as close to Rev as I could. Although I was probably making him uncomfortable, I was more than happy to be selfish in the moment and only think of myself.
As we lay in the dark, a thought came to my mind. “The other day when you recited Annabel Lee was that all you knew?”
He groaned. “Why do I get the feeling that if I say I know more I’m going to end up being forced to perform?”
“I’d love to hear it all.”
“I’ve got to learn to tell you no,” he muttered.
Then after drawing in a deep breath, he began to recite the poem. I closed my eyes and burrowed against him. The deep, rich timbre of his voice relaxed me. And although the poem’s content was rather depressing, I focused more on a man whose love for his Annabel Lee could not even be stopped by death.
CHAPTER TWELVE: REV
