He gets up abruptly and turns his chair around, his face a picture of disbelief as he sits down again.
‘You went to see mymother?’
I nod. ‘She told me there was an observatory near where you lived in Knighton.’
‘What else did my mother say?’
‘That you were still angry at her.’ The shadows beneath his cheekbones flicker. ‘She also said that she was sorry.’
‘What for?’
I shrug. ‘I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. All I cared about was what she had to tell me about you. I was terrified that you might have gone back to Europe.’
His mouth is still set in a straight line, but I can’t help noticing that his eyes are slightly less vacant.
‘Is your car still parked up at Spaceguard?’ he asks as he puts his empty mug on the coffee table.
I nod. ‘It’s low on battery.’
He frowns. ‘Not sure where around here you’ll be able to charge it.’
‘Do you have electricity?’ I glance over at his hob.
‘Not enough for a car. Only solar power.’
‘Is that what heats the shower?’
He shakes his head. ‘It’s wood-fired. If I’d known you were coming, I’d have thrown more logs on.’
Hope ignites in my stomach. That sounded friendlier.
‘Why did you come?’ he asks harshly, his expression hardening.
I shake my head at him, my eyes brightening with tears that I can no longer control. ‘I only found out yesterday that you didn’t marry Beca.’
He recoils, shocked.
‘I saw the story your father planted. I thought it was real.’
‘But Itold youthat I wouldn’t marry her,’ he states irately.
‘I thought you might to save the workshop, the cottages, the cabin. And it’s not as though you didn’t love her. You did.’
‘As afriend!’ He rises angrily to his feet. ‘I took you at yourword, why didn’t you take me at mine?’ He’s pacing and looking agitated.
‘What word?’ I ask with confusion as he rakes his hand through his hair with frustration.
‘That you never wanted to see me again!’ he practically yells.
‘I’m hot-headed, Ash! I was a wreck when I said that!’
‘No. You meant it,’ he says menacingly. And then, slowly and deliberately, he spits out the question: ‘Why are you here?’
I should have told him two years ago.
‘Because I love you.’
And then he stills, his eyes on mine as fresh tears roll down my cheeks.
