She had to make him see this was her fault. “Gordon, Mom told me a bit about your ex-wife. And I want you to know my mom is a very trusting person—almost to a fault. Without my interference she never would’ve jumped to that conclusion about the credit card bill. That was all my doing.”
He seemed to be digesting her words. If only Jenna hadn’t started down this road. If only she’d given the man half a chance. So what if they’d fallen for each other so quickly? Why had she been so determined to see fault in him at every turn? Sure, she’d wanted to protect her mother from heartbreak, but she’d gone way over the line.
That familiar pinch in her chest returned. Was she so afraid of grief and loss that she’d projected that fear onto her mother? Had Jenna been trying to protect her mom from her own paralyzing fears?
Oh, that was messed up.
Was she that troubled? That wounded? That she’d risk her mother’s perfectly good relationship due to her own irrational fears?
Gordon leaned into the table. “I appreciate your honesty, Jenna. It took a lot of courage to admit what you did.”
“Please don’t hold my mom accountable for the way she reacted. She loves you so much. She misses you.” Jenna’s eyes burned with tears.
“I miss her too. I realize my sudden departure was a bit of an overreaction. I wish nothing but the best for your mother. But I have a lot to process. Some things of my own to work through.” He gave a wry grin. “Believe it or not, I’m actually an analytical and pragmatic sort of guy. Falling for your mother so quickly was a complete aberration—although a very delightful one.”
His gentle tone when he spoke of her mother gave her a smidgeon of hope. “I understand. I’ve dropped a lot on you. And in case I wasn’t clear enough—I really am so very sorry for my actions. You didn’t deserve my suspicion. I feel horrible to have come between you and my mom. She was so happy with you—happier than she’s been in years, and I ruined it.”
He reached across the table and patted her hand. “I appreciate your apology and I’ll think about what you said.”
But when they said good-bye a few minutes later, the lingering sadness in his eyes only left Jenna with a quiet sense of dread.
Chapter 43
If someone had told Tyson he’d be sitting across from his ex-wife in AmaRin a week after Jenna had left, he’d have told them they were crazy. When he’d spotted her in the coffee shop lobby, he came to a dead halt. His first inclination was to run—but then she saw him.
She convinced him to stay awhile, and he followed her to one of the back booths. It wasn’t that he hadn’t forgiven her. He just had no unfinished business with her. That season of his life was over. He’d learned from it and moved on.
Britt told him she’d arrived on the island yesterday with her parents and was staying through Pony Penning Days. She seemed to think he might be interested in all the goings-on in her life as she regaled him with them for the next thirty minutes. He’d forgotten how much she talked—and how little she actually said. His headaches had been gone for a few days, but he could feel another one coming on.
She was still very attractive with long blonde waves and sea-green eyes. But he viewed her differently now. She might be smart and talented, but she was also fickle and flighty, always fluttering after the next exciting thing. She would never be content with what she had.
The whole conversation made him homesick for steady, loyal Jenna, who’d shown him what true love really was. He ached at the thought of her. It seemed as if she’d been gone months instead of only a week.He’d started to reach out a dozen times and stopped himself. How would he ever give her the time and space he’d promised her?
Britt cackled at something she’d said, and he tried to pay attention as she finished the story about her cat Isabella. Britt had always treated the feline like a princess, though she had only ever hissed at Tyson.
He drained the rest of his cold brew. He was searching for the words to make a polite escape when Britt finished her story and placed her hand on his. “I was planning to call you this week and set something up. But running into you has been so much fun. I’ve missed talking to you, Ty.”
Oh boy. He tried to withdraw his hand.
But she held tight. “Don’t you miss me? Miss our walks on the beach, the fun nights out”—she offered a coy smile—“the lazy Saturday mornings in bed?”
He leaned back in the booth, taking his hand with him. “We had it pretty good there for a while. But our marriage is over, Britt. We’ve both moved on.”
Her gaze swept over his face, a decisive look coming over her features. “Do you want me to say it? Okay, I made a mistake. And I regret it. I never should’ve left you.”
“But you did. And I’ve moved on.”
She leaned into the table, her focus sharpening on him. “I’m asking for another chance, Tyson. We were good once before. We could be good again—you know it’s true.”
He blinked. He had not expected this. And he couldn’t even entertain the idea. Not after what he’d had with Jenna. He had a fresh perspective on love, and it had changed everything. What he and Britt had before was a poor imitation of the real thing. He felt sorry for Britt that she hadn’t yet realized that.
And even though Jenna wasn’t able to go forward with their relationship, he still loved her. And that wasn’t about to change anytime soon.
Britt gave a nervous chuckle. “You’re awfully quiet over there.”
He felt a nip of sympathy at the hope in her eyes. It was false hope. This was never happening. “Listen, Britt. I accept your apology. I made mistakes too, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be the husband you wanted. I don’t have any ill feelings toward you.” It was true. The realization was freeing, like a breath of fresh air. “But I think we should leave well enough alone.”
Her eyes drooped at the corners. “Really, Ty? It sounds like you don’t care about me at all.”
