The weight that crashed down on him when she left the room was unbearable.
It’d been easier when he was the one doing the walking.
Now, the future felt empty.
“You love my sister?” Eli asked, crossing his arms.
Roman nodded.
“Maybe don’t be an idiot about it.”
“Man, I don’t know what to do to fix this.”
“You should go after her.” Eli ticked his head in the direction Sadie had exited.
Roman sifted his hands through his hair. “I didn’t know the guy was the husband of her client.”
“I don’t think that’s the part that matters.” Eli nodded with his own assessment.
“What part matters then?” Roman asked.
“You love her.”
Roman nodded. Yes, he did.
“She loves you,” Eli added.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Sadie’s a tough one. She wants to be strong and she wants to do it all herself and she has really strong opinions about everything—but you bring out the smile in her,” Eli said. “That’s the part that matters.”
Roman clenched his jaw so hard his molars seemed to revolt.
“You should probably plan on groveling a little.” Eli continued nodding. “Because it’s what we do best.”
Roman followed the path that Sadie had forged through the kitchen and out the door until he found her talking to Marlee just down the sidewalk from the kitchen door.
“Sadie,” Roman said, clearing his throat because she looked as broken as he’d felt when she’d walked away. Her expression was totally shattered.
Sadie glanced at him, but she didn’t lock her gaze with his like usual.
Marlee made a quick exit after a brief exchange with Sadie. She patted Roman’s arm on her way past as though they were at a funeral and he was a relative of the deceased.
That feeling didn’t bode well for his hope of what this conversation would bring.
“I’m sorry,” Roman said. “I didn’t know the connection.”
She turned toward him. “I have to ask you something and I need you to be honest.”
“Anything you want to know, it’s yours.”
“Are you going to sic your grandmother on me every time you want your way?”
“No.” He absolutely would not do that.
“How can I believe you?” she asked.
Well, he’d have to figure out how to show her, wouldn’t he?
