“What’s that?” He took another bite of his food.
“Mr. Patterson let slip who had given him my name.”
Calvin’s eyes widened. He swallowed and licked his lips. “Who?”
“I think you know very well who it was, mydearhusband,” she said with a chuckle.
He relaxed back in his chair. “Yes, it was me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you to think I was prying into your life. And you have to admit, you would have tried to stop me.” He arched an eyebrow. “You have been pretty stubborn since our wedding.”
She sighed and reached across the table toward his hand. Immediately, he grasped her fingers.
“Thank you, Calvin. It wasn’t until earlier this evening when I realized you were just trying to help me with my dream.”
“I was.” He stroked his thumb over her knuckles. “Because you deserve it. You’re a very talented woman, and more people need to know about your creations.”
“Thanks. It was a glorious feeling to be wanted like that.”
Slowly, his expression waned. “It’s the most wonderful feeling in the world. I’ve felt it a few times during my life. But it seems like the people I desperately want it from don’t want to give me that acceptance.”
Rayne held her breath. Was he talking about her? She was afraid to ask, and yet, she needed to know, or it would drive her crazy. “Who won’t give you acceptance, Calvin?”
“Well, there’s my mother.” He shook his head and frowned. “But she’s always been that way, not only to me, but my siblings. So, I think she’s a lost cause.”
A wrenching pain took hold of her heart. His own mother? A knot formed in Rayne’s throat. “Oh, Calvin, I... I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He tenderly squeezed her hand. “I should be used to it by now.” His smile returned, but it wasn’t as full.
“And who else do you feel that way about?”
He lifted her fingers to his mouth and softly kissed her knuckles. “I think you already know that answer.”
Her chest tightened, and her mind turned blank. Could she really answer him now, especially when she had such mixed feelings? And yet, the longer she gazed into his incredible eyes, the more her heart warmed to him.
