"He's hurting too," she told him quietly. "And worse, he feels guilty. That's something with which I can live." Pushing away from him, she gave him a hug before returning to her baking.
*****
"I don't have time-"
"You're going to damn well make it." The doors slammed behind her as she marched over to his desk.
His gray eyes slitted and his jaw tightened. "Get out of here, Jacklyn."
"Or what?" She slapped her hands on the desk, eyes blazing. "You're going to start ignoring me too? I don't appreciate being used."
"How am I using you?"
"To take David to get his baking lessons."
"He's your bloody nephew and you're his aunt. You can't do one small thing for him."
"Oh, you're good," she gritted. "Guilt me into doing my so-called duty. Just because you're a damned coward who cannot face the woman you're starting to have feelings for-"
"Damn you!"
She jumped back, startled as he erupted.
"Get the hell out of my office and let me finish my work. And if it's too much for you to take him and pick him up, then tell him that."
"Vincent-"
"Get out of here, Jacklyn. I don't have time for this."
Stepping back, she stood there staring at him for a few minutes before walking out and closing the doors behind her.
Shoving back from his desk, he marched over to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a stiff drink. He was having difficulty sleeping. He could barely concentrate and staying away from her was not doing the trick.
The guilt was eating away at him. He was betraying Lizzie. Every time and by God, it was all the time! Every time he thought about her, he was betraying the woman he loved. Love! Dammit. Downing half the drink, he went back to his desk and sat there glowering at the documents in front of him.
He needed reminders, he decided. As soon as he left here, he was going to go to her graveside. He would bring her flowers. She loved peonies and lily of the valley. He would stop at the local florist and pick some up.
And he would sit and talk with her. Tell her about David and how well he was doing in school. First grade and already spelling his full name and reciting poems. He hadn't done that in months because he had been so busy.
And he had been thinking of Thea. The insidious voice wormed its way into his head.
Yes, he tried to drown out the voice. He would stop at her graveside and go and see her parents and take David to spend some time with them. They had lost their only daughter, and he had not been taking David to see them often. He would rectify that.
Then there was the problem of Thea coming here on Friday. She was making the desserts for the retirement party, and he was forced to be present. So, he was going to be here when she was. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes and wondered why the hell his life had to be so complicated. He was out of one problem and had gone straight into another one without a break in between.
Chapter 6
He took the flowers to her grave. He had gone overboard and bought more than he should have. The florist had been delighted of course, and why not? He had spent several hundred dollars. Guilt would make you do things you normally wouldn't have done.
She had been buried in her family plot, alongside her grandparents and several cousins. Her grave was slightly set apart from the others. He had wanted it that way. Someone attended to the upkeep daily; he paid for that privilege as well. So, it was clean enough to have him sitting down. Placing the bouquet on top of the marble tiles, he brushed his hands lightly over where her name was etched: "Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Janice Weathers. Beloved fiancée, mother, and daughter. Gone too soon."
"I'm sorry," he whispered achingly. "We would have been celebrating our wedding anniversary now. You would have been around to watch our son grow. He's wonderful. Very friendly and enthusiastic about everything. I should have come here before, but I've been busy-" His voice tailed off at the miserable lie.
He had been busy, yes, but that wasn't why he had not come to visit. He was caught up with someone else, and it was to a point where he was unable to think of anyone else. She invaded his mind and every part of him. He could not fall asleep without seeing her.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again in an agonized tone. "I'm so sorry, Lizzie. I'm trying to stay away from her, and you don't need to hear any of this."
Surging to his feet, he started pacing in a tight circle.
