The rumble of a diesel engine catches my attention, and I glance down the long driveway. Zane is rounding the bend. I don’t know if I should be relieved or concerned.
“That’s him pulling down the driveway right now. Do you want to come sit down while you wait?” I gesture to the benches on the front porch that are out of the sun.
“Sure, thank you!” She climbs the steps and sits on the bench in the shade. “I’m sorry. This probably seems so strange. I feel so weird, showing up here after all this time. But it was something I had to do. I haven’t had closure ever since I left Zane on our wedding day.”
It’s like someone slammed a fist into my stomach. I stumble back, planting a hand against the porch post to catch myself before I tumble off.
This is Alexa. Zane’s ex-fiancée. Almost wife. The one who left him at the altar. The one he has been hung up on for years.
And she’s sitting on my bench.
Zane rolls to a stop beside the car and climbs out of the truck. He spots me instantly. “Who’s here?”
Alexa is sitting on my bench in the shade, so I’m not surprised he doesn’t notice her right away.
“Er …” I clear my throat and swing my head around to stare at Alexa, who’s looking rather pale as she stands up from the bench.
I turn back to watch the smile fall from Zane’s face. Alexa stops next to me, and I have the overwhelming urge to run to my truck and drive away. But I can’t. My feet feel like someone tied them to a concrete block.
Zane takes a step forward. “Alexa.”
“Hi, Zane,” she says softly.
I’m getting whiplash, looking back and forth between the two of them.
“What are you doing here?” he finally asks.
I jerk my head back toward Alexa. Her eyes look a little misty, as though she’s holding back tears.
“I wanted to talk with you,” she says as she takes a step down the porch steps.
“It’s been three years since I’ve heard from you.” Zane’s voice is hard.
I have to fight off the urge to give him a big hug. I can’t. Alexa was the woman he loved and was going to marry. He never got his explanation of why she left. He’s never healed from it. And even though it feels like my chest is being torn open right now, I know I need to leave and give them some privacy.
I walk down the steps and go to move past Zane. “I’ll go check on my sheep and give you guys some time to talk.”
I stare at the ground as I walk past because I don’t know if I can handle seeing what he’s thinking.
Zane latches onto my arm as I pass, pulling me to a stop. I slowly turn my head to meet his gaze.
“Please stay.”
Oh, sure. Ask me to stay and watch you rip out my heart and stomp all over it. What an excellent idea!
But he looks desperate, and he asked so nicely that I simply nod once and turn to face Alexa while standing at his side.
“I have a pot of soup in the crock. Why don’t we go inside and eat some dinner and you two can catch up?” I suggest, even though it’s the last thing I want.
Apparently, my motherdidmanage to teach me some hospitality over the years.
Zane slides his hand down my arm to grab my hand and squeezes gently.
Alexa looks at our clasped hands. Her eyes go wide. “Oh! I didn’t realize …”
“This is Bliss. My wife.” Zane’s voice is steady as he introduces me.
I dare to look at Alexa. She looks surprised.
