Chapter 8 — You Were Told

"Of course," Maeve said. "I'll speak to the manager."

I typed my own answer while she walked away.

Do not come here. I will not go anywhere with you.

Then I blocked Preston's number.

Nathan sat beside me without looking at the screen.

"What would you like to do?"

"Finish my cake."

"Excellent plan."

We finished it. I was determined not to remember that day as the afternoon I waited for Preston to arrive.

That evening, Nathan and I walked through the garden. He told me he could stay in Dublin if I preferred space. I told him I wanted him nearby, and he kept his room at the manor.

At my door, I kissed him first.

His fingers settled at my waist, and I felt the warmth of them through the thin fabric. When I stepped back, he let me go.

"Breakfast?" he asked.

"Yes."

Such an ordinary promise. I slept better with it than I had with a diamond on my hand.

Preston arrived the next morning while we were checking out.

Reception stopped him at the entrance to the private corridor. I heard his voice from the lounge.

"She's my fiancée. I don't need an appointment."

I set my coffee down.

Nathan stood, but I touched his arm.

"I'll speak to him in the lobby. Will you stay with me?"

"Yes."

Preston was still wearing the suit from Iceland. His tie was gone, and his shirt had creased under his jacket.

When he saw me, his expression changed from anger to relief so quickly it made me feel ill.

"There you are."

He moved toward me. I stayed beside the reception desk.

"That's close enough."

He stopped, looking at Nathan.

"You can give us a minute."

"I asked him to stay," I said.

"Audrey, this is between us."

"Then speak to me."

He drew a breath.

"You made your point. Everyone saw the video. Can we stop now?"

"We stopped last Saturday."

"You were angry."

"I was leaving."

"And then you flew here to play bride with him?"

Nathan's jaw tightened. He said nothing.

I kept my eyes on Preston.

"You booked a wedding in another country without telling me. You gave my ring to Sienna. You used my mother's care to make me apologize to her. What did you think would happen?"

He glanced at the receptionist. She was no longer pretending to type.

"Can we discuss this privately?"

"No."

"I came all this way."

"I told you not to."

He took out his phone.

"Look. I have your messages. You said things like this before."

"Show me where I said I was moving out before. Show me the inventory. Show me where I returned the key."

His hand lowered.

"I thought you'd calm down."

"You thought you didn't have to listen."

He stared at me for a moment, then looked at Nathan again.

"You don't know her. Ten years, and you show up for one weekend."

"I know she asked you to stay away," Nathan said.

"You knew she was engaged."

"She told me she'd ended it."

"Of course she did."

I stepped forward just enough to draw Preston's attention back.

"Don't call me a liar because you don't like what I said."

His face changed.

"That's not what I meant."

"It is what you said."

He passed a hand over his eyes.

"The bets were stupid. Fine. Sienna thought they were funny, and I went along with it. I didn't think you'd take them like this."

"Who chose the photograph?"

"She suggested—"

"Who sent the instruction?"

He hesitated.

"I did."

"Who took the ring off my hand?"

"Audrey."

"You did. Who threatened to stop paying for Mom's extra care unless I apologized?"

"I was trying to end the argument."

"So was I. That's why I left."

He looked at my empty ring finger.

"You're not actually married."

"No."

Relief crossed his face.

"Then we can fix this."

"My decision doesn't depend on a marriage certificate."

Behind me, Nathan shifted slightly, giving me room rather than putting himself between us.

Preston noticed. He looked confused by it.

"I love you," he said.

For years, those words had ended the conversation. I would stand there trying to reconcile them with everything that came before.

Now I could hear them without abandoning myself.

"I don't want this relationship."

He moved forward and reached for my hand.

I pulled it back.

"Don't touch me."

The manager came around the desk.

"Sir, she's asked you not to approach her."

Preston looked from the manager to Nathan to me. He seemed to be searching for the person who had made me behave this way.

I picked up my bag.

"I will contact you if anything remains to be settled. Otherwise, don't call me, visit me, or send someone to speak for you."

"Where are you going?"

"That isn't information you need."

Nathan carried my suitcase to the car. The manager stayed beside Preston until we left.

On the road, I looked out the window for several minutes.

Then I turned toward Nathan.

"Thank you for letting me answer."

He glanced at me.

"You weren't having trouble finding the words."

I smiled, and he reached across the console, palm upward.

I put my hand in his.

I flew back to Boston on Tuesday. Nathan came to the airport, hugged me, and asked me to tell him when I landed.

Over the next three weeks, we talked while I packed, visited Mom, and trained the engineer taking over my work. Some calls lasted an hour. Some lasted six minutes.

One evening, we disagreed about an apartment listing he'd sent. I thought it was too far from my office. He said he'd underestimated the commute.

That was the whole argument.

When I returned to Dublin to begin work, I moved into temporary accommodation arranged by my employer. Nathan met me for dinner after my first day.

The next morning, reception called my desk.

"There's a delivery for you. Flowers and a gift box."

I hadn't told Preston where I lived.

But he'd found my office.