Page 11 of Trusting His Heart
“Tough, on both of you.” Geoffrey leant towards her until their foreheads touched. “You have to know the dragon doesn’t play fair. Every fight is different and the way the heroes fight is different.”
“He didn’t want me to fight by his side. He kept pushing me away, until he got scared and then he would only want me by his side.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know. I’m sorry for what I said before, about you not being able to understand. I keep forgetting other people have their own story and not all of them are happy endings.”
Geoffrey put his arm around Bec, holding her close into him. For the first time in ten years, he was proud to cry for his wife and allow another person into his heart. He felt her tears through his shirt and felt prouder still of the strength she had shown.
The stewardess interrupted their moment, offering more coffee. They broke apart, Geoffrey trying not to feel embarrassed from over-sharing.
“So, tell me about your wife,” Bec tried to smile and lighten the mood, “What was her name? Tell me the craziest things you two did?”
Until the plane landed, Bec and Geoffrey shared stories about who they loved and what they had lost.
“I can’t believe, I can even tell you what I didn’t like and what I don’t miss – for eighteen months I haven’t been able to admit - I don’t miss his snoring!”
Then, Geoffrey off on art. “I must have married the only art major who didn’t like going to galleries. No matter how famous the artist, she would pick their work to pieces and we would end up leaving before she insulted the other visitors.”
“I married the only football hating male. He never understood men beating up on other men over a piece of leather.”
The pilot asked for seatbelts to be on, giving them the half hour warning before landing in Sydney.
“So, Miss Garran, in no way did I expect this when I suggested we play ‘truth and consequences’ back in Boston.”
“I have to say, Professor Swains, you may be an arrogant, insulting jerk, but it has been a pleasure to spend the night with you.”
“I can’t imagine spending the night with anyone else.” Geoffrey knew he had gone too far the moment the words came out of his mouth. “I’m sorry, I meant …”
“I know, it’s too soon for either of us.”
“Give me another ten years, or so.”
The plane landed and time to escape their own truths.
“Geoffrey!”
“Yes,” he hoped she would ask to keep in touch. No matter how much he wanted to, he wouldn’t. But, still, it would be nice for her to ask.
“It’s almost Christmas. Why don’t you take a couple of weeks to continue this conversation with your friends. People who would remember you and Rachel. Don’t throw yourself into a new relationship with a young girl who would never understand.”
Geoffrey thought for a moment, his last gift to this wonderful, caring and grieving woman would be his parting words.
“Promise me you won’t take ten years to move on. He loved you enough to leave you, the best way to honor his courageous battle with his dragon is to let him go and allow love back into your life again. Don’t become old and bitter like me. Don’t let me be your future.”
It took every ounce of his self control not to look back at her.