Page 25 of Chance

They were both quiet for a few seconds.

“Plus, I did ask you to come with me. You could have been the man at my side.”

He snorted. “Living in Europe wouldn’t have been for me, and we both know it.”

“Probably right. I guess it wasn’t for me, either.” Maybe it was ridiculous, but she hurt too. “Let the record show that I didn’t really care for the girl at your side at my grandma’s funeral. I didn’t really think you needed to bring her.”

“Well, maybe that was bad form, but we both knew your grandma. We both talked to her, and Trinity loved your grandma. It wasn’t like I was bringing her just to rub it in your face.”

That was a good point, and she hadn’t thought about it before. “Right. I know you guys visited my grandma. Thank you. I should’ve been closer. I should’ve left Europe when she was diagnosed with cancer. I blame myself for that.” To her horror, she was crying again. She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I regret so much, Chance. I hate it. I hate that you’re here when I’m down and out. I hate that you figured out that I’m pregnant.”

Chance stood and walked down the hallway to the bathroom, and then he was back with crumpled-up toilet paper. “I hate it when you cry,” he said, handing it to her. “I always have. I’m glad I’m here. If you need me, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

“Dang it,” she said. “Why do you have to be so good?” She broke down into tears again, pulling her legs up against her chest. She couldn’t handle this.

Chance scooted her over and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m here, Kel. I’m right here, and you’re not getting rid of me. Not this time.”

“I don’t deserve your kindness, Chance. I don’t.” She had to admit that it felt good to be in his arms, to be held by this man. “Do you remember what I told you when I left after that first year in Oxford?”

“Yes.”

“I guess I screwed everything up.”

“You told me it’s okay to have a life, a vision. It’s okay to let the past go and move on.”

“That was rude of me to say.”

“No, it was the truth.”

“Except I had the wrong vision, didn’t I?”

He was quiet for a minute, and then he pulled back and turned her to face him. “Kel, I don’t know what God’s plan is for you, but I do know there is one.”

“Is there? I messed up so many things.”

“I know you don’t want to tell me about it right now, but I want you around, Kelly Hamilton. Isn’t it crazy that we ended up in the small town together?” He paused. “Are you still talking to him?”

“Brian?”

He nodded.

“No. This is a new number; he doesn’t even have it.” Kelly stood and paced, trying to digest everything. How could she be here talking to the man she’d loved once upon a time, in a town that neither of them should be in? Had God sent him? “I don’t want Brian to know where I am.”

“Tell me what happened,” he said quietly. “Please.”

Despite herself, she complied. “It’s a cliché story. I was alone and lonely. He worked for a finance firm and he would come in for ‘community events.’ We dated, and he was Prince Charming. He’s American, but he was going to school there, too. He began working at a law firm. We clicked, and the first couple of months were amazing. Then I did exactly what Grandma never wanted me to do: I moved in with him. That’s when things went bad. The first time it happened, I just thought we were getting into a fight, but he claimed I purposefully provoked him, and he pushed me. Unfortunately, I was standing by some stairs and fell down. I ended up in a hospital.”

Chance went still. “What?”

“I should’ve pressed charges, but …”

“Why didn’t you?” He crossed his arms, and the look on his face told Kelly he wanted to punch someone.

“He was so sorry and sad and pitiful. He told me about how he’d been abused and that he should go to a counselor, but if I were to press charges, it would ruin him. So I didn’t.” She stomped her foot, and the tears started again. “I hate myself for that. Why didn’t I press charges the first time?” She moved to the window and stood there, looking out at her little garden and the beach in the background. She took a few calming breaths.

Chance was soon standing next to her. His voice was soft as he said, “And then there were other incidents, I imagine.”

She nodded. “If I upset him, he would strike out at me. The straw that broke the camel’s back was when he pushed me down the stairs again.” Without meaning to, she put her hand on her right side.