“This is… nice,” she said, draping a papernapkin in her lap.
“I know it’s not fancy,” he said, sittingacross from her, “but it’s some of the best food in DeltaHeights.”
Andrea folded her slender fingers on top ofthe tablecloth. “So you’re really a small-town boy at heart. Thefancy suits, house, and car are just for appearances.”
“I like the simple things.” He winked ather.
“I can see that.” She turned and stared atthe intimate setting. “It is nice. Plus, it’s Italian, so it getsmy vote. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He rubbed his hands downhis pant legs.
“Are you okay? You look... tense.”
Lance exhaled and poured them each a glass ofthe red wine. After serving her and himself, he said, “I need totell you something.”
Andrea took a sip from her glass. “What isit?”
“Two things. One... Now that I’ve resignedfrom my dad’s firm, I know what I want to do instead.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. Are you surethat’s best? What else would you do?”
“I’ll be running my sister’s foundation fulltime. I’ll also be able to do more work at the community center. Itold you about the boys I mentor.”
“I know, but...” She rubbed at her brow. “Youwere so close to your promotion. Why would you want to throw thataway? I thought you were happy there.”
“I was, but I’m not anymore.”
“I guess your mother was right.”
“What about my mother?” What did his motherdo now?
Andrea sat back in her chair. “She mentioneda few things. She mainly suggested that I slow down.” She restedher elbows on the table. “Lance, I have to tell you, I’m stilloverwhelmed.”
He reached for her hand. “It’ll be okay.Everything’s been so crazy leading up to this wedding.”
Her stare turned glassy. “Can I ask yousomething?”
The moment of truth. “Anything. In fact,I—”
“Are you in love with me, Lance?” Andreaasked, cocking her head to the side.
His lips parted. “Why would you askthat?”
She peeled her hand away from his. “I had along talk with my mother last night before bed. Yours had methinking, so I called mine. My mom wasn’t the best example to mewith relationships. She was too career-oriented, but she told methat when a man loves, he has a certain look in his eyes. The wayhe shows affection makes a woman feel as if she’s the only one inthe world.” She leaned forward. “Do I do that for you?”
Lance unbuttoned a button from his collaredshirt. “You took my breath away when we met.”
She bobbed her head. “I’m wondering if that’senough. You know... to sustain a marriage.” Andrea sighed. “I guessI’m wondering if I have what it takes.”
“You do. You have a good heart. Don’t worryabout that.”
“So... yesterday in the interview?” Sheswallowed. “That was her, wasn’t it? Your first wife?” Andreaasked.
He released a heavy sigh. It was a subjectthat he’d buried like valued treasure. Lance’s shoulders slumped.There it was in a nutshell.
No use denying it. They’d spent too much timetogether. His heart pounded as the truth stared about him likecalves in a pen. “How long have you known?”
Andrea twisted her engagement ring. “You’venever looked at me the way you did her, Lance.” She asked thefateful question. “What happened between you two? I know youdivorced young, but why?”
Lance told Andrea everything. From the dayChantelle told him she was pregnant all the way to the night theylost their child. He squeezed his eyes shut, recalling her red eyesfrom the tears she’d shed.
Andrea took his hand. “Why didn’t you tell meabout the baby?”
“Too painful.”
“If you still cared, why didn’t you stay? Whydid you—”
“I was a boy, Andrea. I believed my parents.Chantelle left, and I haven’t talked to her since. She visits herfamily, but we were done.”
“Are you?” She asked.
Lance licked his lips, stroking her hand withhis.
“You’re still in love with her, Lance. Afterall these years,” Andrea said.
It was the truth. Chantelle wasn’t only hisfirst love. She was the love of his life. “I didn’t mean for it tohappen.”
Andrea didn’t say a word.
A weight settled on Lance’s chest. He’d hurther. Hadn’t he hurt enough women in his lifetime? He searched forthe right words to say, but how could he clean this up?
Andrea gave a mirthless laugh. “Perhaps welistened to our friends and family too much. They kept saying wewere perfect for each other.”
“What?” He blinked. He expected tears fromAndrea. Wasn’t she angry?
“Think about it, Lance. How many people werein our ear for us to get married? Your parents. My mom. Can wehonestly say this was something we both wanted? Honestly?”
He blinked. “I thought I did.”
“Me too.”
Lance stared at her sweet face. “I don’t knowwhat else to say.”
“You don’t have to.” She gave half a smile.“We had some fun times, right?”
He smiled back at her, taking her hand again.“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the day you shocked me eating icecream.”
Andrea giggled. “I’m not always on a strictdiet.”
He lifted their joined hands and pressed akiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry.”
“Lance, we want different things. You love ithere, I’m a city girl. You want a family and I’m not sure aboutthat right now with my career. I love what I do and I want tocontinue to pursue it.” She paused. “Though it’s disappointing howthis happened, I’m glad we know where we stand. It’s a shame ittook this long.”
“I know,” he said.
“I love you, Lance, but I don’t… think it’senough.”
He bobbed his head. “I hope you can forgiveme.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” Her stareturned serious. She clasped his hand tighter. “Be happy, Lance. Foryou. I’ll do the same for me.”
He couldn’t have agreed with her more.
***
Chantelle took the lasagna out of the ovenwhile Grant sliced the garlic bread. The aroma filled her nose, andher mouth watered at the melted cheese on her creation. She removedthe pot holders from her hands.
“I hope it’s worth it,” Grant said. “Mom’snot getting on a boat.”
“I think Douglas might convince her.”Chantelle replied.
“It is nice. He loves Mom.”
Chantelle leaned against the counter. “Hedoes, huh?”
“You didn’t think so?”
“Did you? I want Mom to be happy, but
