“We agreed we wanted to be together,” he said in a strained tone. “I love you. You love me, surely we can—”
“All true, but don’t you see?” she cried, rolling her head back and forth on her forearms. “This will always be between us. Oliver stole the decision from us, and now we will always have doubts.” Her eyes filled. “Would you really have come with me to my place in time, to my life and family? Would you truly have walked away from everything you’ve built?” A small sob escaped.
“Daniel, whenever we hit rough patches, you’ll wonder if I would’ve stayed had I been given the choice. You’ll doubt that I would’ve forsaken my entire family and my career aspirations, knowing full well the only path available to me in your century is to be a homemaker.” A tear slid down her cheek.
“Nay, love, I—”
“Don’t you get it?” She lifted her gaze to his. “Every time we have a disagreement, the doubts and regrets will creep in, and they will lead to resentment. The resentment will gradually erode what we feel for each other. Oliver stole our ability to choose. He’s ruined any chance we ever had at a happily-ever-after.”
He didn’t respond. so she continued. “Not only that, but don’t forget my family’s giftedness and their ties to the fae.” Alpin had indicated he’d do nothing should anything go wrong, but she knew her family. They’d be relentless in their attempts to persuade one of the fae to bring her home.
“I did tell you how Boann snatched my sister out of the hidden valleys. It’s not like she asked Grayce first if she wanted to leave her husband behind, either. That too will always between us.” As realization dawned in him, a look of devastation suffused his features, breaking her heart.
“I’ve heard enough,” he said, rising from his crouch.
He walked out of the shed without another word, leaving her to her downward spiral of despair and anger.
Daniel raked his fingers through his hair and strode up the hill to his thinking place. Meredith’s words had cut him deeply. Once he reached the goldmine, he paced, ignoring the growing wind and the coming storm.
Things Meredith had said kept circling inside his mind, and he recalled the many conversations they’d had. She’d spoken the truth. His purpose all along had been to persuade and seduce her into staying. Aye, he’d considered returning to the twenty-first century with her, but he hadn’t really intended to do so. In his arrogance, he’d believed she would be the one to make the sacrifice. “Shite.”
He kicked at a loose rock and sent it rolling down the side of the hill. He couldn’t remember a single time she’d said she’d stay. When it came to their discussions about where they’d settle, she hadn’t even asked him to return with her. Why hadn’t he noticed until now? Hell, she hadn’t even said a word when he’d declared in front of witnesses that his greatest wish and hope was that they’d marry here in Garretsville in the very near future.
The truth punched him in the gut, and his heart stuttered. She’d intended to return to the future all along … without him. “She doesn’t love me,” he said to the wind as his throat and chest tightened around that painful realization.
“Nay, that’s not what this is about. Don’t think like that, boyo. She does love you.” He knew she did. She’d admitted as much. Think, man. How could he turn things around? Did she not know he’d do everything in his power to see that she was happy?
“She’s upset right now, and who wouldn’t be?” Once she calmed down, she’d realize they would be deliriously happy together. He continued to pace and carry on his one-sided conversation. She’d said the only option to her in his time was to be a homemaker. He’d grown up believing that path to be the greatest wish and the ultimate goal of every young woman.
“Fool,” he bit out at his own ignorant assumptions. He’d neglected to take into account the century in which she’d been born, her education, and her aspirations.
He and Charles owned a business. By gad, if Meredith wanted a career, he’d provide her with one. She could work for Hannigan & Cavanaugh doing whatever she felt suited her, and if she chose to work elsewhere, he’d support her in any way he could so she’d flourish on her own terms.
His spirits brightened just as the first fat drops of rain began to fall. Lightning arced through a distant thunderhead, and several seconds later, thunder rumbled through the mountains.
He set out for the cabin as more ideas came to him, ways to overcome this most recent setback. Meredith had knowledge of the future. How could he and Charles not appreciate her input as she steered them in directions that would be profitable? Hell, they should offer her a full partnership.
First, he needed to apologize. He’d made assumptions and been less than forthcoming in his intentions. Without regard for her wishes, he’d mounted a campaign to win her over to his way of thinking when it came to when and where they should live. His father had advised him that, when it came to love and marriage, prideful stubbornness had no place in a happy home. When you erred, you must apologize.
He entered the cabin to find Meredith helping Charles shuffle to the kitchen table. The scent of coffee brewing filled the interior, and his stomach rumbled. “Good morning, Charles. How are you feeling?”
“Sore, but hungry.” He grimaced as he lowered himself onto a chair. “Meredith says a good appetite is a sign I’m healing, so I’ll not complain.”
“Did
