Always
"Come home."
Richard froze at her words. He turned to face her, tentative until he was sure of her meaning. "I thought you were moving on," he said quietly.
Emily just shook her head. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to say anything she'd somehow regret. In case he wasn't actually planning on coming back.
"But what about Simon MacLane?"
She didn't like his accusing tone, but it was somewhat understandable in the moment. "It was one dinner and afterward he walked me to the door and shook my hand," Emily informed him calmly, expelling great effort to keep her voice as even as possible.
"That's all?"
The corners of her lips twitched. "That's all."
Richard stood in front of her, just a step away from being able to reach out and touch her. Her eyes were shining up at him with such affection. It had been so long. He stammered, "I…You…I thought you were finished with me."
Emily took a deep breath, letting it out in a soft sigh. "Richard, I've only ever loved one man in my entire life, and when you annoyed me and even when you hurt me, that hasn't changed. It's always been you." She closed the distance between them, standing inches from him, tilting her head up to him.
Richard knew it was up to him to make the final move. "I never stopped loving you," he whispered.
Emily didn't say anything. She only smiled. Even as he leaned down to kiss her, she didn't stop smiling.