Chapter 2
5 Months Earlier
Finally the day had arrived, her mum was getting married and she could not have been happier for her or her new father to be. So much had happened between them over the years but, at last, they would be signing their names to their happily ever after contract and sealing it with the special delivery of a child of their very own in just 7 short months. Her room would soon be transformed into a nursery and she had mixed emotions about that but she had a house of her own now and someone of her own to share it with, it was time to let her safe haven go. This trip was as much about saying goodbye to her old life as it was about celebrating her mum's new one. The RSVP's had confirmed the somewhat unexpected presence of one part of her old life she didn't think she would ever truly be able to let go of. Her stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of seeing him in just a few hours time. She quickly swatted them away with a reminder to herself that that was the past, he had left her and she him and eventually the long and winding road she found herself on without him had taken her back home and back into the arms and heart of her first boyfriend.
He tugged at the collar of his suit one last time, smoothing the lapels over his chest. He was no longer such a stranger to a suit and tie as he had been in years past but he was still more himself in jeans and a shirt. Today however was definitely a suit and tie kind of day so he donned it without complaint and only the slightest of smirks. He was happy to see his Uncle so happy, after all he had done for him it was the least he could do to look the part for his wedding and not give the townsfolk anything new to gossip about for a change. He swept his hair back out of his eyes as he headed down the stairs from the apartment which held a myriad of memories for him. The bell rung its familiar tune as he stepped out the front door into the twilight and headed towards the crowd already assembled at the gazebo.
She didn't have to see him coming, she heard the sudden hush of the crowd and saw 62 heads simultaneously turn in the direction of the diner and knew he was here. She kept her eyes averted as she waited for her mum to arrive in her horse drawn carriage. Luke was waiting patiently for her, under the gazebo where they had shared so many memorable moments together including their first ever picnic and their engagement kiss the first time they got engaged. Tonight the place was lit up with a thousand twinkling fairy lights that glittered in the trees and the town had even agreed to allow them to hang the lanterns usually reserved for the firelight festival. The square had never looked more beautiful and nor had his bride to be. As the carriage came to a stop at the end of the makeshift aisle the crowd rose from their seats, the return of the town hoodlum in a suit forgotten momentarily by all but one of them as they turned their attention to the woman of the hour. One set of eyes however finally allowed themselves to shift in the direction the others had all been previously focused on and there she found herself trapped by his brown gaze seeking her blue eyes once more.
The ceremony went by slowly, as these things often do. He stayed and ate and drank and made small talk all the while watching her as she moved from table to table smiling and talking and laughing. They all smiled back at her, their town princess, none of them noticing the shadows lurking behind her eyes, but he noticed them. He knew something wasn't right with her but he would let her come to him if she needed him. It wasn't his place to protect her anymore. If he was honest with himself he would admit his hesitancy had less to do with her new, old boyfriend and far more to do with the fact that he didn't think he could take it if she rejected him again. They'd each played their own part in breaking each other's hearts but while it appeared she'd moved on he still found himself imagining the what ifs of a night four years ago in Philadelphia. The last time he'd seen her she'd been walking away from him and he didn't think he could handle that again.
Finally the newlyweds departed and he was able to slip away unnoticed amidst the fanfare, returning to the old apartment over the diner for the night. He hadn't decided yet how long he was staying, nothing depended on her but somehow, now he'd seen her and noticed that look behind her eyes, everything did so he would wait and see and stay, for now. Bonus of being a writer: the world was his office and this quiet little corner of it was as inspiring as any other he'd ever found himself in.
As she kissed her parents goodbye and wished them a wonderful honeymoon she found her gaze once again drawn away, this time witnessing a dark haired figure in a perfectly fitted suit disappearing into the diner and then a moment later she saw light glowing behind the curtains in the upstairs window. She should've known he'd be staying and she should've guessed he'd be staying there. She should've known better than to let her feet lead her towards the door that she had passed through almost every single day of her life, to take the key from its usual spot above the frame, to push back the curtain and climb the stairs to the apartment door. She should've known better but still she found herself knocking and then he was there standing before her, looking right into her soul and opening his arms to her to embrace her. How was it that it was here, in his arms again, that she finally felt safe?
He knew he shouldn't have held her but when he finally saw her eyes up close he knew his fears must be true and so, without thinking, he held out his arms to her and breathed a sigh of relief mixed with sorrow and frustration as she stepped into his embrace. Neither of them spoke, they just stood there a while until eventually he kissed her hair then pulled his head back to see her face. Still holding her he could see the tears that she'd been holding back all day flowing freely down her flushed cheeks. She still looked so beautiful to him even in her dishevelled state but now wasn't the time for thoughts like those. He loosened his grip on her and silently led her over to the bed where he lay her down and tucked her in. He kissed her on the forehead then turned to set up a makeshift bed for himself on the couch.
"Please stay with me," her voice whispered across the room.
The sadness in her voice, the defeat, broke his heart all over again. What had happened to her? He feared the worst based on memories of his own childhood. He crossed the room back to her side in 2 long strides, settling himself on the bed beside her he held her to him and whispered "always" into her hair as he felt her drift off into a fitful sleep. There were more questions than answers but there would be time for that tomorrow. Right now he was right where he needed to be, holding the woman he loved. Tomorrow would wait.
A/N I'm brand new at this so please be gentle with your feedback and also feel free to send any helpful advice my way :)
