My Darling Bride(94)

“I’m not fine, Emmy,” he says a few moments later as he turns my chin, making me meet his gray eyes. I note the haggardness of his face, the shadows under his eyes. “I didn’t know what was going on. I thought something horrible might have gone wrong with your heart.”

I play with my covers, threading them through my hand. “I left the divorce papers at your place. I’m not taking any of your money. Things are working out for the Darling family. Jane is working at the store full time, and Andrew is going to take a gap year and work at the store. It wasn’t my idea, but it’s his decision, and he wants to contribute.”

He rubs his face. “David shouldn’t have come to you without speaking to me first. He only did it because that was the plan from the start, to do divorce proceedings after the inheritance, but now that—”

“I’m really tired,” I say, interrupting. “I need to rest.”

He puts his hand on mine. “Will you at least look at me, Emmy?”

I hold his eyes, and his face is so tender that it almost hurts more than any physical pain could ever do.

A tear slides down my cheek unbidden, and he quickly wipes it away with his thumb before pressing my palm to his heart. He holds it there. “I’m sorry. For everything,” he says quietly. “Let me be the one who takes care of you.”

Emotion tugs at me like a weight. Seeing him like this only makes things worse.

I manage a smile. “There’s no need to feel obligated. I’m exhausted. Can you go?”

“You want me to go? Truly?”

I nod.

He inhales a deep breath. “I’ll be back when you’re feeling better.”

“Don’t. I mean, I have Jane and Babs and Andrew. Besides, you have a life you need to get back to.”

A vulnerable look flashes over his face, a brief moment, before he tucks it away, his throat moving.

“Call Jane,” I say. “She’ll tell you how I’m doing.”

“Emmy—”

“Will you just give me some space?”

I stare at the TV on the wall, watching from the corner of my eye as he exhales, then walks out the door.

Jane, whom I suspect has been listening to us, sits up from her cot, her hair ruffled around her head. An exaggerated yawn comes from her. “These five a.m. surgeries are crazy. How are you feeling?” she asks as she checks me over like a mother hen. “Everything all right?”

I wince as I try to sit up more. “I told you not to tell him, and you did.”

She shrugs. “Technically he’s still your husband, Emmy. And I’ve witnessed for myself how he looks at you. He needed to know.” She pauses. “And he dropped everything and came. He seems genuinely scared and rather pathetic.”

My fingers touch Wilbur. “Graham feels sorry for me. It’s who he is.”

Jane watches me intently, her gaze softening as she takes in my expression. She reaches out and places a hand on my shoulder. “I’m not so sure I agree with you, but you are the one who just had surgery, so whatever you say, goes.”





Chapter 32


EMMY


“Graham offered us a town car to take us home, and I told him yes,” Jane says as she helps me get dressed a few days later.

“Fine,” I say as I slide on a pair of joggers easily enough, but the loose blouse requires more movement and makes the incisions sting. I slip my feet into a pair of sneakers, and she brushes my hair and puts it up in a high ponytail.

The best way to deal with the things Graham has done since my surgery is to keep my emotions locked down.

“He’s worked at the bookstore for the past two days,” Jane continues. “He needed something to keep him busy, since you said he couldn’t visit you here.”

I take the brush from her hand and stuff it in my bag. “That’s great.”

She exhales. “I swear the man nearly cried when he saw you.”

I shrug. “He’s empathetic. Don’t read into it.”

“God, you’re so annoying.” She rolls the wheelchair up and pats the seat. “Now have a seat, and we’ll escape this place.”

The nurse arrives and escorts us downstairs to the exit for waiting vehicles. A driver gets out of a black luxury car and helps me inside. Jane slides in next to me and smiles. “Homeward bound in style.”

I narrow my gaze at the gleam in her eyes. “Just to make sure, we are going to our home. Gran’s. Right?” As much as she’s been pro-Graham since the surgery, I’m starting to wonder if she’ll slow the car down and kick me out in front of his apartment building.

She nods. “Yes.”

“What’s up with all the smiling? If there’s a bunch of flowers in the apartment, call Andrew and tell him to give them to the neighbors. I can’t deal.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m happy because my sis is coming home, and Londyn has missed you, and I’m thankful you’re okay. Isn’t that enough?”

“Hmm, I suppose.”

We arrive home and head to the elevator. Jane opens the door to the apartment, and Andrew and Londyn come rushing toward me. He gives me a hug with her in his arms. I’m not supposed to lift anything, so I have to settle with giving her kisses.