Marrying Mr. Darcy (Love Manor #2) - Kate O'Keeffe Page 0,86
you.”
Tears stream down my face, my voice soft as I reply, “I can’t stand by and watch you lose your home. I can’t divide your family. You mean too much to me to do that.”
“Brady,” he says, and the pain in his voice slices through me like a freshly sharpened sword.
“I’m sorry, Seb. I’m so sorry. I’ve-I’ve got to do what’s right.” With choking tears streaming down my face I click end.
Dropping my phone, I’m thrown back into the silence of my childhood bedroom. I bury my head in my pillow and let it all out, my body wracked with heart wrenching sobs. The pain, the sadness, the terrible, deep sense of loss. The loss of the man I love.
I know I’ve done the right thing for Sebastian. Me no longer being in his life is the only choice for him.
I had to set him free.
But dammit if the pain isn’t tearing me in two.
Chapter 24
I sit in the olive vinyl chair I’ve been in for hours, and I hold my mom’s hand, watching her as she sleeps. She looks so peaceful, her dark lashes against her pale skin as she breathes evenly.
It’s been a big day, and she’s come through the surgery like the fighter she is. It’s late in the afternoon now, and she’s already been awake and seen the surgeon, who told her that she’d removed the lump and all was looking good.
Both Aunt Judy and Penny have been amazing. Between the two of them, they’ve sat with me, brought me snacks and coffee, always with a positive message and a smile on their faces. Aunt Judy told me stories I’d not heard about when she and Mom were young. My mom, it would seem, was a little wild in her youth. Now that I’m enlightened, I fully intend to revisit some of the groundings she gave me for lesser teenage crimes once she’s back to full health.
Penny’s had to go back to work now, so I sit on my own with Mom until Aunt Judy returns with coffee.
“How’s your mom doing?” Aunt Judy asks quietly as she places a steaming hot cup of coffee on the side table next to me.
“She’s been sleeping for a while now. The nurse said that’d happen, and that it’s good for her to rest.”
She sits down on the other chair in the room, and the vinyl makes a weird squeaking sounds as she settles. “Tell me about this fiancé of yours. I can’t believe you’re engaged to be married and I’ve never met the man.”
“Oh, Sebastian? He’s great,” I say as I paste on my most convincing smile.
“I’m sure he is, but your aunt needs details, honey. Lots and lots of details.”
“Err, well, he’s super tall, and he’s real handsome, and err, he’s got a really nice sister.” I pause my terrible description of the man I’m meant to be marrying when I notice the look on Aunt Judy’s face.
“You okay, honey?” she asks. “You’re all tearing up and stuff.”
I let go of Mom’s had and touch my face. Sure enough, it’s wet with tears. I wipe them away hurriedly. “I’m fine,” I lie as the tightness I’m now familiar with grows in my throat.
“You know, when your mom and me were growing up, Emma, she had this terrible poker face. Still does, now that I think about it. I could always tell what she was thinking, even when she didn’t want me to know. You’re just like her.”
“Am I?”
She nods her head. “Horrible poker face. Wanna tell me what’s going on with you? I’d be more than happy to lend an ear.”
I open my mouth to respond then clamp it shut. I could tell her I’m upset about Mom, and that would be a completely legitimate thing to say because I am upset about Mom. But I’m devastated about Sebastian, and I’ve kept it from Mom and Aunt Judy. I didn’t want them to worry about me.
Not at a time like this.
“It’s your fiancé, isn’t it?” she asks softly.
I look down at my hands and nod.
“Did you have a fight?”
“No, I, ah, I broke up with him.”
“Oh, Emma.”
I feel a warm hand on my back, and I’ve got to work hard at not losing it, sitting here on this awful olive vinyl seat.
“What happened?”
“I tried and tried, but I couldn’t fit into his world. The media over there said they wanted him to marry one of the other contestants, and there’s this show, Saving Pemberley. They don’t want me