The Promise of Change - By Rebecca Heflin Page 0,81

my own reaction. I was prepared to remain distant, wait for some sign from you as to where things stood, but when I saw Michael’s arm around your waist as if marking his territory, I assumed that’s where things stood. Watching his continued fawning only fueled my anger.

“When you came to apologize, I’d almost made up my mind to pull out of the project. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to watch him with you every day. But I always finish what I start.” He paused before continuing.

“Over the weeks that followed, it was very difficult. He appeared to look for every opportunity to lean in close and speak to you. But your reaction the day he attempted to kiss you gave me cause to hope . . . to hope that I could try again, but take it a little slower this time . . . allow you to set the pace.”

He took her hand in his and turned the full weight of his tender gaze on her. “Sarah, tell me . . . if you want me to leave things be, I will, but if you’ll allow me, I would like to try again.”

“I’d like that very much.” She had to look away before her eyes filled with tears. I don’t deserve him, she thought.

She returned to her room that night to find a box on her bed. Once she saw the return address, she quickly tore open the box. It was the first run of her book. She couldn’t begin to express what it was like to pull out a beautifully bound copy of her own book. If she wrote a hundred books, she didn’t think that experience would ever grow stale.

The book jacket included some of the better reviews. Not surprising, the first was her favorite:

Not since the days of Jane Austen has a novel introduced such brilliant characters, sparkling dialogue, and unforgettable romance. A must read for Austenites everywhere.

Of course, not everyone loved the book. After all, even Jane Austen had her detractors. There was one particularly scathing review she recalled, which of course was not on the back cover. She did take some level of satisfaction that the reviewer lacked originality, relying on a Mark Twain quip on Austen to sum up his critique of her book:

I go so far as to say that any library is a good library that does not contain this volume by Sarah Edwards. Even if it contains no other book.

That was okay. At least he kept her in good company with Jane Austen.

She couldn’t wait to show Alex.

Chapter 6

Over the following two weeks, Sarah began to see a number of interesting parallels between the development of Christen’s and Amelia’s relationship and the rekindling of hers and Alex’s relationship.

Just as with Christen and Amelia, hers and Alex’s first meeting in London was awkward and fraught with tension, but before departing for the Oxfordshire countryside, there was a thawing in relations, a crack in the icy reserve of both Christen and Alex.

Likewise, as a mutual understanding developed and grew between Amelia and Christen during their time in the country, so, too, has a mutual understanding developed and grown for her and Alex.

He had limited free time, with most of his attention consumed by the movie production, but the free time he did have, he spent with Sarah. Some of that time was spent in the former manor’s well-stocked library, where they read to one another from books recently discovered or re-discovered.

It was purely selfish on Sarah’s part because not only did she get to be with him, she got to listen to him read to her. His warm satin voice, lilting accent, and pleasing intonation brought life to the beautiful words and captivating characters.

Walking the inviting grounds of the estate was another favorite activity. With nothing to distract them, they caught up on the year they were apart. He explained how many times he’d thought of calling her, writing to her, or even e-mailing her, only to change his mind, thinking she would find the communication unwelcome.

She explained how her decision to write was made and the influence he had had on that decision. He was surprised, but pleased, to learn that their previous conversations had inspired her to take a chance on her dreams.

Although they had not resumed physical intimacy, their emotional intimacy was deepening, and all of their encounters were accompanied by subtle gestures of tenderness: a guiding hand on her elbow when they traversed the wilder parts