The Remake (Second Chance Flower Shop #4) - Noelle Adams Page 0,47

letting you go because of that.”

“He doesn’t... love me. He wouldn’t have left if he did.” Belinda was tired of crying, so she took a few ragged breaths and controlled herself. “It’s okay. I’ll be all right.”

“I know you will. But I’ve known that Fitz was in love with you for ages now, so I’m not going to believe that he suddenly stopped, now that he finally has a chance to be with you.”

“How did you know that?”

“How do you think? I’ve got eyes in my head and a brain that works well enough.” Ria’s mouth twisted in sympathy that belied her words. “Just because you were a little blind doesn’t mean the rest of us were.”

Belinda gave a thick exhale, wiping away the rest of her tears with the paper towel she’d grabbed from the kitchen earlier. “None of that matters now. He doesn’t want me enough to take the next step. I can’t take it for him.”

“No. You can’t. But I still think he might. I haven’t given up on him yet.”

“You always had a soft spot for him.”

“Yes. I did. I think he’s amazing. And I think he can make you happy. So I’m not giving up on him. Not yet. Give him the night to figure things out, and then see what happens.”

Belinda nodded, feeling a little spark of hope despite herself. She knew the hope was probably futile, but she couldn’t help it. Fitz did care about her. She was absolutely sure of it. He’d proved it to her over and over again for the past two months—and even before then.

So maybe...

“You don’t seem surprised by all this,” Belinda said, pulling herself out of that dangerous line of thinking.

“I’m not.” Ria’s dark eyes were wry and soft both. “I knew you two were secretly together. When you both were really upset after Christmas and then suddenly you both were brimming with happiness but trying not to show it, I figured it was the only explanation. He gave you that necklace, didn’t he? You’ve been wearing it all the time, and you’ve never done something like that before. It was obvious.”

Belinda gave her sister an exaggerated pout. “I don’t think we were that obvious.”

“Oh yes you were. You were in a way that I could tell but probably other people couldn’t. But Fitz. He’s been so happy lately it was like he was constantly trying not to jump out of his skin.” Ria laughed softly. “Only you could make him that happy. So I knew.”

Sniffing, Belinda leaned her head back against the sofa and sighed. “If that’s true, then I don’t understand why he walked out on me.”

“He’s scared. He’s confused. It sounds like he’s been through a lot, and he’s never let himself deal with it. Give him at least the night.”

“Okay. I’ll try. But I’m not good at sitting around and waiting for things to happen.”

“I know that. Would you rather chase him down and shake an answer out of him?”

“Yes. I kind of would. But I know I can’t do that. He needs to take the step, or this is never going to work. So I guess I’ll have to wait and see.” Belinda tightened her fingers around her damp wad of paper towel. “It’s like torture.”

“I know it is. You remember how long I waited, right?”

Belinda squeezed her sister’s hand. “Yeah. I do.” They were silent for a moment. Then she added, “You really didn’t have to come over at this time of night. What about little Luke?”

“Luke is fine. He was sleeping, and Jacob is with him.”

“But it’s late. You should be with your fam—”

“You’re my family too,” Ria said hoarsely. “Do you really think that’s ever going to change?”

Belinda shook her head, too emotional to get any words out. She might have managed to say something at last, but a loud pounding on the door jarred her out of whatever it might have been.

She sat up straight with a jerk, staring in astonishment at the front door of the house and then over at Ria.

“Well, go get it,” Ria whispered, her expression suddenly transformed with elation. “You know it’s him. I knew he’d come back! He couldn’t even make it an hour.”

Belinda tried. She really did. She gave a heave that was supposed to push herself to her feet, but she barely got an inch off the couch before she fell backward. She was paralyzed. Throbbing with feeling.

Giggling, Ria got up and went to the door, checking the peephole before