but smile. She vividly remembered when the photo was taken. For February 14, the day had been surprisingly warm. She and Cole had taken a walk in the Elk Refuge after school. That’s when he’d given her the silver heart necklace. Not long after that, he’d asked a stranger to take their picture.
Cole had a huge smile on his face, his arm looped around her shoulders. Her cheeks and lips looked rosy in the photo but the color hadn’t come from the cold. Before the older couple had caught up to them on the path, she’d given Cole a “thank you” kiss and he’d reciprocated by giving her an even more passionate one back.
“It was a perfect day,” he said into the silence.
“It was.” Meg turned her attention back to the pizza. But the stabbing pain in her chest made swallowing difficult.
“I was happy when I was with you,” Cole said in a quiet voice, his eyes taking on a faraway look. “Though looking back I realize that the whole time we were dating I was afraid.”
Afraid? Back then Cole had seemed larger than life to her. Not afraid of anyone or anything. “Of what?”
“I knew if your folks found out we were together, they’d convince you I wasn’t good enough for you.” He shrugged and took a bite of pizza. “They’d have been right.”
Was he joking? The serious set to his jaw said otherwise. Still, what he’d said made no sense. “How could you ever think that?”
“Well, for starters, my family life was one big mess and I was barely passing my classes.” Cole’s chuckle held no humor. “You have to admit, my future did not look bright.”
“You were a good guy. Hardworking. Kind. You always stood up for the underdog.”
Meg stopped. Was she actually defending Cole’s character?
“I didn’t feel good about myself back then. In school I was such a failure....” He stopped and a look of resolve filled his eyes. “I swear I will do everything in my power to make sure Charlie grows up feeling strong and confident, both in and out of the classroom. Every time I think of Janae and Ty turning down the reading assistance for him, it makes me angry.”
“I don’t understand that, either.” Meg shook her head. “All I can think is maybe it wasn’t explained clearly to them. But then I don’t understand Janae telling you Charlie wasn’t your son, either.”
Meg realized she’d put all the blame on Cole the other night. But she had to admit that Janae had behaved badly and put him in a very difficult position.
“I like to believe that people make the best decision they can at a given time,” Cole said. “Janae was under a lot of stress. She loved Ty and didn’t want to lose him.”
His generosity of spirit could have surprised her, but it didn’t. Cole Lassiter really was a good guy. Her infallible intuition had told her that fifteen years ago, but she’d let hurt and anger guide her actions. Oh, if she only knew then what she knew now....
“I think a lot of people look back on their lives and wish they could have a do-over.” Meg sighed. “I’ve wished that many times myself.”
“A do-over?” The look on his face would have been funny at any other time.
“You know, a chance to go back and do something again, but this time do it right, with all the knowledge and maturity you didn’t have at the time you made your initial decision.” Meg thought of Janae and Ty and how much they’d loved their son. “If Janae and Ty were given a second chance, I like to think they’d make different choices. But they don’t have that opportunity.”
The thought made Meg sad.
“We have that chance, Meg,” Cole said, his voice filled with passion. “This is our opportunity.”
Meg pulled her brows together. “I thought we already discussed the matter and decided that Charlie should be in the program?”
“I’m not talking about Charlie,” Cole said. “I’m talking about us.”
Her heart fluttered wildly in her neck. “What are you saying?”
“That if I had a chance to do it over again, I’d have gone immediately to you after I’d spoken with Ed all those years ago. I’d have given you a chance to explain, like you’re giving me a chance to explain now.”
Here he was again, taking on the burden for that time when, if she’d have kept her mouth shut, the outcome might have been totally different.
“I shouldn’t have said anything to my father.”