form words, let alone speak them.
Linnzi stood, never once taking her eyes off me. She reached out her hand, and I felt a sob slip free.
“I’m so sorry, Linnzi. I’m sorry for the accident, for not telling you, for…for…”
“Staying away all those years,” she added.
My chest felt like a vise had a grip on it, and it kept turning with each word I spoke. I fought for every single breath I took. “For everything.”
She walked up to me, her hand still stretched out, reaching for mine. She picked up my hand and looked up into my eyes, forcing me to look away. I felt my jaw muscles tighten as I tried with all my might to keep my emotions somewhat in check.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“Linnzi…” I croaked out.
Her hand squeezed mine as she spoke. “Look at me, Nolan.”
My eyes closed, and I couldn’t move. Suddenly, I felt her hands on my face, and she turned my head until I was looking down at her.
“Listen to me, I want you to hear every word I’m about to say. Okay?”
I closed my eyes once more.
“Damnit. Look at me, Nolan.”
Doing as she asked, I held my breath.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
Swallowing hard, I replied, “I—I promised to protect you both. I swore to you that I would…”
Linnzi reached up onto her toes and pressed her mouth to mine. I instantly wrapped my arms around her as she slid her fingers into my hair and drew me deeper into the kiss. Every ounce of guilt I felt slipped free. Every regret I had held onto for the last eight years vanished. All that mattered was this one kiss. It spoke of forgiveness, love, loss, regrets, dreams, and passion. All wrapped in one kiss from the most amazing woman I had ever known.
When Linnzi finally drew her mouth from mine, I rested my forehead against hers.
Her voice was soft and soothing as she whispered, “It wasn’t your fault. And I understand why you and my folks made the decision you did. I love you, Nolan. Do you hear what I’m saying to you? I love you.”
“I love you so much, Linnzi. You have no idea how much I love you.”
She let out a soft chuckle. “I think I know.”
I pushed a piece of hair behind her ear that had fallen from her ponytail. “Are you okay?”
Drawing in a long, deep breath, she exhaled. “I think I have my own guilt I need to work through.”
I jerked my head back and stared at her. “What?”
The corners of her mouth rose slightly as she gave me a half shrug. “The whole how do you forget your child guilt has hit me pretty hard.”
“Linz.”
She pressed her finger to my lips. “No, don’t say it, Nolan. We’re both going to get through this together. Neither one of us has truly grieved the loss of our daughter, and we need to. From this point on, Nolan, we do everything together. Promise me that.”
“Oh, baby,” I said as I cupped her face and kissed her again. On her mouth, her nose, her eyes, her cheeks, her jawline. I kissed her everywhere, sprinkling words in between each kiss. “I promise you. I love you. I missed you. I’m so sorry.”
“I love you too,” she softly said, dropping her head back and letting me kiss her neck. “Will you do me a favor, Nolan?”
“Anything,” I said as I drew back and looked into her eyes.
“Will you lie down with me and hold me? I’m so tired. But I need to be in your arms.”
Before she had even finished speaking, I reached down and picked her up. Duke jumped up, which caused Belle to start barking. They both followed me out the door as I walked down the hallway.
I headed to my room, but Linnzi spoke. “No. Not this room.”
Pausing outside my bedroom door, I looked back toward the guest room. “The guest bedroom?”
She let out a weary laugh. “I went shopping with my mother this morning.”
My eyes went wide. “What?”
She laughed a bit harder, but there wasn’t really any humor in it. “I bought us a new bedroom set. It’s Farmhouse French. I find myself missing France.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod, not wanting to get too excited that she said she bought us a new bedroom set.
“Truitt, Ryan, and Roger helped move all the furniture in and out of the house.”
I stared at her, confused. “Okay.”
“Our bedroom is now the owner’s suite downstairs. It’s time we made that room ours.”
My heart dropped to