“You have a boyfriend?” Carrie said in surprise.
Lilley’s face fell. “Sort of,” she mumbled.
“I hope you’ll be happy,” Carrie said.
Lilley snorted. “Huh. Don’t worry about me. And Théo will soon regret what he’s done. Believe me, he…”
But Carrie couldn’t listen as she prattled on. Leaning her head against the cool glass of the window, she stared out at the streaks of red flowers and green vineyards streaking by in a blur. She felt limp, like her very blood was burning inside her body, pulsing from the radioactive glowing core of anguish that had once been her heart.
Closing her eyes, she had a sudden sharp memory of his haunted face. “You’ll be better off without me, Carrie… You will find a man who can truly love you.”
The car pulled to a stop. She opened her eyes to see the tarmac of the nearby private airport. Lilley got out first, snapping out the car seat to carry Henry in the cushioned baby carrier. Carrie climbed out behind her, nearly stumbling as she made her way across the smooth, dry tarmac toward the steps leading to Théo’s jet.
With a shuddering breath, she looked behind her at the beautiful land of vivid beauty and deep love she knew she’d never see again.
A week ago she would have been thrilled to leave here. She now had everything she’d once wanted. Théo would be a part-time father to their son, but Carrie would not be forced to a life of heartbreak as his wife. She didn’t need to look for a waitressing job. She could spend her time raising her son, just as she most wanted. Théo had fulfilled her childhood dream.
The thought made her stop in her tracks. He’d had her in his grasp. She’d been ready to marry him. Why had he shown mercy? Why had he let her go?
One moment he’d been determined to marry her. He’d moved heaven and earth to seduce her. His desire for her had only grown as the week had passed. Then, at the moment of victory, he’d suddenly let her go.
Carrie closed her eyes, recalling his face in the shadowy light of his study. She’d been so overwhelmed by her own grief and pain that she hadn’t noticed the tight expression of his eyes, the hard set of his jaw, the odd pallor of his skin.
“I will always take care of you both,” he’d said. “Your happiness is more important to me than anything. More important than my own.”
She slowly opened her eyes.
Théo hadn’t wanted to let her go. He’d sacrificed his own wants for hers.
Why?
With a ragged intake of breath, she stared out at the magical landscape around her. Provence was full of color again—color so vibrant and rough and bright it hurt her eyes.
Théo did love her. He’d proved that with his actions. He loved her more than she’d ever even imagined.
“Carrie?” Lilley called, peeking around the doorway of the jet with the baby in her arms. “Everything all right?”
In the far distance Carrie thought she saw the Mediterranean. The sun was just starting to lower in the sky like a ball of golden fire against the sapphire sea.
“Yes,” she whispered. She exhaled, and as she looked up a slow-rising smile lit up her face brighter than Christmas morning. “Everything is going to be all right.”
From his study, Théo had watched the black sedan disappear down the avenue of trees from his château. He’d stood by the window until he couldn’t even see the cloud of dust.
Carrie and Henry would be happy in Seattle. He knew it.
But he…
Théo looked around at his study. The castle felt empty as a tomb. No laughter. No warmth. No baby. No family. No Carrie.
Wearily, Théo sat back in his chair and rubbed his forehead with his hands. He felt a strange pressure in his chest, right above his solar plexus—a tightening of his heart that was about as tiny and suggestive as cardiac arrest.
He felt…
Nothing, he told himself fiercely. He felt absolutely nothing. He’d left women before. He’d even left Carrie before.
But he hadn’t felt remotely like this. When he’d left Carrie last year he’d been angry and regretful, like a child forced to surrender a favorite toy.
This was different. What had changed?