Love in Country (De La Fuente Family 4)

“You know what I think you’re doing?” Rae nudges my feet from the coffee table and sits facing me. “I think you’re trying to give her a taste of what it’s been like for you.”

I frown, wondering what the hell she’s talking about. “Car

e to explain?”

Rolling her eyes, Rae then adds, “You fell in love with her while she was taken by another man, so…gossip around town is that we’re in a torrid affair and you’re moving in with me. You know this and I think you want her to believe the worst of you for whatever reason that is going on in that thick head of yours.”

“I’m not—”

“Yes, you are, and unless you do something about it, you’ll probably lose her.”

Is that what I’m doing?

“It’s self-preservation, but, Aiden, I’ve never known you to not react.” Rae takes hold of my hands and squeezes. “Please talk to her and ask if she’s okay. Tell her you need to know whether she’s changed her mind and wants to stay with her husband.”

My eyes widen in surprise as the last few words leave her mouth. That isn’t a possibility. He’s gay.

Rae smiles. “I see the fire in your eyes now.”

“I’ll go and find her tomorrow.” I sit forward. “I’m tired, Rae…I’m tired of my family looking at us as though I’ve lied to them about our relationship…I’m tired of the gossip…and to be honest, I’m tired and I guess a bit disheartened to always be the one to do the chasing…reassuring…what happened to her trust in me?”

“There’s nothing much I can do about the ‘us’ that everyone thinks there is, but try and look at Sarah’s situation from her point of view. She’s a married woman, Aiden. Until she met you she was probably plodding along in her marriage, and then bam, you knocked her off her feet and caused her emotions to explode. She’s having to chose between right and wrong.” Rae taps my knee and I meet her gaze.

“You know I’m right.” She smiles. “Just nod and say, ‘You’re always right, Rae.’”

I laugh and feel lighter than I have in a while. Rae is half right though. I did come along and knock Sarah off her feet, just like she did me. However, Sarah has never been the married woman in the sense Rae thinks. “You’re not always right, Rae, but I’ll admit that you made some valid points.”

“Now you know the next step, which is to go and talk to her. I think we deserve to share a pizza and beer, and you can sleep on the sofa tonight.”

“You know I’d love to but I’m not sure it’s a good idea in light of the gossip that’s already out there.”

“It’s out there and whether you do or don’t, they’ll have had you sleeping here.”

She’s right about that.

Shaking my head, I smile at my friend. “I’ll stay…but only because you have a new comfy couch.”

“And here I was thinking it’s my delightful personality that had you staying.”

12

Sarah

A warm mug of coffee is in my hands as I stare down the road at the other cabin that has been sold. Aiden’s truck is parked outside.

The realtor sign has been gone for about a week and until now I had no idea that anyone had moved in. With all the rumors floating around, my gut told me that it was Rae who’d bought the place, and with Aiden’s truck being there it’s obvious she has.

Aiden had told me that they were only friends, like brother and sister, so why was his truck parked outside before sunrise? I’ve been sitting on my front porch since about four thirty, unable to sleep. He’s evidently been there prior to that point, otherwise I would have seen him arrive.

Taking a sip of the lukewarm coffee, my hands shake with having the evidence of Aiden’s lie in my face. I want to believe that he told me the truth, but with not talking to him for weeks my confidence in us ever being together has gone straight down to zero.

Swiping at the tears slowly running down my cheeks, I know that I’m going to have to talk to him soon because I can’t keep avoiding him, especially when I’m constantly at his family’s horse farm. It’s become tiring and I can’t carry on.

I need to ask him outright what’s going on and whether or not we have any chance, because the not knowing about Rae and him, and him and me, has left me feeling very alone. I have a feeling what his answer will be, but I need to hear him tell me that he’s with Rae so I can finally try and move on.

Either way, my life is now my own and I’m determined to enjoy it as best I can, regardless of my slowly breaking heart.

Rubbing where it aches, I stand and move inside with one final glance down the road. At that moment the door to the other cabin opens and out steps Aiden looking delicious in his jeans and checkered shirt, and holding Rae’s hand in his. He tugs her to him and wraps an arm around her shoulders before he lifts her up and into his truck. They’re laughing as though they don’t have a care in the world…my heart breaks into a million pieces as I realize that I at least have my answer.