“There wasn’t much to recover from the house after her suicide. We don’t have any photos of her, and there wasn’t much of value, so most of it went to charity when the Steels adopted us. But a few things remained. This is one of them.”
“It’s amazing.” Garnets, despite their beauty, aren’t overly expensive, so it’s not unusual that Dale’s biological mother would have a piece such as this. I reach out and touch it, running my fingers over the tiny facets.
“It’s not worth much,” he says. “I had it appraised a while back.”
“Garnets are my favorite, but they’re considered only a semiprecious stone,” I say. “I guess that shows you about my taste.”
“You have impeccable taste in wine.”
I laugh. “I like what I like. To me, a garnet is more beautiful than a diamond.”
“Because it’s the color of red wine,” he says. “Of a dark Syrah.”
Funny that I never considered that angle. I just adore the deep red. But he’s right. It’s the color of Syrah.
The color of Dale’s voice.
He takes the piece from the box. “Turn around.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to put it on you.”
My jaw drops. “Dale…”
“I’ve never seen it on anyone. I certainly never remember my mother wearing it. And my other mother—Jade—never wore it either. She kept it for me and gave it to me when I turned eighteen.”
“And you never let anyone wear it? Not even the woman you were in love with?”
“No. Now turn around.”
I’m trembling. Actually trembling, as I turn around and pull my hair off my neck.
He clasps the necklace, his fingers warm against my shivering flesh. The piece is heavy and cool against me.
I turn toward him. “Well?”
He smiles. “Now I have.”
“Now you’ve what?”
He draws in a breath, his forehead wrinkling. Then he relaxes—as much as Dale can relax—and his lips nudge into a smile.
“Now…the woman I love has worn it.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Dale
Those words took courage.
Every freaking ounce inside me.
I didn’t plan to say them. I didn’t plan to show Ashley my mother’s necklace.
But when she mentioned garnets, how could I not?
And now she knows.
Ashley knows I love her.
That she is the person I meant when I said I was in love once.
Still am in love.
She doesn’t speak. Her gorgeous blue eyes are wide, her pink lips parted. I want to kiss her senseless.
I lower my head—
“Dale.”
“Yes,” I say, my voice raspy.
“Are you telling me…?”
I sigh. “I didn’t intend to say it, Ashley. I didn’t intend for you to ever find out. But the necklace. Placing it around your beautiful neck. Then looking at you. You, wearing this creation of wine-colored gems… I had to tell you. Had to let you know that I love you.”
“I… Dale, I…” She pauses. “Please, tell me you’re not playing around. That’s not fair.”
I lower my eyelids slightly. “Do you really think I’d kid about something like this?”
“Then…when you said…”
“Yes, when I told you I’ve only been in love once, I was speaking of you.”
She clasps her hand to her mouth, and her eyes glisten.
“Tears?” I say. “Please, no tears.”
“They’re happy tears.” She melts into my arms.
I embrace her. Hold her as close as possible given our clothing.
And I hope I haven’t just made the biggest mistake of my life.
“I love you so much,” she says against my chest. “So much. I didn’t ever think it was possible to love someone the way I love you.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Me neither.”
She pulls back a little and fidgets with the clasp of the necklace. “Thank you for letting me try this on. It’s the most lovely thing I’ve ever had around my neck.”
I brush her fingers away from the clasp. “Keep it on. It’s yours.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Ashley, no matter where we go from here, whether this works or it doesn’t, that necklace was meant for you. No one else can possibly wear it.”
She fingers the garnet rope. “Are you sure?”
“I’m not sure of a lot of things,” I say, “but I’m sure that this necklace is meant for you.”
She parts her lips as if to say something.
“Don’t,” I say. “I still can’t promise anything beyond these two months.”
“But if you love me—”
I touch my fingers to her lips. “Ashley, sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“Love is always enough!”
I shake my head. “I’ve committed to the rest of your internship. That’s all I can do.”
“Dale…”
“Please, don’t push this.”
She drops her lips into an O. “Push. You can’t be pushed.”
“Can anyone? But that’s not what I mean. I want this. I want you. And yes, I love you. I tried not to, but you crept inside my heart. I never meant to tell you.”
“I don’t understand that. Love is something that should be shared.”
“I never thought love was in my future,” I say.
“Love is in everyone’s future, Dale. Everyone is worthy of love.”
Worthy? That’s not the issue, though I’m not sure how to describe to her exactly what the issue is. Not without baring more than I’m willing to.