“And? What is your point?”
“If you were such good friends, why didn’t she tell you we were together?”
“You told her not to.”
Easton laughed. “I know best friends, and when they want to, they tell each other all of their secrets. Carla and I were together a lot longer than you think. I enjoyed being in her company, but what she loved was the secrecy. She liked having a life that didn’t revolve around her friend.”
“She can’t even defend herself.”
“And I can’t defend myself to a fucking woman who refuses to listen. I didn’t kill Carla. I never wanted to. I was more than willing to do the right thing.”
“But you’ve found your happiness, haven’t you? You’ve got a son and a whole new family, and you get to live your life while she doesn’t.” Tears fell from Taylor’s eyes. “She will never get to hold my little girl, or know what it means to fall in love, or have any of those things, and I can’t handle it.” Taylor dropped the bouquet of flowers, and he realized, Taylor wasn’t angry with him. She was angry with herself, and with it, she was guilty. That’s what she felt, guilt.
Sinking to his knees, he wrapped his arms around her. “She wouldn’t want this.”
“She would have wanted to live.” Taylor sobbed. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep coming here.”
“Axton doesn’t know you’re here?” Easton pulled away to stare at her.
“No, he doesn’t. I’m fucking that up just as I do everything else. He’s talking about a break if I don’t get my shit together. I can’t help it. I feel so guilty all the time. When I look at my little girl and Axton, I’m so happy, and in the back of my mind, I know she’ll never have that.”
“We’ve got to let her go. I know Carla, and she wouldn’t want us to be hurting for her. Think about it. Carla would want us both to live and to have a life that meant her death didn’t hold us back.”
Taylor nodded. “Yes, she would.” She laughed. “I can see her now, angry with me.”
“Pointing that finger that she loved doing whenever she got angry.”
Taylor nodded. “She always pointed her finger and glared at me. Always told me to live my life how I wanted. I’ve spent so much time angry and hating myself for not knowing the truth. I heard about your dad.”
“Don’t for a second tell me you’re sorry he’s dead.”
“I’m not. He was a monster, and he deserved what he got. I’m sorry you’re related to him. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you. I’m really glad you didn’t die,” she said. “Your head.”
“Yeah, I’m glad too. I get to be with my son.”
Taylor nodded. “I can’t promise you this isn’t going to be easy. I’ve had my anger for so long it seems a part of me.”
Easton took her hand, and they laid their flowers on her grave. “This is going to be the last time I come here. I need to make a clean break, and I think you should as well. Carla doesn’t want this. We both know that. You should talk to Axton. I hate to hear of you two fighting, and I know it’s killing him as well. I’ve seen the way he is at the office, and he’s worried about you.”
“I know. I fucked up. I’ll make it right.”
They left the cemetery together. He saw her car parked a little behind his.
“You didn’t ram my car?”
“No. I didn’t want Axton to know I’m here. I’m going to tell him though. I owe him that.” Taylor was still crying.
“I’m not going to let you drive home like this, Taylor.” He held her hand.
“I’ve got to. My car.”
“I’ll have it towed back or I’ll drive Axton back, but regardless of if you can stand me or not, I’m not going to let you kill yourself.”
He pulled her toward his car, opening the passenger side and helping her in.
“I don’t want to be too much trouble.”
“You won’t be. Believe me, I’d like the company.”
“I’m not very good company.”
“Then we can both be miserable together, but I’m not going to abandon you. We’ve allowed this distance to build between us when it doesn’t need to be there.” He started up the car, and turned the car around, leaving King’s Ridge behind and going straight home.
For the first couple of minutes, Taylor was silent.
“Thank you,” she said, finally speaking up.
He glanced over to her.
“What?” he asked.
“For not abandoning me, and for not throwing everything in my face. You’re a good man, Easton, and I’ve been the worst bitch in the world.”
Easton laughed. “Apology accepted. We can move on. I know it’s what we all want. I don’t expect this to be easy, but we’ll make it work.”