Meant-To-Be Marriage

“Would you have gone to your parents to wait for me?”

“Probably not,” she admitted. They’d hurt her too much by their silence.

“Then it’s better for you to remain here rather than wait for me in an empty hotel room.”

She couldn’t fault his logic, but it hurt. It hurt so much.

He reached for her but she couldn’t respond. “All this time tonight you’ve had the bishop’s business on your mind,” she muttered.

“No. You were the only person on my mind.”

But not in your heart.

In order to live with Jarod, she had to share that space with his other love.

She tried to swallow. “I want to believe you.”

“Then just do it.”

Easier said than done.

“Could this be a matter of life and death? Do you think that’s why he sent a plane for you?”

He eyed her with too much compassion. “I swear to you I don’t know what this is about, but it sounds serious.”

The fact that Jarod couldn’t talk about it meant he was in terrible turmoil.

So was she. In a minute she was going to lose her dinner and the treats they’d eaten at the movie.

“Of course you have to go. I’m being exactly the kind of person I don’t want to be.” Her voice wobbled.

“I’ll find out what he wants and take the next flight back.”

“What about your work?”

“On the way to the airport I’ll leave instructions for Maureen on her voice mail.”

Devastated by this unexpected turn of events, she unlocked her apartment door to keep distance between them. “You need to go. Don’t let me keep you any longer.”

“You’re not keeping me, Sydney. I chose to be with you until the last moment.”

It was the until the last moment part that was killing her.

“Have a good flight.”

“Sydney—” His deep voice sounded gravelly.

“Please come back safely.”

Please come back.

She shut the door, terrified of what all this could mean for the two of them.

Theologically, he was a priest forever.

“Tom?”

“Oh good, Jarod. You’re here. Thank you for coming at such an unearthly hour. Come on in.”