Learning to Forgive Read Free Page B

other.”
    “Why?”
    “I
was young, Molly. I fucked up. I know this. Please, give me a chance to prove
to you that you did the right thing in marrying me.”
    She
knew she should refuse. When it came to David Sinclair she was weak. A sucker,
some might say. She nodded her head then left before he got a chance to pull
more from her.
    Molly
walked back up the stairs to the room they’d shared for all the years of their
marriage. She went to the closet and pulled out some of her clothes. Slowly,
she made up the guest bedroom. He might spend the rest of their lives trying to
make it up to her, but she wasn’t spending another night in his bed.
    She
returned to her guest room. The ring she’d thrown on the fire was by the bed.
David must have saved it from the flames.
    Sitting
on the edge of the bed, she placed the ring on her finger. He’d cleaned the
burn marks off.
    What
did it all mean?
     
     

Chapter Two
     
    Three months later
     
    Nothing
was working. Molly went out with him on dates at his request, and by the end of
the evenings, she’d go to her room without saying
much. Dinner was always a stressful affair. No matter how much effort he put
in, she rarely gave anything back. He missed the sweet, talkative woman she
used to be. When had she stopped being so open about her feelings?
    His
sons were not helping. Blaze was busy dealing with his own love life. Chris had
told him to try harder. Trent didn’t speak. Luke and John were never alone with
him. Everything he tried to do, failed.
    The
house was empty. After the disaster of his cooking breakfast that morning,
Molly had left to go to breakfast with their son. David walked up the stairs.
Instead of going to his own room, he walked into her bedroom, one of the guest
rooms she’d made up for herself a few months ago.
    Her
scent greeted him the moment he walked into the room. David closed his eyes
feeling a great peace wash over him. For two months, he hadn’t been able to
sleep. He woke in a cold bed mourning her next to him.
    Their
nights had been spent with each other’s arms wrapped around each other. How could
she give that up? It had been the best part of his day, going to sleep with her
by his side.
    David
moved over to the bed. Her night-wear was on the pillow. He picked it up and
lay down, careful not to get his shoes on the bedding. He was a tall man, and
his feet hung over the edge of the small bed.
    He
pressed the night-shirt to his face, inhaling her fragrance. David curled up
holding her shirt against him. For a few moments he felt peaceful and happy.
Molly was back and would walk out of the bathroom and curl up against him.
    David
closed his eyes, drifting off into a memory.
    ****
    Twenty years ago
    The
day had been awful. Work was a constant, nagging hindrance around his
shoulders. A few of his business deals had fallen through. The only time he
enjoyed his day was when he got the chance to go home to Molly. She cooked him
a lovely meal and would sit with him. Sometimes she’d read to him the book
she’d gotten from the library. He tried not to show her how much he loved those
moments.
    Isabella
had taught him a very valuable lesson in showing love. If he showed any ounce
of caring, others exploited it until there was nothing left except a pitiful
hole of despair.
    “You
look a little stressed. Are you okay?” Molly asked, reaching over to squeeze
his hand.
    “I’m
fine, Molly. Tired but fine.”
    “You
work too hard. You need a break. Maybe we could all go somewhere during the
summer vacation? What do you think?”
    “I’d
like that. Book a time, and I’ll make arrangements to be there.”
    “Okay.
I’m going to go and take a shower. Leave the dishes in the sink. I’ll sort them
in the morning.”
    He
nodded his head. She leaned in close, kissed his cheek, then walked up the stairs. David finished his food with anticipation. He loved being
with her. She was so caring and giving. Her response to him was natural,
nothing forced or