“Ella—”
“I’m fine, Hannah.” Before she broke down in front of all of them, she walked away, certain she—and Gavin—would be the topic of conversation after she was gone. What did it matter? Let them talk. Hopefully, in a few months, everyone would forget they’d ever been together. Especially her. If only there were a pill she could take to wipe her memory clear of the incredibly special moments she’d shared with him. Right about now, she’d give everything she had for that pill.
On the way back to her room, she ran into Gavin’s parents, who looked to be on their way to the pool or beach. She hadn’t really gotten the chance to talk to them earlier with the others all around them.
Amelia hugged her. “I’m so sorry it worked out this way.”
“So am I.”
“I tried to talk to him,” Bob said.
Ella squeezed his arm. “Thanks for trying.”
“We want you to know,” Amelia said, glancing up at her husband before returning her gaze to Ella. “We think you’re perfect for him, and I know it’s asking a lot, but if you could just be patient with him for a little while longer. He’s been different lately. We’ve both seen it, and it’s because of you.”
“I’ve been patient a long time where he’s concerned. This didn’t just happen between us recently. It’s been stopping and starting for a while now. Since the summer.”
“Oh, well . . .” Amelia seemed surprised to hear that. “Underneath it all, he’s such a great guy.”
“I know he is, Amelia. He’s . . . Well, you don’t have to sell me on him. The thing is . . . I’m just not sure I can compete with his demons.”
Bob put his arm around his wife. “We need to let the kids work this out on their own, hon. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”
“We’re pulling for you, Ella,” Amelia said. “He was so happy with you. I have to believe he regrets not coming.”
“Maybe so. I’ll see you later, okay?” She hugged and kissed them both before continuing on her way, feeling even more shredded than she had earlier.
CHAPTER 26
What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
—Helen Keller
Inside her room, Ella curled up on her bed, resting on her side so she could look out at the beautiful scenery. She couldn’t help but wonder what Gavin was doing, if he wished he’d handled things differently last night, what he’d wanted to say to her this morning. There was a phone next to her bed, and she could probably call him without too much bother and get answers to all her burning questions.
She entertained that thought for a fleeting second before dismissing it. She was all done chasing him. No one could ever accuse her of not going after what she wanted or not trying to make it work. The thing was, she couldn’t make it work by herself. He had to want it, too, and despite his assurances, he apparently didn’t want it as badly as she did.
With those unsettled thoughts swirling in her mind, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming about him and the magic they’d found during their two short weeks together. When she awoke hours later, the sky had grown dark, and her heart was heavy with the knowledge that she would remember every precious detail of those weeks for as long as she lived.
A soft knock on the door between her room and Hannah’s got her up from the bed. Her sister was gorgeous in a floral dress that hugged her considerable curves. She looked lush and happy and well rested. “You look beautiful, Hannah.”
With her hand on her rounded belly, she said, “I had to call in the tentmaker for this trip.”
“The tentmaker does good work.”
“Are you coming to the rehearsal dinner?”
Ella leaned against the doorframe, exhausted despite her nap. “Would it be awful if I skipped it? I just don’t have it in me tonight.”
“It wouldn’t be awful, but it might be better to be with us than here alone.”
“I’d rather be alone tonight, Han.”