Promises in Paradise

“My mother is going to enjoy hanging pictures, but mostly I know she and Dad want to spend time with their first grandchild,” she continued.

“What about your in-laws?” Diane asked.

“Colby’s mom will join us next weekend. Only one missing is Colby.”

Diane knew she wasn’t mistaken when she heard the little catch and crack in Jenna’s voice.

“I hope he returns soon,” she said softly. “He’s got so much waiting for him. He’s lucky.”

“Me, too.” Jenna nodded. She turned to reach out a hand to Hale who took it. “Hale is one of Colby’s best friends, and he’s been wonderful to me. But I’m sure you know what a good man he is.”

Diane swallowed. She knew if she tried to say anything she would go up in flames on the spot for not being honest. She glanced at Hale.

He didn’t look any less angry with her.

“I gotta run,” he said, kissing the back of Jenna’s hand. “I have to take Diane back to her car.”

“I’m glad you brought her along.”

“Congratulations to you and your husband.”

Diane stepped outside into the cold December night. She filled her lungs with the crisp air, trying to clear her head. But it was going to take far more than that to snap her out of it. Behind her, Hale and Jenna said their goodbyes, and then Hale was closing the door as he joined her. Without a word he headed back to the parked SUV. Diane followed as if her feet were encased in lead.

Nothing flip or smart came to mind that she could say to dispel the tension between them. What she had already said could not be unsaid. And she knew Hale was not going to forget.

Hale drove into the parking lot outside the shelter and pulled up next to her car. He turned off his engine and a silence fell upon them. They both sat staring out the windshield. Beyond, there was the start of a light fall of snow.

“I’m sorry. It was wrong to assume…what I did,” Diane said simply. But she doubted Hale believed her. She couldn’t blame him.

He sighed, shaking his head.

“What is it with you? You still hold my past against me, don’t you? My family and where I came from. Your father taking an interest in me. You’ve always resented me, Diane. Thought the worst of me. Believed I’m just not good enough.”

“Hale, that’s—”

“Don’t even try to say that’s not true,” he said sharply, turning to stare at her profile. “At least be honest about how you really feel. Let’s put it out there, in the open, and deal with it. Then maybe we can both move on. You hate me.”

She felt cold, the blood seeming to drain from her face. There was little she could say to refute Hale’s accusation. And now that he’d said it out loud, she knew he was right. Mixed with her guilt was also shame. Hale had so managed to trap her with her own behavior.

“It’s…not that black-and-white and you know it,” she said defensively.

“Oh. You mean you had every right to be suspicious of me then. Okay, I’ll give you that. I could have become a bum, but I grew up. I had a great second chance to change my life and I did. But you just don’t see that. Or you don’t want to.”

“Well, I haven’t seen you in years,” she responded, annoyed.

“You made sure that you wouldn’t.”

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