A Man of Influence (25 page)
Read A Man of Influence Online
Authors: Melinda Curtis
Jack's face was pale, his features set, and Arlie knew that whatever it had cost her to talk about that night, he'd paid a heavy price for listening, too.
“We've all healed,” she reminded him, keeping her voice level and quiet. She got up quickly, needing to move, not wanting to remember anything else about the accident and its aftermath. “More coffee?”
“Yes.” He followed her back to the counter. “The real reason I came here tonight was to apologize, but I don't have any idea where to begin with you or with anyone else. I don't know how to be back here. What to do when I run into Jesse or Libby or Holly. Do I say, âGosh, guys, sorry my family's limo came out on top when it did a head-on with the church van'? Or maybe, âHey, look at the bright sideâat least you lived'?”
His pain was palpable. She felt it on her skin, in the dryness of her eyes and the heavy beat of her heart.
“You were the only person who ever blamed you for the accident, Jack. Your father was driving the limo, not you, and he died, too. It wasn't like your family didn't suffer loss.”
She knew as soon as the words were out of her mouth that they were wrong. She set the coffee carafe back on its heating unit and came to lean her elbows on the bar between them. “One person blamed you, that is,” she said quietly, holding his gaze, “but I didn't blame you for the accident. I blamed you for leaving me.”
Copyright © 2016 by Liz Flaherty
ISBN-13: 9781488009006
A Man of Influence
Copyright © 2016 by Melinda Wooten
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