Chapter 47. In His Arms

Elaine stood in front of the small stream at the end of her uncle’s unused land acres. On the other side of the stream, the trees rustled as the wind darted through the orchards that marked the beginning of the neighboring farm.

She leaned against the dead old oak tree that had shed its last leaf before she first moved to the city. Her tears flowed freely now. Even though she fought hard to keep them in her eyes.

“Elaine.”

She turned to face Andrew, her free hand wiping tears from her eyes. She put on her glasses and he stood before her, clear and sharp. Just like she’d seen him this morning.

“I told you not to come here.”

“I had to.”

No. He didn’t have to. Wasn’t he the guy who did not want to see her? “I don’t need you here.”

“You were right.” He dropped his eyes as he closed the space between them. She moved aside and he turned around before resting against the oak tree. “Caroline is not someone I would’ve loved to meet.”

“If it was