Chapter 19 - COLE FINALLY ADMITS ITThe confession happened in the backyard.
Same maple tree from the missing photograph.
Dorothy sat on the bench.
Cole stood nearby.
“I thought you’d be happier with Jonah.”
Dorothy looked at him.
“No.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“You seemed lighter there.”
“Because nobody was trying to reorganize my life.”
Cole winced.
“I thought Rosehaven was too much.”
“No.”
“I thought if you moved—”
“You thought.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever ask me?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He sat.
“Because I knew what you’d say.”
“What?”
“No.”
Dorothy nodded.
“And you didn’t like the answer.”
“No.”
Cole’s eyes filled.
“I told myself I was helping.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
“What were you doing?”
He looked toward the house.
“Planning.”
“For?”
“My future.”
“Using?”
“Yours.”
There.
Finally.
No Sabrina.
No excuses.
Cole cried quietly.
“I’m sorry.”
Dorothy’s throat tightened.
“I believe you.”
Hope flashed.
Then she continued.
“That doesn’t fix it.”
He nodded.
May you like
“I know.”
And for the first time, perhaps he did.
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