Stepping Stones by Elizabeth Morgan

Author:Elizabeth Morgan [Morgan, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Published: 2014-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

***

October 11th, 2009

“Er, Maggie?”

“Yeah?” I didn’t look up from the sketch in front of me.

The sound of Carol’s heels against the wooden floor filled the studio apartment. “You have a visitor.”

“Oh, who?” I lifted my head. The sun flooded through the large windows, making me blink before I realized William stood in the doorway.

My focus shifted to Carol, who looked like a deer in headlights.

“He was standing outside.” She indicated for him to come in before closing the door behind him.

Part of me wanted to ask her why she’d decided to invite him into the building and up to our apartment in the first place, but William knew my disapproving glare a mile off.

“It’s not her fault.” He came toward me. “I begged her to let me in. I almost got down on my knees.”

“He nearly did.” Carol nodded before mouthing sorry to me.

It wasn’t her fault. William could be charming to the point where a person felt they had to help him if he asked for it. He looked good, but then he always looked good. The only thing proving he might have suffered a blow recently was the lines beneath his eyes, those chocolate-colored eyes I adored.

Twisting on my stool, I rolled my pencil through my fingers to stop my hand from shaking. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“I have to disagree.” He stopped by the second sofa, a safe enough distance away from my work area. “I think after giving you two months’ space, this is the best time.”

“I’m busy.”

“Well, then I promise to get straight to the point.”

“William—”

“Come home.”

I just looked at him.

“We don’t have to get married, not yet, but I—”

“I’m not coming home.”

“What happened?”

I didn’t answer.

“Why did you leave?”

“You shouldn’t have come.”

He sighed. The sofa creaked as he sagged against it. “I had to.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Did you really think I would just let you walk away from me?”

I turned back round to my work. “I hoped you would respect my wishes enough to leave me alone.”

“I do respect them, but it doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on you, or on us.”

“There is no us.” The words were crisp and heavy. I hated myself for sounding so cold, but I didn’t trust myself around him. I had made up my mind. It was over. “There hasn’t been for two months.”

“Then I think I have a right to know why.”

“Did you get my letter?”

“I did.”

“Then what else do you want?”

“Being unsure and scared is normal. It’s called getting cold feet—”

“It wasn’t cold feet.” I swept away the stray tear rolling down my cheek.

“Please don’t push me away, Maggie.” His voice sounded strained. “I love you.”

Pain seared my chest. “I can’t…I can’t talk about any of this right now.”

“Then when?”

“I-I just need some time. I need space to think.”

“You’ve had two months.”

My eyes fluttered shut, my eyelashes collecting the tears escaping. “Please just go, Will. Please.”

“Whatever is wrong, we can figure it out together. Talk to me. Please.”

Taking a deep breath, I clutched my pencil and tried to shut out his voice.

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