The Way Back to Erin by Cerella Sechrist

Author:Cerella Sechrist [Sechrist, Cerella]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-16T19:54:19+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BURKE WAITED UNTIL Aunt Lenora had gone to bed before he sought out Erin. It was late, and he feared she might have gone to bed already. But he found her in the library, curled up in an armchair with a photo album in her lap. He recognized it as the wedding album, a collection of some of the weddings that had taken place at the inn over the years. The oldest photo in the book, he seemed to recall, was from 1870. He knew Gavin and Erin’s photo was in there, as well, and he felt a pang at the thought.

“Hey,” he said from the doorway. Though she didn’t acknowledge his presence, he stepped further into the room anyway.

“Erin... I’m sorry.”

She flipped a page and didn’t raise her head. He sighed.

“I know my opinion on the Moontide wasn’t what you wanted to hear.”

She flipped to another page. He wondered if she was really looking at the photos now or just using the album as a way to shut him out.

“I don’t...feel the same way about it that you do. I’m sorry,” he repeated. He wished he could feel differently about the inn. But he didn’t. It wasn’t a bad place. He was sure it held many wonderful memories for a lot of people. Erin included. But for him, it represented everything life had taken away from him. His parents. Family vacations.

Even Erin. Because here was where her life with Gavin had begun. This was where they had lived and loved. He didn’t begrudge her that. But neither did he share her fondness for the place. For him, it didn’t matter if the inn was sold or not. All that mattered was that Erin and Kitt were provided for, going into the future. And selling the inn might accomplish that.

He took a tentative step forward and sat down on the edge of the settee. Erin didn’t move away, but she didn’t acknowledge him either.

“Erin, please try to see it from Aunt Lenora’s point of view.”

Erin’s head came up then, and he could see she’d been crying. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. Belatedly, he noticed the edge of a tissue peeking from her balled-up hand.

“What about my point of view?” she demanded, her voice hoarse with frustration. “This place has been my home for almost fifteen years. My memories are here. Gavin—” She stopped suddenly and looked away, sniffing and struggling to regain her composure.

Burke tried to phrase his next words as gently as he could. “Gavin is not here, Erin,” he said, his tone soft.

Her face crumpled. “I know that. Of course I know that.” She drew a shuddering breath. “But this place is where we planned to spend the rest of our lives together. Losing it...would be like losing him all over again.”

Her words shouldn’t have hurt him so much. But they did. She still loved Gavin. She still grieved him. Why couldn’t he be sympathetic? But all he felt was a jealousy that had festered for too long.

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