Page 16 of Substitute Bride

“You can’t dump me!” Her voice was growing shrill, and a couple of people drinking coffee nearby turned to look in their direction.

James hated the way she always made a scene. Not even being in public would stop her. “I’m really sorry, but that’s my decision.” He felt tired and frustrated and discouraged and awkward.

And relieved. Incredibly relieved—like he was finally freed of a weight that had been dragging him down.

Even his jaw was starting to relax now that this conversation had been had.

“I’m not going to let you dump me.” Genevieve stood up, every muscle in her body tight with outrage.

“This isn’t something you have a choice about. The engagement is off.”

“You can’t do this to me,” she snarled, her face filled with more icy anger than he’d ever witnessed in anyone before. “I’m not going to let you do this.”

He just shook his head. There was nothing else for him to say. She would have to get over it eventually.

She made a weird throaty sound and stormed off, and James sat by himself at the table for a few minutes, processing how he was feeling.

He wished it had been a more agreeable conversation, but Genevieve had always been a little childish, so he shouldn’t have expected anything else.

He stared at the door she’d disappeared through and wondered if she was planning to give him back his ring.

She could hock it for all he cared. He didn’t want it back.

It was late when he got back home, and he expected everyone to be in bed. But a light was on in the living room as he entered, and he saw that Rose was sitting on the couch with a book.

She lowered it as he came in, and he realized she’d been waiting for him.

“Is everything all right?” she asked.

He nodded and slouched down on the couch beside her. “I ended it.”

“Oh.” An expression he couldn’t read twisted on her face for a few seconds. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It had been ending for a while now. I was just too clueless to realize it until now.”

“Oh.” She cleared her throat, her eyes lowered to her hands on her lap. “That’s good then.”

“Yeah. It’s not fun at the moment, but I think it’s good in the long run. I don’t think she was what the girls needed.”

“Yes. If you don’t mind my saying, I think that’s right.”

He studied her face carefully. It was as mild and unassuming as always. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”

“How would I have told you that? It’s not exactly something you tell someone.”

He thought about that for a minute and finally concluded she was right. He wouldn’t have appreciated hearing that before. Not because she was his nanny but because he wouldn’t have wanted anyone saying it.

“The girls won’t be disappointed, will they?” he asked.

She smiled and shook her head. “Uh, no.”

“They’ll be glad?”

“I think so.”

James let out his breath, this knowledge being the final confirmation he needed that breaking up with Genevieve had been the right thing to do.

After a minute of silence, Rose asked, “Are you okay?”