Page 109 of Finding Forever

Beth stared at her.

For a heartbeat, Rosalind seemed to realize what she’d said. “Oh, Beth. I didn’t mean⁠—”

“It’s all right,” Beth assured her, even though it had hurt.

“No, that came out terribly.”

Beth forced a smile. “You were talking about yourself.”

“I was. Honestly.” Rosalind reached across the table and touched her hand. “Everyone is different. And Jessie’s been gone a long time.”

Beth flinched inwardly. As though time made a difference. As though years could somehow reduce what Jessie had meant to her.

Rosalind squeezed her fingers. “You deserve to be happy.”

“Thank you.”

A car door slammed outside, and Rosalind glanced toward the window. “Peter must be back.”

Beth stood with her and carried their mugs to the sink.

At the front door, Rosalind hugged her tightly. “Yesterday was beautiful.”

“It was.”

“And I’m sorry about what I said.”

Beth felt sick. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” Rosalind would never know how hard it had been for Beth to say those words.

Rosalind pulled back. “Give me a call soon.”

“I will.” Peter and Rosalind’s car disappeared along the road. When she couldn’t see it any longer, Beth closed the door.

The house fell silent.

She remained in the hallway, one hand resting on the doorknob.

I couldn’t imagine meeting another man and falling in love with him.

Beth swallowed. She walked into the kitchen and began rinsing the coffee cups. There was no reason Rosalind’s words should bother her. None.

She put one of the mugs in the dishwasher.

I’d always feel as though I was betraying him somehow.

Beth stopped. Water ran over her fingers. She reached for the faucet and turned it off.

“Don’t even think it,” she whispered. But the thought had already taken hold.

What did it say about her that she could love someone else? Beth gripped the edge of the sink.

She had never stopped loving Jessie. Not once. Their marriage hadn’t failed. They hadn’t grown apart or chosen different futures.

He had died.

That was the only reason their life together had ended.

Her eyes stung. She looked at the photographs on the refrigerator. Jessie holding a six-year-old Kayla on his shoulders. Jessie standing beside Beth at Christmas. The three of them at the lake.