Page 59 of Mountain Void

“There’s nothing to forgive, Lorenz …”

This, at least, was true. There was nothing to forgive. When he said that, he couldn’t have known she’d never be able to do that. That she’d never be able to get pregnant again—to give him another baby.

Tell him.

Tell him why you let him go.

Tell him now.

But the words stuck in the back of her throat. Words from so long ago, that she didn’t know how to speak them anymore.

He misunderstood her silence, just like he’d misunderstood it so many years ago.

She hadn’t divorced her out of anger. She’d divorced him because she loved him—because he’d wanted a baby just as much as she had, and she’d realized she’d never be able to give him that.

“I shouldn’t have said it,” he repeated obsessively. His handsome features twisted in anguish. “I … I miss him too. Our baby.” He reached out to her, his long fingers intertwining with hers, curling up so their two hands became one. “And I miss you. I miss us.”

Charlie’s breath hitched. He’d never said that before. Not like this.

“Lorenz, please,” she begged. “You’re killing me.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Charlie. Not ever again.” His eyes shone with unshed tears. She’d never seen him cry before—even when he arrived at the hospital to find their baby gone, he hadn’t cried. He’d held her stoically, but hadn’t shed a tear.

His head came down to touch hers. They stood there, on the bridge, hands together, foreheads together, for the longest time. Breathing together.

“Lorenz …” she whispered. She had to tell him. She had to—

A shrill sound saved her from having to figure out what she wanted to say. Lorenz jumped back awkwardly, bringing out his phone.

“I’m sorry. I have to take this.”

“It’s okay,” Charlie said.

Her heart sped up as she listened to bits of the conversation.

18

Lorenz

“Where are you?” Beau asked. It was his professional voice. Not his off-duty voice.

“On our way home. Still on the bridge.”

Beau sighed in relief. “I’m on my way, but it’ll take me longer to get there. There’s been an accident in the pond up above Floria. Two boys were playing, one of them fell through the ice.”

Shit.

There should have been a warning not to get anywhere near the thinning ice.

“I’m on my way,” Lorenz said. “I’ll let you know when I’m in place.”

He hung up the call, not needing to say anything to Charlie.

“I’ll come with you,” she said. “I can help.”

Lorenz knew better than to argue. He recognized when Charlie had made up her mind about something. He gave a single, sharp nod. From the trunk, he took out a climbing rope and his first-aid kit. It was all he had.

“Careful with the rocks,” he said.