He would have taken on any assailants. Would have killed if necessary. It was part of the job. Although he’d planned to leave the work behind, to open CDS instead, he wouldn’t. Staying in Fool’s Gold would be too difficult. Although Angel and Ford were refusing to accept his decision. They still insisted he would be back. Time would prove them wrong, he thought.
Greta came out with a shopping bag over one arm. “They are arguing about cheese,” she said with a laugh. “Johann is being very stubborn today.” Her smile faded. “Your eyes are sad, Justice. I think you have left a woman behind, yes?”
He nodded.
“She has your heart, then. And you feel the loss.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.”
“Fine. An American word with no meaning.” She wrinkled her nose. “While my husband tells me I’m a great beauty, I see the truth in the mirror. You’re not here because of your affection for us. You are here for the job, yes? But is it where you should be? Do you see truth in the mirror?”
“Trying to get rid of me?”
“You know I trust you with the lives of my children. I would like you to stay always. When you’re around I feel safe. Klaus is the same. But you are not...” She frowned. “What is the word? Irreplaceable.”
She moved closer and lowered her voice. “Do you love her?”
He nodded.
“Did she ask you to leave or did you make the decision for her?”
“How did you—”
“Men,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Why do you think you know best? It was like that with Klaus. What he did was too dangerous. He wouldn’t presume to invite me to share his life. He could be killed at any time. How he went on and on. Yet here we are, twelve years later. Do I feel the fear? Of course. Are there nights I can’t sleep? Ya. But I love him and I have my children with him. The future will be here and then we will know what is to happen.” Her expression turned shrewd. “I am disappointed that you would give up so easily.”
“I didn’t give up. I made the difficult decision.”
“Is it what she wanted?”
He didn’t answer.
Greta sighed. “I thought not. Foolish, foolish man.”
She shook her head and returned to the cheese shop.
Justice watched her go, knowing she was wrong. He couldn’t...couldn’t...
The truth slammed into him like an angry bull. He swore under his breath as he glanced around and realized what he’d done. What he’d lost. By walking away he’d allowed his father to win. Even from the grave, Bart kept him from the only thing that was important—the people he loved.
When had suffering become so damned noble?
* * *
GETTING FROM THE French Alps to Fool’s Gold with little notice wasn’t easy. Justice took a train to Paris and from there got on a flight to New York. He had a six-hour layover, waiting for a seat to San Francisco, where he rented a car, arriving in the still-sleeping town after thirty hours of travel.
It was nearly five in the morning. He drove through the quiet streets, his heart pounding, his palms slick with sweat. He hadn’t called or given any warning; he was just going to show up and hope for the best. It had only been two weeks. Patience couldn’t have fallen out of love with him that quickly, could she? He still had a chance.
He would convince her, he told himself. He would explain how he’d been wrong, thinking he should walk away to protect her. He would beg if he had to, make her see that he would spend the rest of his life making sure she was happy and safe and loved.
He parked in front of her house and walked toward the front door. The house was dark and he swore as he realized it was far too early for him to be knocking on the door and disturbing everyone. After what they’d gone through with his father, he would only upset them. He needed to wait until...
He turned suddenly and started to run. Patience wasn’t in bed asleep; she was at Brew-haha. She always took the morning shift.
He raced through the quiet streets of town. His still-healing wound ached, but he didn’t care. He rounded the corner and saw the glow of the bright lights spilling onto the sidewalk.
One of Patience’s friends—Charlie, he thought—walked out with a to-go coffee. She was with a man. They both glanced at him; then Charlie nudged the guy and whispered something. He hurried past them.
Inside the store, there was a big crowd. Several police officers sat at tables. A few businesspeople waited in line and a couple of old ladies were huddled together in the corner.
But he only cared about Patience. She was working the cash register, her smile bright as she talked to her customers. Only he saw past the pretend enthusiasm to the shadows under her eyes and the way her mouth trembled a little at the corners.
He’d hurt her, he thought sadly. Broken her heart. What had he been thinking?
He crossed to her. She glanced up and saw him. Her hands froze and a couple of dollar bills fluttered to the floor.
“Justice,” she breathed.
There was a lot he wanted to say. He wanted to tell her how he’d been wrong to leave, how he’d been so damned scared of hurting her and Lillie. He wanted to explain he hadn’t had faith. That he’d thought his father’s hatred was strong, only now he knew love was so much stronger. He needed her to know he was going to work with Ford and Angel to start up CDS and that she would never have to worry about him going away again.
Instead he stopped in front of her, cupped her chin in his hands and kissed her.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I love you, Patience. I was wrong and I hope you can forgive me. I love you.”
The store went completely silent. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. Her brown eyes widened slightly.
“You’re back.”
“I’m back and I want to stay. If you’ll have me. I want to marry you.”
Someone behind them sighed.
“He’s very handsome,” one of the old ladies said.
“He’s an idiot.”
“Still. I’ll bet he’s hot in bed.”
“She should marry him.”
“I think she will.”
Patience smiled. “You want to take this somewhere a little more private?”
“That would be nice.” He kissed her again. “Are you going to marry me?”
“Probably.”
He grinned. “When will you decide?”
“After I find out if you’re hot in bed.”
He leaned close, his lips brushing against her ear. “I am.”
She shivered, then threw herself at him. “I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. I was really an idiot.”
“A man who knows when he’s wrong and does a halfway decent apology. I may have to marry you after all.”
She glanced past him and smiled. “We’re going to be a little shorthanded this morning.”
Just then Felicia stumbled into the store. She looked sleepy but determined.
“Morning,” she said with a yawn. “Mayor Marsha called and said I should come in and help.” She spotted him. “Justice. You’re back. Good. You wouldn’t have been happy anywhere else.”
“You have the statistical analysis to back that up?” he asked.
“No. It’s actually a guess on my part, but a good one.”
Patience wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked out of the store.
“How do you suppose Mayor Marsha knew you’d be back?” she asked.
“I have no idea.”
“She’s very mysterious. I think she has superpowers.” She leaned into him. “Thank you for coming back.”
“Thank you for forgiving me. I have a lot to tell you.”
She looked up at him. “I want to hear all of it,” she told him. “Especially the parts where you say you’re wrong. But later, okay? For now, let’s go home and tell Lillie that we’re going to be a forever family.”
They walked the quiet streets of Fool’s Gold together. All around them lights came on as people rose to start their day. Once at the house, they went inside and up the stairs. Lillie woke as soon as they stepped into her room.
She took one look at them and started to laugh. “I knew it!” she crowed. “I knew you’d be back.”
She flung herself at him. He reached for her and held on. Then Patience was in his arms, too. They were together. His own forever family.