Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Marriage might be more trouble than it was worth. It wasn't supposed to hurt like this. Charlotte was pining away for a man who not only didn't trust her, but had questioned whether they should be together. The weeks they had spent together should have proved how well-matched they were, but William couldn't see that. Perhaps he didn't want to see it because he didn't want to be with her.

"Do you think you'll ever go home?" Louise asked.

Charlotte lowered her head to look at her sister. They were outside in the garden enjoying the warm summer sun. The weather was lovely, the flowers had bloomed perfectly, and her mother's health had improved drastically. That should have been enough to make her happy. Unfortunately, she was far from happy, and it was all William's fault. He made her fall in love with him, only to crush her heart when she needed him most.

"Perhaps to get my belongings," Charlotte replied.

"You cannot mean that," said Louise. "Your marriage has barely begun. There are always challenges, but you have to endure them."

"Not when your own husband doesn't think you're the right woman for him," Charlotte said. "He evidently wants an older woman. Perhaps we should try and see if they will grant us a divorce. Not consummating our marriage should carry some weight."

"But what if I do not want the divorce?"

Charlotte and Louise jumped at the unexpected voice. She already knew who it was, but she was unwilling to look in his direction.

"I need to go inside," Louise announced.

"Do not dare," Charlotte warned.

"Talking to each other will not hurt you," said Louise. "Stay and just listen to what he has to say."

Charlotte rolled her eyes but stayed in her seat. In all honesty, she doubted she would be able to walk. Her knees felt like jelly just from hearing her husband's voice. It had been too long, but she didn't want to show him how he affected her. To her horror, her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't control them. The last thing she wanted was for William to see her cry, so she stood up to follow her sister, but he quickly grabbed her wrist.

"Please, Charlotte," he said. "Please listen to what I have to say."

Charlotte's shoulders slumped forward. She nodded and sank into her chair, pulling her wrist away from William.

"Say what you need to say," she told him, not meeting his eyes.

William took Louise's seat and perched on the edge with his hands between his legs. He looked nervous, which made her feel a little better. At least he didn't have that expressionless look again.

"I know that I hurt you," he began. "That was never my intention. My insecurities got the better of me, and I said things I shouldn't have said."

"You meant what you said," she said.

"Not all insecurities are true," William said. "Some are born out of fear, not truth. Mine were born from years of feeling unworthy of love and affection. However, I shouldn't have let my insecurities blind me from the truth and hurt you. You did nothing wrong, but I know I sounded like I blamed you. Please forgive me for hurting you."

Charlotte closed her eyes. William's sincerity was unmistakable. She already knew about his insecurities, so she begrudgingly understood his fears and how they had influenced him. It didn't make it right, but she understood him.

"I know I've never said this before," he continued, "and I really should have confessed it a while ago. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that I love you, Charlotte. I love you so much that I cannot imagine my life without you. I do not deserve a second chance, but I hope you'll give it to me anyway."

Her heart was doing somersaults as it digested his confession. They might have avoided their situation if he had just said this before. However, there was no such thing as too late when two people loved each other and truly meant it. Charlotte could let her pride keep her unhappy or embrace this next step in her marriage and forgive her husband. She chose the latter.

Charlotte opened her eyes and slowly raised her head. "Do you know how long I have waited for you to say those words?"

"You have?" William asked with hope in his eyes.

She nodded. "I hoped you would tell me you loved me after you kissed me, but I know you didn't have the chance. I wanted to hear it even before that, but I just assumed you needed to be sure."

"I was a fool," he said. "I have loved you for a while, but I kept letting my insecurities get in the way. But I promise you that will never happen again."

"I certainly hope not because I also love you," she revealed.

William's lovely brown eyes widened. "You do? You love me?"

"I do," she confirmed. "That is why it hurt me so much when you asked for time apart. I now understand why you did it, though, and I forgive you. Just promise me you'll never do that again. My heart couldn't take it a second time."

"Never," he cried, rising to his feet. He took her hands and gently pulled her up. "Never again will you leave my side."

He emphasized his words by drawing her close and holding her tightly against him. Charlotte didn't mind. She was simply glad to be in his arms once more. She hoped he would kiss her again, but her parents and sister chose to approach them as though they had been waiting around the corner for the right moment.

"You have finally come to your senses," her mother remarked. "We hoped you would resolve this matter quickly and be happy again."

"Were you eavesdropping?" Charlotte accused, pulling away from her husband.

She kept her arm around his waist, though, unwilling to let go of him just yet.

"We wouldn't call it eavesdropping," her father said. "We simply wanted to ensure all is well. We should celebrate this moment with dinner this evening. You both must stay until then."

Charlotte looked at her husband, who nodded. "I would love to have dinner with my family," he said.

Charlotte beamed with happiness. All was well again. It was like her pain had never existed, but she couldn't forget how wrong everything could go within minutes. She couldn't let that happen again, not when being with her husband brought her so much happiness. They were meant to be together, and God willing, nothing would ever pull them apart again.