Chapter 15
Days turned into weeks, and Eric tried to show Rachel that he was serious about making things right. He helped around the bookstore, shared quiet dinners, and listened more than he talked. But the past was a shadow neither could fully escape.
Rachel still flinched when she heard his voice raised or saw anger flicker in his eyes. Trust was fragile, and every step forward felt like walking on thin ice.
One evening, as they closed the shop, Rachel finally asked, “Why did you never come looking for me after I was sent to prison? Why did it take so long for you to find me again?”
Eric paused, staring at the worn floorboards. “Because I was afraid,” he confessed. “Afraid that if I found you, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.”
Her eyes searched his face, trying to understand the man behind the anger.
“I blamed you for so long,” Eric said quietly. “But maybe I was the one who needed saving.”
Rachel swallowed hard. She had lived years in hell, but hearing this made her feel a flicker of hope.
“I don’t know if I can forgive you,” she said honestly. “But maybe we can start with something smaller.”
Eric smiled faintly. “I’ll take that.”
For the first time, the cold walls between them felt like they might finally begin to melt.