Vince climbed into the car. Herbert started the engine, glanced over at him, and

for a long moment, the two men locked eyes in heavy silence. Finally, Herbert

spoke, his voice tinged with a desperate plea. "Can you just... not fight me over

Natalie? I've loved her since we were kids for fifteen years."

"Vince's answer was cold and final. "I'm not the one you're fighting with. It's

Timothy."

"You're saying you don't like her?"

Anyone could see Vince's feelings for her.

"Just drive. We can talk while you're at it."

Herbert pressed the gas, and the car rolled forward.

"Vince's voice was low and steady. "How much do you actually know about

Natalie's childhood?"

"There you go again, asking about her. And you say you don't like her!"

Herbert was clearly annoyed.

Vince's expression darkened. "You claim you've loved her for fifteen years, but

you never did anything about it. You just let her marry Timothy and suffer through

all that-how is that fair to her?"

Herbert's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, lips pressed so hard they

turned white.

He didn't know.

He never imagined things would turn out like this.

When Jessica filed for divorce, when she talked to Marquis about everything that

happened...

Every time Herbert thought about it, he felt tears sting his eyes-something he'd

never admit, not even to himself.

The girl he wanted to protect most ended up being hurt by Timothy in the worst

ways.

He blamed himself.

kept in touch, but he

cure for her mutism, to use that

confession of love.

he came back, it was

love only leads to

then pressed on. "Is she

are you getting at? If she wasn't

would have worked herself sick

her?"

"So you're saying

is. She even has a

""What kind of birthmark?"

"Vince's voice trembled.

"I can't

private place. Back in

clothes torn, and Herbert had rushed over when he heard.

he'd

their daughter, and

know.

this town-no one ever said Jessica

impatient. "Come on, Herbert, this

brake and kept driving.

"Why not?"

Vince was losing it.

can't, and that's final. Don't

Vince's frustration boiled over.

made Herbert

brakes again, his

say you're not

you keep digging into

I supposed

you?"

her chest-there

Vince that.

through his

face. "Do you recognize this

shock. Wasn't that

in the picture was

never have

of Natalie's clothes growing

simple, picked out by

elderly grandmother. The prettiest

ever owned had

from Herbert's

his request.

Do you

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