“Ah wud ne’er, E’ER hurt ye! Ah did nae mean tae frighten ye wi’ mah hunger. Am sae sorry, lass. Please say yer okay. Please tell meh Ah have nae hurt ye.”

The anguish in his eyes tore at her heart, and Katherine hung her head, knowing there was no way he could understand the deep shame she felt. Familiar tears filled her eyes as she stared at the floor beneath her feet. He had a right to know the truth, but she didn’t think she had the strength to tell him. She had never told a soul, not even Jessup, though she suspected he’d known and enjoyed it immensely. Gathering courage about her like a wet, woolen blanket, she prepared to see the disgust and rejection in his eyes once she revealed her dark secret.

“Katherine, please fergive meh.” Remorse forced him into silence, and it broke her heart to hear him full of self-loathing on her account.

“There’s nothing to forgive.”

The whisper of words was as broken as her spirit had once been, and with her chin lifted high, she avoided looking him in the eye as tears streamed down her cheeks. Slipping off the stool, she crossed the kitchen to where he stood and placed her hands flat against the center of his chest. Leaning her forehead into the hollow of his throat, she was reminded how perfectly they fit together and realized she would miss the feeling of symmetry between their bodies.

“Dying of a broken heart?” The idea rolled off my tongue fluidly, and my pulse quickened as it recognized the primal truth behind her words.

“It happens quite frequently to couples who’ve been married a long time. Why can’t it happen to soul mates separated for far too long, with no hope of ever reconnecting?” Glancing at him, her eyes softened and welled with tears. “In his heart, Dad belonged to you, even though he was living with us.”

Wanting to believe her theory-needing to believe it-my hopeful heart skipped a beat. If he’s dying of a broken heart because of our separation, could my return save his life? Dare I begin to hope? “It’s something. I’d swallow glass if it would save him.” A ripple of movement under my chin caught my attention, and I looked into a pair of smiling brown eyes.

“I adore you.” His whisper was loud enough for Devin to hear, and she quietly left the room to give us a moment of privacy.

“I adore you, Gage.” I kissed the top of his nose, loving the way our hearts beat in unison.

“Please don’t eat glass for me.” Though his lips turned up the slightest bit, his eyes conveyed the depth of his emotion in connection with my welfare.

“I promise, my love.” I’d do anything he asked of me, and he knew it.