Page 168 of Time To Learn

I never expected to feel so much lighter in my heart, but baring all my secrets to him has helped me come closer towards healing the gaping wounds in my heart and soul completely. I never expectedthat.

There are a lot of things I never expected.

It finally feels like the part of my humanity that I lost the night James died has been restored to me. As if Kristian, and his love for me, were all I ever truly needed in order to become whole.

I did not expect that, either.

I was fully prepared to live the rest of my days alone—or as alone as you can ever really be on a farm with horses all around you—but he changed me. He disrupted my world, tore it apart with his quiet ways—with his patience and selflessacts.

But it is not Kristian alone who has woken meup.

It is accepting that love does not destroy everything in its path that’s donethat.

Love is the real magic on earth.

Love does not rule me—nor does it make meweak.

I know thatnow.

The healing powers it possesses is the most wondrous thing that I have ever come across.

The fact that Kristian accepts me for exactly who I am is something I am beginning to marvel at. It seems silly, but…who can turn their back on love when it is offered without any strings or obligations?

I can’t, and I don’t want to, either.

I do not know what I ever did to deserve a man like him, but I will cherish him forever.

My phone rings,and I jump in my seat, so immersed in my writing I forgot to silence it. When I pick it up, I frown at the Private Number flashing at me and hesitate to pick itup.

No. Enough is enough.

I swipe the screen and clear my throat.

“Who areyou?”

The seconds tick by and my heartbeat increases in speed when the mysterious caller doesn’t hang up like he’s done so often before.

“Laura?”

The blood in my veins turns to ice when I recognise the woman’s voice.

“Aileen?” I force the name from my dry mouth, grabbing on to the side of my stool and gripping it tightly for fear I’ll falldown.

James’s mother. My former mother-in-law is phoning me after all this time? It doesn’t make any sense atall.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” her soft voice breathes into myear.

“Wh-what?” I stammer.

“I’m so sorry. We didn’t…” her voice hitches and turns muffled, as if she’s put a hand over her mouth. “We didn’t know what he did to you, Laura. I swear we didn’t, or we would’ve helped you. Somehow, we would’ve done something. I didn’t raise a monster…I don’t know what happened. I don’t know how or why he became a man you’dfear.”

Tears burn my throat, and I wish I’d never picked up the phone.

“Are you still there?” sheasks.

“Yes,” I whisper and force my hold on the chair to loosen. “I don’t know what to say to you,” I croak out. “I…I’m…”

The words I’m sorry hover on my lips, but I can’t get themout.