Page 52 of In at the Deep End

“I’ve always loved her, but…”

Babs’s gentle smile only increased the ache in his heart. “It wasn’t the right kind of love.”

He looked at her, grateful she understood without making him say it again.

She sighed. “That poor girl. And that poor boy.”

Owen frowned. “Who?”

“You.” Owen opened his mouth to protest, but she shook her head. “No. Don’t you dare tell me you deserved it.”

“I hurt her. I lied.”

“I agree.”

“So you don’t have to forgive me.”

“I’m not forgiving what happened.” She squeezed his hands again. “I’m grieving for the twenty-one-year-old who thought his only choices were to lose the man he loved—or lose everyone else.” She met his gaze. “You made a terrible mistake, Owen.”

For a moment, words deserted him. All he could do was nod.

“But you weren’t a terrible man.”

God, he’d needed to hear those words, the warmth in her voice.

She straightened and released his hands. “Matt said Cyn will be paying you a visit, to see the house.”

“That’s right.” He saw the random remark for what it was, a change of subject. Relief flooded through him. Owen felt wrung out and stretched tight.

Babs bit her lip. “Well, is it too much to ask if I want to see it too? And I don’t mean at some point in the future.”

Owen chuckled. “How about I show you now, so we can give Matt a break?”

Anything to leave this moment behind him.

Her face brightened. “That’s a great idea.” She gave Jeff a look. “There’s a bottle of champagne in the fridge. Go get it. We’ll toast Owen’s new home.”

Jeff arched his eyebrows. “I thought that was to wet the baby’s head when it finally decides to put in an appearance?”

Babs rolled her eyes. “Then we’ll buy another one.”

Owen laughed. “My God, woman, you really haven’t changed a bit, have you?”

She grinned. “Nope.”

Jeff headed into the kitchen. “I know when I’m beaten.”

A minute or two later, they were turning into Owen’s driveway. As they neared the house, noise filtered through the open kitchen window.

Owen slowed. He knew that voice. Not the actor—the dialogue. He’d watched that film often enough to know every line.

Oh…

Oh no.

He stopped outside the front door.

“Damn,” he said, keeping his tone light. “Looks like I left my keys inside. Good thing Matt’s here.”