He stood still for a moment, his chest out, his hands curled into fists. Then he shoved the door closed again. “I’ll go. I just want to say one more thing, Sylvia—something I’ve been thinking about all day. I grew up in a crazy household with three reckless, lunatic brothers and two devoted parents who managed to stay married and raise us without losing their minds. Did we fight? Hell, yes. Were we rich? Hell, no. We didn’t have a huge home or fancy cars, we didn’t take luxury vacations, and for me new clothes meant hand-me-downs full of holes that my older brother Anthony had outgrown. But it was a great way to grow up, because we were there for each other. We took care of one another. We always knew, no matter what, we had family. That’s the feeling I miss as an adult. That sense of belonging and loyalty. That’s what I wanted to recreate. Because what I love more than anything is the idea of taking care of people I love, protecting them, providing for them. And I want to be the one that takes care of you, Sylvia. Because you deserve someone who adores you. Who will put you first while you’re busy putting everyone else first.”

“Henry,” I croaked, tears dripping from my eyes.

He held up one hand. “Let me finish. I know you’re a mother first and foremost, and I’d never get in the way of that. But I love you, and I couldn’t walk away without a fight.”

His eyes pierced mine so deeply I felt it in my soul. I wanted so badly to throw myself in his arms and say yes, take care of me, yes, protect me, yes, adore me. You’re exactly what I want, what I need, what I wished for. Together we’ll show the kids what real love looks like. We’ll make them believe in it.

But the words wouldn’t come out—they were prisoners of a fear that ran too deep in my veins.

“You have to walk away, Henry,” I wept softly. “I don’t know how to let myself be loved that way. And I’m too scared to try.”

He stared at me, his jaw clenched. “Okay, Sylvia. You win.” Then he yanked the door open, and a second later he was gone.

I shut the door quickly so I wouldn’t have to watch him walk away. Leaning my forehead against it, I continued to cry as quietly as I could.

That’s when I heard the voice behind me at the top of the stairs.

“Mom?”

I gulped back a sob and tried to speak normally. “I’ll be right there, Whit.”

She paused. “Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.” I used the bottom of my sweater to dry my face. “Give me a minute, all right?”

“Okay.”