Knowing full well what the note said, her heart beat fast and her hands got sweaty while she waited for him to read it. When the phone rang a third time, she took the call. She owed him that much after the year they’d spent happily together before it all went wrong.

“Are you serious?” The anger in his voice came right through the phone.

“Are you really surprised?”

“Hell, yes, I’m surprised!” His Texas drawl became more pronounced when he was upset. “You never said a word about leaving until you were gone. What the hell, Abby?”

“Nothing has been right between us since I got there. You know that.”

“I’m dealing with a crisis! I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to give you enough attention.”

“You think that’s it? Proves how totally clueless you are.”

“Will you please stop talking in code and tell me what the hell that means.”

“You have unresolved feelings for Candy.” Saying the other woman’s name made Abby feel a bit sick. “I’m not willing to compete with that.”

After a long stretch of silence in which Abby wondered if he was still there, he said, “Feelings for Candy. Right. That’s why I asked you to marry me, because I still have feelings for her.”

“You admitted you still think about her! I have eyes, Cal. I can see the way you respond to her. You never look at me the way you look at her, and I got tired of being the other woman in my relationship.”

“I cannot believe you didn’t talk to me about this.”

“I did talk to you. You said I shouldn’t worry about your feelings for her. I don’t agree. What’s there to say?”

“A lot! You left without even giving me a chance!”

“I’ve given you lots of chances. I got tired of being ignored.”

“And we’re back to that. My mom is sick. She needs me. I’m sorry if you felt ignored.”

“Your mom isn’t the only one who needs you. Candy does, too. You should be with her. The two of you have all kinds of history, and your mom loves her.”

“I don’t love her! I love you.”

“You do love her. You’re lying to yourself—and to me—if you deny it.”

“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re telling me who I love!”

Abby wiped away tears. “I left the ring in your top dresser drawer.”

“So that’s it? Over and done with?”

“I’m sorry, Cal. But I’ve done this once before—”

“You’re really going to compare me to Grant McCarthy?”

“The situation is similar. That’s the only comparison I’m making.”