| Chapter Thirteen Standing his ground. Calm. �Bandage it.� He�d stirred up her ire once more, but in for a penny, in for a pound. �We were good together Nora. We still are. You don�t honestly believe that I haven�t been doing a lot of thinking about you since you�re back in my life, do you?� Shaking her head firmly, Nora turned from him, walked away. �This is absolutely ridiculous, Jack!� Two long strides and he was beside her again. �What�s ridiculous about it?� Now it was his turn to be sarcastic. �Does my morality offend your sensibilities so much that what we shared doesn�t matter any more? I certainly would never have pegged you as being self-righteous, Nora!� �Self-righteous! Is that what you think?� Eyes spitting fire. �Jack I don�t know what the hell to make of you. How could I ever count on you? I�d trust you with my life in a courtroom, but I can�t even begin to imagine...� Frustrated, beginning to anger as well: �Imagine what? That I have anything to offer? That I am incapable of being faithful and responsible in my personal relationships?� Then, his hand tentatively on the small of her back, needing her to listen. �Could we please stop walking for a minute?� No response. �Nora?� To his surprise she did stop, looked up at him again. There was anger in her eyes, yes, but something else, something he was unable to decipher. Her fine hair blew in her eyes. Gently he pushed the stray strands aside and behind her ears, cupping his hands around her face. �Don�t I deserve some sort of chance to prove that I�ve grown up?� �But you�re still at it, Jack; the Marks girl...� �...Was a mistake, Nora.� Closing her eyes, she resolutely pulled his hands away. �And I will not become another mistake, Jack.� Opening her eyes, still holding his hands. �Again.� What was it about this man that appealed to her so? And the power of those wonderful brown eyes digging away at her stonewalls! The urge to claim that petulant mouth was overwhelming, mistake or not. After all these years, after what he�d done to hurt her, she still wanted to be able to trust him again- to be able to give him that one more chance. She was aware of the strength of those hands, of the cords of middle age, taut under her own fingers. She did not want to let them go. �Damn it, Jack, I just can�t!� And where she marvelled, as she was able to carry on because of it, did this sudden burst of courage come from? �I trusted you when I was too young to know any better and I was wrong.� Her resolve almost wavered as a startled look crossed his face. �How do I convince myself that it�s safe to trust you now, when I�ve grown up too?� Jacks� brows arched in surprise. When he spoke, there was more than a hint of controlled resentment in his voice. �Isn�t that a little strong?� Gently, but deliberately, he reclaimed his hands from hers. �Let�s be fair about this. Trust works both ways.� An intake of breath, and a plunge. �I loved you. Even though we weren�t through school, I wanted to make a commitment. I was working on building up enough self-confidence to propose to you when you suddenly decided that I wasn�t what you wanted.� The roar in her ears again, rising to a screaming crescendo. What was he talking about? His face had gone pale but for a spot of high colour on each cheekbone. He shook his head, eyes reddening. What the hell was this in honour of? Unsure of herself and of the significance of what was happening, uncomfortable with his vulnerability, Nora said nothing. She stood staring in fascination as he turned from her, eyes scanning the water but seeing something else. �And I had a right, Nora. I had a right to know.� He was trembling, yet Jack savoured the sound of words that, thirty years ago, he�d been too confused to use before it had been too late. Before there had been nothing for him to do but capitulate and go away. �I had a right to know about the baby.� R e v i e w H o m e Nothing could have prepared Nora for what awaited her. Nothing. Completely dry, yet with a bath sheet wrapped around him, a wide-eyed Jack stepped back to let he |