His eyes were wet.
“Margaret.”
I stared at him.
“Did you leave the package?”
“Yes.”
My chest tightened.
“What is this?”
“Can I come in?”
“No.”
He nodded once.
“Fair.”
I held up the jewelry box.
“Walter, if this is what I think it is—”
“It isn’t.”
“I have loved one man my whole life.”
“I know.”
That stopped me.
“What?”Metals & Mining
“I know.”
My voice sharpened.
“If this is some kind of proposal or gesture because you’re lonely now—”
“Oh, God, no.”
For one second, he actually looked horrified.
“I’m not proposing.”
“Then explain.”
Walter looked toward his house.
Then back at me.
“I left the box because I wasn’t sure I could knock.”
I said nothing.
“I stood in my doorway for almost an hour.”
“Why?”
His fingers tightened around the cap.
“Because I knew Thomas.”
Everything inside me stopped.
I stared at him.
