Wonderful as they were, the bombardment of recollections rocked her and Ally made for a stone bench. Her fingers closed tight around it as she sank, anchoring herself as she grew lightheaded.
She closed her eyes, hearing rain drumming on the iron roof of the old farmhouse. The chirrup of frogs in the dam. Belle’s eager bark, telling her to hurry. The sound of humming, an old lullaby she’d known all her life.
Abruptly the relief and lightness vanished.
Joy was eclipsed in a devastating rush of desolation that froze everything inside her.
Ally heard herself gasp. A sliver of ice pierced her chest as fragmented recollections shifted and pieced together.
Then the tears started to slide down her face.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ANGELOFOUNDHERin a secluded part of the garden. Near where he’d seen her with Oliver.
She sat with her back to him but even in the muted light he knew something was wrong. Her shoulders were hunched and her head hung low. Fear punched the air from his lungs.
He hurried forward, silently cursing. His sister had had a small crisis days ago so he’d felt compelled to take her call. It had been good to hear her bright and confident, having dealt with her problem, but he regretted those ten minutes on the phone.
Today with Ally had been special. He’d revelled in her delight and the sparkle in her eyes when she looked at him. He’d basked in her approval at his idea to jog her memory but he should have kept quiet, respecting his sixth sense that it could be devastating for her.
‘Ally.’
He sank down beside her, registering the tight pull of her lips and the rigid set of her jaw. Something dropped from her chin and he realised she was weeping.
His chest turned over. It reminded him of the roiling pain he’d felt when his father died.
Seeing Ally lost to grief undid him. He felt helpless though he wanted so much to make things better.
He covered one cold, trembling hand with his.
‘I’m here,cara. You’re not alone.’
Angelo moved closer, wrapping his arm around her, feeling her shudder as she drew in each breath. She felt fragile. Her feistiness and determination had been swamped by something. Bad news, he guessed.
He should have been here with her, not left her to face this alone. He should have guessed she’d be impatient to know, deciding not to wait for him.
‘Whatever it is, Ally, we’ll face it together.’
She took a shuddering breath and lifted her head. The sight of her pale features, drawn with pain, made him ache.
Angelo lifted her hand and pressed his mouth to it. It was a heartfelt kiss, not of physical passion but of something stronger and deeper. He wanted to give her his strength and help her through this crisis.
Her lips curved in a sad parody of a smile that cracked his heart. ‘I’m okay, Angelo, just coming to terms with the past.’ She paused. ‘The good news is I’m not dying of some terrible illness. I’ll be fine. I just need time to adjust.’
Angelo didn’t release her. ‘What can I do? Do you need to be somewhere? Do you want me to make arrangements?’
Ally shook her head. ‘There’s nothing. Thank you.’
Angelo said nothing, wanting to give her time and space. Whatever had caused this grief, it was her choice whether to share it with him. He wouldn’t intrude.
Ally was grateful for Angelo’s presence. It calmed her, made her realise she could face this. When he’d kissed her hand it had felt as if he shared something vital with her. Something that made this marginally easier.
How different he was from the man she’d first met.
She could imagine herself building a future with this Angelo, a man who could be gentle as well as strong. But it wasn’t possible. Whatever he felt for her was mixed up with his attraction to his ex.
Ally sat straighter and wiped the tears from her face with her free hand. Angelo didn’t move his arm from around her shoulders. For that she was grateful. It felt better to be held.