I laughed. “Good assessment. I’m hoping to not want to kill Brett anymore this year.”
He gave me a sad look. “Separation and divorce is hard. If you ever need to talk to someone, call me.”
“I will.”
“No, you won’t.”
I gave him a weak smile. “Yeah. You’re right. I won’t. It would be weird.”
“Why?”
“Because we used to date and then I cheated on you with the man that I’m divorcing.”
“Oh, that.” Daniel shrugged. “I’m over that.”
“Brett and you have reunited as friends, since he’s been back?”
“No.” He spit on the ground. “I forgive Brett for taking you away from me, but I don’t forgive him for not treating you right, after he stole you.”
“That’s life.”
“That’s bullshit. If he was going to take you away, he should’ve treated you better.”
I blinked. “I wasn’t innocent in the whole situation.”
“Unfortunately for Brett, he’s not as beautiful and good-natured as you, so he gets all of the blame for the past.”
“We were young.”
“You’re right, Faith. We were young, then.” He closed the distance between us and brushed some of the snow out of my hair. “We’re not too old now.”
“No, but we know better, now.”
He tucked my hair behind my ear and slipped his warm finger along my cheek. “And what do we know better about?”
I swallowed. “Life.”
He moved his hand away and stared at me. Melting me with his gaze. Triggering impossible yearning to rise above my gloom and madness. “We know better about life, but not love?”
“No, not love.” I stepped back.
“Maybe we can teach each other more about love. We were always good about learning things together. It would be nice to have an intimate understanding with life again.”
I blushed. “You were a good teacher.”
“I believe you were the teacher and I was the eager student, hoping you would fail me so that I could stay in your class every year and always sit in the front.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “In fact, I’m stilling sitting in the front row.”
“I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“You never leave this property so I doubt you’re dating anyone. Am I correct?” he asked.
“Yes, and how do you know I don’t leave my land?”
“Because I’m always driving by and you’re either over there,” He pointed to my garden studio where I spent most of my days carving and slicing elements into artistic submission, “Or you’re usually running around with your girls in the front. I’ve seen people deliver your groceries and I know Brett picks the girls up for school and bring them back later in the day.”
“You know a lot.”
“Because I’m watching you.”