Chapter 5

Over the next few days, Elise stayed in the hospital and focused on healing.

Colsen stopped by a few times with expensive flowers and gift baskets. He never stayed long.

His phone was always going off.

Elise didn't argue. Didn't complain.

No matter what he said, all he got was, "Mm-hmm."

Nothing else.

And somehow, that left him completely helpless.

The day she was discharged, Colsen brought flowers and went with her to the cemetery outside the city.

As the view outside the window grew more familiar, Elise almost laughed.

Five years.

And this was the first time her husband had ever gone with her to visit her mom's grave.

The cemetery was quiet, wind whispering through the trees.

Colsen stood in front of the headstone, staring at the photo of the woman who looked so much like Elise.

For a long time, he said nothing.

"Mrs. Emery," he finally said, his voice rough, "I'm sorry it took me this long to come see you."

He paused.

"I'll take care of Elise from now on. You don't have to worry. I won't let her get hurt again."

Elise stared at her mom's gentle smile in the photo.

'Mom, did you hear that?

'The man I loved for ten years finally says he'll take care of me.

'But he's too late.

'Way too late.

'I don't need it anymore.'

After the cemetery, Colsen took Elise to a restaurant she'd always wanted to try.

It was an exclusive French place that was almost impossible to book.

She'd brought it up plenty of times before.

Colsen always said he was too busy.

Today, he'd reserved the entire restaurant and set up a candlelit dinner.

"I remember you wanted to come here." He pulled out her chair. "Try the food. See if you like it."

Elise sat down and stared at the fancy dishes.

She felt nothing.

Halfway through dinner, Colsen's phone rang again.

Bella.

Bella's angry voice came through loud enough for Elise to hear every word.

"Colsen! You spent days planning this huge birthday party for me, so why aren't you here?!"

Colsen frowned and glanced at Elise.

She just kept cutting her steak, calm as ever, like she hadn't heard a thing.

"I'm busy," he said.

"What could be more important than my birthday? Get over here right now, or I'm not celebrating at all!"

Colsen finally hung up.

He turned to Elise, clearly about to explain.

Too late.

She'd already put down her knife and fork.

"Go. I'm done anyway."

"Elise, Bella just got back to Santoria and wanted to get everyone together, but she didn't know how to plan the party, so I helped," Colsen said. "It didn't mean anything."

"I know." Elise nodded. "I get it."

There it was again.

Colsen's frustration flared.

"I'll take you with me," he said suddenly. "It's close anyway. We'll stop by, then leave. Might get you out for a bit."

Elise was about to say no, but Colsen was already standing.

"Come on."

Bella's birthday party was in the ballroom of a luxury hotel.

By the time Elise and Colsen got there, the place was packed.

Bella stood in the middle of the crowd in a red gown, soaking up the attention.

The second she saw Colsen, her face lit up.

"Colsen! You finally came!"

She hurried over and hooked her arm through his, totally ignoring Elise.

"Bella." Colsen frowned and tried to pull away.

"Dance with me," Bella said. "Come on. It's been forever."

Colsen looked at Elise.

She was staring at a painting on the wall like none of this had anything to do with her.

"Elise..."

"Go ahead. I'll grab something to eat."

Then she turned and headed for the buffet.

Colsen froze.

Before, just seeing him talk to Bella was enough to make Elise tear up.

'And now she's seriously pushing me toward her?'