not true,” he repeated.
Seven. Six...
She blinked, her wide green eyes lifting and meeting his.
Four. Three...
“I can make this work, Amy.”
One. Happy New Year!
A massive round of explosions cracked through the air. The black sky burst into color with scattered streaks of light. The boom from the firecrackers echoed through the ground beneath their feet, smoke and ash scattering all around them.
Amy cringed, the green light from above casting an eerie glow over her. Logan pressed his hands over her ears and held her close as the pyrotechnics continued, the explosions sounding closer together and growing louder.
The fireworks stopped. The cheers of the crowd took over and smoke billowed in big, dark clouds around them.
“I can make this right,” he rasped.
Amy yanked at his wrists, pulling his hands from her ears. “There’s no wrong to be made right. This pregnancy will not be another obligation. This baby and I deserve to be loved.”
“Loved?” Logan shook his head. “You don’t know what that means—”
“Yes, I do. You’re the one who doesn’t know what real love is. Everything you offer comes with conditions and expectations. You only accept people when they live up to your standards and can’t forgive them when they don’t.” Her fingers wove into his hair and rubbed over his nape. “You have to believe love exists to be able to feel it. My love isn’t enough for you and your loyalty isn’t enough for me. Neither of us can win. It’s time for us to go our separate ways.”
His legs grew weak. “You can’t go through this pregnancy alone.”
“Yes, I can,” she said. “I’d rather be alone than with someone who could never truly love me for who I am.”
Amy took the hard hat off her head, slid the earplugs from her neck and held them out. Logan took them.
“This pregnancy might not work out,” she said. “I might lose this baby like we lost Sara. It may even hurt worse than it did before.” She hesitated, looking away. “Or, things could turn out differently. I might end up with a healthy child and be happier than I ever thought possible.” She faced him again, her small smile determined. “Maybe I’m a dreamer. Maybe I am still chasing a fairy tale. But I’m not giving up on it. No matter what happens, I don’t want to just exist. I want to live.”
She grabbed her hat from the truck and left, her long strides taking her farther and farther away. Logan balled his fists and tried to take a step. Tried to follow. But he couldn’t. His heart, heavy with pain and regret, rooted him to the ground.
Cheerful shouts from the crowd echoed over the field and the rhythmic pound of music drifted on the night air. The smoke cleared and the stars shone brighter than ever.
Logan stood alone again, stuck between the present and the past, waiting for Amy to return. And watching life move on without him.
FIVE O’CLOCK. AMY TUCKED her watch beneath the sleeve of her sweater and raised her head, looking out at the dark fields before her. The glowing hands on her wristwatch haunted her vision and floated in bright smudges across the landscape on the other side of the porch rail.
She rocked back in her chair and sighed. New Year’s Eve had officially ended and she’d spent the first five hours of New Year’s Day rocking on a porch, staring into the darkness and waiting. Something she’d never been any good at, even under the best of circumstances. And Logan had still not returned to the main house.
She’d known the news of the pregnancy would be hard for him. Had expected it to unsettle him. But she’d also hoped he’d seek her out after recovering from the shock. That she’d have an opportunity to say goodbye on better terms and reassure him that he’d always be welcome in their child’s life.
Only, Logan hadn’t sought her out. The one glimpse she’d had of him since the fireworks show had been his moonlit figure as he’d entered the stable then left with Lightning.
The screen door creaked open. A tall figure emerged onto the porch, taking long strides toward the line of rocking chairs and halting abruptly in front of hers.
“Damn, kid,” Dominic boomed. “You crackin’ dawn in for everyone or what?”
Amy smiled despite her ill mood. “Is that how you say good morning these days?”
Dominic chuckled, plopping down in the chair beside her and cradling a cup in his hands. “Good morning.” He tipped his cup at her, the pleasant aroma of coffee rising with each curl of steam. “You want? Your mama just brewed a fresh pot. It’ll help wake you up.”
She shook her head. “I’ve been up.”
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“Didn’t want to.” She forced a half smile. “I’ve slept more than my fair share over the last four years.”
Dominic’s grin slipped. “I won’t argue with you there. It’s good to have you back.” He sipped from his mug, glancing out at the horizon and rocking. The wood chair creaked with each of his movements. “Sun’s comin’ up soon. That what you’ve been out here waiting on?”
“No. I’ve been waiting for you.” Which had become true at some point in the wee hours, when she’d given up on Logan returning...
He smiled, his expression tinged with amusement. “’Course you have.” He propped his boots on the porch rail. “I’m always in high demand.”
Amy laughed and smacked his arm. Dominic’s wisecracks alone were enough to clear the grit from her eyes and lift her spirits.
“I was hoping you’d drive me to Augusta today,” she said. “It seems I’ve lost my ride.”
He frowned. “You’re still leaving?”
She nodded.
“Why?” At her silence, Dominic added, “I thought you and Logan were getting along better lately.”
“I’m pregnant.”
His boots dropped from the rail with a thud. “Well. I guess y’all are getting along a lot better lately.”
Amy swallowed hard, vision blurring. “Not anymore.”
Dominic stilled. “He didn’t take it well?”
Hot tears scalded her cheeks, rolling slowly down her face and dripping off her chin. “No.”
“Ah, hell, Ames.” Dominic set his cup on the porch rail with a thunk and crouched at her side, wrapping her hands in his. “I hate that that happened. But he’s had a hard time coming to terms with losing Sara. Give him some room. A little time to adjust—”
“That’s
