Chapter Twelve
HOPE
"I S THAT ADRIANO KONTIDES ?" I give my husband a nudge, and Colin follows my gaze. "That's him, isn't he?"
Colin turns to me, saying dryly, "Just give it to me straight."
I love how my husband knows me so well.
"We should talk to him, don't you think?"
"Is that what God's telling you?"
I nod.
"Then you won't hear any arguments from me," he says simply.
Oh my goodness. He's always been the most beautiful man in my eyes, but his gorgeousness takes a whole new level every time he says things like that. I really wish I could stand on my toes and give him a kiss, but...
Pregnancy has made me ungainly, and so all I can do is throw my arms around his waist. "I love you, Colin."
A flush stains my husband's high-boned cheeks when I pull away. It's terribly cute, but I can't let myself be distracted, especially with Adriano already crossing the street.
Please guide me, God.
Adriano reaches us in the next moment. His smile is courteous, but his eyes are haunted by pain.
"Hope. Colin." He nods stiffly to each of us. His face is a careful mask, but his eyes give him away. He's hurting.
"What a lovely surprise," I say. "We were just talking about you the other day, weren't we, Colin?"
"We saw the news about your latest case," Colin affirms. "Congratulations."
Adriano's shoulders relax slightly. "Thank you."
"How have you been?" I ask, keeping my tone light. "We haven't seen you since the charity auction."
"The usual."
"And Shayla? We haven't had any contact with her since that evening either. She actually slept over in our place that night. Did you know?"
His jaw clenches. "Is that so?"
It's clear he doesn't believe me, and I completely understand, having learned a bit of his background from Shayla.
"Do you still have that photo of us three?" I ask Colin brightly.
My husband grimaces. "Unfortunately...yes." He takes his phone out and shows Adriano the photo of the three of us wearing animal-themed sheet masks just before heading to bed. More importantly, the photo comes with a date stamp, and seeing this has Adriano noticeably stiffening.
Mm.
Shayla wouldn't tell me why Adriano had fired her. But now I'm starting to realize that it's possible for Shayla not to know the real reason as well.
I look at Adriano with a sheepish smile. "I hope she didn't arrive late at work the next day. It was just complete chaos that time. I had a bit of a false alarm with my pregnancy. Colin had to drive me to the hospital. We wanted to call a cab for Hope, but that's when our neighbor so very kindly offered her a ride."
"I believe you're acquainted with him," Colin murmurs. "Gilbert Schitt, the prosecutor?"
Adriano's face is starting to lose color, which I personally think is a good sign. Or at least I hope it is.
"He was on his way to the vet with Chip, his five-year-old Rottweiler," I go on to share. "The clinic's just a block away from your building."
"Chip is not what you'd call friendly, though." Colin's voice is so perfectly casual. I love it, and I love him. "He barks all the time and at everyone," my husband adds dryly, "and Gilbert tells us Shayla was not an exception."
"Poor Shayla," I say with a cluck of my tongue. "She really thought she could have Chip eating from the palm of her hand—" I snap my fingers, and both Colin and I notice the way Adriano jerks at the words. "—just like that."
Adriano looks like he might be sick, and my heart aches for him...and Shayla.
"I need to go." His voice is uneven. "Please excuse me."
Colin and I watch him walk away. I want to think this will mean they'll finally find their way back into each other's arms, but...what if Shayla's the one who's unable to forgive him?
I look up at my husband, asking, "What do you think will happen now?"
"I know what you want to happen," Colin says quietly, "and it's what I want, too. We've also done what we could. We've planted the seeds. But only God decides whether those seeds grow."
I just have to throw my arms around him again, and Colin chuckles even as he presses a kiss to the top of my head.
"I love you." My voice is muffled against the hard wall of his chest.
"I love you, too."
"I'm so, so glad you emailed me to be your bride."
"I didn't want to."
I pull away with a laugh, not at all offended because it's the truth.
"But..." Eyes that are the color of molten chocolate gleam down at me. "It's like what you love to say these days."
"Reformed rakes make the best husbands?" I quip with a teasing smile.
Colin smiles even as he answers gravely, "God works in mysterious ways."
My heart melts, and when I tell him so, my husband only laughs.