Chapter 32

“You said earlier that you loved me.”

“Promise me that if you go away from this visit and believe only one thing I’ve said, then believe that I did love you. Remember the first time I came to visit you?”

“I can hardly forget.”

“Remember that I’d gotten up early the next morning and wanted to leave?”

“Yeah, that really hurt.”

“I know. Do you know why I wanted to leave?” Bud went on before David could answer. “Because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Well, you did.”

“I know. Jesus. I’d already fallen in love with you. But because I was married, I knew I couldn’t ever be what you needed, what you deserved.”

“I see. So why did you come back?”