She went still, his words reverberating in her head. Will not have to deal with me much longer. Had the time come?
Fear choked her. Let go of fear, and grab hold of love. One ruins your life, the other improves it.
Love the man who’d tricked her? The man she’d imagined him as a little boy—
She gasped as the truth dawned. She hadn’t imagined anything. “The dream. I dreamed of your past. Because we’re wed.”
“Aye.” Tense nod. “Just as I will dream of you, if ever I sleep.”
Fighting through a vat of conflicting emotion, Katie thought back to the day she first stumbled upon Jorlan’s statue. She had already decided not to buy the house; it needed too many renovations to be profitable. Besides, she’d hoped for a smaller summer project. Then she’d spotted Jorlan’s statue. Then. That moment. She’d known beyond any doubt the house had to belong to her.
Despite everything, she believed she did, in fact, belong with Jorlan. That he was home, rather than the house. But. That didn’t mean he’d had a right to marry her without her consent.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, Katie, or take away your choice. As a young soldier I learned to prepare for the worst even when you hope for the best, so that is what I did. I planned for your protection because I love you with all my heart. You will realize this truth, I know it…but I suspect it will be too late.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
KATIE STOOD IN the kitchen, drinking from a glass of water. I’m married. Married. Already starbursts of delight were working to disable her anger. Only took a few minutes to realize she kind of liked the thought of being Jorlan’s wife. A few minutes after that, she decided she loved knowing he belonged to her. My husband.
Mr. Katie James.
Mrs. Princess Katie en Sarr.
Ugh. What was she going to do? Forgive him, tell him she loved him and move to Imperia so he wouldn’t grow to resent her later?
Would she grow to resent him?
Doubtful. His happiness meant too much to her.
She had only to speak words of love…and yet something still she kept quiet. Why? What was the worst that would happen if she admitted the truth to him—and herself?
He died and left her behind, the way her mom had done?
Or, he realized he’d made a mistake, that Katie wasn’t the type of woman he wanted forever, only for a season?
Or, they lived happily ever after?
She’d never considered herself a person who sabotaged her own success but…maybe she was. Would she really allow him to return to stone, just because she feared what would happen if he remained a man?
What if she didn’t love him, and he turned back to stone even though she’d said the words?
“Katie,” he said now, breaking into her musings. He stood before the bay window, staring out. “Someone comes.”
The front door swung open, rain misting the living room. He went quiet as Heather and Frances raced inside, then closed the door with a snap.
Startled, Katie remained in front of the kitchen sink, water glass positioned midair. Jorlan had finally explained what had happened, how Katie had tumbled through the ceiling and crashed into the floor, and he had used his magic to heal her. Frances had seen it all go down.
Frances approached, careful to walk a wide circle around Jorlan, who stood in the corner, ready to act if Katie had need of him. “Heather convinced me to return and speak with you. I…I don’t know what happened earlier, and I don’t want you to tell me. I’m just going to finish the work I had left, okay, and never ever talk about what happened here.”
Katie nodded and set her glass aside. “Thank you.”
That settled, Frances strode out the door and into the back garden. Going to pull weeds during a storm? All right, then.
Heather remained in place, wringing her hands together. “Katie, I…you… How are you doing?”
“I’m fine, thank you.” Katie looked her over and frowned. “How are you?” The girl radiated stress, half-moon bruises under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in years.
“I’m better.” Heather gave a half smile, hesitant but authentic. “I’ve spent the last few days thinking about my life, and I—” She pressed a hand over her heart. “Never mind. I’m rambling, and you have work to complete. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“So, I gather that you are…fine?” Something had changed about Heather. Despite the stress, she seemed to have shed a thousand pounds of emotional baggage. “I just woke up from a nap, but I could use a break. Maybe we could sit at the table and talk?”
Heather shook her head. “Rain check? I’d like to help my mother out back. All of this—” she lifted her hand, palm down, and made a circular motion to encompass life in general rather than the kitchen “—has been hard on her.”
“I understand.” Just how much did Frances and Heather know? Actually, what did they think they knew?
Heather gave her a hug, another surprise. “Oh, hey.” She glanced over her shoulder. When she refocused on Katie, she lowered her volume. “We walked through the garden before coming into the house. The new statue is an odd addition.”
New statue? “I didn’t get a new statue,” she said, brows drawn.
“But, there’s one on the only empty pedestal. Well, formerly empty.”
Formerly empty— Ohhh. Jorlan’s pedestal. “Are you sure you’re not thinking of a different section of the garden altogether?”
“I’m sure. The new statue is different than any of the others, because it brings torment to mind, not pleasure.”
Torment? Dread churned in her stomach. What did this new development mean? “Will you meet me there in five minutes?” she whispered. “I’m going to give Jorlan a task. I don’t what him to know about the new statue until I’ve seen it.”
Expression tinged with sadness, as if she understood Katie’s reference, Heather nodded and skipped from the room.
No way Heather knew anything about Jorlan’s life as a slab of stone.
“Hey, uh, I’m heading to the bathroom,” Katie told Jorlan, who still stood before the bay window, watching her.
“Very well. Then we will finish our talk, aye?” Just then, he looked like he’d gained a thousand pounds of emotional baggage. “I am running out of time.”
“Yes, of course.” But inside she shouted, No! No, you aren’t. You aren’t returning to stone, and that’s that. She stood in place, her heart galloping. He was a good man, and he deserved better than a woman who’d been hiding from her fears rather than fighting them. He deserved…love. And that was what she would be giving him from now on.
I love him. I do. I love him with my whole heart.
The truth shone within her, a bright light that chased away shadows of fear. From now on, I will give him better. So, she would do it. She would tell him the truth, damn the consequences—and there was no way she’d put a quarter in a jar this time; she’d meant that curse!
“Katie,” he prompted.
“Jorlan, I do, okay? I love you.” There. She’d said it, officially breaking the curse. And now she might pass out.