Later that evening, as Elizabeth sat in her jail cell waiting and unsure of what would happen next, she felt simultaneously angry with Bruce and sorry for the pain he’d suffered at her father’s hands.

Toward Jack, however, she felt only fury.

It didn’t matter that he’d intended to come clean about what Bruce had done and the role Jack himself had played. Every day he’d kept quiet was one day too long.

It didn’t matter that he’d “tried” to keep his distance and “tried” not to cross a line with her—the fact was, he hadn’t kept his distance and he had crossed a line. Nothing would have happened between them had she known the truth, from the first hopeful delivery of Butterfinger cookie dough cheesecake brownies to the passionate night they’d spent together. Theirs was a relationship built on a lie.

Looking back, she had no idea what was real between them.

She’d been so sure their meeting was destiny, so sure there was something deep and meaningful between them. Her connection to him was on a soul-level, but what if Jack’s connection to her was only borne of guilt and regret?

As hard as she tried, sitting for hours on a bare cot with her knees tucked up, Elizabeth couldn’t forgive what Jack had done.

She nearly drove herself crazy turning things over in her mind. Finally, Theresa Harmon returned, along with Guzman, the female officer who’d arrested Elizabeth at her house.

“What’s happening?” Elizabeth asked. Her body spiked with sudden adrenaline. The last thing she wanted was to go to a courtroom in handcuffs, stand before a judge, and have to plead guilty to something she didn’t do.

“They’re releasing you,” Theresa said, raising an eyebrow to indicate she couldn’t quite believe it.

“Bruce Barnes won’t corroborate that you assaulted him, so we have nothing to hold you on,” said Lieutenant Guzman said as she unlocked Elizabeth’s jail cell. “But don’t leave town because this isn’t over yet. We’re not ruling out charges against you—or anyone else in your family.”

Guzman gave her a withering look, and Elizabeth gave her one back.

“Bruce Barnes stole that drug money from the evidence room all those years ago, not my dad,” Elizabeth snapped. After years of tolerating such rudeness, she was done with it.

“Right,” said Lieutenant Guzman. “As if I’d ever believe that.”

Right then, Elizabeth knew that unless Bruce publicly came clean, no one would believe what had happened. That was how much people respected Bruce, and how much they hated Nate.

“You can apologize to me later,” Elizabeth said, vowing that she would force Bruce to admit what he’d done in as public a manner as possible. He could issue a public apology to Nate while he was at it—and to her and Emmett, too.

“Elizabeth, let me walk you out,” Theresa said. To Lieutenant Guzman, she added, “I have a few questions for you, so I’ll be right back.”

In the lobby of the jail, Theresa placed her hand on Elizabeth’s arm.

“Listen, you have to be careful,” she said. “I don’t trust that one of you won’t be charged for this still—Bruce Barnes is revered around here, and the police are going to want justice for one of their own. You need to make sure your dad and brother keep their heads down for the next few days. Don’t even answer the front door unless it’s the cops with a warrant. We don’t want any surprises or retribution, right? It won’t take long for people to figure you couldn’t possibly have been the one who assaulted Bruce, and that leaves Nate in a precarious position.”

“I guess he needs to go to Anchorage sooner rather than later.”

“If no one’s told him not to leave town, then that’s not a bad idea.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Elizabeth was ready to leave but had to ask, “Could Jack go to prison for his role in the theft? For knowing—or suspecting—or whatever?”

“No,” Theresa said. “The statute of limitations has long passed, for Jack and even for Bruce.”

“So they got away with it.”

“They won’t serve time in prison.” Theresa shrugged. “That doesn’t mean they got away with it. I have no doubt there will be repercussions. Jack could lose his job.”

It felt as if all the blood rushed from Elizabeth’s head just then, because she imagined a pale-faced Jack packing up his locker at the fire department, leaving in shame, losing his income and his pension, and, most of all, the respect of his friends and colleagues. She saw a “For Sale” sign next to the Caribou Vacation Cabins sign, all of his hard work for nothing. A fresh swell of tears filled her eyes.

As angry as she was with Jack, Elizabeth could hardly bear the idea of him living in shame like she herself had for so many years.

“I should get back,” Theresa said. “After I finish up here, I’ll head over to your house and update Nate and Emmett. Is that where you’re going now?”

“I don’t know.” Elizabeth sighed. Managing her father’s righteous anger was about the last thing she wanted to do just then. “Maybe. I can tell you where I won’t be—at the cabin on Jack’s property.”

“It’s not really Jack’s fault, you know,” Theresa said. “My understanding is that Bruce was careful not to implicate Jack. There was no proof for him to present to anyone.”

Elizabeth scowled. She didn’t want to hear any extenuating circumstances for Jack. “He still could have brought his suspicions to light.”

“Yes,” Theresa said. “Morally, he had that duty. Legally, with no evidence and no admission of guilt, he didn’t. I admit it’s a gray area. But with everything going on in his personal life at the time, there was no way he could truly think straight.”

“What about every day since?” Elizabeth retorted. “What about every week, every year, every decade since? I understand that he lost his mom—heck, I lost my mom from all this, too. My mom and my dad. And yet I still manage to think straight. I still manage not to ruin an innocent family through sheer selfishness.” Even as she said it, she realized it was perhaps a bit of misplaced blame—it was Bruce who was culpable. But with Jack it was so much more personal, so much more of a blow to her heart and her happiness, that she couldn’t help thinking of him as just as guilty.

As Elizabeth stepped out into the frigid winter evening, she thought the world had never seemed so cruel as it did right then—and then she saw Hayley March dashing up the stairs of the jail, wearing a cheerful blue wool coat but looking anything but cheerful.

“There you are!” Hayley grabbed her in a fierce hug. “Let’s get you out of this awful place. Let’s get you home.”

Elizabeth realized she didn’t know where that was anymore.

* * *

A short time later, Elizabeth stepped inside Hayley’s second-story apartment and let herself be wrapped in her friend’s comforting arms—at which point, she promptly burst into tears.

“Shhh,” Hayley said, patting her back. “Let it all out. You’re safe now.”

“Thank you so much for coming to get me,” Elizabeth said through her sniffles. “I was feeling so alone, and … well, your kindness means so much.”

“Of course.” Hayley helped her off with her coat. “Josh needed some time alone to process things—he does that, he’s my lone wolf—and after I heard what happened I figured you could use some moral support, so I headed to the police station after the hospital.”

“You’re unbelievably sweet, Hayley,” said Elizabeth. “I don’t deserve a friend like you.”

“Don’t talk crazy,” Hayley said. “You’re the sweet one, always taking care of everyone before yourself. I feel horrible for you right now on so many levels. You don’t deserve any of this.”

Elizabeth clung to Hayley’s words like a woman drowning. It said something that she needed someone else to tell her she didn’t deserve what was happening. Although logically she knew she wasn’t responsible for her father’s actions, she’d gone through much of her life believing she deserved any bad thing that happened to her—it was just the nature of guilt-by-association.

A tiny, stubborn, loving part of her saw the similarity in Jack’s situation.

She pushed that thought away. “I feel so betrayed,” she said.

“You were betrayed,” Hayley said. “Not only by Bruce but by the entire city of Golden Falls. You, your brother, your dad, and your mom—you were all victims of a false rumor that’s been perpetuated for over fifteen years. The city—the people of the city—need to make amends. I know it’s going to embarrass Josh and his siblings, but Bruce needs to admit what he did, no matter the consequences. Not just with his family but with the whole community.”

“I was thinking the exact same thing,” Elizabeth said.

“I mean, it’s the only way everyone can move forward,” said Hayley, and Elizabeth could tell she was thinking it through as she spoke, forming her opinion as she did. “I’m not going to let Josh live a lie like Jack’s had to do for his entire adult life. No way. You can tell it just about killed him.”

“Please don’t tell me you feel sorry for Jack,” Elizabeth said, and just saying his name was like a knife to the heart. “He’s been making a fool of me this whole time.” She thought back to their rapturous sex and shuddered. “I’m such an idiot. How could I have let myself fall for him?”

“Go have a seat,” Hayley said, pointing to her cozy, well-appointed living room, deftly avoiding replying to Elizabeth’s statement as to whether she felt sorry for Jack. “I’ll make us some tea. Or do you want something stronger? Some wine?”

Elizabeth needed to call her dad at some point, but she decided to let Theresa handle it for the moment. Nate would be explosive, and Elizabeth needed to muster herself before talking to him. This time with Hayley might be her last bit of calm before the crazy started up again. Plus, she loved the feeling of being hidden away in this cozy sanctuary where no one could find her, if only for a few hours.

“Yes, let’s have wine,” Elizabeth said. “Lots and lots of wine.”

“Well, we’ll have a glass or two, anyway,” Hayley said, pausing on her way to the kitchen to start the electric fireplace.

Elizabeth took the soft cashmere blanket from the couch, draped it over herself, and looked around. “I love your apartment.” She’d never been there before. “Do you think Josh will move in at some point?”

“I’m not sure,” Hayley said, rummaging around in a kitchen drawer. “Neither of us is in a hurry to rush our relationship. I assumed we’d move into his place eventually once he finished renovating it, but I don’t know what’s going to happen between him and his dad after this. It was pretty ugly back at the hospital. I hope they can patch things up, but if not, I can’t imagine Josh will want to live next door to him anymore.”

Hayley brought over a bottle of Cabernet, along with two wine glasses. She set them on the coffee table and deposited a healthy serving into one glass and a smaller portion in the other. She handed the fuller one to Elizabeth and took a spot on the sofa next to her. Elizabeth spread the blanket so that it covered them both.

“So Josh didn’t know?” Elizabeth asked.

“Josh only learned what happened about an hour ago, at the hospital,” Hayley said. “Jack pulled him aside and told him everything. I feel awful for him—Josh, I mean—although I feel bad for Jack, too. Sorry, Elizabeth, but I can’t help it.”

“That’s only because he didn’t play you for a fool like he did me,” Elizabeth said.

“I don’t think he played you for a fool.” Hayley put a gentle hand on Elizabeth’s knee. “Honestly, I think he’s in love with you.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “You don’t keep a secret like that from someone you love.”

“But remember how you told me Jack resisted you at first?” Hayley asked. “How it was driving you crazy because you felt such a deep connection, and you thought he might be holding back because you were an Armstrong and he was a Barnes?”

Elizabeth took a big swallow of wine. “Of course I remember.”

“So think about it from his perspective for a minute,” Hayley said. “Jack probably did resist you because you’re an Armstrong and he’s a Barnes, but not for the reason you thought. I’m sure he was trying to be honorable and respectful of you, but he just couldn’t stay away. I’m telling you, Elizabeth, he would have stayed away if he could. But he couldn’t because he loves you.”

Elizabeth’s throat constricted. “Too bad,” she managed to say, fighting the urge to sob again, afraid that if she started, she’d never stop.

Seeing her emotion, Hayley carefully took Elizabeth’s wine glass, set it on the coffee table, and embraced her.

“Love’s not easy, sweetie,” she said. “It’s not easy, but it’s so, so worth it.”

“I want love,” Elizabeth said, the tears now overflowing down her face. “Why can’t I have it? Why can I not have what I want for once in my stupid, awful, ridiculous life?”

“You can.” Hayley pulled back so she could look Elizabeth in the eye. “You just have to be willing to forgive.”

“I don’t see how.” Elizabeth wiped away her tears. “I don’t see how it’s possible to forgive him.”

“It is,” Hayley said, and took her hand. “You’ve got to calm your mind and find the truth of what you feel in your heart. Try it. Close your eyes and let your heart speak to you.”

Elizabeth let her eyes sink closed, comforted by the warmth of Hayley’s hand. She took a deep breath and tried to will her brain to stop recycling the same words at her. You’re a fool. He never loved you. It was all just a lie.

“Keep breathing,” Hayley said. “Focus on filling your lungs with good air and exhaling everything negative you’re feeling right now. It’ll help you get centered.”

Elizabeth did, and after a few minutes, she even forgot where she was until Hayley began speaking to her.

“Jack was your champion today,” Hayley said softly, stroking Elizabeth’s hand. “Did you know he made Bruce call the district attorney and tell him he was refusing to press charges?”

No, she hadn’t known. “Really?”

“Yes,” Hayley said. “I was right there in the room. I guess the cops wanted to charge you with aggravated assault, but Jack wasn’t about to let you have an arrest on your record that could stop you from becoming a nurse. He got the district attorney on the phone, told him in no uncertain terms that Bruce wouldn’t be pressing charges, and then put Bruce on the phone to confirm it. Not only that, but Bruce said that he wouldn’t say who’d assaulted him and for the DA to drop it. After that, the police had no choice but to let you go. Another thing, too––did you know Bruce paid your hockey fees ever since your dad went to prison? That came out today, too. He’s obviously felt remorse this whole time.”

Elizabeth opened her eyes. She didn’t want to feel charitable toward Jack or Bruce, but her heart couldn’t help softening upon hearing the information. It explained why she was released from custody so quickly, too.

“I’m telling you, Elizabeth, Jack loves you,” Hayley said. “And just think, the guy has never been able to properly grieve for his mom or for the way his family fell apart.”

“His dad should have gone to jail,” Elizabeth said, feeling pouty and righteous.

“Yes, he should have.”

“Theresa—my lawyer—said the statute of limitations has passed, so I don’t think Bruce can be prosecuted at this point.”

“Do you see any way you could move forward from this?” Hayley asked. “With Jack, I mean?”

“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said. “Could you, if you were me?”

“I think so,” Hayley said. “For one thing, there was nothing malicious in what Jack did. He was a scared nineteen-year-old, barely out of high school, and on her deathbed, his mom made him promise not to tell anyone what Bruce had done. I can’t even say I wouldn’t have made the same decision Jack made, especially knowing what a great family they had. I mean, my family was awful from the get-go, but the Barnes family had it all. Happy parents in a happy marriage, who loved their kids like parents are supposed to. They had everything people like us long for. What wouldn’t we do to get that? What wouldn’t we do to keep it?”

“You’re making me feel sorry for him,” Elizabeth said. “And I don’t want to.”

“All I’m saying it that Jack basically lost his whole wonderful family because of what his dad did, and now he’s losing you,” Hayley said. “It just seems like too much. Too much loss.”

“So—what?” Elizabeth said. “Do you think I can just ... forgive? Just like that? My dad spent the majority of my life in prison, and my family fell apart. My brother and I have struggled to make ends meet for years. I’ve gone to bed hungry, and cold, which no kid should ever have to do. I’ve been ashamed to be an Armstrong for as long as I can remember. So do you think I can just forgive Jack as if none of that happened? As if none of that meant anything?”

“I don’t know,” Hayley admitted. “I just know that real love allows for forgiveness, and I think that’s what you and Jack have. I think you have real love. For-better-or-worse love.”

For better or worse. In her deepest heart, Elizabeth had hoped she’d say those words to Jack one day, and she’d hoped to hear them in return from him. She’d hoped to look into his sexy brown eyes as he promised to love her until death did they part.

She sighed. The truth was, she’d still give anything to hear those words.

“This is the worse part of the for-better-or-worse, right?” she asked Hayley. “This is the worst it could ever be?”

“I think so,” Hayley said. “And the better part will follow.”

Elizabeth searched her friend’s eyes. “Do you promise?”

Hayley squeezed her hand. “I’m not the one who needs to make that promise to you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth knew Hayley was right.

Jack was.