As for Lucy''s question, Fleming had nothing to hide. He answered honestly, "We''ve shared nearly twenty years together."
That single sentence could be read a number of ways.
It meant their history was long-possibly unbreakable.
Lucy''s fists tightened wordlessly, her gaze locking onto Fleming''s for a fleeting second.
But she was clever. Instead of digging deeper and pushing for answers, she simply sidestepped the topic, her voice light. "You''re right. It''s fine, really. I get it."
She nodded understandingly, the picture ofposure-showing her dependence on him, but never crossing the line.
Fleming looked at Lucy. There were things he could only pretend not to see. Whatever she felt for him, or thought, he couldn''t return in kind.
Just as well. He and Esmeralda were, for better or worse, destined.
After parting ways with Lucy, Fleming got into his car, scowling.
Esmeralda''s emotions had been vtiletely. Even knowing she was all bluster, that she''d never truly let him go, he still hated to see her tangled up in unfounded worries.
If she was unhappy, he couldn''t feel at ease either.
He thought for a moment, then decided to give Esmeralda a call. Maybe a little reassurance would help, so they could focus on nning the wedding.
Esmeralda''s name was pinned at the very top of his contacts.
But just as his finger hovered to dial, his father''s name shed on the screen. Fleming answered, still frowning.
"What''s going on with you?" his father snapped without preamble. "I told you toe over to the Mercer family house so we could settle the marriage license details. Too busy, are you?"
Fleming pinched the bridge of his nose. "I had something urgent."
"And what could possibly be more important than finalizing your marriage license?"
"We can sort that out anytime. It won''t be dyed," Fleming said evenly. On this point, he had no doubts.
"Let me warn you-Esmeralda was furious you didn''t show today! She was so angry she said she wouldn''t marry you. Don''t think it''s nothing. When a woman''s furious trust me she can act on impulse."
The revtion that Esmeralda had told his father she was calling off the wedding caught Fleming entirely off guard.
For a split second, his heart lurched, a cold pang of panic shooting through him. But only for a second.
He forced the feeling down, his expression clouding over. It was unclear whether the look was anger or unease. "She won''t,” he replied, voice steady and resolute.
That confidence came from years of certainty.
He had never doubted Esmeralda''s love for him. She could raise hell, but she''d never walk away. Besides, he hadn''t done anything wrong. Even if she still had issues about Lucy, he was only trying to atone for the thoughtlessness of their youth.
"You two need to work this out," his father said gruffly. "You''re going to see this
wedding through—properly." And with that, he hung up.
Fleming sat motionless in the car for a long while.
Her words "she won''t marry you" lingered in his ears.
He truly hadn''t expected Esmeralda to say something like that to his father. Was she
just acting out, or was she forcing his hand? She didn''t need to go this far.
Even after all those years, even though he''d once med her for dragging Lucy into trouble back then, his feelings for Esmeralda had never wavered Even Lucy had fold him not to be angry at Esmeralda, that she was ready to forgive her.
But despite all her drama, all her storming in and storming out, he still wanted to call her, talk things out, and pick a date to get the license. That would surely set her mind at ease.
Just as his thumb was about to press "call," another iing number shed-hismanding officer.
An urgent assignment. He was needed back at the base immediately.
Fleming stared at Esmeralda''s number for a moment, hesitated, then tossed his phone onto the center console. He floored the elerator and sped toward the base.
It could wait. A little longer wouldn''t make a difference.