He heard her gasp. “What are you saying Edward?”
He‘d thought about it a lot both before and after the blunder last week. But each time he picked up the phone he put it down because he knew what pain those three little words can bring.
“Gladys, I‘ve loved people who almost destroyed my life. I made up my mind from then to keep my emotions out of all my dealings with people.” When he‘d left his last foster home, he swore never to care so much for anyone. What his foster parents did was doubly painful because he‘d put so much stock by them. He‘d realized that when he stopped caring, the sting of what happened had lessened.
“I‘m so sorry Edward. I never knew about all this before now.”
“I‘ll tell you all about it later.” Edward took a deep breath and continued. “I knew I‘d fallen in love with you almost two months ago. I dreamt I asked you to marry me. I didn‘t want to admit the reason even to myself; I only knew that I wanted you.”
“Edward, you mean most of all these problems we were having could‘ve been avoided?”
He‘d continued to deny it to himself even after that day at the beach. He should‘ve told her but was already involuntarily shoring up his defenses. However, this week had taught him a lot. He looked her straight in the eye. “I have to learn to trust you and your love for me baby. For sure my life won‘t be the same without you. I prefer you in it so I‘ve decided to give my heart a chance to love again.”
“At least you believe that I love you.” There were tears in her voice and it trembled as she spoke.
“Please don‘t cry Gladys. Forgive me for trying to sabotage the relationship. I‘ll try not to do that again.”
“I can‘t bear a grudge against you. I now also understand part of why you did and said some of the things you did.”
He couldn‘t hold it back any longer. “I love you Gladys.”
He smiled at her laughing response. “I love you too.”
“Have dinner with me on Boxing day so that I can tell you more. Please say yes darling.”