A Love Stolen Read Online Free Page A

slowing down now, so I thought it was best to move Jeremy and Mary Grace last week. He starts school in a few days."
    Trevor had wanted to be there for his first day, but he'd already taken a week off to move them. Mary Grace promised to text him pictures and give him a play-by-play of the events.
    "A teacher, huh?" It didn't surprise Trevor that Lila had chosen a career in teaching. She was kind, caring, and smart. "I bet the kids love you."
    "I'm pursuing guidance. I've been in the classroom, but after I got my master's, I started in the guidance office. With the economy the way it is these days, jobs are scarce."
    "There are a few towns close to Steeple that may be hiring."
    "I haven't thought about that. I did send applications to a few places near Boston and Cambridge."
    "Maybe you should check out some of these schools. A smaller setting and all."
    He was reaching, but if he got her to stay in Steeple, he'd have more time to make things work with her.
    "You and Kirk still friends?"
    The fact that she'd changed the subject didn't escape him. Would she even
    entertain the idea of staying closer to Steeple, to him?
    "Yeah. We bought a boat together last year. We go on these big fishing trips, but we never catch anything. It's just an excuse to drink and play cards."
    "I see nothing has changed with you two." She giggled, and he liked the way it sounded. "Is he married?"
    "Engaged."
    "Do I know her?"
    "No, her family rents every summer. Kirk met her about three years ago, and they hit it off. They're getting married in the spring. I'm the best man."
    "Returning the favor?" She sipped her coffee, then crinkled her cute little nose.
    "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
    "Yeah." He laughed. "You did."
    "This is harder than I thought it would be."
    "It doesn't have to be. We don't have to talk about the past." He'd hoped they could move forward. He wanted her to feel comfortable around him.
    "The past is a big part of who we are."
    "It's been six years. Are you still mad at me?" He thought maybe she'd gotten over what had happened. He wondered if she still thought about those days when they were together. The plans they'd made. The dreams they'd had.
    "Mad? Not anymore. That would be a long time to hold a grudge." She traced the pattern of the tabletop with her finger. "It probably doesn't even matter anymore, does it?"
    "I think it does." He reached across the table and took her hand, because he couldn't hold off touching her anymore. "You left without hearing what I had to say."
    "It wouldn't have been what I wanted to hear." She looked down at their joined hands, but made no attempt to pull away.
    Trevor felt encouraged.
    "That's not true." He'd been confused, back then. A girl he'd had a one-night stand with came and told him she was pregnant. Her father put pressure on him to do the right thing. He was afraid and felt trapped. He wanted to lean on Lila, but he didn't think that was fair. He'd distanced himself from her for a few weeks, but he'd never expected her to leave Steeple. "I wanted you."
    "What you wanted didn't come first. I didn't expect it to. You had a
    responsibility. I saw how conflicted you were. Your parents were members of her father's church. You were being pulled from all sides. I removed myself from the equation."
    "You shouldn't have done that."
    "I couldn't stay and watch you become a father to someone else's baby. Do you know how hard that would've been for me? I was twenty years old. It was too much. I didn't want to deal with someone else's babies and your responsibilities. If I'd stayed with you, I would have had to deal with all those things. I did the right thing."
    "I'm glad you think so." He tried not to sound bitter. But after the way things had turned out between him and Mary Grace, it all seemed so senseless now.
    "I know you're probably upset the marriage didn't work out with her, but you tried, and at least, now you know. If you hadn't chosen her, you might have regretted it one day."
    "The