Page 186 of Untouchable

Ralph evidently recognized her and rushed over to greet her with panting joy.

She leaned down to pet the dog, but her eyes never left Caleb.

Soon he was close enough to see that she was pale and shocked and bewildered. But there was something small and hopeful underlying it on her face.

When he reached her, she stood up so she was facing him. “I was… I was supposed to meet a new client.”

“I’m your new client,” he admitted, having to hold himself back from reaching out to her.

She was exactly who he’d loved before—strong and vulnerable, loving and broken, golden with dark shadows underneath.

Deeply human, with a heart so much like his own.

She was panting visibly, and she wrapped her arms around her belly protectively. “You are?”

“I thought it would be a good idea to get a portrait done of Ralph, if you think you’re up for the job.”

Her eyes slipped down to the happy dog, who was bouncing slightly in a sitting position, but they darted back up to Caleb’s face. “I would love to paint him.”

“If you have room in your schedule.”

“I have plenty of room.” She took a shuddering breath. “Caleb, what is… what is going on? Is this… is this what I’m thinking?”

She looked so hopeful and fragile and confused that he could hardly resist pulling her into his arms. She was so close now. He almost had her now.

He simply had to get through the last steps.

“You were right,” he said, his voice cracking strangely. He was too emotional. It wasn’t like him. “There is always more than one choice to make. So I’m making a different choice.”

The realization burst out like sunlight on her face. She wasn’t smiling, but she was still radiating joy. “Really?”

He nodded, feeling a matching joy and an awkwardness at the same time. “Yes.”

“And all the rest of it, I mean, you’ll be okay with…” She could barely speak. She was hugging herself like she needed to hold the feelings inside.

“It wasn’t okay. I mean, we can’t just erase the past. So the choice I had to make was… was big.” He pulled out from his pocket a folded piece of paper he’d printed earlier. He opened it and handed it to her. “I’m submitting this tomorrow morning.”

She took the paper with a shaky hand and stared down at the printed words.

She stared down at them for a really long time. So long that Caleb was suddenly nervous.

Finally she lifted her eyes. “You’re…” She could barely speak. “You’re resigning?”

He nodded.

“Oh God, Caleb.” Her hand was shaking so much he was worried, so he took the paper and folded it back in his pocket. “I never would have wanted you to do something like that. I never would have expected… You don’t have to…”

“I do. I do have to.” He couldn’t stand the distance between them anymore, so he reached out to cup her cheek with one hand. “Because you were right about what you said before. We’re not living in a Greek tragedy, but I’m still Claudius in this. Andhis problem was always that he refused to give up what he’d gained through his sins. I don’t want to live with that guilt around my neck my whole life. I only have this position because your father was murdered—whether I was directly responsible—and I don’t want it anymore.”

“You’re sure?” She’d raised a hand to cover the one he still had on her face. “Caleb, are you sure? I don’t want you to have to sacrifice something you love.”

“I was sacrificing what I loved before. I was sacrificing you. And you’re who I’m not willing to give up anymore. This is my choice. This is my different choice.”

She gave a little sob and threw herself on his chest, and he was finally able to wrap her in a tight embrace.

She was all feeling, all emotion, all depth and generosity and intelligence and courage and beauty.

And she was all his. He could feel it. He knew it for sure.