Dying to Marry Him novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: The Sequel I Won't Write

Rook held the page out to me in front of the whole house.

His hand was steady. His eyes were not.

I took it, and the paper was warm from his glove.

It was my handwriting, from a girl who thought sad was the same as true.

I read the list once, down to the three words at the bottom.

Sad. Beautiful. Done.

I had underlined Done twice.

The pews, the booth and the ceiling all went away, and I was twenty-two at my mother's table with a mug of cold tea, feeling clever.

I had thought a ruined man was romantic.

"Sixty-one," I said. My voice sounded strange.

"Kerensa," said Rook.

"Sixty-one women, because a kid wanted a pretty last line."

"You did not do that. Gilt did."

"He did it from my notes!"

I heard myself shout it, and Loretta's hand landed on my back, solid and warm.

"Honey. Breathe."

I breathed. Then I turned on Rook.

"You've had this since the morning."

"Yes."

"You let me stand there at noon in front of the whole room, and you knew what the forged page was copying, and you said nothing."

"I did not think you could carry it."

"That is not yours to decide!"

He took it without a flinch. "I know."

"Then why?"

"Because when I read it, I thought, she will blame herself for every one of them." His voice dropped. "And I did not know how to stand next to you while you did."

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