Crossroads by Irene Hannon

Tess Lockwood. So he needed to keep his distance. For both their sakes.
    â€œI’m sorry, Tess.”
    It was a simple but heartfelt comment. And it was all that needed to be said.
    â€œThanks. I am, too. Frankly, I never thought I’d end up being a single mom at thirty-six. I really believed in that ‘till death do us part’ vow we took before God, you know?”
    The wistful note in her voice tugged at his heart, and he could no longer resist the temptation. He reached over and covered her hand with his. “Don’t stop believing in it, Tess,” he said huskily. “It can happen.”
    His gaze locked with hers, and for just a moment she stopped breathing. And started believing.
    â€œCan I tell you something, Mitch?” she said impulsively, her throat tight with emotion.
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œYour wife was one lucky woman.”
    Tess wasn’t surprised that Mitch seemed taken aback by her personal comment. She was taken aback herself. But she was surprised by the raw pain that seared through his eyes. And by his response.
    â€œDana wasn’t all that lucky, Tess,” he said flatly. “Frankly, I wasn’t the best husband.”
    She gave him a skeptical look. “I have a feeling you’re being too hard on yourself.”
    He brushed her comment aside impatiently. “No. It’s true. I was too caught up with being a cop, working long hours and weird shifts. I loved Dana—but my job always came first. And a lot of things sufferedbecause of that.” He gazed at her directly, his face somber. “There are a lot of regrets in my past, Tess.”
    â€œYou don’t have a corner on that market,” she said gently. “I guess all we can do is learn from our mistakes and move on.”
    The ghost of a smile touched the corners of his lips. “You sound like my uncle. He’s always telling me the same thing.”
    She smiled in return. “And have you taken his advice?”
    â€œI’m trying.”
    â€œThat’s all any of us can do. That, and put our trust in the Lord. My faith was the one absolute in my life for a long time. Even when my world was falling apart, I knew that I wasn’t alone.”
    Mitch sighed. “I wish I could say the same. There was a time in my life when I felt totally abandoned and lost. But thanks to my uncle, I found my way back to my faith. That’s one of the things I’m most grateful to him for.”
    â€œSpeaking of your uncle…” Tess reminded him gently.
    Mitch glanced at his watch. There was no way he’d make the farm before dark. But somehow he didn’t care. His gaze connected with hers again, and there was an intensity in his eyes, a message in their depths, that made her pulse suddenly trip into double time. “He’ll understand. Besides, can I tell you something, Tess? When it comes to regrets, the past hour with you isn’t one of them. Except for that.” He reached over and gently tapped the edge of the burn with a whisper-soft touch of his finger.
    Tess gazed down, trying to still the staccato beatof her heart. She couldn’t very well say it, but she’d gladly burn the other hand for another hour with this special man. Not that it could ever lead anywhere, she reminded herself. Her first priority was Bruce, and the last thing she needed to do was complicate her relationship with her son by starting one with his enemy.
    â€œI enjoyed it, too,” she replied softly. “And the burn will heal.”
    But not her heart, she thought as they said goodbye. For just a brief moment she’d had a taste of something she’d never experienced, even in her marriage—a meeting of souls. She and Mitch had connected at some elemental level—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. In other circumstances, there would be great promise in this relationship. But she had to put her relationship with Bruce first. And