22
Tom checked his watch. It was nearing 9:30 a.m. He kicked the last of the hay bales off the back of the Ute, jumped down, and stacked them with the others. Then, he began to make his way back to the house.
He wondered if there was a particular reason Laura wanted to see him. He knew she wanted to apologize, but that seemed like an arbitrary excuse. If anything, Tom needed to apologize to her. For more than Laura knew. Or would ever know, for that matter. He’d already said too much by declaring his feelings for her, and there was so much more he should have said. But there was nothing to be gained from telling Laura the one thing that he’d carried heavy on his conscience for so many years.
Tom sighed as his boots kicked up more mud onto his jeans. It was great having Laura back, but i
