Blame it on Texas by Amie Louellen Read Free Book Online Page B

the radio. And so much was different. The barbed-wire tattoo that seemed to move of its own accord as his biceps flexed and relaxed. The braided leather bracelet he wore around one wrist.
    Ritt pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine. “What?” he asked.
    Had he known that she was staring at him, that she couldn’t take her eyes off him for more than a second?
    “What are we going to see?” Shelby asked as she slid from the truck.
    Ritt shrugged. “Whatever’s showing. They play classics every Friday night so there’s always something good.”
    The next movie was about to begin. Ritt bought two tickets while Shelby loaded up on snacks at the concession counter.
    But her heart sank as the movie started. It was a chick flick, the story of a woman so desperate to have a baby she hired her male BFF to be the father. Any other time Shelby might have enjoyed the movie, found it whimsical and entertaining, but sitting next to Ritt… More than one time before the credits rolled she had to wipe tears from her eyes. She hoped against hope that he didn’t see her cry.
    The sun was setting when they exited the theater. Shelby stopped, her hand on the door handle of the old Ford while she watched the sun splash orange, pink and purple across the endless Texas sky. She had missed the wild sunsets during her time in sunny California. Everyone there thought the sun setting on the ocean was the most beautiful, but they had never seen the endless sky in Texas.
    With a sigh, she climbed into the truck and tried her best not to think too much about the movie. Instead she focused on the cake she was about to decorate for her friends. But that made her think about the wedding scene in the movie and the chubby baby. Then the baby she lost and the man sitting beside her.
    She chanced a quick peek in his direction. His expression was unreadable, both hands on the wheel, gaze locked in the forward position. His shoulders were relaxed, but it was too casual to be anything but a front to hide what was going on in his own mind. What good would it do to bring it up now? It was water under the bridge as they say, and she had burned that bridge a long time ago.
     
     
    They rode in silence all the way back to Randall. Ritt drove through town and without a word pulled into the driveway.
    Shelby picked up her purse and opened the door. “Thanks for the movie.”
    “Yeah.” The one word was all he could manage through the knot of remorse in his throat.
    He waited a heartbeat before following her into the house.
    She was in the kitchen, staring into the refrigerator.
    “Hungry?”
    She shook her head. “I ate too much popcorn.”
    “Me too.”
    She flipped on the light and made her way into the living room. He followed behind her, somehow needing to remain connected to her. “Do you ever wonder…?” He shook his head.
    “Wonder what?” She gave him a questioning look, not realizing the turmoil raging within him.
    “What would have happened if…he would be in school this year, huh?” He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat.
    She gave him a wistful smile. “First grade.”
    He imagined himself taking a dark-haired tyke to school, Spiderman backpack on his shoulder and a Transformer smuggled in his pocket. He pushed the image away. It hurt too much.
    “I blamed myself for years.” Her quiet words fell on his ears.
    “It wasn’t your fault.”
    “I know that here.” She pointed to her head. “But it’s hard to convince here.” She covered her heart with her hand.
    Tears welled in her eyes.
    “Don’t cry.” He eased down next to her on the sofa, wrapped his arms around her and pushed her head to rest on his shoulder.
    They stayed that way for countless long minutes as they soaked both strength and remorse from each other. Ritt blinked back his own tears and continued to hold his wife. Hold her the way that he should have held her so long ago. But back then, full of pain and misery, she had pushed him away