“Dare,” she said as she put the baby on her shoulder and gently rubbed her back, “we need to talk.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dare looked at her, curious. “About what?” he asked. “Something to do with Soleil?” Then he grinned. “Has she been a naughty princess? I know she loves to boss her mommy around.”
“No,” Erin said, her voice solemn. “It’s about me.”
Dare frowned. “About you? Is everything alright?”
She shook her head. “No, but let me set the baby down for her nap and then we’ll talk.” Still rubbing Soleil’s back she got up and headed for the nursery.
Dare stood there in the sitting room, confused. Erin had seemed so peaceful when he’d come in but now he could sense her agitation and it bothered him. It had something to do with this Robyn woman, he was sure. Her whole demeanor had changed at the mention of Robyn’s name.
He threw off his jacket and dropped on to the sofa to await her return. He didn’t have to wait long. Erin approached and her face was serious. Whatever she wanted to talk about was not going to be fun.
She sat in the chair across from him and folded her hands in her lap. She was so beautiful, with her dark hair curling around her face and onto her shoulders, and those hazel eyes that were so expressive. Now, though, they were clouded over with what looked like heartfelt pain. He sat up and reached for her hand but she pulled it back.
“What’s going on, Erin? Is something wrong with you?” At her nod his heart jerked inside his chest. “Are you sick?”
She shook her head.
“Then what is it?” he demanded, beginning to lose patience. She had him on pins and needles and was taking her own sweet time in clearing up the mystery. “Just spill it.”
She sighed. “All right, I will.” She plucked at the fabric of her yellow sundress and then began to twist it with her fingers. Clearly, what she had to say was not easy for her. “I’ve not been honest with you, Dare. I’m not who you think I am.”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She sucked in a deep breath then let it out slowly. “It means, when I tell you who I really am you’ll probably want me out of your life. For good.”
That gave him pause. What in the world could Erin have done to let her say something like that? He loved her. Couldn’t she see that? There was nothing that could make him want her out of his life.
“Tell me,” he said. “Let me be the judge.”
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and for several seconds she worried the lip until finally she opened her mouth to speak. And when she did, her voice was a hoarse whisper. “I know how important honesty is to you,” she said. “You said it yourself. You said it was the most important thing to you in a friendship. And that’s why I know you’ll hate me for this.”
“What are you talking about, Erin?”
"My parents died when I was twelve and I grew up in foster care.” She’d begun wringing her sundress again. “I was moved from home to home and some of them were…awful.” She gave a hiccup up at the last word. She seemed on the verge of tears. “At one of the homes, I had to struggle to survive. I often went without meals. Once, at school, I was so hungry I passed out."
Dare held his breath. He could already guess what she was about to say.
"One day I just cracked. I walked into a convenience store and...I stole three candy bars,” she whispered then put her fists to her mouth as a sob escaped her lips. “The owner, he was watching the security camera and he saw what I did. He shouted at me and I ran. And then...and then he chased me out the door and into the street.” She dropped her face in her hands and began to cry in earnest. "He grabbed me and I couldn't get away. And then the police came."
Dare went over to kneel in front of her then he pulled her into his arms. “Hush, it’s okay, honey. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay,” she said, wrenching herself out of his arms. “I’ve lived with the guilt all these years. Before I married you I should have told you but I didn't have the courage. How could I tell you that you were marrying a criminal?”
“It wasn’t your fault, Erin. You were a victim of your circumstances..”
She shook her head violently. “No, it was all my fault. I should never have done that. I...don't know what came over me."
"It's okay, honey. I don't hate you for what you did. We all make mistakes. It's okay." For a long while Dare was silent, just holding Erin, rocking her in his arms. Gradually her trembling ceased and her breathing calmed. Only then did he speak. “Robyn knew about this, didn’t she? She used this information against you.”
Her head still resting against his shoulder, Erin nodded. “She threatened to tell you everything. I’m guessing that’s what today’s call was about.”
Dare put a finger under Erin’s chin and lifted her face to his. “Know this, Erin DeSouza. I love you and there is nothing about you or your past that will make me stop.”
Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “Dare, what are you saying? You’ve never told me you loved me.”
“I know. I was a fool. It was a secret I kept to myself but I’m telling you now. I love you, Erin. You and Soleil are my life. I want you with me forever.”
Her face crumpled and he could see she was struggling to hold back the tears . “Do you mean it, Dare? Don’t play with me.”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” His grip tightened round her. “You’re mine and you can keep digging up all the skeletons you want. You’ll never scare me off. You’re never going to get away from me, Erin. You’re trapped with me on this island. I’ll hide your passport if I have to.”
To his relief that got him his first smile from her. “You won’t have to,” she said, smiling through her tears. “You have me for life.”