Free Never Say Goodbye by Irene Hannon Page B

bugging you?”
    â€œNot really. He called once. And stopped by. Then he sent his sister to try and convince me to talk with him.”
    â€œDid she succeed?”
    â€œNo.”
    There was silence for a moment. “Do you want some advice?”
    â€œNo. But why do I think that won’t stop you from giving it?” she said resignedly.
    â€œBecause you know me too well. Listen, would it hurt to talk to him, Jess? The man just spent three years in prison. Behind bars. Caged up like an animal. He’s had a lot of time to think about what happened. Maybe he has some things he’d like to say to you.”
    â€œMaybe I don’t want to hear them.”
    â€œMaybe you should.”
    Jess gave a frustrated sigh. “Nothing he can say will change anything, Mark. Our marriage is over, except in name. Elizabeth is dead. The life I knew with Scott is gone. I’ve started over. I see no point in rehashing old hurts.”
    â€œSo how are you sleeping these days?”
    At the abrupt change of subject, Jess frowned in confusion. “What?”
    â€œHow are you sleeping?”
    â€œWhat has that got to do with anything?”
    â€œMaybe a lot. Unresolved issues can prey on the mind.”
    â€œI don’t have unresolved issues,” she replied with more confidence than she felt.
    â€œI don’t buy that,” he said bluntly. “I never have. I think you need to talk to Scott and work through this. Look, Jess, I know you’ve vilified him in your mind. But you loved him once. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
    â€œNo,” she said flatly.
    Mark sighed. “Frankly, I don’t buy that, either. I know how much you two were in love. At the risk of getting sappy, it was almost magic to watch you together. But putting all that aside for a minute, I knew Scott, too. I’m not saying he was perfect. Or that what he did wasn’t wrong. But he was never a bad man. In fact, he had great integrity and principle. And he clearly believes that there are unresolved issues between the two of you. Deep in your heart, I think you feel the same way.”
    â€œSince when have you become a psychiatrist?” Jess said sarcastically.
    He refused to be baited by her tone. “I think it’s just common sense,” he replied matter-of-factly.
    â€œYou’re forgetting one thing, Mark.” A tremor of anger and pain rippled through her voice, and she took a steadying breath. “Scott killed my daughter. And I can never forget that.”
    There was silence for a moment, and when Mark spoke again his voice was sober. “I understand that, Jess. But that doesn’t mean you can’t forgive.”
    Jess drew in a sharp breath, feeling almost as if she’d been slapped. “You expect me to forgive him?” she asked incredulously.
    â€œI leave that up to you. But holding on to hate doesn’t seem very productive. In fact, it usually holds us back. Sometimes forgiving is the only way to move on.”
    Jess had no response to that. Because, though her mind denied the truth of Mark’s observation, her heart wasn’t so sure.
    â€œAre you still there?” Mark asked when the silence lengthened.
    â€œI’m here,” she replied stiffly.
    â€œListen, I’m sorry if I overstepped. But I care about you, Jess. I know talking to Scott would be difficult, but it also might free you once and for all from the anger that you’ve carried all these years.”
    Jess took a deep breath, and when she spoke she sounded weary—and spent. “I know you mean well, Mark. But this is something I have to deal with myself. And at this point I just don’t want to talk to Scott.”
    â€œWill you at least think about it?”
    She hesitated. “Maybe.”
    â€œThen enough said. Listen, I have got to get some rest. I’ll call you again in a few days, okay?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œTake care,