Free Meant to Be (RightMatch.com Trilogy) by Kathryn Shay

bad when a client leaves to go back to her abuser. But it’s the way with them.”
    “He won’t change.”
    “Statistics support that.” Carolyn leaned over and squeezed her hand. “But she’s not ready to get him out of her life. When she is, I told her we’d be here for her.”
    A swell of admiration surged through Beth. “You’re a saint.”
    Carolyn snorted. “Will wouldn’t say that.” Her husband, whom she talked about fondly.
    “Will’s a lucky guy.”
    It wasn’t until Beth was driving home that something occurred to her. She’d been unable to stop thinking about Mary returning to a situation where she was bound to get hurt. She’d always wondered why women did that. She knew intellectually the cycle of battering, but in her heart, she hadn’t understood how women could make the decision to stay with a man after he’d treated her badly.
    But hadn’t she made a similar decision Sunday? Hadn’t she’d gone back to a man who’d lied to her and agreed to try a life that was doomed to failure?
    No, no, it wasn’t the same thing. Cole would cut off his hand before he’d hurt her.
    He has hurt you Beth. What’s more he’s put you in an impossible position.
    The notion depressed her.
    o0o
    In Beth’s boat, Cole let the wind ruffle over him as he watched Beth at the helm. Dressed in white pants and a windbreaker, like him, she stood straight—stiff—as the breeze played tug-of-war with all that hair. He’d covered his with a ball cap, but she’d said she liked going without a hat.
    As the boat slapped hard against the water, sending up spray, she glanced over her shoulder. “Doing okay there?” She looked healthy today, her cheeks ruddy. And she seemed rested. But there was no sparkle in her eyes.
    “Doing great. Want me to take over for you? I have driven a boat, you know.”
    “Nope. I’m good.”
    He’d heard this all week. I’m good…I’m fine…Really, this is okay…
    Now she was the one who was lying. After the awkwardness of Sunday morning and the monumental decisions they’d made, he’d wanted to make love while Ellie had slept, but she’d refused. Her excuse was that the baby could awaken any minute. Believe me, that isn’t a pretty sight when a kid starts squalling right in the middle of your big moment.
    He’d laughed as she’d apparently wanted him to, tried to brush off the meaning of the comment and planned a time to see her alone. They should be starting out slowly, anyway, and Ellie didn’t have to be with them all the time. So they’d made the date for this Wednesday morning.
    She swerved the boat into a little cove and slowed the engine. “Want to stop here for breakfast?”
    “Love to. I’m starved.”
    When she cut the engine, the silence, the absence of the roar of the motor, was shocking. After she tossed down the anchor, she came up to him and slid her arms around his waist. Leaned into him. Comforted him with her body. “You look cute dressed up as a sailor.”
    “Thanks, Cap.” He squeezed her bottom. “You look cute, too.”
    They unfolded a table, which was tucked away between the seats, then Beth unloaded the picnic basket she’d brought along. She drew out sweet rolls and inhaled their scent. “Hmm. They smell delicious. Our cook took them out of the oven before we left.”
    He watched her lay out Canadian bacon, kept in a hot container, buttered toast and orange juice along with the rolls. She poured steaming coffee out of a thermos and handed him a cup. “This is nice, Beth, thanks.”
    They ate heartily and drank more coffee. Then she focused on him. “I hate that we’re being so polite to each other.”
    “I know what you mean. There’s a strain between us.”
    Grasping his hand, she kissed his fingers. “I don’t know what to do about it.”
    “Talking doesn’t seem to help, does it?”
    She shook her head. “I’m sorry I feel awkward about your daughter.”
    Ellie. Say her name. “I know. It was nice of you to ask her to