Free Long Time Running by Hannah Foster Page A

her. It was as though every cell in her body had been dormant all these years and with the briefest of touches he had awakened them. How now, would she be satisfied with anything less than feeling like
     that?
    As the door cracked open, she looked up hopefully and tried to hide her disappointment as Keith came through. She should love him. She should want to make a life with him. But she didn't. She wanted to feel like she felt with Eric and no matter how good or kind Keith was that was never
     going to happen.
    "Morning," she greeted him with forced brightness.
    "Hi," he replied quietly as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I've booked a ticket home," he said. "For
     tonight."
    Her eyes widened in response. There was something in his tone, in his body language, that told her he wasn't just leaving to go home, he was leaving for good.
    "I'm sorry" she told him softly.
    He shrugged, clearly trying not to betray how hurt he was. "Is there....is there any chance that you will ever love me completely?"
    She opened her mouth, her usual protests at the ready but a
     voice in her told her it was time to start telling the truth. She owed it to this man who had been so good to her.
    "No" she whispered, hating herself for hurting
     him.
    Keith gave a brief nod. "The...uh....your locket - what's in your locket, the reason you moved to Africa - it all comes back to Doctor Smitherman, doesn't it?"
    "Yeah. We....we were together for a long time. I was
     very much in love with him-"
    "You still are," he told her pointedly with a small flash of anger.
    She nodded regretfully. "Yes. Keith...I....I never thought I would be back here. I never thought I would see him again and I was
     sure - I was hoping - that with enough time and distance I would be free to love someone else. To love you."
    "That's ridiculous," he snapped before taking a
     deep breath and steadying himself. "Nat, the heart doesn't recognize time or space. Living a continent away was never going to help you get over him, not unless you wanted to. I just...I just wish that I had been enough to make you want to."
    "I wanted to Keith, I did, it's just - it's complicated."
    "It always is with you," he pointed out truthfully.
    She nodded in agreement. She had not been fair to him and
     Mylea had warned her about the need to be honest with him. "You are a good man and I wouldn't trade our memories for anything. I care for you very deeply."
    "But you will never love me. You will never love me
     like you love him, will you?"
    Her eyes welled with tears as she shook her head. "No."
    He nodded, acknowledging her response. "Nat," he paused hesitantly. "Who's Jack?"
    Nathalie's gasp indicated he had shocked her with his question. "Wh-what?"
    "You call out for him in your sleep sometimes. I thought if anything, he might be the reason you couldn't let yourself love
     me."
    "He's someone I knew a long time ago." she said as her voice broke, unable to look him in the eyes.
    "Okay, then" he said hoarsely, his own eyes filling with tears. Leaning forward, cupping her face with his hands, he
     pressed a long, lingering kiss to her forehead. "I hope you find what you are looking for," he whispered.
    Before she could speak, he sprang to his feet and disappeared out the door. Hot tears tumbled down her face. The truth may set
     you free but no one ever said you would feel good in the process.
    #
    "No! For the love of God Sarah, enough is enough!" Eric snapped angrily, bringing his hand down on the desk.
    Her long years in the courtroom had trained her not to react to displays of emotion and so she sat across from him in his office, primly with her hands folded on her lap and waited until he took a breath.
    "I am his guardian and I am her sister and I think this is for the best."
    "You are his guardian because she thinks he has been adopted. I'm no lawyer - just a brain surgeon - but I'm pretty sure you are on
     some shaky legal ground here counselor." He allowed himself a small triumphant smile as