Chapter 12
The rescue team Balfour had hired at great expense had been scouring the open sea for nearly a week, but there was still no sign of Lynne &
Exhausted and demoralized, the crew finally sent a representative to convince Balfour to call off the search. But before the man could even get a word out, one look from Balfour sent him retreating in silence.
Watching his employer fall apart day by day, Balfour’s assistant was left with no choice. He picked up the phone and called the Tobin family, and then Balfour’s closest friend, Sexton.N
By the time Sexton arrived, it was long past midnight. The rescue crew had already gone to rest, and the endless stretch of water was dark and wild. Balfour stood alone at the edge of the shore, letting the waves crash against him.
“Balfour, have you lost your mind?” Sexton rushed over and all but dragged him back from the water’s edge.
That was all it took for Balfour’s emotions–grief, rage, helplessness put m
finally come spilling out. He collapsed in the sand, overcome,
and screamed Lynne’s name across the empty expanse of water.
But the only answer was the relentless sound of the surf.M
Every ounce of strength seemed to drain from his body. He doubled over, dry heaving, unable to breathe through the pain.
Sexton watched, helpless, his own heart twisting at the sight.N
“Balfour, Lynne is gone. But you have to keep living. The company is falling apart–you can’t just abandon everything. You were barely holding your place in the Tobin family to begin with. If you keep going like this, all your hard work will be for nothing!”
“And what about Cynthia? You told me once, when you first saw her, it was like looking at your younger self–she moved you like no one else. Now that Lynne’s gone, don’t you think she’d want you to find happiness again? You don’t have to run away with Cynthia anymore. You could be together, out in the open. Isn’t that what you wanted?“M
Suddenly, Balfour’s body began to tremble uncontrollably–a physical reaction he couldn’t suppress. He let the tears stream down his face, as if his shattered heart could never be made whole again.M
He raised his fist and pounded it against his chest, again and again, as if trying to dull the ache that wouldn’t let him go.
“Sexton, I never imagined that losing Lynne would hurt like this–hurt so much!”
Lynne had been by his side for so long that he’d simply assumed, no matter what, if he turned back, she’d always be there waiting for him.
He’d gotten so used to her kindness–so used to taking her for granted–that he’d stopped seeing how much she gave.
It wasn’t until she was gone that he realized just how deeply she was woven into his very being. He’d convinced himself he could leave with Cynthia because he believed, deep down, that Lynne would always be there, keeping their home, holding onto their past.”
Balfour knew he was selfish. He wanted Lynne to love him wholeheartedly, flaws and all.
They’d seen each other at their worst. Even if his love for her had faded, he truly believed he’d never let her down.
But now, with her gone so suddenly, the grief and emptiness threatened to swallow him whole.
Only now did Balfour realize he loved Lynne far more than he’d ever let himself admit.
And yet, gentle as she was, she hadn’t even left him a trace to mourn.
Sexton’s own grief was written in his eyes, but he knelt beside his friend and tried to offer what comfort he could.
“Balfour, it’ll be all right. Somehow, everything will be all right.”
Balfour’s tears finally ran dry. He lay motionless on the cold ground, his eyes so swollen and sore he could barely see.}
A bitter smile twisted his lips. “Without her, will I really be all right?”
This time, there was no one left to answer him.2
Balfour’s mother never came to see him, and the Tobin family delivered their final ultimatum.!!
Before leaving, Balfour gave the ocean one last, lingering look.
He closed his eyes, took a slow, steadying breath, and then turned away. “Let’s go.”
Sexton had to help him walk. Balfour’s grief had been so overwhelming, he’d cried himself temporarily blind.
The Tobin family couldn’t find out. For now, Sexton became Balfour’s eyes.
