Can we talk? Sure. He stepped inside and saw the boxes stacked near the hallway. Lindsay told us what happened. I assumed she would.
She says you canceled the wedding without giving her a chance. I looked at him. She slept with her ex 3 weeks before marrying me. Richard's expression changed. She told me it was for closure.
That was her explanation. He was quiet for a moment. Did she tell you she had been talking to him for 6 weeks? He stared at me. No.
Did she tell you she booked a hotel before meeting him? His jaw tightened. No. Did she tell you she told him she would leave me if he wanted her? Richard slowly sat down.
She didn't tell us that. I know. He rubbed his forehead. After a long silence, he said, then I understand why you canceled it. I nodded.
I never wanted your daughter humiliated. I know. I wanted to marry her. That's why I took the relationship seriously. Richard looked toward the boxes.
She made a terrible decision. She made several. He stood. I won't defend what she did. Thank you.
Before leaving, he stopped at the door. For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing. After he left, Lindsay called. I answered. You spoke to my father.
Yes. What did he say? He understands. She was silent. Charlie, I want to come home.
You don't live here anymore. I mean, I want to come back to you. I closed my eyes for a second. No. You can't just throw away everything.
I didn't. Then what did you do? I stopped a wedding that shouldn't happen. Her voice broke. I love you.
I believe you. Then why isn't that enough? Because love isn't the only thing required to build a marriage. She didn't answer. I ended the call.
For the first time since this started, there was nothing left to argue about. Six weeks after the wedding was canceled, Lindsey asked me to meet her at a quiet cafe near the marina. I almost declined. Then I agreed. Not because I wanted to restart anything.
I wanted the ending to be clear. She was already sitting in the corner when I arrived. She looked different, less polished, less certain. "Thank you for coming. " she said. I sat across from her.
"You have 20 minutes. " She gave a small, sad smile. "You always did like making things simple. " "I don't have anything left to complicate. " She looked down at her coffee. "I thought you would fight for me. " "I did. " "When? " "Every day before you decided to sleep with David. " She shook her head. "I mean after. " "I thought you would get angry, say things you didn't mean, then come back. " "I wasn't interested in doing that. " "Why? " "Because you already made your decision. " "I was confused. " "You were. " She looked up. "But I chose you in the end. " "No. " Her eyes narrowed.