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Conversations swirled around his he would normally have been a part of but as he overheard snippets froly aware of how life had continued for all of the to resent them for it, but he did—fiercely The uninterrupted way their lives had moved on after Bree only made his empty world so much more hollow—the void in his heart echo that much more

He looked to Catherine to see how she was coping This had to be hard for her, too, but she appeared to be taking it all in her stride—not afraid to shed a tear or two over a shared er to hear everyone’s news after her ht his gaze and he could see the concern reflected in her eyes—eyes that were very like Ruby’s and reminded him so much of Bree

And there it was again—the pain, the loss, the anger at having all that perfection torn away fro Bree from his life, forever Catherine pushed herself to her feet and, adeptly using one crutch, crossed the short distance between them She laid one hand on his shoulder

“She’d have loved this, wouldn’t she? Alexis has done a great job”

“Everyone contributed,” he said abruptly

“But Alexis brought us all together We needed that It’s been long overdue I know I’ to miss her, it would be impossible not to, but I feel better today, y’know?”

He nodded because it seemed to be the response she expected, but inside he was screa about This was all too hard He couldn’t find it in him to allow himself to enjoy the company of everyone here today He needed space, silence, solitude The uests he slipped out the room and toward the front door Once he had it open he walked through the entrance and kept going into the night—down the unsealed lane that led to the winery, past the winery and on down the hill until he could go no farther unless he wanted to swim the inky dark waters of the harbor

He waited until the h in the sky before he clah his clothing, his long-sleeved cotton shirt—fine in the centrally heated interior of the house—was totally unsuited to the outdoors Initially he’d barely noticed it Noever, he was frozen through and through

The outside lights were still on at the house when he got back but, he noted with relief, the large parking bay outside was devoid of cars He slipped back inside and decided to go directly to his room He had no wish to see Alexis and face her silent or,the party this evening He just wanted to be alone Couldn’t anyone understand that?

“Raoul? Is that you?”

Alexis, dish towel still in hand, stepped out of the kitchen and into the hallway He halted in his tracks—frozen like a possu vehicle She was the last person he wanted to face right now