Ward
Beth was due to arrive in town any minute, and I was freaking out. It had been entirely too long since I’d seen her, especially given the way I left home. She would never judge me for my choices, which was why Bella reminded me of her in so many ways. But, I would still worry about how she saw me, my new town, and my relationship. Would she think I could do better than menial work? Would she think Port Townsend was too dated, too quaint?
Ward
I had to be strong for Bella. For myself. She was right about that. Running was easier, and it had become the simple choice. It used to be, I never backed down from a fight. Prison had changed that about me, when I learned that fighting made things worse. Over time, they had beaten the urge to defend myself right out of me. Bella was worth more than that to me. I needed her like I needed air to breathe, and I would do whatever it took to keep her in my life.
Bella
I should have been shocked, but I wasn’t. Not after everything Ward had gone through already. He had to be the unluckiest man I knew.
