Emmeline was at risk of the damn breaking and tears streaming down her face and she felt so stupid for it. Why was it that men had such a way with turning her into a blubbering mess in such a way? She was back to thinking the spinster life was best.

"I understand, Charlie," she said softly as he released her hand but she couldn't look to him again, not yet, "I really do. But..With the things I've been through I can't get my hopes up. I need truth and honesty. I need to know things or all I do is overthink. And overthinking, reading into things the wrong way, they destroy me." She was being far too honest she realized. It was too deep and too personal.

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