"Do you truly believe that?" Melody asked. If Ben wanted her, he wouldn't have felt like they were in one big charade. He would've found ways to settle into their marriage as she had. The last year wouldn't have been so bloody difficult if he had ever wanted to be there. But, he didn't. He wanted out, a do over, a time turner. Anything to go back and hit reset.

Truthfully, so did she.

Melody fidgeted with her hands before looking up at him with watery eyes. "I would never stop you from being a father to our child. We can ... we can come to some kind of arrangement. Something that makes this situation tolerable." Already, Melody was envisioning Ben bringing another woman into their home — into his bed, a bed she hadn't ever shared. "You haven't been happy with me this past year ... a baby ... a baby won't change that." She reached over to where her handkerchief was discarded after her earlier episode and used it to dab at her eyes. So much for not crying.