He squeezed her hand. "I'm glad you told me. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. Nobody deserves that kind of pain."
"But don't you see? I do deserve it. I was a horrible, selfish person and everyone around me suffered as a result. Mark never got to be a father because of me and he certainly didn't get the devoted wife he deserved."
"Doesn't sound that way to me," Tyler said softly. "Sounds like he knew exactly who he married and loved her very much."
"I couldn't even keep his baby," she whispered. "I had a chance to bring a piece of Mark into this world after he died and I couldn't hold on to it. I'm like a black hole."
Tyler wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "You have a beautiful, shining soul, Alexis." He kissed her forehead. "And you didn't do anything wrong."
"I feel like I've failed everyone who's ever cared about me."
"You haven't failed me."
He kneeled down in front of her and stroked her cheek, their eyes still on each other. Alexis sat perfectly still, despite the heat radiating from her core. She knew he tasted of salt water and sunshine and she longed to taste him again. Her memory of Mark, however, kept her rooted firmly in place. Alexis didn't want to betray her husband. Her brain told her that she was ridiculous, that Mark would want her to be happy. Her heart, however, beat with caution. As it had taken the brunt of her pain, it seemed uneasy about forming new attachments. On the other hand, she'd found the strength to tell Tyler the truth and he hadn't rejected her. Tyler had described himself as a patient man, and Alexis was starting to believe him.
"You're too good for me, Tyler Barnes," she said.
"I'd like to hear more about Mark, one day when you feel ready," he told her.
"Sounds like a good guy. Smart enough to fall in love with you, anyway."
Grateful tears streamed down her cheeks, but she made no attempt to hide them. Tyler reached over and gently wiped one away. She rested her forehead on his, relieved that she kept her secrets no more.
"It's almost a new year, Alexis. Let it be a fresh start."
"Thank you, Tyler," she croaked. "I will try."
"I just want you to remember who you were. Who you still are."
Almost inaudibly she said, "I remember."
"I do have one more token of affection," he said, leaning down to retrieve something from his bag. "And now it seems even more appropriate."
He produced a tall box wrapped in silver paper with a single red ribbon threaded around it. "Merry Christmas, Alexis."