Nick watched the excavator’s bucket smash into the porch roof of the condemned house. In minutes the roof and the front porch were reduced to rubble. Within an hour, the entire building followed suit. The overgrown bushes and broken fence were leveled next.

He should have been pleased that his project was finally under way. His dad had started coming into the office everyday and he was happy about that. Getting his father involved in life again had been the whole reason he’d embarked on this journey in the first place.

So why did he feel like a big hole had been excavated through his chest?

Who was he kidding? He knew exactly why. Darcy hadn’t spoken to him in days. She’d been avoiding him, and when they did happen to run into each other in the house, she looked right through him as if he were invisible. Surprisingly, that hurt most of all. If she’d been angry, if she’d yelled and screamed at him and told him to go to hell, it would have shown she still felt something. Her indifference suggested he was less than nothing to her.

A sharp bark followed by a low snarl grabbed his attention. He looked down to see Stanley baring his teeth and looking as menacing as a dog his size could hope to achieve. Darcy held tightly to his leash, her attention riveted on the pile of rubble that had once been her grandmother’s home.

“So, it’s done.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard her. “So many years gone so quickly.”

“I’m sorry, Darcy. I know the house meant a lot to you.”

She looked at him then and he was relieved by the glint of anger in her eyes. Anger was a big improvement over invisibility.

“Maybe I couldn’t stop this demolition, but I won’t let you tear down the other two houses.”

He took a step closer. “I heard you refused to rent the condo our company offered you. I really wish you’d take it, even if it’s only to the end of the summer.”

“You’d love to get rid of me, wouldn’t you? I can assure you, it won’t be that easy. I told you before that I intend to fight you, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.” 

She pulled on Stanley’s leash and after directing a few more snarls at him, the dog followed her back to the Victorian, satisfied that he’d made his point. 

Nick watched them till they disappeared into the house, his heart heavy. Maybe if he’d told her about his plans and why they were so important to him, things would have been different.

He’d never know. It was too late for regrets, but he certainly had them.