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“Here you go,” he told her as he sat on the opposite end of the couch. She took the bag and was afraid to open it. She finally took a sip of her wine and let out a satisfied sigh.
“Dang, this is good,” she admitted.
“I was hoping it would get me in the door.”
She gave him an assessing look. “Why?”
“Do youreallywant to know?”
She wasn’t sure if she did want to know. She never had been one to like games, but at the same time, if they talked about this attraction that seemed to be mutual between them, what would it mean? Nothing could happen beyond the project they had, so what did it matter if they were attracted to one another? Then again, she’d never gone into a relationship knowing it was going to be nothing but fun. How bad would that be? It could be fun. She’d had friends in school who loved it.
“Yes, I do,” she finally said.
He smiled. “I want to be with you. I was hoping you’d be all warm and fuzzy if I brought the letters,” he told her without hesitation.
She felt heat in her cheeks. Then she laughed. “Well, I guess that’s about as clear as it gets,” she told him.
“You were too young for me when we were kids.” He paused and gave her an assessing look. “You aren’t too young anymore.” The hunger in his eyes ignited something within her that she was sure she’d never felt before. She loved the feeling. It was almost freeing, it felt so good. They’d shared a kiss earlier, and she wanted more.
“No, I’m not too young,” she said. She wasn’t sharing with him how she felt. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to do that.
“I like you, and I like how I feel around you. I wasn’t expecting this, and my life is sort of a mess right now, but it is what it is, and I think we’d be foolish to keep ignoring whatever this is between us.”
She looked at the bag of letters again. Focusing on their attraction to each other was a little hard for her to think about. This was Bass, who she’d known for a short while as a child, and who she was supposed to help now. She’d made a promise. She hadn’t been told she couldn’t have a little side romance though. Could she do it? Maybe.
“Did you read the letters?” she asked. She needed to stop fantasizing about a relationship with the man.
He shrugged. “Yep. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t stop myself.” He looked a little guilty but she appreciated that he wasn’t lying to her about it. That would be so much worse.
“I can’t remember them all, but I know I said a lot of things to Nana Bee that I never would tell anyone else.” He was obviously still telling her he wanted her evenafterreading her letters so she didn’t think he thought less of her after reading how pathetic she was.
Her emotions must show in her face more than she realized because he scooted closer to her and reached for her empty hand. She quickly took a large sip of her wine. She needed some liquid courage right then.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I know I shouldn’t have read them without your permission, but I’m glad to know what happened to you. It was horrific. I can see why Nana Bee loved you so much, and why she wanted to help you.” He paused and pulled out another envelope that was fat.
“What is that?” she asked.
He grinned. “It’s fifty-three thousand, six hundred and fifteen dollars,” he said.
She was seriously confused. “Why do you have an envelope full of cash?”
“It’syourmoney,” he said.
She shook her head. “No, it’s not. I don’t have one thousand dollars let alone fifty.” She laughed. It didn’t upset her, it just was what it was. The man was seriously crazy if he thought it was hers.
“You’re wrong,” he said. He pulled out a note and handed it over.
She looked at the note and there was zero chance of stopping the tears that instantly sprang to her eyes and overflowed. It was in Nana Bee’s handwriting, there was zero doubt about it, and the words were definitely from the woman Ella loved so much.
My dearest Ella,
I love you, and I love how hard you’ve worked to right the wrongs of your father. I’m so proud of you, and all you’ve accomplished. I know you needed to make these payments, and I’ve saved every single dollar of the money you’ve sent to me through the years. I knew one day I’d give it back to you. I also knew I’d have to wait until I was dead because you have far too much stubbornness in you. I love that stubbornness, though, because it’s helped you thrive when many would fall.
What’s amazing about that stubbornness as well is it has gotten you to this place in life where you’re confident, and I see your light shining brighter every single day. I loved you when you were a little girl sitting on my lap while we watched the sun set, and I love the woman you are now with the light of the sun shining in your eyes.
Here’s the deal, though, young lady, you can’t disrespect the dead, so if you try to turn this money away, I will haunt you for the rest of your life. I love you more than words can ever say. I’m proud of you. I have a few conditions for this specific money. You are to go on a vacation. I mean it. I want ten thousand of this money spent on an exotic location. You’ve never left this country and you have had dreams of lying on the beach and fishing in a warm ocean. I want you to buy all new clothes with more of the money, and especially some fabulous shoes.
I won’t dictate where you spend the rest of the money. Knowing you, you’ll put it into savings and go back to eating mac and cheese. But that’s okay, as it’s who you are. I can’t make you do these things, but I know you believe in heaven, which is where I am. If you want me to be at peace, you have to grant the last wishes of an old lady. It will be a treasure hunt for you to find all of the money. I left each payment you gave me in the original letter you sent. Sometimes it was five dollars, sometimes it was a thousand dollars. Thank you for being you, Ella. You truly brought more joy to my life than you could ever imagine.
