AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My Dearest Luke,
I know that by the time you read this, I will no longer be with you. Please know that my love for you will always endure, even beyond death. I want you to know that I’m at peace and that I have no regrets. I have lived a life full of love and joy, and that is because of you. You brought so much light into my life, and for that, I will always be grateful.
As for Jeremiah, I left you a few letters to give to him at a later time: one for after I pass, one after his graduation, and one on his wedding day. Encourage our son to pursue his dreams, whatever they may be. He’ll do great things. I just know it.
And lastly, I want you to find love again. You deserve it, and I want nothing more than for you to be happy. Whoever she is, let her know that I’m thankful for her.
I know that losing me will be hard, but please don’t let it consume you.
Remember, my love will always be with you. Keep it close to your heart and know that I will be watching over you and our son.
Until I see you again,
Kate
The bittersweet memories with Kate made his chest fall heavy as he wiped the tears from his eyes. Luke closed the album and placed it on the shelf, continuing to unpack, finding solace in the route of putting things where they belonged. With a final glance around the living room, he headed to his office to log in for few virtual meetings he needed to attend this morning.
As he waited for the computer to power up, he heard the sound of paws pattering against the hardwood floor. The dog came sauntering into his office, his tail wagging before letting out a high-pitched bark.
“Do you want to go outside? There’s a nice, big backyard you can play in,” Luke said. “Come on, let me show you.”
The fenced-in backyard was a perfect space for the dog to roam free and play. Luke watched him for a few moments as he ran off to sniff at a bush, then headed back to his office. The dog seemed at home in the backyard, which made Luke feel better about leaving him out there for a little while so he wouldn’t be distracted during his meeting. He left the door cracked open in case the dog wanted to come back inside.
As Luke settled in for his meetings, he couldn’t help but feel distracted by thoughts of the lost dog. He kept checking the community Facebook page to see if anyone had responded, but so far there was no news. He hoped the dog’s owner would see the post soon and come forward.
During a break, Luke went outside to check on the dog. He found him lying in the sun, contentedly chewing on a stick. The dog looked up and wagged his tail as Luke approached.
“You must miss home, don’t you?” Luke said, squatting down and scratching the dog’s ears. “I hope we can find your owner soon, but in the meantime, you’re welcome to hang out here for as long as you need.”
Just then, Luke’s phone started to vibrate. The ID read Hadley Cove Police Department. Panic rose in Luke’s throat as he made a hasty retreat from the backyard and answered the phone.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Grayson?” a gruff voice on the other end asked.
“Yes, this is him. How can I help?”
“This is Sheriff Daniels. Are you the father of Jeremiah Grayson?”
A knot formed in Luke’s stomach. “I am. Has something happened?”
“Yes. I’m afraid your son has been involved in an assault, with him being the aggressor. The other boy who was involved is at the doctor right now, getting stitches.”
Luke bit his lip, feeling frustration bubbling up inside him. They hadn’t even been in Hadley Cove for two days and already Jeremiah was in trouble. Real trouble. “I’ll be right there.”
With a trembling hand he hung up the phone and brought the dog back inside. He snatched the keys from the counter and walked out to the car, slamming the door behind him with a muttered curse. As he drove, he couldn’t help but think this was not the fresh start he had hoped for. All of their troubles were supposed to be left behind in Chicago.
When Luke arrived at the station, he saw Jeremiah slumped in a chair next to the sheriff’s desk, looking sullen and defeated. Luke’s anger simmered beneath the surface as he stormed over to his son.
“What were you thinking, Jeremiah? I told you to get groceries, and you end up getting into a fight?”
A man holding a few papers approached from behind. “Mr. Grayson? I’m Sheriff Daniels. We spoke on the phone earlier.”
Luke turned around. “Yes, hello Sheriff. Can you tell me what happened?”
Jeremiah looked up at his father in disbelief. “You could at least hear my side first.”
With an impartial tone, Sheriff Daniels delivered the news, “It seems they got into a scuffle in front of the supermarket. Jeremiah pushed him, and he fell onto some broken glass from a beer bottle, slicing his hand pretty badly. The parents of the other boy will be pressing charges against Jeremiah.”
