AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Luke made a U-turn and drove a few blocks over to the deli across the street from the courthouse. When he walked inside, an older man, who appeared to be the only staff in the building, greeted him with a welcoming smile.
“Let me know when you’re ready,” the man said, washing his hands and then putting on a pair of gloves.
Luke placed his order, then walked a few steps over to the register. As he waited, he pulled out his phone and texted Jeremiah, letting him know he was just now picking up the food and would be home soon.
After Luke pressed the send button, he spotted an old notification on his phone from Emma he hadn’t opened. It was a photo album she had shared with him, entitled Since the Day We Danced. The album was a chronicle of their romance, and as he scrolled through the images, his heart was filled with bittersweet memories of their time together.
But it was one particular photo that caught his eye—a snapshot of the two of them dancing in Emma’s yard as Riley looked back at the camera. Luke remembered how difficult it was to prop her phone up against the Range Rover because of the wind and how she’d come up with the ingenious idea of using a Bluetooth remote to take the shot.
Together, they had clasped their hands tightly around the remote, and as they squeezed their fingers together, the camera had captured a perfect moment. The image was bathed in the warm, golden colors of a setting sun, illuminating Emma’s charming cottage and Riley’s infectious smile. But more than anything, it captured what it felt like to be in love again.
As Luke gazed at the photo, he was overwhelmed by the flood of emotions that coursed through him. All at once his heart was warmed and was crushed by anguish, realizing those moments were over forever.
He knew it would be best to remove the album from his phone, as those photos would only keep him in the past when he needed to move forward. Maybe it was time to move on, he thought to himself. As he moved his finger to the top right corner of his phone to delete the album, an iPhone warning popped up:
Deleting this album will permanently erase all of its contents. Are you sure you want to proceed?
His chest tightened as he let out a deep breath. Although everything around him told him it was over, in his heart, he hadn’t really accepted it. They weren’t just photos to him. They were the evidence that happiness could be found again, even after the most devastating losses. He couldn’t let go of that hope. Not today, at least.
He snapped out of his daze as his order was completed.
“It’s gonna be $16.58, sir.”
Luke closed out the photo album and held his phone up to the card reader to pay. The man behind the counter handed over the bag of subs.
“Hope you have a good day, sir.”
Luke gave a single nod, taking the bag. “Thanks, right back at you.”
***
Arriving home, Luke closed the front door behind him and walked into the kitchen.
“Jeremiah! I’ve got dinner!”
Jeremiah came running downstairs. “Great. I’m starving.”
Luke set the subs down at the table before filling two glasses with water, handing one to Jeremiah.
“So, how’s the study going?” Luke asked, pulling a chair out to join him at the table.
“It’s been going pretty well,” Jeremiah said. “I skipped the math portion since I didn’t have the calculator, and I’ve already done English and Science. Next is History.”
“Well, you’ll probably breeze through that section,” Luke said, unwrapping his sub. “I saw the videos your mom took at your history tournaments, you know. You’re a natural when it comes to that stuff, Jer. Much better than me. I think you get that from your mom. She was always a whiz at trivia nights.”
“Trivia nights?” Jeremiah asked, stuffing his mouth.
Luke’s face broke into a wide smile. “When we were first married, we used to go to trivia night at this bar down the street from our first apartment. We won a couple of times, all thanks to your mom.”
“She never told me that.”
“That’s surprising. She was so proud every time we won; and she wouldn’t let me forget it was because of her.”
“I didn’t know you used to do stuff like that together.”
“That was back when I wasn’t working so much and actually had time to have a life. We used to have a blast, me and her,” Luke said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “But then you came along and ruined all the fun, of course.”
Luke leaned over and ruffled Jeremiah’s hair.
