AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I waited forever for my parents to make themselves manifest. They could have knocked a book over or something, but not even a rustle happened. I had almost given up hope until there was a knock on the door. I didn’t think ghosts knocked.
“Em, are you in there?” Sawyer’s voice surprised me.
I sat up straight, still clutching the wedding photo. He wasn’t being very helpful with the Band-Aid ripping process. “I’m okay,” I yelled out, half-hoping he would leave it at that, but the other part of me yearned for him to do exactly what he did.
Sawyer walked right in, carrying a plate covered in foil.
I let the picture fall to my lap while I wiped my tearstained cheeks. “How did you find me?” I’d never let him in here before. He’d visited Mom’s grave with me behind the cabin, but for some reason I was saving this place to share with the person who I not only wanted to share forever with, but they had to be a willing victim. Sawyer only filled half of the requirements.
He gave me a sad smile. “You left your Jeep at the house and I could see you weren’t at your mom’s grave, so I figured you came in here. Em,” he walked closer, “I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for?” Other than making me fall in love with him.
He set the plate that smelled of Frankie’s baby back ribs on the coffee table in front of me before taking a seat right next to me, like our legs were touching we were so close. His long, muscular legs made my heart pitter-patter. The rest of him had my stomach doing an entire gymnastics routine. When he took my hand and squeezed it, it made my stomach feel as if it had just flung itself off the uneven bars and crash landed. I knew for him it was all in the name of friendship, but for me it made my heart take hope, and I couldn’t afford that. Yet when I peered into his eyes, they begged me not to pull away from him, so I let myself be tortured by his touch.
“Frankie wanted me to bring you dinner. She told me if I ate anything off the plate, she would stab me.”
I laughed. “I hope for your sake it’s all there.”
“I may have eaten half your roll.”
“You’re a brave man.”
“It was a long walk.”
“Since I like you so much, I’ll keep your secret.”
He tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. “I like you too, very much.”
Could I get a side of and by the way I love you and can’t live without you? No? I didn’t think so.
The picture on my lap captured Sawyer’s attention. “You look like your mom.”
“I wish.” She was so slender and beautiful in the photo, with long, cascading blonde hair. I looked more like my dad with brown hair and a solid build, though his was pure muscle.
“Wish granted,” he was kind enough to say. I didn’t argue, even though there was no way I looked like the stunning woman in the photo.
“Em,” Sawyer squeezed my hand, “I’m sorry about the dance. I know how much your family traditions mean to you. My mom does too.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. I had no doubt she knew; she just didn’t care.
“She’s not trying to hurt you.”
I had to keep my head down so he didn’t see the incredulous look on my face.
“Living in your mom’s shadow makes her feel insecure. She’s not trying to take anyone’s place; she’s trying to make her own place. Does that make sense?”
His comments slapped me right in the face. I’d never looked at it from Josephine’s point of view. If I was being honest, I saw her as someone who didn’t have feelings. I turned and looked at him.
A sweet smile filled his face. “I hate to see you so sad. Can you try and see this as a good thing?” He pointed at the picture I held. “I didn’t know your mom all that well, but judging by how happy she was in this picture and the ones I’ve seen of her and your dad, I would say she, better than anyone, would understand. I think she would even celebrate that your dad has found happiness again.”
That was the problem—I didn’t know if he was happy.
“I know for me, I’m glad my mom has finally found someone who treats her the way she deserves.” Could he shove the knife in any further?
I let out a deep breath that sounded more like shudders after a good cry. “Sawyer, so much has changed in the last year. I’m not trying to be selfish.”
“No one would accuse you of that. You are the least selfish person I know, unless cupcakes are involved.” He gave me a heart stopping smile, making me smile too.
