I feel her eyes on me all the way out of the building, but I’m not about to stop and explain. I’m close with my employees, but not to the point where I’m comfortable discussing my personal life.
Once I’m in my truck, I pause for a moment to catch my breath.
It wasn’t that long ago that I thought of Emma again, and all the things unsaid between us. The way she left was on my mind for a long time after it happened, and I moved on—I had to.
But it’s always bothered me that I wasn’t understanding the way I should have been.
When I spend time with my sister and her husband, the memories come flooding back.
I start the truck up and pull out of the carpark and into the traffic. It’s only a five-minute drive to the street where this woman’s house is—I still could be wrong.
It might not be her.
Slowing to a crawl until I’m almost opposite the address, my breath catches when I see a woman in the front garden.
I pull over and kill the engine. She can’t see me through the tinted windows.
Despite the years, it’s undeniably Emma. My Emma. After all this time, maybe I have the chance to speak with her, and make up for the last time we saw each other.
It wasn’t pretty.
We were so young, and I couldn’t wrap my head around her leaving me.
“Why? Why are your parents doing this?”
Her blue eyes are so sad. “I don’t know. Dad’s sold everything. It’s scary.”
“And you’re leaving with them.”
She touches my arm. “What choice do I have, Caleb? It’s not as if I have anything of my own. I can’t leave home.”
“We can work something out. Please. I’ll talk to my parents.”
Emma’s eyes fill with tears. “We’re going in two days. If we had more time …”
She’s right. I know she’s right. But my stubborn, stupid teenage heart didn’t want to acknowledge it.
“You don’t want to stay.”
“That’s not true.” The tears roll down her cheeks. “I want to be with you. But I’m not being left with a choice.”
I bury my head in my hands. I’ve never felt anything like this before. I’m so in love with Emma, and she’s breaking my heart.
God, I was so selfish. Back then, I didn’t know any better and our parting wasn’t pleasant.
And then she was gone with no way for me to apologise. I never stopped looking. When social media arrived, she was the first person I searched for, and even though I never found her, I would search from time to time.
And now she’s here. I have no idea where she’s been or what she’s been doing for the past twenty-seven years.
She looks so good as she moves her way around her front garden.
The years fall away as I’m unable to take my eyes off her.
I’m so sorry.
Neither of us had any real power to do anything back then. Seeing her again is the balm to my soul I didn’t know I needed.
Her long, blonde hair hangs free down her back, and jeans hug her curvy hips.
