Page 59 of Be My Valentine

That same evening Mark knocked on Sarah Donovan’s door. She didn’t seem surprised to find him in front of her. He knew he looked terrible. His head had never stopped pounding; it was like having a jackhammer digging into his temple.

“Attorney Arrow, my daughter is not here.”

“I know, I’m here to talk to you, Mrs. Donovan, I beg of you, let me in.”

The woman sighed and motioned for him to come in and sit down.

“You probably heard from her on the phone, how is Kate?”

“Not well,” she answered him, “and you don’t look any better.”

Mark took his head in his hands.

“I screwed up everything. I betrayed her trust, and I don’t know if I’ll be worthy of winning her back; I hurt and bullied her. I just wanted to help her, but I was afraid she wouldn’t let me. Now I just need to talk to her. Please help me.”

“What would you like to say to her?”

Mark looked her straight in the eye.

“That I love her.”

Sarah Donovan peered at him for a long moment.

“She’s at Meg’s house.”

Mark tightened his eyelids, felt a small knot loosen.

“Thank you.”

He walked out and called his sister.

“I know where she is, I’m on my way to her.”

“No, Mark.” froze Emma, “Not like this. You’re not going over there desperate and hungover. I walked into your house; you drank like a fish.”

“I’m sober!” he yelled “And you’re not allowed to set foot in my apartment.”

“Come to me, Mark. If you really want her to come back to you, you need to get it right, and above all, you need to be completely sure.”

“I am, Emma. I am sure. I just now realized what your husband wanted to tell me.”

“Phil? What the heck does that have to do with anything?”

“He was the one who told me: as soon as I saw her, I knew it was her.”

“He should keep his mouth shut!” His sister hung up immediately.

For the first time since that damn Saturday night, Mark laughed: Emma accusing others of talking too much was definitely absurd. He went to her because there was no better person to advise him.

Chapter 22 / Kate & Mark

The most important thing in life is to love someone.

The second most important thing in life

Is to have someone love you.

The third most important thing