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Curiosity wins.
I open the first envelope and pull out a small, folded letter. It says:
Petal,
My eyes widen in recognition.
Petal. Like the inscription on the Sterling diamond necklace.
I continue to read:
I think about you every moment we’re apart….
I scan down the rest of the letter. A love letter.
How sweet. Caleb’s parents were true romantics. They wrote each other love letters. What a beautiful thing. They must’ve been so in love.
But my eyes catch on the signature.
Forever, R
R? Wait. Maybe I’m mistaken, but I thought Caleb’s dad was Jacob. No, I’m sure it is. There’s a photograph of him, hanging in the lobby of Sterling Cross, with a gold placard underneath. Jacob Sterling.
I pull out another letter. Again, it’s to Petal, from this mysterious R. I scan down the page and find something:
You don’t know how happy I am to hear of your decision. Don’t lose faith, my love. One day, I swear to you, this will all be over, and you and I can be together.
Oh, my god.
I glance at the date and do the math in my head. This was a year before Caleb was born. So that means…
Annette Sterling was having a passionate affair.
I’m still gaping at the letter when I hear Caleb’s voice calling, “Juliet?”
Shit. Quickly, I gather up the letters and shove them back in the alcove, replacing the plank. Then I rush out to meet him, pasting a smile on my face. “Hi!”
“I wondered if the bears got you,” he grins.
“There are bears?!”
Caleb chuckles. “Don’t worry, I can take them.”
I smile. “Sure you can. With a shotgun.”
He pulls me in for a kiss, but my mind is still back with the letters, and everything they revealed.
Should I tell him?
It’s ancient history, it’s not like it could hurt him to know about it. But still… Why rock the boat?
Whatever happened in the past can’t make a difference to Caleb now. And the last thing he needs is more drama on his mind.
“Are you OK?” Caleb asks, drawing back with a puzzled expression.
“Fine,” I say quickly. “Great! Let’s get started on dinner.”
“Let’s…”
