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‘You don’t—’
He’s already rising, and as he passes he rests a gentle hand on my shoulder. ‘Take as long as you need.’
And then he leaves, and the silence is so very heavy...the new letter heavier still...
Oh, Katherine, what are you doing to me?
I open the envelope, pull it out. My gaze goes to the grey outdoors as I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly.
And then I read, and I keep reading and reading and reading, the same paragraphs on repeat...
Dearest Summer,
I know you are scared. The day I met you, behind that brazen smile and tough attitude, I saw a scared little girl desperate to be loved and terrified of it all the same.
I should have stepped in all those years ago when I saw the magic you and Edward shared. It reminded me so much of what I had with Ben, God rest his soul.
We were together ten years before life cruelly took him away and, yes, it hurt. Ripped me apart. But would I have chosen differently? Would I have chosen not to love him and be loved in return? Never in a million years.
The truth is, going through life alone may well be safe, and it may well stop your heart from breaking, but your heart will never feel full or satisfied.
You will always be seeking the next adventure, Summer, until you realise that Edward is yours.
Open your heart to it. Let him in. And in turn he will give you the greatest adventure of all.
Make Glenrobin a true home again. Fill it with children, with dogs, with whatever your heart desires. But above all fill it with love and laughter and find your true happiness, my daring girl, because you deserve it all.
Love,
Gran x
I press a hand to my quivering lips but it’s no good. I’m shaking from the inside out. Tears are streaming down my face.
This morning there was nothing, no scenario I could think of, that would have changed my mind, but I didn’t anticipate this.
I feel like she’s in the room with me, her eyes soft and sincere—hard and severe, too.
‘Oh, God, Katherine.’
I stare at the paper, the words a blur. I’ve prided myself on my strength to go through life alone, to run when I need to, to protect myself because no one else will. To go on adventure after adventure, seeking a happiness that’s always out of reach.
Not in Edward’s arms, though. In Edward’s arms I had it all—just as Katherine predicted. Happiness. Contentment. Love.
And I threw it all back at him out of fear when he chose to be so very brave.
‘Oh, God, Edward...’
I shoot out of my seat. I need to get to him. I need to get to him now.
Please don’t let it be too late.
Please, please, please...
Edward
‘Is she in there, Charles?’ I stride through his reception area, interrupt the conversation he’s having with his secretary. ‘Answer me, man.’
‘Why, yes...’ He straightens away from her desk, eyes wide with surprise. ‘How did you...?’
