AllFreeNovel
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Inside the container is a snow globe with a bison. And a pack of Big Red.
My heartbeats resume, racing.
Mom and Cora saying my name is a faraway echo as I pop the lid of the display case, inhaling his scent, and remove the snow globe, turning it in my palm.
Devin.
I stare at my lap, the funny plastic bison blurring as my tears build.What does this mean?What—
Black smudges on the inside of the wrapping paper catch my eye. Not smudges, but…
“Daddy?” The plea falls from my lips like I’m a scared child. Burning my throat, much like the hope I’ve clung to for so long, burns in my soul.
Dad’s head dips, and his eyes say, “Read it, sweetheart.”
Clutching the snow globe, I pull my knees to my chest.
To the girl who never rips the wrapping paper, Nova Caroline Pratt. My Spitfire, Dimples,
Regardless of the name I use, who you are will never change. You are the woman I have been falling in love with since I was eighteen when you chastised me for watching you roam the Basilica of the Sacred Heart’s Cathedral rather than introducing myself.
Nova, I’ve been watching and waiting since day one. That boy, too stunned to approach you, is now a man too scared not to. Why has this taken so long?
Through the years we’ve found ourselves
we’ve protected others’ hearts over our own
we’ve suffered the misery of watching each other with another
As if we could find a spark with someone that would ever hold a candle to what lies between us.
Five and a half years, Nova.
We’ve played this game long enough.
Your dad has a ticket for you. It’s now or never.
All my love,
Dev,yourHotshot.
“You have a ticket?” I swipe at my tears with the back of my hand, unwilling to drop the snow globe or Dev’s letter to clean up my messy face.
“What is going on?” Mom’s voice drowns his reply, but I catch a nod.
Somewhere midway through reading, the dam broke. Devin’s intent in sending me this souvenir from our road trip becomes clearer. Myles’ hand rests on my spine, rubbing soothing circles. He hasn’t comforted me since Grandpa Kaminsky passed away over two years ago. Flashing him a grateful smile, I look around the room to find all eyes on me.
“Um, this is from Devin. He bought it on our road trip. While we were fighting, actually.” I can’t stop the half-sob-half-laugh that chokes me. “I guess you could say we do that a lot.”
Dad gives Mom a sideways glance with a rueful grin.
Cora’s head tilts. “So, why did he send it to you? What did his note say?”
I consider keeping the letter private, but my family has been on this roller coaster for just as long as Devin and I. “He says he’s tired of playing games and that Dad has a ticket for me.”
All eyes turn on Dad, who picks his cell off the couch arm and waves it. “Check your email.”
“My email?” I scramble to my feet. “I left my phone upstairs.” Leaping over legs and unwrapped gifts, I race to my bedroom. My phone is still plugged in, resting on my nightstand, so I scramble across my mattress and pull up an email forwarded from Dad.
