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All week, I’d respected her wishes and didn’t text one message to her.
She needed time, and I was going to give her that.
But I wasn’t going to let my flight risk have a reason to soar in the opposite direction of what we could build together.
Hearing the anguish in her voice had undone me, and I wished with every fiber in my being that I’d remembered to tell her that Clara had come to have coffee with us. It sounded reasonable when James devised the plan, and when Clara left, I’d assumed we’d finally put things in the past.
I hung up the phone with the hotel in town where I had arranged for Emily to spend the rest of her time there. Sheneeded sleep. I could hear it in her voice. I could see it when I was there.
The hotel knew that I was sending some packages. I only hoped Emily would take them with the lightness that they were intended.
I’d already reserved a rental car for her that would be delivered to her cabin this afternoon, along with the room key for the hotel.
My phone rang, and I saw it was my father. I answered quickly and stomped toward my bedroom in disgust that I even had to involve my parents, but it also forced me to tell them the entire ordeal I went through, and I was stunned at their level of support and shock.
“Hey, Lucas. I wanted to let you know the next steps.”
I took a seat at the end of my bed. “Okay.”
“There’s really nothing we can do regarding protective orders or anything like that. At the moment, we’re just dealing with a nuisance situation.”
“That is an understatement,” I muttered.
“I know, but our legal team feels strongly that a heavily worded letter, a cease and desist of sorts, will dissuade her from continuing any form of contact. She has a son. Her family won’t be thrilled that she’s been doing these things.” My dad cleared his throat. “But I’ve forwarded all the screenshots, the timeline of contact, and responses to our team.”
“When’s the letter going out?”
“We can look at this evening for approval, and then they’ll send it out tomorrow.”
I let out a sigh, noticing my knee bobbing.
“Thanks, Dad.” I groaned, rubbing my hand over my face in disgust.
“How are things with Emily?”
“She wanted space, and I’m giving it to her.” Saying the words suddenly brought the dread I’d been trying to ignore since the call with her last week.
“Oh, I see.” My dad went silent for a few seconds. “Is there anything we can do?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I don’t think sending Emily a letter from our legal team would be the best idea.”
My dad chuckled, too. “Probably not.”
“But I think things are going to be okay. I’m not going to give up on us. I’ve stayed silent for a year, trying to get her to see the guy I am, and I want to believe that’s enough.”
“It should be, Son.”
“I screwed up royally, though. I really did.”
“Emily strikes me as someone who lends grace easily.”
“I hope so.”
“And I hate to be harsh, but if she can’t see how much you love her and that you had no poor intentions with that interaction, you need to find that out now. Not later.”
“Yeah. No. I know.” I rubbed my eyes and let out a deep breath.
“Alright. Well, I’ll send over the letter as soon as I get it later. Oh, and your mom wanted me to tell you that she pulled out one of your grandmother’s poetry books and set it on the desk in the study at the orchard. Emily might appreciate seeing it when she returns.”
