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“Don’t hurt yourself.” Her eyes widened. “I’ve seen the expression you have right now on Amelia’s face. You made peace with Gil. You made peace with Amelia. You spent a lot of time talking to Steven and I think you might have given him personal instructions should anything happen to you.” Leo stepped closer and held her shoulder. “Amelia will blame herself.”
“No, she…”
“She will blame herself if anything happens to you, Augusta. You came here today and you have to come back again and again if you truly want to make things right. Through the awkward conversations, the moments of anger, the tears. If you meant your words earlier, prove them.”
“I’m very tired, Leo.”
“All of us are tired.”
“Seeing her face to face...it’s been my dream for years. When I got out of p-prison, I hired someone to follow her. I wanted to make sure she was safe.” Augusta covered her face with her hands. “She wasn’t. She wasn’t safe, Leo.”
He carefully gathered her close and held her face to his chest. “She’s safe now.”
“That’s all I wanted to see…”
“Make up for everything, Augusta. Put in the time.” He leaned back and removed a handkerchief, gently wiping the older woman’s face. “I’m going to marry that woman as soon as I can talk her into it.”
“Leo!” She smiled through tears.
“One thing Amelia has always wanted to be was a mother. I’m going to make sure she gets the chance, one way or another. Show you’ve changed. Show you’ve grown as a person. Stick around and show her through your actions with our children that you’re not the same woman you were when she was eighteen. Don’t take the easy way out.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Let’s give it a year…”
“Then we’ll renegotiate. No more loss for Amelia, Augusta. I’m committed to keeping more than her physical body safe.”
Sniffing, Augusta wiped her face and nodded. “Alright, Leo.”
“Thank you. Drive carefully. See you tomorrow.”
He handed her into her car and closed the door. He watched until she was out of sight before returning to the house. Amelia met him at the door.
“Everything alright?”
“I think everything is on the road to alright.” He bent and kissed her deeply. “I love you.”
“I love you, Leo. Thank you for everything today.”
“You’re welcome. Each day will get easier.” Stroking his thumb along her jaw, he added, “Now, we have plans to take your mind off sadness. Let’s start checking things off the list.”
“Smartest guy I know.”
“A burden I must bear.”
Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and called for his parents. He had an important itinerary to fulfill.
They were losing daylight.
