AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Foronce,Ipopout of bed in the morning, ready to start the day.Ready to see her.
With Margo in my life, I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing a lot more sunrises. After all, every moment wasted on sleep is a moment I could be spending with her.
I rush up the stairs to the roof, somehow knowing she's already there, waiting for me. And she is.
She’s so beautiful, standing against the rail, looking at the crashing waves with her hair blowing in the breeze. I follow her gaze to the beach. The summer season has begun. There’s already a handful of people walking along the shoreline. I can make out a fisherman at the water's edge.Bishop.Some things never change.
And some things do.My eyes settle back on Margo. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have her in my life. I make a solemn vow to never take her for granted. Every day, I want to feel this sense of wonder and gratitude that she's mine.
"Good morning, beautiful."
She turns to face me, and I can immediately tell that something is different. Something has…shifted.
I take a step toward her. "Margo? What is it?"
"Jared told me that my great-aunt Hildy was a writer." There’s a strange edge to her voice.
Despite a sense of unease that’s bubbling in my chest, I smile at the memory of Hildy. "She was always coming up with fun stories."
Margo tilts her head in thought. "Everyone says she wasn't a people person. But it seems that she liked you."
"Can you blame her?" I waggle my eyebrows. “I’m very likable.”
She smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Tell me about your relationship with her."
“With Hildy? There's not much to tell. Hildy did like me better than most. And I liked her. Once a week or so, I walked her to the top of the dune to see the waves crashing on the shore."
"That's nice," she says with a smile.
The corners of my lips quirk at the memory. "Hildy hated sand. So, she never wanted to go all the way to the beach. But she did love the crashing waves."
We stand in companionable silence for a moment before she holds out an envelope for me. "You need to see this. I found it this morning."
"What is it?"
"A gift. From Hildy."
I take the envelope and open it, pulling out the document. My mouth drops open as I read it. "Hildy gave me…"
"Everything," she says, nodding.
"But…"
She turns her back to me, once again looking out to sea. "I won’t fight you for it, Tuck. It’s yours, fair and square.”
I stare at her back, watching her hair fly freely in the wind. “But…your shop. What would you do without it?”
Her body stiffens. “I have options. I'm a talented retail buyer. I'll have no problem getting a job. And no matter where I land, I think I'll keep the Sticks & Stones online store. Maybe I'll even find another location for a storefront…someday."
Wait…is she saying what I think she’s saying?
Blood roars in my head. "You're talking about leaving?"
She shrugs. "Some things aren't meant to be. And in this case, you'll have room for your kayaks. That's what Hildy wanted. That's how it should be."
"No."
"Tuck…"
