Page 55 of Always and Forever
Mila walks behind the long counter and pulls out a white envelope. “My job is to give you this.”
“Your job…” I say slowly, confusion building in my mind.
“Yup. Want a muffin? I saved some from this morning.”
“Sure,” I reply, taking a seat in my favourite blue chair by the window. A couple of minutes later, Mila drops off a muffin and a coffee, and sits down across from me.
“I know I said this before you left, but I’m going to say it again. My brother was a total idiot. You have every right to be mad at him.” She pauses, taking a big breath in and out. “And I really hope you give him another chance.”
As I watch, Mila’s eyes get glassy with unshed tears. “Don’t get me wrong, Serena and Paige are great. But you? You’re like my sister. We grew up together. When you left, I was devastated. And if Ethan’s stupidity chases you away again, I will be heartbroken. I don’t want to lose you. So, no matter what you decide about being in a relationship with him, please don’t leave again, okay?”
I let out a low chuckle. “What is with you Monroes, thinking I’m going to leave?”
I reach over for her hand, taking it and holding it in my lap. Mila looks up at me, hope shining through her tears.
“I’ve almost forgiven your brother, give me a minute on that, okay? But I never planned on leaving. I had a moment while I was in Vancouver when I wondered if it would be too hard living here and not being with Ethan, but as soon as we got home, I knew I could never leave Dogwood Cove again. Talking about it with Paige helped, too. I’ve got friends here, a life here,” I squeeze her hand, feeling more damn tears form. “I’ve got family here. I’m not leaving.”
Mila launches herself out of her chair and into me, making me laugh.
“Okay, okay, get off of me, silly.”
She leaps off of me and pulls me to stand. “Read the letter, Summer.” With one final hug she turns and leaves me alone with my muffin, my coffee, and this mystery letter.
When I unfold the paper inside, for a brief moment my mind flashes to the last time I received an important letter. The one from George Hendrix, telling me about my dad. At the time, that letter devastated me. But now I can see how it brought me home.
Dear Summer,
I wish I knew how to start this letter, shorty, but I don’t. You see, I’ve figured out that words are not enough. You told me you don’t trust my words anymore, and I don’t blame you. I screwed up, and words – or in my case, not using them, were to blame. So, here’s the thing. I’m not going to use words to beg for your forgiveness one more time, to tell you how much I love you, or how much I want you in my life forever. I’m going to use actions.
If you’re willing to give me another chance, please come and find me at Oceanside. Let me show you how I love you.
Always and forever,
Ethan.
Well, crap. Now I’m crying,again.
“Are those happy tears or mad tears?” Mila asks from behind the counter.
I look up at her and smile. “Happy.”
“Then get over to the resort.”
Dusk is falling by the time I get to Oceanside, because despite every part of me wanting to rush straight over, I decided to take the time to drop my bag off at my apartment and have a shower. I needed to make sure I was going to see Ethan with a clear head.
Turns out waiting was a good idea. Because the sight in front of me would not have been nearly as beautiful without the fading light of early evening.
I park beside Ethan’s truck and follow a path of candles in small glass jars, the flames flickering. They lead me to the first cabin, the one that holds so many memories. Ethan being scared by the raccoons, our sleepover under the stars, and now this. The man I love standing in front of it, watching me, with a smile so full of love on his face, I might burst.
24
Ethan
“I was starting to worry you weren’t coming,” I say, holding my hands nervously in front of me. God, I want to touch her. I want to pull her into my arms and reassure myself that she’s really here.
Summer smiles at me, a soft, loving smile that puts me at ease instantly. “Sorry. I needed a few minutes to…” She shrugs. “I just needed a few more minutes.”
“That’s okay, as long as you’re here now,” I say hoarsely, silently willing her to take the last few steps that separate us. She bites her lip, and gazes around at the candles that I spent forever setting up. As soon as Mila texted me that Summer had left the bakery, I got to work. Hopefully, once she sees everything I’ve done, it’ll be worth it.
