Page 121 of Last Letters to Ara
“Wow.” He breathes.
I smile. “Me too.”
We lie there for a while, until Theo pulls me to the shower and we do it again.
And again.
Andagain.
And with that, my birthday is simply perfect.
Theo - Last Year
“I HAVE ONEmore favor to ask.”
“Sure.” If I spend a moment longer with this man, I’ll be unable to deny him anything.
“The funeral is going to be hard on her.” He looks guilty as if this is his doing. “Can you check on her for me? Afterward?”
I nod. “How do I find her without giving it away that I’m the one behind the letters?”
He takes another bite of waffles. “I have a feeling she’ll leave early; go to the place where she likes to think.”
“Where does she like to think?”
“Besides this diner, in this very booth, she likes to sit outside the busiest terminal at Tampa airport.” William considers a moment. “There is another place, which Ara doesn’t think I know about, but she won’t pick that one. She won’t want the quiet.”
I don’t live far from the airport. It’ll be a quick drive. “What does she look like?”
“I’ll show you a picture.” William pulls out his wallet, followed by a photo, and it makes me smile that he keeps the real thing. He gently brushes his thumb over her face before holding it out to me. I wipe my hands on the napkin I’ve placed on my lap, just in case there is a drop of syrup somewhere, before taking the picture. “It’s an old one, but it’s still my favorite.
She was just a teenager here, but I’m instantly taken. His daughter is beautiful in this natural, unassuming way, smiling like crazy with her long, dark hair falling out of the top knot she’d tried to contain it into. Not a brush of makeup over her tanned skin, splattered with freckles under her striking chocolate eyes and full brows.
William sighs. “I should warn you, though, she isn’t a fan of strangers, or people, in general. If you decide to talk to her, that’s on you.”
I can’t help but smirk.
William lifts his drink in salute and mutters, “Good luck,” so low I almost don’t hear it.
We take a moment, scarfing down the last bits of food on our plates. I can’t stomach the thought of that joy being ripped away from that beautiful girl. How she will feel alone in the world and not get the chance to say goodbye. I understand William’s choice and ultimately, I will respect it. He wants to preserve her memory of him but still, he shouldn’t go through this alone.
“Ara is twenty-two now, probably about your age. She isn’t unobservant. I’m going to have to figure out something clever to throw her off the trail, so she doesn’t know something is wrong.”
“We.” I correct.
He glances up at me, confused.
“Weare going to have to come up with something clever.”
The decision is made before I have the chance to think it over.
William won’t be alone.
Present - Ara
AUGUST CAME, THEmonthly letter with it, and yet another task from Dad.
Maybe it’s just the effect of the letter, but with the delivery of each one, I can feel his presence for just a little while. It’s in the silent brush of sunlight and moments where I feel the comfort which being around him always brought. His body may be gone, but I know in my bones thatheis eternal. I close my eyes, welcoming it, until it’s just me and the letter again.
