His fingertips ran along my cheek, then under my chin. I dropped my gaze so I was staring directly into his eyes. He said it once again, “I forgive you, Jillian. I forgive you…”
I shot up in bed, gasping for air. Strands of my hair stuck to my tearstained face. When I looked over at Evan’s side of the bed, it was untouched. My hand reached for the pillow that his head had been on just a few moments ago. I inhaled deeply for traces of him, but there were none, just the floral scent of fabric softener. “No, no, no.” I hugged the pillow tightly. “You were here. I know you were.” It couldn’t have been a dream. I smelled his cologne, felt the warmth of his body…it couldn’t have been a dream. Evan was here. I threw my head against the headboard and cried. “I have to believe you were really here, Evan. I have to believe that you forgive me.”
I stood up and paced the floors as the first hint of sunlight peeked through my curtains. After standing in place for a brief moment trying to pull it together, I ambled over to the window. Drawing the curtain open, I rested my head on the cool pane of the glass as the sun slowly made its ascent from behind the trees. This particular window had the perfect vantage point for the most spectacular sunrises. Evan had pointed that out when we were house shopping. Going on and on about how it faced due east. I didn’t pay much attention, until we moved in and we got to witness Mother Nature’s wake-up call for the very first time.
“A new day is beginning,” Evan said as he stood behind me, placing a gentle kiss on my bare shoulder. “A new day to right the wrongs of yesterday.”
“A new day to right the wrongs of yesterday,” I spoke the words out loud with a smile as big as the peach-colored ball that now lit up the sky spread across my face. “I promise, I’m going to make it right, Evan. I promise,” I whispered.
CHAPTER 23
WHAT WAS I doing? A question I should’ve asked myself twenty-four hours ago when I booked my plane ticket. Instead, there I was in London with no plan except to wander the streets while I tried desperately to come up with one. On the plus side, I was able to score a very nice last-minute hotel room, but at that moment that was the only thing I had going in my favor. I should have called, texted, communicated in some way with Theo before jumping on a plane to his side of the ocean, not even knowing if he was here or away on business. Even if he wasn’t around, I still needed to see Kate, which was part of my main purpose of this visit. I was trying to work up the courage to call Theo and tell him I was here or get a car service and head to Kate’s. Both choices seemed to be rather daunting at that moment, so I just walked around aimlessly until I stumbled upon a little antique store.
“Good day, miss,” the shopkeeper greeted.
“Oh, hello,” I responded back.
My eyes didn’t know which way to look. There were so many items to take in. All of them begging to be examined, and knowing me, I’d make sure they were. I was immediately drawn to a set of old steamer trunks. I had always been intrigued by old trunks like those, wondering where they had journeyed to so long ago.
“They were lovingly cared for, just a few scratches here and there, but I’m sure they could be removed.” The shop owner took me off guard when he snuck up behind me as I bent down and ran my hand over the leather covering.
“Why would anyone want to remove them?” I asked, tracing my index finger over the imperfections.
“I don’t know, some people may see them as an eyesore.”
“I don’t.” I looked up at him in earnest. “I think every scratch tells a story of where they’ve been and what they’ve endured in their time.” I stood back up, still unable to take my eyes off them.
“I can offer you a good price if you take the set.”
“Oh, as much as I’d love to, I can’t. I think they’d cost a little too much to check on the plane.”
“Oh, right.” He nodded and adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses. “Well, I do ship too.”
“That’s good to know.” Nodding at the man, I continued on with my eyes going in every direction, making sure I didn’t miss a thing. There was so much to look at, and I was so intrigued by it all. As I came upon the gold pocket watch within the glass curio cabinet, my heart leapt with excitement. “Could I please see this pocket watch?” I asked the shopkeeper. He raced to my side, unlocking the glass door.
“This one goes way back to the turn of the century.”
“Does it still work?” I asked, holding it up and looking it over. It was in impeccable condition.
“Oh, yes. We have all the watches and clocks that come in refurnished to make sure they’re in perfect working order.”
“I’ll take it,” I said without even looking at the price.
“Wonderful!” He beamed, locking up the cabinet and taking it from my hand.
“You don’t happen to know anywhere I can get that engraved, do you?” I asked as he was writing up the sales ticket.
“As a matter of fact, I can do that right here.”
“Really?” my voice squealed with delight.
I wrote down exactly what I wanted it to say. Now I had to finally work up the nerve to call the person it was intended for.
My smile seemed unremitting as I clutched tightly to the bag containing
