She let out a small sob before she nodded. “You have every right to feel that way. I don’t have an excuse for back then, and I can’t take back what happened. I want to make it right now. I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished.”
Getting the heaviness of the past off my chest was a relief I hadn’t known I needed. I took a few deep breaths before addressing her again. “Thanks, Ma. I needed this.”
She gave me a sad smile and reached back over to pat my hand. I let her without recoiling, and she nodded. “I wasn’t there for you as much as I should’ve been. You’re back now, and I will be a mom you can be proud of.”
I nodded back. I knew she’d try. Hell, that was all I ever wanted back then. I’ve lived the past ten years without family, aside from my brothers in arms. A warmth seeped into my chest as she went back to the stove, humming a familiar tune that used to put me to sleep.
It’d been over a week since I saw Flynn. I was still processing him being back in Violet Ridge. My heart throbbed when I thought of the way he struggled to stand and closed himself off to me. He broke my heart, but I yearned for him.
The bell above the door dinged, and I glanced up to see Mrs. Rockwell step inside with a worn-down envelope in her hand. It was a few minutes until closing. She walked over and sat it in front of me on the counter. The corners of her mouth quirked up. “I believe this belongs to you, Evelyn.”
I slipped her a curious glance as I picked the envelope up. I ran my fingers over the weathered paper that had my name written in cursive with black ink on the front. I opened the top and peered in. It was a letter addressed to me. “Is this from—” I smashed my lips together before his name escaped them.
She nodded. “Flynn. He wrote to you back then, and now that letter is in its rightful hands.” She turned and walked out of the salon without another word.
I stared at the way he wrote my name. His handwriting had always been better than mine. His hands had touched this same paper, and I wondered what he could’ve written inside.
“What’s that?” Autumn came over and leaned against the register.
“I’m not sure what it is.” I blinked a couple more times before I was able to tear my eyes away from it. I met Autumn’s curious gaze. “Do you think you could handle locking up?”
Her eyes twinkled with excitement. “Of course! This is a big step for me. Thanks for trusting me.”
The letter in my hands was getting heavier by the minute. I smiled at her and nodded. “You’ll do great! I’ll see you in the morning.”
I scooped up my belongings and bolted out of my salon. There was only one place I wanted to read this, and that was the lake. Flynn and I spent all our time the summer we started dating down there. It held special memories that I kept close to my heart.
After a ten minute drive down the curvy back roads, I parked in a dirt clearing that was a little ways off the road. I stepped out of the car and my boots sunk in the mud. I inhaled the fragrance of jasmine and wet soil as I trekked down the path to the lake with the letter gripped tight in my hand.
The sunset threatened to dip behind the horizon, cascading a variety of colors over the sky. The receding purples and oranges battled the darkness. I pulled my cardigan tight. I would only have a few minutes to read it before nightfall. I walked off the path and sat down on a bench that overlooked the lake. A deep sense of serenity washed over me as I stared out.
I crossed one ankle over the other as I pulled the letter from the envelope. I unfolded it, smoothing out the crease lines. The paper was soft to the touch, and the black ink had run slightly. My eyes caressed the strokes of a pen made years ago, seeing the personality behind the strong lines and heavy punctuation marks. I poured myself into the letter. Each word was read in breathless rapture.
Evelyn,
I’ve never been good at goodbyes. I tried to say goodbye. I parked outside your house with every intention of doing so. But I was fucked up, and I knew you’d drop everything to come with me. You have too many dreams to do that. You deserve to own a salon and make people happy. Don’t give that dream up.
I’m in Basic Training now in the Army. It’s hell here, but I’ve made some friends to tough it out with. It’s been a couple of months since I left. I kept writing this letter but ended up tearing it to shreds. That wasn’t right. You deserve an explanation, and I’m sorry.
I never should have let you go. Maybe we could’ve made long-distance work? Hell, I don’t know. All I know is that I miss everything about you. I miss your wild hair, round eyes, cute ass freckles, and big heart.
You’re the only person who has enough of me to break my heart. Isn’t that some shit? I ended up breaking my own heart by leaving you. I can’t even think about
