The last time we met, I said some things to you that I shouldn’t have. I was wrong, and I’m sorry. I want you to know that. I’m sorry. I hope your life is everything you want it to be. I hope you’re happy and safe and healthy, and most of all, I hope you have love.
Love, Daphne
I folded the letter slowly and handed it back to Kristen. “Thank you for letting me read that,” I said.
“Of course,” she nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t give it to you sooner. I should have.”
I closed my eyes for a moment. “She wasn’t sure if she was coming back,” I whispered, glancing at her gravestone.
“She would have come back,” Kristen said confidently.
“How do you know?”
“I just do.”
I smiled. “You just do, huh?” I asked. “Is that a sister thing?”
“It might be.”
“Is that why you came to San Diego?” I asked.
“That’s the main reason I came here,” she nodded. “But I also came here for myself. It was time for me to start my own adventure, and that choice led me to you.”
“Kristen—”
She stepped in and silenced me. I noticed that there were still tears dotting her eyes. “Jake, I never meant to hurt you,” she said. “Please believe that. I care about you and Noah so much, and I’m so sorry I hurt you. You want me to stay away, and I will respect that, but I just need you to know that I never meant to cause you any pain.”
“I know that,” I said softly.
Kristen’s eyes went wide for a moment and then she smiled. “You do?”
“I do,” I replied. “And, I… I don’t want you to stay away.”
Kristen looked at me with pure joy on her face, and I felt my body lean into hers. I reached out and wiped the tears from her face.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered to me.
“I missed you, too,” I said, as I pulled her towards me and encircled her in my arms.
“How’s Noah?” Kristen asked, as though she’d been waiting months to ask that question.
I smiled. “He’ll be thrilled to see you,” I said. “Come on; let’s go home.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kristen
“You went shopping?” Melody asked in surprise.
I smiled. “I did.”
“Without me?” she asked accusingly.
I smiled guiltily at her. “I wanted to shop for an hour, and if I’d brought you along, it would have turned into the whole day.”
“You are such a bitch,” she complained. “I don’t even know why I’m friends with you.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry, I promise we’ll go shopping after the New Year. I’m in need of some new clothes.”