Grant smiled wistfully as his fingers grazed a bundle of love letters they’d passed back and forth in Ms. Lassen’s English class, which eventually resulted in the one and only time he was ever sent to Principal Whittaker’s office.
As Grant sifted through the trinkets and photographs, tears blurred his vision. He removed his glasses and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand before slipping them back on.
One item remained to be found. A small velvet box.
After removing each item individually, revealing nothing save for a few dust mites and flecks of lint stuck to the bottom of the cardboard, Grant’s pulse slowed to a standstill.
Where was the promise ring?
Grant was certain Eliza had given it back to him. The cold metal had singed his palm when she’d shoved it into his hand. Where could it be? He acutely remembered placing it back inside the ring box before stashing it beneath the rest of the memorabilia.
He knew it was foolish to save it. But keeping it gave Grant a tiny glimmer of hope.
A glimmer that had recently been snuffed out.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand. As he reached for it, his breath cut short.
Eliza’s name flashed across the screen.
Grant briefly adjusted his glasses, not trusting the words before his eyes.
You can take Ben for the summer. I’m glad you want to get to know him. And I don’t want to get in the way of that. I’m so terribly sorry I hurt you. I pray that someday you can forgive me. Love, Lizzy
Grant pressed a hand to his chest, attempting to keep the intense ache from spreading. His eyes, throat, skin… everything burned.
Why did it have to be like this? He wanted to forgive her. Deep in his core, he didn’t believe Eliza had meant to cause him pain. Every muscle in his body tensed, itching to run to her, to put everything in their tangled past firmly behind them.
His love for her had never been in question.
But could he trust her?
Chapter 26
Eliza scanned the town square, searching for Grant amid the billowy white tents and shoulder-to-shoulder throng of parents and children converged for the Summer Kick-Off Carnival put on by the school.
Ben had run off with a few friends to try their hand at the homemade carnival games, and Eliza crossed her fingers he didn’t come back with a live goldfish. Although she supposed keeping it alive would be Grant’s responsibility now. Her stomach twisted, and she immediately banished the thought. They were supposed to be celebrating. And they had extra reason to revel this year. After they’d explained Ben’s vision issues to Daphne, she’d agreed to pass him to the next grade with the condition he got corrective lenses. A task Grant offered to handle himself.
“So, you’re telling Ben today?” Cassie kept her voice low, her hand clasped firmly in Luke’s as they strolled past the silent auction raising funds for next year’s events.
“That’s the plan. We thought it would be easier in the midst of the fun and excitement.” Eliza’s stomach flip-flopped again, and she tried to focus on the festivities rather than their difficult talk with Ben later that afternoon.
They passed a booth of contestants wearing blindfolds, trying to guess various pie flavors. Jack wore a red gingham bandana over his eyes, and he smacked his lips loudly. “Maple bacon apple pie?”
Beverly, the score keeper, wrote down his answer on a clipboard, while Frank mumbled, “Should we tighten his blindfold?”
Cassie snickered. “I think Jack has an advantage when it comes to anything with bacon in it.”
“You’ve got that right.” Luke grinned as they wandered toward the edge of the lawn, pausing near the ominous dunk tank that sat ready for the special event later in the day. Reaching his hand over the side, Luke tested the water and grimaced. “It’s freezing.”
“Did you sign up to be dunked this year?” Eliza asked.
“The guys are all placing bets on who will dunk him first. Even I might have a go at it.” Cassie’s eyes danced with mischief.
“Wait until we cut our wedding cake. I may get my revenge with a little frosting on the tip of your nose.”
“You wouldn’t dare!” Cassie laughed.
“Wouldn’t I?” Luke dipped his hand in the tank again, flinging water droplets at Cassie who shrieked, then giggled as she tried to duck out of the way.
