“Oh no. Whatever… will we… do,” she whispers between breathy moans just as I tongue a particular sensitive spot below her ear.
“How ‘bout we find out,” I murmur against her skin.
And that’s the last time we talk for a good long while after that.
26
MAGS
I’m reading my book on the couch, comfortably cradled in Red’s arms when my phone chimes with a text message.
Charlie: Can you talk?
Mags: What? No Hi, Mom. How are you?
Charlie: Hi, Mom. How are you?
Mags: I’m fantastic, Charlie Bear. How are you?
She doesn’t reply straight away, which makes me wonder if she can somehow read my happiness through the phone. While I wait, I return to my book, turning the page after the ‘couple’ have just declared their love for one another and made love, completing the mountain’s Call.
Except the next page is empty, and since I know the story–ourstory–isn’t finished, I scroll onto the next page to find a note from Aster.
Mags,
I know you were expecting to read your own happily ever after, but this time I think it’s better if you find out for yourself as it happens.
What I want you to know is that Anna may have not been long for this earth, but her legacy and footprint on the world will never be forgotten.
But it’s time for you to do something that you’ve put off for too long now. You may think you don’t have the courage, but she knew–and I know–that you do.
So, in short, open the letter she wrote for you. Take her words to heart and put them into action. It’s what she has always wanted, after all.
And I hear you asking how do I know? That’s something I’m sure you’ll work out. Just know that everything happens for a reason.
Love, Aster H.
I stare at the words, my heart punching my chest like a battering ram.
Open the letter.
It’sthenthat Char replies, her messages coming through in rapid succession.
Charlie: MOM!! Does this mean you and Red finally got it together?!?
Charlie: This is GREAT
Charlie: I'm so happy for you! Jeez, I'm actually crying!
Just imagining my sweet girl tearing up has me blinking a little faster.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” Red asks from behind me where I lean against him, my chest to his back, one of his arms wrapped tight around my waist while he reads an old murder mystery book he found on the one and only shelf in the cabin.
I turn my head toward him. “Nothin’.”
He presses a hand to my cheek, his thumb sweeping across the skin and wiping a rogue tear away. “Darlin’...”
“Char’s happy for us.”
