“I’ll help you up to the house. I just have to go somewhere, and then I can take you to get your stuff if you would like. I don’t like the thought of you going to the house with Wayne there.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
I got out of the car and went around to help her out and up to her parents’ front door. She unlocked the door, but waited before walking inside.
“Are you not going to come in and say hello?”
“There is something I need to do. I’ll call a tow truck for you later and get your car brought here.”
Pain was clear on her face. “When will I see you again?”
I was hoping it would be soon, but I didn’t want to get her hopes up.
“I’ll call you.” I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips, before turning around and getting back in my car.
I could see the tears in her eyes as she turned and walked into the house. I hated making her feel this way, but I wanted to do this before I saw her again. I needed to get things straight in my own head before I made that commitment to her. I drove the ten minutes to the church, got out, and headed into the graveyard.
How different twenty-four hours could be. Yesterday, I had been asking all the questions that would never be answered. Today, I was expecting one.
I walked up to Elliott’s gravestone and bent down in front of it. “Hey, Elliott. It’s me again. I know you probably weren’t expecting to see me again so soon, but I really need to talk to you about Emmy. You know I love her, that I always have, and I can’t keep this up anymore.
“I need her in my life, Elliott. She isn’t happy, and neither am I. You probably wouldn’t know this, but she got engaged to Wayne. Yeah, the arsehole who was always trying to hit on her when we were kids. The one who had a different girlfriend every week. Well, he hasn’t changed. Even when he got engaged to Emmy. She found him in bed with his secretary last night.”
I was finding it more difficult to talk with every word I said. The emotions that were running through me brought tears to my eyes. I took a deep breath, the cold air instantly stinging my throat.
“She risked her life to get home to your parents, but broke down and ended up at my house. I couldn’t let her leave in that weather. She could have died. We had a fight, and I told her everything, including the promise I made to you.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I broke my promise. I don’t regret a moment of our time together last night. I love her, and sheloves me. You knew that, but you kept me from her because you decided I wasn’t right for her. The truth is, I am. I would never treat her the way that Wayne and other men did. I know it wasn’t what you wanted, but I have never dated a single woman for more than a week because the only one I loved was and always will be Emmy.
“I know you would want her to be happy, so I’m asking you to please release me from my promise. In return, I promise you that I will love, cherish, and protect Emmy for the rest of our lives. You said that your parents always thought we would get together. If you are hearing any of this, just give me some sign that you give me your blessing.”
I knew it was stupid, but even just a feeling of warmth inside would give me my answer.
But there really wasn’t a chance that anything would happen. I was clutching at straws. I just needed to tell him how I felt before I spoke to Bryan. Now that I had her back in my life, I didn’t want to ever let her go.
I continued to stay in front of Elliott’s grave, hoping for some form of divine intervention to give me the answer that I wanted. It was apparent, though, that it would never happen. I slowly stood, continuing to look at the gravestone in front of me.
That was when I felt it. A small puff of warm air on my face, as though something had just gone past me.
Out of nowhere, a robin appeared on the headstone. It appeared to look directly at me before making a chirping sound and bobbing its head at me. I’d always been brought up in the understanding that robins were reincarnated loved ones who appeared just when you needed them. Therefore, this was my sign. This was the answer I needed from Elliott that he had lifted the promise I had made to him all those years ago.
I smiled. “I promise I will love and look after her.”
The robin chirped and bobbed his head again.
“Thank you.”
With those words, the robin flew away and disappeared from my sight, and I felt a weight lifted off from my shoulders. I could finally do what I had planned all those years ago before I made that promise.
I was going to make Ember mine forever, and I was going to do it today.
CHAPTER 9
Ember
I watchedas he drove away from me with tears in my eyes. I was losing him all over again, I could feel it. The love he felt for me couldn’t overpower the promise he made to my brother.
Slowly closing the door behind me, I walked into the kitchen and found my parents both there. My mum instantly got up from her seat as soon as she saw me.
