Almost.
Because when you do find your person, it only ends two ways—breakup or death.
I'd rather it be death.
I can imagine Maeve's pain was—is—catastrophic, but the fact is that shestilltalks to her husband. She still remembers and honors him every day. She's still loving him, even when he's not here, because love shouldn’t be something you place on a shelf to sit and admire.
Love should be an action you perform—over and over again—every second of every day. In the grand and small gestures, through presence and action.
And you do it joyfully, happily, without a second thought.
Becausethat'swhat it means to truly love someone.
To choose them.
And that... well, that's where Paul failed.
The love I have for him has nowhere to go. It's like a muscle that suddenly has no purpose—but muscles shrink over time when they're unused.
One day, that love I have for Paul will shrink too, until I don't feel it anymore.
One day.
And that little bit of hope will carry me.
In the meantime, I have some pretty good distractions to keep me from exercising it.
"Thank you for asking about him," Callum pulls me from mythoughts and smiles softly at me. "Sometimes, when I tell people that he died, they just change the subject, but Ilovetalking about him. I love him. He was the best man I ever knew."
I smile. "You can always talk about him to me. He sounds wonderful."
"I like that you talk about him in the present tense, too," Callum returns my smile, leading me to the front of the store. "He's still here—in every crevice ofRivers & Rhodes,in my mom's heart and... I hope in the way that I am."
"I'd love to hear more about him anytime," I tell him quietly.
I glance at the grandfather clock, and I'm startled by how fast the time has slipped by. It's almost ten.
"Oh, I should get going," I say, stepping toward the front door before his voice stops me.
"Wait—Sophie, are you walking?"
I shrug. “Yeah, it's only twenty minutes to my apartment."
Callum's mouth twists, and he scratches the back of his neck, "I, uh... listen, you absolutely can say no. I know we just met, and I get that you probably don't want just anyone knowing where you live, but I'd feel a lot better if I gave you a ride home. It's not exactly an unsafe town, but... it's late."
I open my mouth to respectfully decline, not wanting to inconvenience him, but then I think of another promise to myself—let people help.It would be nice not to have to walk home in the dark, and I’m exhausted.
And despite only knowing him for a short amount of time,I trust Callum.
"You're sure?"
"Of course," he says, reaching over the register and grabbing a pair of keys and a worn brown leather wallet.
Main Street is empty at this time of night, and as Callum locks up, I’m suddenly very glad I accepted the ride. He leads me toa black, older-model pickup truck, and I'm surprised when he walks to the passenger side and opens my door.
"Oh," I breathe, and slide in the car with a smile. "Thank you."
My belly flutters when he returns my smile with a soft one of his own. I watch as he rounds the front and climbs into the driver's side. The car smells like him, and I melt into the worn-in seat.
