“I guess not.” Maddy smiles at her. “So, tell me more about this winery.” Maddy refills her and Charlotte’s glasses.
“We’re a few months away from opening,” Charlotte sayseagerly. “But you’ll be the first invited to the VIP opening night.”
I look at Charlotte in awe, as none of this would be possible without her. Some days, I want to pinch myself on being able to work alongside the woman I love, and I never dreamed it would be here in Australia.
Other days, when I’m at the hospital with Mum, I’m stuck in a nightmare and want it all to end.
45
CHARLOTTE
The window is open,allowing the cool sea breeze to flow into our bedroom. I’m rearranging the clothes on the shelves, as we have far too many between us for this small bedroom closet.
I refold Brandon’s T-shirts, and my heart flips. He brought the T-shirt I ruined with the flowers. I put it on, and immediately, I’m laughing inside. Brandon walks into the bedroom shirtless, and I moan at how freaking hot he is. I can’t help but stare at his tanned chest, huge pec muscles, and taut abs.How am I so lucky?
“The stone walls are being built tomorrow.” He looks up and grins. “Ah, you found my trophy.”
I giggle. “I can’t believe you kept it.”
“I wear it to feel closer to you.” He has that cheeky look. “Now, come here.”
He always surprises me. “But it was a time I wanted to ruin you, but only because I loved you.”Now tear it off me.
He pulls me into his arms, and we fall onto the bed, laughing. “You have a weird way of expressing your love.”
“Don’t ever leave me. Otherwise, who knows what piece of clothing I’ll ruin next.”
He nuzzles my neck. “I never will.” Leaning over me, he pulls open the bedside drawer.
“What is that?”
“What?”
“The envelope. I saw my name on it.”
He pulls it out and holds it to his chest. “I kept it. I couldn’t throw it away.”
What the hell is it?
He slowly pulls the paper from the envelope. “It’s the letter I wrote you a few months after Ileft.” His voice changes on the last word. Even now, he finds it hard to say.
My hand rises to my throat. “The one I returned?” He nods. “Can I read it?”
He hands it to me, and I carefully unfold the pages. Brandon rolls onto his side and watches me as I read it.
Lottie,
I need to begin this letter with an incredibly heartfelt apology.
A wise lady once told me the heart is fated to break, but the broken live on.
I’m waiting because the agony that constricts me is making it impossible to breathe.
Two long months have passed since my flight arrived in Chicago. The snow, while it looked pretty, felt equally as cold as my core. Dread filled me during my final days in LA. I was empty and at a loss for what to do.
How do I make our world right?
I can only hope one day you will understand why.
