Lauren catches the motion. “So wait, do you think Dalton is the writer?”
I nod without hesitation. “I think he might be. It doesn’t matter whether he is or he isn’t though. I’m wildly in love with him.”
“Does he know that?”
“I’m going to tell him tonight,” I answer.
There’s a commotion out in the hallway, and Lauren gives me a disappointed look. “I need to set up for the spring dance tonight, but I want to hear more later. Come to my place. I’ll loan you a dress for the dance and help you get ready.”
“That sounds great,” I tell her before she leaves the room.
The moment she’s gone, I reach for the letter.
Dear Bree,
You have my heart, my soul. One look into your eyes, and I was gone. Completely enraptured with you. A man only gets this lucky once in his lifetime, and I don’t plan on letting you slip through my fingers.
I can’t promise the road we walk together will always be easy or full of sunshine, but I can promise you’ll never walk it alone. I’ll be right beside you, always in your corner, always the one who has your back.
I’ll be the man that wakes you with slow kisses and reminds you every chance he gets how beautiful you are. I’ll be the man that’s coming home from work and dancing with you in the kitchen as dinner cooks and love songs play on the radio.
I’ll be the man up with you in the middle of the night as we rock our fussy babies back to sleep. I’ll remind them that they’re safe and loved. Just like their beautiful mama.
I’ll be the man that’s still bringing you flowers every week even when we’re eighty. We’ll sit together on the front porch, and I’ll tuck a blanket around you and hold your hand while we talk about what a sweet family we’ve been blessed with.
Our grandkids will toddle up those steps and give us the gift of seeing the world through young eyes again. We’ll splash in puddles with them and wish on dandelions and tell them tales of when their parents were little.
We’ll squeeze every moment of joy out of our lives, and I’ll hold your heart until the end of time.
Forever yours,
Your secret admirer
By the time I’m done, my insides feel like they’re glowing with happiness. I’ve never felt this completely seen or known. Dalton has a way of making me feel precious. But I have to make sure it’s him. He’s the only one I want writing me love letters. So, I pull out a piece of paper and start penning my own letter.
Dear No-So-Secret Admirer,
I saw a quote recently. Something about love being two souls in one body. I would have thought that was silly a few years ago. And now, I get it. I understand because you’re the other half of me.
I think I know who you are. I think I did from the first letter you sent me, but I was afraid to hope. Afraid to be wrong.
But that’s the thing about love, isn’t it? It makes us brave, and I want to be brave. I want to let myself fall and trust that we’re strong enough to catch each other.
Please meet me tonight on the footbridge. No more secrets. No more anonymous letters. Just two people in love.
Always yours,
Bree
I leave the letter on my desk and go about the rest of my day. But the letter never moves. Finally, it’s time for me to get ready at Lauren’s apartment. I check on the letter one last time. It’s still where I left it.
Chapter 11
Bree
As promised, Lauren helps me get ready. She loans me a vintage dress that fits perfectly. It’s a sweetheart neckline with short sleeves that comes to my knee. The wide skirt swooshes when I walk, and there’s even a cute petticoat that goes under it.
She gives me a grin when she loans it to me. “These are my favorite things ever. Nothing makes me feel as fancy as wearing one.”
