“Auntie Kwelsie!” Brady hurries toward me as fast as his little legs can carry him.
“Hi, buddy,” I coo as I crouch down.
He wraps his tiny arms around my neck, and as I pick him up, he says, “I missed you.”
“Aww. I missed you too.”
Jordan comes into the kitchen and asks, “Should I bathe him quickly?”
“Please,” Natalie replies.
I hand Brady over to his dad, then walk to the counter and start making tea. “Do you want some?”
Natalie shakes her head. “I’m good.” Her eyes sweep over me again. “I’m here if you want to talk.”
“Thanks.” I soak the tea bag and watch the water change color. “Did Jordan tell you I started seeing someone?”
“Of course. He couldn’t stop talking about Levi.”
“I think we broke up,” I tell her the awful news.
“What?” she gasps. “But Jordan said you looked madly in love on Saturday.”
“We were.” I pick up the cup and walk to the island in the middle of the kitchen. Taking a seat on one of the stools, I say, “Turns out Levi is related to Wesley Porter. They’re half brothers.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yep.”
I look at my sister-in-law, taking in her stylish bob and clear blue eyes. It was love at first sight for her and Jordan.
I take a sip of the warm liquid before I continue, “Levi hasn’t had contact with his family in seventeen years, but he knew who I was and what his half brother did to us when he initiated contact between us.”
“Oh dear.”
“He came to Verona and bought the house next door to me. He says it’s because he felt guilty and wanted to help.”
“Well, that changes things, doesn’t it?”
I meet Natalie’s eyes and shake my head. “How does that change anything?”
“He didn’t have to do anything. It’s not his fault his half brother became a cold-blooded murderer.” She takes a seat across from me. “Just like it isn’t my fault my father is locked up for fraud.”
“Levi hid it from me,” I whisper.
“Yeah, he shouldn’t have done that,” she agrees.
I let out a sigh and brush my hand over my hair, which must look a mess. “I just need time to process it all.”
Natalie gets up to check on the food while saying, “You take all the time you need.”
My phone beeps, and stretching to reach my handbag, I drag it closer and dig the device out. Seeing a message from Levi, my heart squeezes painfully, and when I bring my finger to the screen, I notice my hand is trembling.
Sucking in a deep breath of air, I hesitate for a few seconds before I tap on the screen to open the text.
Levi: I’m so sorry about everything. I did so many things wrong, but if there’s one thing I don’t regret, it’s getting to know you. After I moved in next door to you, I had no intention of talking to you. But the longer I watched you, the more I saw how strong and amazing you were. I also saw how much you were suffering, and I could not just stand by and do nothing. Then we talked, and it felt like we clicked. You opened up to me, and it was as easy as breathing to open up to you. I didn’t mean to fall in love with you, but you can’t fault me for that. I will never regret loving you. Every time I got to touch you, kiss you, and hold you, it felt heavenly. Thank you, Kelcie. Thank you for showing me what love is and for giving me a chance, no matter how short or long, to experience it. You will always be my happiest memories. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I hope we can have another chance. But I’ll understand if you can’t be with me. I won’t reach out to you again, so you can have your space. Once you decide whether you want to end things or try again, please let me know. I will love you until the day I die. There will never be another.
Getting up from the stool, I go to the guest room and shut the door behind me.
