Page 62 of Eternal Surrender

I slid the hardback across the marble toward him.

“A Tale of Two Cities.” He opened the first page. “How old is this?” He glanced up, excited. “This is probably worth something.”

“I imagine it is.”

Sebastian peeled back the next page. “There’s an envelope.”

“Open it.”

He reached in and flicked through the hundred pound notes. There was also a banker’s draft, drawn for a substantial sum of money.

“Your train ride home.” I sat up straight. “And more than enough money to get you back on your feet.”

He froze realizing the book had been here all the time. “You knew I’d come?”

The kettle whistled, shrilling through the quiet.

I approached the countertop and yanked out the power cord then poured boiling water into the teacup.

His fingertips tapped the book. “Your idea of goodbye?”

I brought the teacup over and handed it to him. “I had no right to interfere with your life.”

“You saved it.” He carefully placed down the delicate cup. “I need to know how you did it.” He pointed at me. “How you leaped off Big Ben and survived?”

“Messed up, didn’t I?

“How do you mean?”

“I left the teabags in.” I gestured. “I’ll take care of it.”

“I like it strong.” He waved me off. “We were talking about Big Ben.”

“You were.”

He held up the book. “You knew I’d try to find you. You even gave me clues back at the Savoy of where I could find you.”

“Sugar?”

“Please, William.”

I sighed. “A man sees an island just off in the distance. He wonders what goes on there.”

Sebastian was riveted.

“Then one day,” I continued, “he decides to investigate that mysterious island. Once there, he looks back at the old island he’s just come from and realizes he can never go back.”

“Because he sees everything from a different perspective.”

“He’s standing on the island from where all truth can be seen and once that knowledge is known, it cannot be unknown.”

“I’m that man?” He shuffled on his seat. “This place holds secrets you don’t want me to know?”

“You could teach dance?” Seeing his expression made me regret saying it. “What you love is worth fighting for.”

He pushed the book back toward me.

“Walk away,” I said