“It’s been tough,” he said. “It’s never easy to lose a child, but Anna…she was my little girl.” His eyes welled up. “I know every father thinks his little girl is special. But mine really was. Do you know I’ve had chocolate-covered fruit delivered every day this week from her? It’s always been my weakness. I don’t even know how she arranged for that to happen. That’s the kind of person she was—always thinking of other people and making sure they were okay.”
That was the Anna I’d known years ago. But it wasn’t my place to tell a father his daughter only thought of herself when it came to the end of our relationship.
So I nodded. “She was a good person.”
Richard reached around to his back pocket and pulled out an envelope. He held it up. “She wanted me to give you this…after. I don’t know if I agree with some of the ways she went about things, but her secrets were mine to keep. And for that, I owe you an apology, Hollis.”
“What secrets?”
He stood and tossed the letter on the desk. “It’s all there. I didn’t read it. But she told me what she wrote, and I think it will explain a lot.” He held out his hand. “Elodie is an amazing woman. I’m glad you two have each other. I hope things work out for you. I expect an invitation to the wedding when they do. Take care of yourself, Hollis.”
And just like that, he turned and walked out of my office.
I stared down at the white envelope in the center of my desk with Anna’s familiar handwriting across the front of it: Hollis.
What the hell is going on?Chapter 45* * *Elodie“Are you and Uncle Hollis mad at each other?”
I frowned. “No, sweetie. Why do you ask?”
“Do you not want to be boyfriend and girlfriend anymore?”
I’d been peeling a cucumber for a salad and set down the knife to give Hailey my full attention. She sat on a stool on the opposite site of the granite counter.
“No, we haven’t broken up, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“But you might?”
I sighed and walked around to her side. Taking her hand, I guided her to hop down from her seat. “Let’s go sit in the living room and talk.”
We sat on the couch, and Hailey played with a strand of her hair—something she did when she was nervous. I put my hand under her chin and lifted so our eyes met.
“Uncle Hollis and I lost someone who was close to us. We’re just sad.”
At least that’s what I hoped. Though the last few days, I’d started to lose some of my confidence that we’d get through it.
Hailey nodded, but it looked like she had more to say, and for some reason I didn’t think it had to do with Hollis and me being a couple. “Hailey, have you ever lost anyone close to you?”
She shook her head. “Is what your friend had contagious?”
“Oh God, no. Definitely not. Bree had a rare disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Not only is it not contagious, but so few people have it that there have only been something like four hundred documented cases in the United States.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.”
Hailey still had that look on her face.
“Is there anything else you want to know?” I asked. “We can talk about anything.”
She looked away for a moment. “What happens to you when you die?”
That was a tough question to answer. But I knew Hollis and his brother had been raised Catholic, so I gave the answer I thought they’d want me to. In truth, it was what I’d believed for most of my life. Though the last few days, I’d been questioning everything.
“Well, your soul goes to heaven, and you’re freed of any sickness and pain you had here on Earth.”
“So Anna isn’t sick anymore?”
I smiled. That was the one belief I’d held on to tightly. “No, she’s not.”
“That’s good.”
“It is. I’m glad she’s at peace now.”
“What if…Uncle Hollis got sick?”
“Oh honey, Uncle Hollis is very healthy. You shouldn’t worry about that.”
“But Anna was healthy, too, right? Before she got sick.”
She had a point. And I knew from personal experience what it felt like to be uncertain of what would happen to me if my alcoholic mother didn’t wake up one morning. Even before my dad died, I’d always felt alone. When nothing in life feels secure, you tend to think about your next move an awful lot.
I looked at Hailey. We’d only known each other for a few months now, but I loved her with all my heart. “If something happened to your uncle Hollis—which it’s not going to—I’d ask your father for permission to have you come live with me.”
Her eyes lit up. “You would?”
I cupped her cheeks. “Yes, I absolutely would.”
Hailey visibly relaxed. “Thank you.”
“There’s absolutely no reason to thank me. I’d be lucky to have you, kiddo.”