I will always love you. I hope for your success and happiness. I wish so much that things were different for us, but I want you to know that I don’t blame you. I’m not bitter. I understand the difficult position you are in and I’m so sorry for simplifying a situation that is clearly anything but simple.
Loving you and letting you go is probably the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do. The fact that you are walking out of my life and down the aisle to another man is more painful than I can put into words. Just know that.
Forever Yours,
Jackson
Caroline struggled to catch the breath that lodged in her throat. His words sent deep fissures splintering through her already fractured heart. Desperately she attempted to read the letter again through blurred and watery eyes.
Her fingers trembled as she dialed Bailey’s extension.
“Talk to me,” Bailey answered.
“Get over here,” Caroline whispered emotionally and promptly hung up.
Bailey handed the paper to Caroline. “Holy shit. This is…I don’t even know what to say. How are you feeling? WHAT are you feeling?”
Tears spilled from Caroline’s green eyes. “I don’t know. Mostly sad, I think.”
“How come?”
Caroline shrugged. “’Cause he’s giving up. I mean, I know it’s stupid to think he’d just be there forever. But he’s letting go and that just…makes me sad.” She tried in vain to wipe away the tears.
“It is sad,” Bailey agreed.
“So, do I call him? Or text him? Or tell him I got the letter? What?”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Care. He just told you everything he wanted to say in that letter. You only want to call him because you’ve wanted to call him every day since that last phone call. You just think you have a reason now. But I think it would make things worse and you’d have to start all ov
er again trying to feel better.”
“This letter makes me have to start all over again!” Caroline’s voice boomed with more intensity than she intended.
Bailey quickly scanned the office, looking at the raised heads of their co-workers and smiled. “Sorry,” she covered for Caroline. Everyone turned back to their computer screens.
“Sorry,” Caroline mumbled.
“It’s okay. You know what, though?” Bailey paused as Caroline looked directly at her. “I think Jackson’s right.”
“About what?”
“Accepting the situation and letting it go. I mean, if you guys aren’t going to be together,” Bailey raised her eyebrows and dipped her head, “then there really is no other option. You can’t keep holding on to something you said you didn’t want.”
Caroline grimaced.
“I’m not trying to be mean, Care. I’m just saying…”
“I know. You’re right. It just hurts.”
Chapter Fourteen
Clay stopped the car on the stone-paved driveway and Caroline quickly hopped out of the passenger seat. She stretched her arms into the air and shouted, “I LOVE being home!”
Clay laughed. “The weather is so much warmer here.”