Page 17 of Since the Day We Wished

And lastly, I want you to find love again. You deserve it, and I want nothing more than for you to be happy. Whoever she is, tell her that I’m thankful for her.

I know losing me will be hard, but please don’t let it consume you.

Remember, my love will always be with you. Keep it close to your heart and know that I’ll be watching over you and our son.

Until I see you again,

Kate

Luke felt the world blur as he held the paper delicately between his fingers, almost fearful that his touch might smudge the ink. The room seemed to recede, leaving just him and the letter. With each line, he felt Kate's presence—she was everywhere, yet nowhere.

A bittersweet longing swelled in him, causing his chest to tighten.She always knew what to say, even now.

Brushing away the tears, he closed the album and set it on the shelf, finding comfort in putting things where they belonged. With a final glance around the living room, he headed to his office to log in for a handful of Zoom meetings with clients.

After booting up the computer, he heard the soft patter of paws against the hardwood floors. He turned his attention toward the door as the dog sauntered in and let out a high-pitched bark.

“Want to go outside? There’s a big yard you can play in. Come on, boy, let me show you.”

The fenced-in backyard was a perfect space for the dog to roam free and play. Luke watched him for a few moments as he ran off to sniff at a bush. The dog seemed at home enough, so he left the door cracked and headed back inside.

As Luke settled in for his meetings, his focus was constantly divided. Thoughts of the lost dog weighed on his mind. He kept refreshing the community Facebook page, hoping for a response from the dog's owner. But so far, no news.

During a break, he stepped outside and found the dog lying in the sun, chewing on a stick. His tail wagged as Luke approached.

“Bet you’re missing home.” Luke squatted down, ruffling the dog’s ears. “We’ll find your family soon, but until then, consider this place yours.”

Suddenly, his phone buzzed. The caller ID flashed: Hadley Cove Police Department. A spike of panic shot through him as he made a hasty retreat from the backyard and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

A gruff voice spoke from the other end. “Mr. Grayson?”

“Yes, this is him. Is everything okay?”

“This is Sheriff Daniels. Are you the father of Jeremiah Grayson?”

A knot formed in Luke’s stomach. “I am. Has something happened?”

“Yes. I’m afraid your son has been involved in an assault, with him being the aggressor. The other boy who was involved is at the doctor right now, getting stitches.”

Luke bit his lip. They hadn’t even been in Hadley Cove for two days and Jeremiah was already in trouble. Real trouble.

“I’ll be right there.”

With a shaking hand, he hung up the phone and brought the dog back inside. He grabbed the keys from the counter and walked to the car, slamming the door behind him with a muttered curse. This was not the new beginning he’d pictured for him and his son.

When Luke arrived at the station, he stormed over to Jeremiah, who was slumped in a chair next to the sheriff’s desk. “I told you to get groceries, and you end up getting into a fight. What were you thinking?”

“Dad, I—”

Before Jeremiah could respond, a man holding a few papers approached. “Mr. Grayson, I assume? I’m Sheriff Daniels. We spoke on the phone earlier.”

Luke turned around. “Yes. Can you tell me what happened?”

Jeremiah raised his voice. “Dad, you need to listen. It wasn't—”

“Jeremiah, just...just give me a minute.”

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