Page 90 of My Best Years

Going on and on about how awful it was to grieve a person who’s still alive won’t change the fact that I love him with every fiber of my being.

Which is why I chose to forgive him before we even left Captain Ray’s.

I’ll never forget my mom telling me that you can allow yourself to let go of a grudge while still holding on to your boundaries. I might always remember the pain, but that doesn't mean that I have to feel it for the rest of my life.

“I forgive you, Callum.” He lets out a shaky sigh as I massage the back of his head. “I forgive you.”

I forgive you for how deeply you hurt me.

I forgive myself for how deeply I love you despite that hurt.

“Thank you,” he mutters before placing a featherlight kiss to my lips. “I know I don’t deserve it, but thank you.”

“You do, though,” I reply, holding his sapphire gaze. “You deserve to be happy, Cal.”

Callum’s eyes flick between mine, unsure if he wants to speak or kiss me. I’m thankful when he chooses the latter and presses his swollen lips against mine.

We deep dive into an ocean of kisses, unaware of the hurricane to come.

TWENTY-FOUR

Birdie

I sit behind the hospital desk, tapping my sneakers against the linoleum floor. All of my patients are taken care of for the time being, so I’m trying to work through some charts while I have free time. I reach for my water bottle and take a sip as a security guard walks through the double doors leading to my hall.

He must be new because I’ve never seen him before. As he gets closer, my eyes lower to the bouquet of fresh flowers he’s holding between his hands. It’s a stunning arrangement, bursting with pink roses and lilies.

It must be someone’s birthday or anniversary today.

I’m so bemused by the flowers that I don’t notice him stopping at the desk.

Right in front ofme.

“Hi, I’m looking for Birdie Wren,” he says while staring down at me.

My heart jumps in my chest as my eyes widen.

Birdie Wren.

Only one person calls me by my first and middle name. Everyone else knows me as Birdie Ambrose.

“That’s me,” I reply breathlessly.

“These just came for you,” he smiles. “Would you like me to leave them here? We can also hold them in the lobby if you prefer.”

I open and close my mouth, trying to string together words because I’m too stunned to speak.

No one has ever sent me flowers at work.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think anyone has ever sent me flowers in general. When we were kids, my dad used to bring home flowers for me and Winnie on Valentine’s Day. But aside from that, I’ve never received an arrangement as beautiful as this.

I’ve always been the employee who envied their coworkers when special packages would arrive for them. I wondered what it would feel like to be admired like that. To be showered with love, even on the simplest of days.

“Ma’am?” the guard asks, my spellbound gaze still fixed on the flowers.

“Sorry,” I shake my head. “They’re just so beautiful. I’ll take them.”

When he moves his fingers to readjust his grip, I see a note strung with ribbon around the center of the vase.

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