Page 48 of By the Letter

…take it from someone who knows, there’s nowhere you can run that it won’t follow.

“You wrote to me?” A heavy exhale fled my lungs as I fell back in my chair. “I should’ve known. You sent flowers when I got injured. The letter you wrote…”

Roman,

I’m sorry to hear about your injury and the possible end to your rugby career. From what I read, you were dynamite on the field, and the game will be worse for your absence.

Do you remember what I told you the first time I wrote you? You can walk a hundred paths in your lifetime. If this one is coming to an end, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of your dreams. You’ll get up, walk down a new path, and find the next dream.

Take time to heal and grieve if you need to. This isn’t what you planned, and that is a painful reality. It’s all right to be down, but don’t stay down. Feel this in full then put it away. Don’t let your grief keep you under.

You will have a beautiful life. Lean on those brothers of yours. Your relationships with them are your true wealth. Most people don’t have that. You may not feel lucky now, but in many ways you are.

I look forward to your next move.

Frank Goldman

“I’m really sorry for deceiving you. I just couldn’t let your letters go unanswered, and I didn’t think you’d want to hear from a random girl you didn’t know.” Shira pinched her bottom lip hard, her clear eyes imploring and back to being haunted.

I stared at her for a long time, her delicate fingers dancing on her lips, the subtle flush in her cheeks, her dark brows dipping with anxiety over her light eyes, and wondered how I ever could have been mean to her. No matter what I thought of her marriage to Frank, a man I now knew was little more than a stranger to me, Shira was exactly who she presented herself to be. Soft-spoken and kind, shy and flutteringly nervous. She might’ve been deceptive, but it had been out of kindness and compassion.

I should have been angry. I’d charged in to save GoldMed when Frank Goldman hadn’t actually given a single shit about me. That would sting once it settled in. I knew that. But when it came down to it, I couldn’t find it in me to be bothered that it had been Shira who’d cared. In fact, I was going to leave here tonight and reread those letters with her velvety soft voice in my head.

The tremble in her bottom lip brought me to a stop. My insides froze as her eyes welled until sheer panic took over my muscles, shooting me out of my seat. I was around the table in two steps and had her out of her chair in one tug. Then my arms went around her, tucking her against my chest.

“You can’t cry,” I barked, too sharply for the situation, but damn if her tears didn’t make me feel like a madman. If I could have taken them one by one in my fist and shattered them into vapor, I would have. Instead, I hugged her. She’d liked it the last time.

“I was trying hard not to,” she mumbled into my shirt. “It’s just…the hormones…and the way you were looking at me—I’m really sorry, Roman.”

“You’re forgiven.” I cupped the back of her head, keeping her in place. “Just don’t cry, okay? I can’t stand it—especially not when I’m the one who made you do it.”

Sniffling, she pushed against me. I was of the mind to resist, but in the end, I let her go. She stepped away, wiping the few tears that had slipped free with the back of her hand.

“I can’t promise that’s the last time I’ll do it.” She patted her stomach, which was frustratingly hidden behind her loose sweater. “I’m not a crier, but this guy seems to have turned me into one.”

I pulled her chair out and nodded toward it. “I made you cry, but I’m not going to let you go hungry. Sit, eat the slice of pizza you didn’t ruin, and I’ll get you another one.”

She complied, and I stood over her until she took a big bite, satisfaction sliding through me. Nate had been accurate in his assessment of me. Iwasa caretaker. I could admit it. Ensuring Shira was fed and taken care of was as much for me as it was for her.

“My father’s death was sudden.” Shira looked up from her pizza, her brows raised. I continued. “He worked himself to death. He wasn’t a terrible father, but he didn’t really know what to do with four boys on his own, so he became an absent one. Once I got older and had a mind for business, he related to me. We’d been starting to get close when he died. It had been a massive blow. I’d been reeling, wondering what the hell the point was to following in his footsteps if he wasn’t there to be proud of me. I don’t know why I wrote to Frank…except I’d neededsomethingand had been reaching out blindly.”

“And you found me,” she said softly.

“I guess I did.” I crumbled my napkin in my fist. “What about your mom—was it sudden?”

She shook her head. “She was sick for a couple years but refused to go to the doctor until it became unavoidable. The cancer had spread everywhere. We’d known it was coming, but I think death is always sudden. One moment, your person is here, and the next, they’re gone and you’re alone in the world. That’s how it was for me anyway.”

“Until Frank.”

Her mouth curved into a slight smile. “I guess I reached out blindly too, and found him.”

I had thoughts about Shira being a twenty-year-old bride, but I kept them to myself. She wouldn’t appreciate me talking about her late husband, and I wasn’t in any position to ruffle her feathers.

We finished our dinner, and I sent her into the living room while I cleaned up. She tried to tell me I didn’t know where everything went, but I ignored her, stacking the dishwasher while she retreated to the couch. Since the first floor was open, I felt her watching me, but I’d done dishes more than a few times in my life. I wasn’t too worried I was doing it wrong.

---