Page 53 of Sparrow

“So how do you know Gray?” I question.

“Our parents were friends. We’ve known each other since we were kids, but we moved when I turned fifteen. Lived in Tennessee for a while then came back to Savannah when I got this job. I’ve been back about seven years.”

“That would explain why I never met you before now. I met Gray when I was sixteen. He was eighteen.”

“That’s a good thing, because we would have both went after you, and let’s face it, I’m way better looking than he is. More charming too. I would have won, hands down.” He laughs, clearly teasing and joking with me.

I laugh with him. “Don’t be so sure of yourself. Gray swept me off my feet, no problem.”

“Don’t tell him that. You’ll stroke his already too big ego.”

I just shake my head and smile. “Case, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“What was he like when he came back from serving? After he got hurt.”

He sighs and crosses his arms over his chest. “He was a wreck. It’s hard to get over something like that. He drank a lot. Fought a lot. He wouldn’t leave the house and was generally just a broken, miserable man.”

“I can’t imagine the Gray I knew then and the Gray I know now being that way.”

“When you almost die and you see your friends die, it changes who you are deep inside. Trust me.”

I can see in his eyes he’s speaking from experience. “So, how did you help him?”

“It wasn’t just me. It was a group effort, but the biggest help was—” He pauses.

“Was what?”

“I’m sorry to talk about her, but Cadence’s mom.”

“Laura?” I ask.

“He told you about her?”

“He did.”

“She was what he needed at the time, but I think she was just a vessel the universe was using to give him Cadence. SHE was the key.”

I just smile at the thought of them together. “He really adores her, doesn’t he?”

“He’d do anything for her. Give up anything for her. She’s number one. No matter what.”

I turn back to look at the fountain again. “I don’t want to hurt him, Case. I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Why do you think you will?”

“Because,” I close my eyes, letting the mist hit my face again, “sadness finds me when I’m the happiest.”

“Forgive me, Amelia, but that sounds like bullshit.”

I whip around. “Excuse me?”

“Sadness doesn’t find you, you let it in. Don’t. Be happy. Choose happy. The sooner you do that, the sooner the sadness will stop trying to find its way in. If Grayson makes you happy, choose him. Because I know for sure that you make him happy.”

I let the words sink in and swirl around in my brain. Choose happy. Is it really that simple?

“I do?”

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