Page 46 of Keep This Promise
A prick.
A fucking bastard.
And a coward.
I am selfish because I didn’t tell you and waited until I was dying before putting this plan into motion. Selfish because I wanted just a little more time with you and Eden.
I’m a prick for those same reasons above.
A bastard because I tried a million times to be honest and failed every time.
And a coward for not having the strength to talk to you about this. I was afraid if I told you any of this before that you’d leave, and I wouldn’t have the only thing in this world I truly needed, you and Eden. I was also afraid if I told you, you’d be in worse danger than you are now, my love.
As you have likely already assumed, I was an idiot and trusted the wrong people. I allowed my desire to be rich and better than my father overshadow what was right.
Of course, I didn’t know that until it was far too late to get out. My only options were to continue and not let them know what I discovered as I made plans to protect you both once I was dead, or go to them and quite possibly be killed. I chose the first option. The one thing that is keeping you safe is that you know nothing. So, I will not tell you what or who or why. All I will tell you is that you can trust no one from our past. No one without the password, Sophie.
I invested in the wrong people, and it is a choice I will regret long passed my last breath.
You must start over in America because, as long as you are there, you’re safe. You must never return to England, and you must do whatever you can to move on.
I’m not even gone, and I miss you, Fee. I hope you can forgive me and know that everything I have done was to protect you.
Love,
Theo
Oh, Theo . . . what in the world did you get into?
ChapterFourteen
HOLDEN
~THREE MONTHS LATER~
Sophie is working late at the youth center tonight, and instead of going to hang out with Emmett or Spencer like I normally would’ve done, I’m getting my nails painted as snow falls outside.
“You’re sure this color looks good on me?” I ask Eden, eyeing the polish that’s smeared up to my knuckle.
“Uh-huh. It’s very pretty.”
I smile. “It’s something.”
“Next I have to put it on your lips!”
“Nail polish on the lips?” I may not have a very extensive knowledge of makeup, but I know that is definitely not how it works.
“It will be so pretty,” she assures me.
I don’t think it will be, but I’m not going to be the guy to break her heart. “How about I paint your nails after,” I suggest.
How hard could it be? I am a doctor, I’ve operated on people with precision cuts, I can handle some paint.
Oh, how wrong I am.
As soon as I start, Eden starts to tell me a story, which requires her hands, and she doesn’t care if her polish is wet or if I’m in the middle of painting a nail.
“And then I went on the airplane, and I was so tired, but Mummy was sad. She was crying.” She grabs my face with her polish-covered fingers. “Holden! Do you cry?”
