Page 129 of Nineteen Letters
“I had a message engraved on the back.”
A smile tugged at my lips when I turned it over and read the inscription on the back.
“I love it … thank you.” I already treasured this watch, but it meant even more now.
“Happy birthday eve, Brax.”
I couldn’t stop smiling as I strapped it to my wrist. I’d felt like a piece of me had been missing, but now I was whole again.
“Don’t forget tomorrow night you’re all mine, I’m taking you out for your birthday.” I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend my twenty-first birthday, although I would have liked to see my dad too. I’d spoken to him on the phone earlier that day, but it had been a fewweeks since I’d seen him. I was missing him so much. “You can pick me up at six.”
“It’s a date.”
I arrived at your apartment at 5.56 pm. I know that because I looked down at my shiny watch before knocking. I’d even slept in it the previous night. I was so glad to have it back.
I didn’t know where you were taking me for dinner, but I dressed in my best jeans and a nice button-down shirt you’d bought me. Although you were the one taking me out, I still brought you flowers—your favourite kind, the yellow roses and purple irises.
“Come in, it’s open,” you called out from inside.
I opened the door and walked into complete darkness.
“Surprise!”
The sudden loud noise made me jump. When the lights suddenly came on, they practically blinded me.
The first person I saw was my dad. He was wearing a ridiculous smile on his face, and it matched the equally ridiculous party hat on his head. The entire room was decorated with streamers and balloons. There was also a pile of wrapped presents sitting on the coffee table.
I felt emotion well up as my eyes moved around the room. All the important people in my life were there: you, my dad, Lucas, Rachel, your parents, even Ma and Pa.
“Happy Birthday, Brax,” you said, coming to stand with me. “I hope you’re okay with this. I wanted to do something special for your twenty-first.”
“It’s more than okay,” I replied, bending to kiss your lips. I’d never been thrown a birthday party before, and it meant the world to me.
What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten.
Yours always,
Braxton
There’s a huge smile on my face as I refold the letter. I can’t believe it took twenty-one years for someone to throw him a birthday party. I’m so glad I did that for him.
I pull the little watch charm out of the envelope, and I wish he had included the inscription I had engraved in the letter. I’m dying to know what it said.
I take my memory bracelet and run my fingers over the charms. It is almost full, which saddens me a little. The letters are going to have to stop sooner or later when Braxton runs out of things to say.
I will miss them dreadfully when that happens—those words have given me more than he’ll ever know.
Chapter 35
Braxton
Inotice Jemma’s eyes constantly flickering towards the watch on my wrist as we eat breakfast at our home.
“Is that the watch you mentioned in the letter?” she finally asks.
“The one and only,” I answer, beaming. “Not a single day has passed that I haven’t worn it … except that week you stole it.”
“Hmm. Sorry about that,” she says with a cheeky smile, and I know by that look, she’s not sorry at all. She falls silent, shifting slightly in her seat. ‘What did I have engraved on the back?” she eventually asks. “You never mentioned that part in the letter.”
