Page 59 of A Cornish Love Story
‘Ethan.’
‘George.’
‘You created my perfect writing room in your superstar Smart house, the one that’s supposed to launch your career. You named the house after an in-joke we had when we were teenagers in love. It’s …’ I flung my arms wide.
‘It’s what?’
‘It’s the past.’
He shook his head. Took a step towards me. ‘It’s not.’
‘So … what are you saying? I almost didn’t come today.’
‘But youdid. We’re here, and what if I …’ He paused. ‘What if I want you in my future?’
‘I don’t—’
‘Or …’ He reached out and took my hand. ‘What if we ignore the pastandthe future, just for a little while. We’re here, in this house, together. Can’t that be enough?’
‘Enough for what?’ But I moved closer to him.
He trailed his finger along my hairline, down the side of my face. ‘Us. Now.’
I shook my head. ‘You put my fantasy office in your house.’
‘It’s real. All of this is real. I didn’t do any of it as a joke. I did it because I wanted it here.’
‘OK, and what do you want now?’
‘This.’ He didn’t hesitate. He leant down, twisting his hand in the fabric at my waist. ‘This is the only thing that makes sense.’ Then he kissed me.
Dear Ethan,
I’m going to stop writing these letters. It’s been nearly three years since we last saw each other, I’m standing still in so many ways, and the only thing I can think of is to try and let you go. Besides, Mum came in to my room the other day and unearthed a couple of my old notebooks, the letters I wrote to you while we were still together, and I don’t want her to see these too. I don’t want her to know how hard I’m finding it, being here with her. I try my best to be a good daughter, but I don’t think I’m succeeding.
So, I’ve had an idea. I still go up to Tyller Klos by myself sometimes. I’m not brave enough to do it in the dark, but the road is part of the cliff walk, and I can still sneak over the wall and through the bushes without anyone seeing, and get in that window round the back. It looks so different in the daylight, because you can see the disrepair, all the cracks and cobwebs – and mouse poo – but you can also see the original features, the potential. There’s the moulding and the brass fittings on the window frames, and in one of the rooms there’s the faintest pattern of wallpaper, a hunting scene, with horses and dogs cantering across it. It made me think that my mermaid wallpaper isn’t all that outlandish.
I wish we’d gone up there in the daytime together, so you could see it. It’s faded, but it’s still magnificent. You would have so many ideas about what to dowith it, about the modern-day marvel it could become, without losing its sense of history. A Tyller Klos for the twenty-first century. Did I tell you S. E. Artemis left in the mid-Nineties? It’s been empty for twenty years already – who knows how much longer it will be abandoned?
I’m still working for theStar, writing stories about sheep and lifeboats, about the new landlord at the Sailor’s Rest, some guy called Rick who wants to turn it into a swanky tourist hotspot with a world-famous fish pie. Nothing that exciting or unusual, but I really like my editor, Wynn. I go for drinks with her and some of the other staff, and it feels good to be getting out, having a few tipsy evenings at the pub.
It feels good, but I wish you were here. I still miss you more than I thought possible, so that’s why I’ve got to stop these letters. Just because Connor and Amelie didn’t make it, it doesn’t make their love story any less significant. And you, Ethan Sparks, will always mean so much to me. I will never forget you, but I need to let you go. I’m going to finish this, then I’m going to walk up to Tyller Klos, and I’m going to sneak inside and hide these letters in the fireplace. It’s fitting that they should end up there, where we sat together on our blanket of stars.
I really thought you were it for me, but I guess we were young and I was naive, and life doesn’t always play fair. Thank you for being you, for beingsuch a bright Spark of joy in my life – I had to get it in somewhere. My future might not have you in it, but nobody can take away our memories. I hope you think of me sometimes too, but more than anything, I hope you’re happy. That’s all I want for you: happiness and hope, living the life you always wanted.
I love you and I miss you.
Yours always, Georgie xxx
Chapter Twenty-Three
Now
When Ethan’s lips met mine, it was softer than before, but my body felt primed, as if it had known that our kiss in the bathroom was the appetizer to something a whole lot more delicious. He pushed me gently against the wall, cupping the back of my head as he kissed me, his other hand still holding mine.
I kissed him back, letting my thoughts drift away, focusing on his body pressed against mine, his lips on my lips, the storm rumbling outside, the thunder quieter, more distant. I slid my foot up his leg, hooked it around his thigh so we were even closer.
‘Is your shoulder OK?’ he murmured.
