Page 36 of Destined Lovers

Even though deep down, I know there is no ‘getting close again’ we are close.

It’s as if nothing has changed. Seeing him was strange… sure. But our connection was still as strong as it was years ago.

“Don’t you wink at me, crazy! I told you I would keep an open mind if you cooled your jets,” I chastise.

She huffs and leads me by my hand to the couch, and I inwardly groan, knowing there is a lecture coming my way.

After taking a deep breath, she takes both my hands in hers and stares at me without speaking a word.

Then finally says, “Ril—” She cuts herself off from saying, Riley.

“Nora… you deserve happiness, my child. You deserve to be free of your demons and those that follow you. You are a spirited young woman being held back, and It’s time you took a stance and set yourself free. You always tell me you’re waiting on a sign from the universe, and if said sign is not that boy walking back into your life, I don’t know what is. Today, you’re going to let your inhibitions free. If not for yourself, for me. I don’t ask much of you, but this I beg. Because I won’t willingly sit back and let you run from your destiny, I would trade my whole life to have even one more second with my Eamon. Don’t push your love away again. Let him free you if you’re not ready to do it yourself because if not, I’m afraid your love story might not be as magical as you imagine in the end. You can only expect so much from someone, and I can tell by speaking with Declan for a short time that he is hurting too, not just you Nora. It’s only fair you give him the love back that he so wants to give you.”

I stare back at her with tear-filled eyes. I was not expecting that.

Without thinking, I nod and continue nodding while letting the tears escape my eyes.

Not from sadness.

From the relief of being able to let all the tension go that’s built up over the years on top of regret. I’ve lived with this bottled up for so long I hadn’t realized what a relief it would feel like to let it go, let myself be open to the idea of letting him in again so soon.

I know deep down I still have a ways to go, and unless you’ve watched your parents die on the same day—your only family—you’ll never understand.

I am determined to be open to figuring something out. Because she’s right, it’s not fair on Declan.

We were always a team, and although I have to keep my situation close to my heart right now, maybe we can figure something out until it’s finally time for me to open up and tell him everything I’m going through.

I shrug my shoulders, shake my head, ridding it of the last of my emotions, and aggressively wipe my eyes. I hate crying.

Agnes’s smile is wider than I’ve ever seen before.

“I didn’t expect you to agree so quickly. I’m happy you’re ready to start living your life again, Nora, and I’m excited to live it with you.”

“Okay, okay. Enough with the dramatics. I can only take so much emotion in one day,” I say playfully as I lean in to give her a big cuddle.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“I’m always on your side, my sweet child, don’t ever forget that.”

I squeeze her tightly, then get up to get ready. I guess I have a new purpose in life.

Be happy, and dress the part.

* * *

I hear a knock on the door upstairs and know it’s go time. I glance one last time in the floor-length mirror before heading up to greet Declan and Maeve.

My long, now brown hair is down, curled, and pulled over in a deep part adding volume to one side. I’m fitted in a long, floor-length jade green velvet dress with long sleeves that sit off my shoulders.

It’s green, not because it’s Christmas, although it’s a nice touch. Green was always what Declan preferred to see me in. He used to say it complimented my red hair.

And although that’s gone, for now, I hope he still loves the color on me.

I slip on my strappy black, sky-high heels, giving me the height to come closer to eye level, and quickly pick a perfume to go with it all before heading upstairs.

I attempt to regulate my breathing and ignore the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

If I think of them, they’ll overpower my whole being, and although I’m trying, I’m not ready for all those feelings. If I let some break free a little at a time, it will ease me back into feeling human again.

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