Page 87 of Destined Lovers

This is bad. Pneumonia kills people Agnes’s age. I knew I should have forced her to see the doctor sooner.

“I’m going to have Sadie or one of the girls come to stay with Maeve and Penelope. Then I’ll fly there tomorrow to be with you.”

“Absolutely not.” She coughs again, and it doesn’t sound good. Shite, I wish I wasn’t going to this meeting now.

“Don’t fight me on this, Agnes. I’m coming to stay with you, end of story.”

“What if you get sick? You can’t give Maeve pneumonia,” she mumbles.

“I’ll wear a mask. It will be okay. I would come tonight, but I’m going to Birmingham for work.”

“Fine,” she huffs. “I was calling to see if Maeve loved her surprise?”

“Oh, you have no idea. She was thrilled. His name is Bacon.”

“Bacon?” She laughs but coughs again.

“Aye, Charlie, Sadie, and Wills’s daughter named him. It was quite cute. But listen, I don’t want you talking anymore. I’m going to go, promise me you’ll rest and drink lots of fluid. I’ll call you after my meeting to check on you.”

“Promise and thank you. You’re one of the good ones, Declan.”

“I know.” I laugh. “You tell me every time we talk. Call me if you need absolutely anything.”

“I will. Love you.”

“Love you too, Agnes.”

I lean my head against the seat and close my eyes, breathing in and out of my nose to calm myself.

If something happens to Agnes, I will never, ever forgive Nora.

Ever since she left, Agnes has been a wreck. She loses sleep every night, worrying herself sick,literally, over Nora’s whereabouts. Her appetite has gone out the window. Which, of course, compromises your immune system.

When Nora disappeared, the first thing I did was drive to Agnes’s house. I found her on the floor crying hysterically, with a letter in her hand.

Nora left a premeditated letter for Agnes in case something happened, and she had to leave. Well, I guess that day came, except there with no freaking letter for me.

Although Agnes has no idea where Nora is now, she knows more about her story than I do and refuses to tell me. She won’t break Nora’s trust, which kills me even thinking about it.

Here Agnes is protecting Nora’s secrets, and where is Nora in all of this?

Breaking all of our hearts. That’s where.

Since that day, I have kept in touch with Agnes, scheduling weekly calls and visiting when possible. Maeve and I even flew to Ireland and spent Christmas Eve again with her, and I’m so thankful we did. She needed us that day.

The second I walked in the door, I knew it would be a rough day when Agnes was dressed in everyday clothing. Not her normal formal wear she would wear with Nora on Christmas.

“Sir, we’ve arrived at your destination.” The driver calls from the front seat.

Thank god, I need to get out of this car, out of my head, and focus on work. I roll my neck, take another deep breath, and suppress more emotions.

It’s what I’m best at now.

“Thank you. I’ll text you when I’m ready to leave.”

* * *

“Thanks for taking the time out to meet with me, even though I don’t understand why my sister hates my agent so much,” Logan shrugs.

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