Page 88 of The Lake House

This time, she nods. “I don’t have to tell you that those two are my world. Especially that little one out there,” she responds, pointing to Lily.

I swallow hard. “I know.”

She offers me a gentle smile. “This is a small town. People talk. I know what you’ve been through as well. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you. It almost destroyed me…”

“Yes, and that’s why I know you won’t play with his heart.”

Oh boy. Here we go. I wonder if Declan knew she was going to say something to me about this or if he has no clue.

She reaches out and grabs my hand. “If you don’t think you can handle them or even if you have second thoughts because you’re afraid, please just let them go now. I can’t see my brother going through another break up, or getting divorced again one day. It was so hard on him last time. I know things are great between you two now, but I just hope you don’t wind up hurting him. Or Lily.”

I clear my throat before speaking. “Cheryl, please know that is the last thing I’d ever want to do. I love Declan, and I love Lily, too. They are both so amazing, and I would never want to do anything to hurt them.”

“Yeah, but—” she starts, but I cut her off. She has to know I mean business.

“There is nobut.I love him, and there’s nothing that’s ever going to change how I feel. He is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m so thankful for him. He has been the biggest blessing in my life, and I could never mess that up now. I know what we have is special.”

As those words leave my lips, I see her visibly relaxing. She sucks in a deep breath and says, “Good.”

And just then, the coffee is ready, and Rochelle and Declan come back into the kitchen.

Cheryl gets up and goes over to the coffeepot to pour the coffees into cups.

“Thanks so much for looking at that, honey,” Rochelle says to her son.

He nods and takes his seat back next to me. “No problem, Ma. You should have called me as soon as it happened, and I would have been right over.”

“I will next time.”

Declan then faces me. “All good, sweetheart?”

I smile. “All good.”

And even though everything is good, I’m hoping and praying Cheryl doesn’t question my love for her brother because I meant every single word.

* * *

Hours later, Declan and I find ourselves back at my house. He’s going to be spending the night with me, and after a full day of hanging out with family, I’m ready for some alone time with my man.

Okay, scratch that. Maybe it wasn’t awhole dayof family time, but it was nerve wrecking to meet them, and it felt like we were with them for a long time. I relaxed once I got there, and they welcomed me in. They made me feel comfortable, but that talk I had with Cheryl left me feeling a little uneasy.

I’m about to mention it to him to see what he says, but as I’m skimming through yesterday’s mail that I had left on the table before heading to work, I notice an envelope with no return address.

That’s funny. I wonder who it’s from.

I lean against the counter as Declan pulls a bottle of water out of the fridge. As I’m opening my mouth to ask him if he knew Cheryl was going to talk to me, I freeze like a statue as I rip open the letter and see the handwriting inside.

What the hell?

“Giules?” Declan calls, looking directly at me.

But it’s no use. I can’t rip my gaze away from what I’m looking at right now.

Declan comes to stand next to me and then he places a hand on my shoulder. “Sweetie, what’s wro—”

He stops in mid-question as I flip the letter around and show him who it’s from.

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