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“You remember my sister, Jules, right?”

Meredith smiled at Jules. “I do. It’s wonderful to see you again, Jules.”

“Likewise.”

An awkward silence stretched between us before I asked, “Have you seen her?”

“I have.”

“She’s doing okay?”

“The best that I think she can.”

Nodding my understanding, I replied, “That’s good. I’m glad. I should… We’ve got to get going.”

“Liam, I still try.”

“What?”

Meredith sighed. “I still try to get her to come home. I miss her so much.”

My throat grew painfully thick. “But you said you’ve seen her.”

“Yes. But our visits are few and far between. She doesn’t stay long when she does return, and I can’t even get her to go out with me when she does come back.”

It was like taking a punch to the gut. “She’s been back in Landing?”

“A few times, yes.”

I should have walked away, but I needed to know. “Is she coming back for Christmas?”

Meredith shook her head. “No. In fact, I’m leaving town now to go spend Christmas with her. I would tell you?—”

“It’s okay. She doesn’t want me to know.”

“I’m sorry, Liam. I really am sorry.”

With a slight shake of my head, I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat. “It’s… There’s nothing you can do. She has to want to fix this, and I’m convinced that’s never going to happen at this point. Please, if it’s not too much trouble, will you send her my love when you see her? Will you tell her that I hope she’s happy?”

Disappointment marred her features. “I absolutely will.”

“Thank you. Merry Christmas, Meredith.”

“Merry Christmas, Liam. You, too, Jules.”

Feeling like I might be sick, I tugged on my sister’s arm and urged her in the opposite direction toward the car.

Once we were inside, Jules released a breath. “Oh, God, Liam, are you okay?”

I shook my head. “She’s been here. She came home, and she never reached out to me.”

“I’m so sorry.”

My chest heaving, I closed my eyes. I had to figure it out. I had to try to work out what I’d missed, what would keep this woman away from me. She’d had claimed in her last letter to me that she loved me and couldn’t wait to be back in my arms. But she’d been in Landing and never contacted me.

God, I must have screwed up so badly. Had I hurt her like this and not known it?

Unable to wait, I opened my eyes and tore open the envelope.