Page 33 of Hidden Vows (Love in Ashford Falls #3)

Do you know how much I love you?

I don’t know how you possibly could, but I hope with everything I am, you know how much I love you.

I hate that for the last sixteen years, I’ve had to call you my ex-wife, but I think I might’ve finally learned that lesson I wrote about so long ago.

I don’t know who you are anymore. My actions cost me that privilege, and while I regret them because they hurt you, I can’t help but wonder if we might be better people because of them.

I have to believe you’re still the strong, amazing, beautiful soul I met almost thirty years ago. I know I hurt you, but I hope I didn’t change you at your core.

I wish I could say I got to watch you grow through all the hardships I know you’ve faced, but I also know you came out stronger because of them.

Today might mark sixteen years since our marriage was dissolved in the eyes of the law, but in my heart, I’ve been married to you since the day we met when I was six. I didn’t know it then, but you have always been the one for me.

I thought about coming home so many times over the last sixteen years, but the day our marriage ended was the hardest one to deny myself. I had to fly halfway around the world just to make sure I wouldn’t show up at your door, begging you to forgive me.

It was the first birthday I missed since we met, and I gave you the worst possible birthday gift. Or maybe, in your eyes, it was the best possible gift I could’ve given you.

Part of me still thinks if I could take it all back and do it again, I would, but who would we be? Would we still have grown the same way we did over the last sixteen years?

The one thing I know for sure is how much I love you, Abbey. That has always stayed the same and never wavered.

You are the love of my life, and you always will be.