Page 58 of Nineteen Letters

“Okay.”

Your teeth were chattering and your movements were slow, so I scooped you into my arms and started to jog. I only made it a few metres when I slipped in some mud, sending us both tumbling to the ground.

Under any other circumstances, we both would have laughed our heads off, but the icy wind wasn’t doing us any favours. My concern for you was only escalating.

Surprisingly, there was no stern lecture from your grandparents when we finally made it back to the farmhouse. Only concern. They took us into separate rooms and ordered us to strip out of our wet, muddy clothes before wrapping us up in blankets. Pa sat us down in front of the open fireplace in the main room, while Ma rushed to the kitchen to make us large mugs of hot cocoa.

Pa went down to the river and retrieved the boat and fished out our rods, which he found further downstream.

Not a word was spoken about it again, but Ma made us stay indoors for the next few days to make sure we hadn’t caught a cold from our misadventure. My admiration for them only grew stronger after that day. They were amazing people.

The night before we were due to go home, Ma cooked us up a huge feast. I could tell she loved having us stay there. She always got a little teary when it was time for us to leave.

Afterwards, we moved out to the front veranda. Ma placed Pa’s colourful crocheted blanket over his lap before taking a seat beside him. I watched on with a smile as he reached for her hand and wrapped it in his own. When she smiled back at him, I could see the love reflecting in her eyes.

It was a chilly night, but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, so we opted to lie on the grass instead. Well, actually, in winter we lay on a tarp because the ground was cold and damp. You had your pink crocheted blanket, and I had my blue one.

“There’s so many stars in the sky tonight,” you said.

“Mmm. You don’t see this many in the city.”

“Oh my god, did you see that light that just flashed across the sky?” you said, suddenly more alert.

“Yep, a shooting star.”

“Oh. I always wondered what a shooting star would look like.”

“You need to make a wish,” I said. “You always wish on a shooting star.”

“I wish …” You paused briefly, and I wanted to tell you that you couldn’t say aloud what you wish for, otherwise it won’t come true. At the time I didn’t believe that anyway, but now I’m not so sure. “I wish you were my forever boy, Braxton Spencer.”

You slid your hand under my blanket and laced your fingers through mine as you spoke. When you turned your face in my direction, our eyes locked, and the way you looked at me was different from all the other times. It made my heart race because if I wasn’t mistaken, it was the same look that Ma had given Pa minutes earlier.

For me, it was a moment that held more questions than answers. Was it possible that we could ever be more than just best friends? I knew you loved me because you’d told me, but it gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, you loved me in the way I secretly loved you.

I tightened my grip on your hand, as a ray of hope ignited within me. “I wish that too, Jem.”

What we had is far too beautiful to be forgotten.

Your forever boy,

Braxton

I sigh as I clutch the letter to my chest. Does he even realise how wonderful these letters are? I love how he signed this one withyour forever boy.I’m not sure what lies ahead for us, but I know I need him to be a part of my life.

My wish may have ignited a ray of hope in his heart on that day, and that’s exactly what his words seem to do for me. My wish on my first falling star had similarities to my most recent one. You’d think I would have wished for my memory to return, but I didn’t. I wished that I could love Braxton again, as deeply as I once did.

I pull out my phone and search for Stephen’s number, so I can send him a text.

Me: Can we meet for lunch again tomorrow, or one day this week? I have two more charms for you to add to my bracelet.

I open my palm and smile down at the tiny fisherman in a boat, and the silver shooting star.

Chapter 20

Braxton

Bella-Rose is not what I expected when I walked into the animal shelter. I told Diane, the manager, that I was looking for a male dog. A larger breed, something easy to train, with short hair for low maintenance. A good companion to keep me company on those lonely nights.