Heart of Gold - B.J. Daniels Page 0,85

to get him. The other day, when she was shopping for a present for Tara’s new baby, she’d thought about what she could get Shep, since he’d gotten her something. What would mean something to him?

Now, looking into his blue eyes filled with excitement because of the gift he wanted to give her, she knew she couldn’t deny him this.

“Okay, presents before breakfast.”

He grinned and jumped up. “Stay right there.”

She watched him rush into the other room to retrieve the package he’d left under the tree.

When he carried it into the kitchen, he seemed to hesitate before he handed it to her. “I hope you like it.”

Charlie took her time unwrapping the rather large box, making him sigh and shake his head. He’d only given her one other present and she’d been so surprised that she’d torn into it, paper flying. But she’d been sixteen and madly in love.

Now at almost thirty, she was still in love, she realized. Still madly. But also afraid that she was about to get her heart broken. It had been hard enough to heal at sixteen. She feared she never would at thirty.

“Charlie, come on. Open it. I promise it won’t bite you,” Shep said from across the table.

She smiled at him and, shoving away the paper, opened the box and then froze.

“It’s not exactly like the one from your mom and dad, but it’s as close as I could find.”

She couldn’t speak, could barely breathe. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at the soft, new, leather-bound photo album. He’d remembered. The album had been the only thing she’d grabbed that day before the policeman had turned her over to social services. It was all she had left—photos growing up with her mother and father.

“I saw that your old album was full,” Shep said tentatively, as if not sure how to gauge her reaction. “I hope it’s okay. I thought you could start collecting new memories... Charlie, say something.”

She looked up him, still so choked up, she wasn’t sure what would come out if she dared tried to speak. Tears coursed down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away before they fell on the new leather. He looked so worried, so handsome, his eyes so filled with...love. She swallowed the lump in her throat and said the first words that came to her lips.

“I love it. I love...you for remembering.”

Relief washed over his face for a moment before he broke into a smile. “I was so afraid...” He didn’t need to finish.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, touching the warm leather. “It’s perfect.”

She pushed to her feet and stood on shaky legs for a moment. “I did go shopping for you but—”

“No, it’s fine,” he said quickly. “I don’t need anything. I hope you didn’t think you had to get me something. Really, I just wanted—”

“I do have something for you.” She left the kitchen and went to her bedroom. She’d put the envelope in the top drawer of her nightstand. It seemed too small now, too insubstantial, too little, maybe too late above all else.

But she took it out, holding it in her hand, noticing how the paper had yellowed, the edges of the envelope dog-eared from years of carrying it around with her. She took a breath and let it out, her heart so full that she still had trouble breathing, before she returned to the kitchen.

Shep was busy starting their breakfast. She could tell he was embarrassed. He thought he’d put her on the spot with the present. She smiled to herself, seeing that he didn’t want her upset about not buying him anything. That was so like him.

“This is for you,” she said, feeling her own embarrassment at her unsightly gift.

He looked from her to the envelope in her hand and back again. “Charlie?”

She could understand his confusion as he took the battered envelope from her. His name was printed on the outside, the ink faded.

There was a question in his gaze, but he slowly lowered himself into a kitchen chair. She felt her heart rise to her throat as he carefully opened the envelope and took out the single sheet of paper inside.

Dear Shep,

He had been holding his breath but now had to let it out as he breathed and continued reading.

This is the hardest thing I have ever done. It makes the judge’s boot camp seem easy. I love you. With all my heart, which is breaking as I write this. But we are too young. All this happened