“Because I can see the pain in your heart, child.”
I smile at the older woman because I know she cares for me and I have always appreciated it. “I’m doing better. I really am.”
Her eyes drop to my clothing and sympathy fills her expression. I look down. Okay, so maybe I didn’t put much thought into my outfit today. Throwing on the first thing I saw probably wasn't a good idea. I look like Dante, today. Floral tank top with plaid shorts.
She goes to her cart and pulls out an envelope from the middle. Her fingers play with the edges. It’s obvious she doesn’t want to give it to me, but she finally relents and holds out the letter to me.
I take it. A quick thought flickers that maybe my mom wrote me. It’s addressed to Mama Doe, though. When my eyes move to the return address area, I gasp and glance back up.
“Why did it come to you?”
“Open it.”
I flip the envelope over and see that it’s already been opened. Inside is another sealed envelope with writing on the outside, one sentence.
Please give to Aspen.
~Ryker
Chapter Fourteen
Aspen
You only live once.
The last line of Ryker’s letter repeats in my head. What is he thinking? I can’t pack up and take off for two weeks.
Can I?
I run my thumb over my printed name on the plane ticket as if I’m testing to see if it’ll rub off. This would be the cruelest joke ever. The ache in my heart has slowly subsided since he left. Would I be cracking it open if I took him up on his offer? Two more weeks with Ryker is a double-edged sword. I just don’t know which side will cut the worst.
He says he misses me like no other woman. His words already making the ache build again. With men in the past, I’m the one left with the broken heart while they go about their lives like I never happened. But he wants me. Enough to send me a plane ticket.
Now, given the opportunity to escape this place, I can’t breathe. Who will run my business? Who will take care of my dad? I pull in a deep breath. There’s a simple answer.
Don’t go.
Lying back in my bed, I drop my hand holding the note and ticket, staring up at the exposed wood-beam ceiling. I’m so confused about his expectations. What will two weeks do? Satisfy his craving? And then I get to return to my prison? What would I get out of this trip other than heartbreak? Again.
My bedroom door swings open, and I shove the papers under the quilt. Scooting off the bed, I stare at my dad, leaning against the door, studying me.
“Hi,” I say, stunned.
“I knocked. You didn’t answer, and I knew you were home.”
I cross my arms, narrowing my eyes. “Dad. I’m twenty-five years old. If I don’t answer my door, there’s no need to let yourself in. I could have been taking a shower.”
He holds his hands up. “Sorry for being a concerned father. You’ve been moping around ever since that boy left and it worries me. I heard you received a letter today, and I thought…”
I gasp. “Does anyone mind their own damn business on this island?” Mama Doe would never have said something to my father. So, who did? “I’m fine. And yes, the letter was from Ryker.” The letter is personal and I’m not about to tell him what it said.
His gaze jumps to where the letter is hiding and back up to me. “I was also coming to tell you I’m seeing Dr. Patel for a follow-up. Last week I got an MRI, and he says the news isn’t good.”
Guilt and sadness pulls at my heart and I rush to him, forgetting the last couple minutes. “Dad. You didn’t tell me you were feeling bad again.” I look him up and down as if I’ll see the cancer. “Please, let me come to the appointment with you this time,” I plead.
“I don’t want you to hear this stuff.”
He never does. He’s only allowed me to one appointment. The first one where he was told he had cancer. Since then, he demands that I let him deal with it. But Ryker’s questions about his cancer have me curious. I should know more.
“I don’t care,” I say, squaring my shoulders, readying for a fight. “I’m coming.”
He stays silent for a beat and then sighs. “Okay. It’s next Monday at ten.”