AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Two months later . . .
“Hey, Harv.”
He gestures to the front porch. “Come. Sit.”
I sit on the steps, my hands underneath my legs. I haven’t seen him since the day he thought about suicide, having relied on both Henrik’s and Claire’s promises that he was okay.
Although the shorts I’m wearing make sense, he must wonder why I’m in a sweatshirt when the weather is scorching hot. My stomach doesn’t show much, barely a little bump, but my change in breast size would be revealing enough.
Today is the anniversary of the accident, and I needed to see him. Damon spent our three-day weekend ensuring I didn’t think about it. We traveled to California to visit Yosemite National Park, and I was in awe, exploring side by side with him.
Damon promised me we’d eat vegan all week to compensate. I keep telling him environmental sacrifices don’t work like that, but he hears none of it. He says he wants to travel the world with me before Blu comes.
My mind snaps back to the present as I ask Harvey about his work. He says he’s been adding a few hours every week. He tells me how nice it is to be with his old work crew and to be out of the house. As he talks about his new life and his new goals, I heal. I find peace.
From all the pain, the depression.
From the fear of never living to the fullest.
“I’m pregnant.” I share the news with him once he’s done talking, the finality of my words ringing through our whispering farewell.
Harvey’s shock registers before he swallows. “Congratulations ...”
“Thank you,” I croak, looking away.
I’m happy with Damon.
And Harvey’s happy with Claire, who I suspect might be eavesdropping on us from inside the house.
“I thought about you these past few months,” he says softly, shutting his eyes. When he opens them, peace pours out. “At first I was so angry with you. It was easier to put the blame on you—I realized that in therapy. I was taking everything out on you. And I’m sorry for that, Gemma.” He slowly moves closer from where he sits on the steps to hold my hand.
God, if only he knew. If only he knew the truth about Palmer, he’d pray for my ruin.
But Damon and I are letting this go. He even removed her paintings in his office and in our home. Perhaps he can finally be guilt-free too.
“I know we’ve said goodbye, but after thinking through what I wanted, I realized that to get a clean break, we really need to go our own ways.”
I knew the day would come when Harvey would be happier, more confident, and eager to break free from the nest we built the past few years.
He palms the side of his face. “This isn’t easy for me to say, because you’ll always mean so much to me.” Tears rim the side of his blue eyes, eyes bluer than the lightest ocean. “I know that, Claire knows that, and I think you know it too. Me saying goodbye and wishing you well doesn’t mean I don’t love you. Remember that,please?”
I nod, my mouth dry since he started talking, tears obscuring my vision.
The time to move on has come. We crossed paths, and now we must each continue in a separate direction.
“I need to do this to see where life takes me.”
“I get it, Harvey. It’s time.” I gulp.
“I’m sorry, Gemma. For everything. I’m sorry for letting my pride ruin us, for staying in my head and feeding my demons instead of nourishing us.”
He comes closer and we hug.
We say goodbye and share one last smile. He gives me the biggest smile—the one he used to give me before the accident.
Whatever doubts I had about me leaving him fly out of my train of thoughts, one by one, because they don’t matter, and they don’t hold any truths anymore.
We’re happier apart.
