Page 97 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

“Rick has a flight out Saturday morning, and Sheryl’s parents are flying in from Florida to help with their teenage boys. But Rick—” I shake my head. “He sounded so lost. I can’t imagine getting that call from halfway around the world.” I look at Ellie, and my gut twists. I can’t imagine getting that call about her ever.

She touches my hand. “I’m sure he’s devastated. Do they think she’ll pull through?”

“He said they’re hopeful, but…” I shrug, unable to finish the sentence.

Ellie swallows hard, nodding, but then she lifts her chin, and her eyes sharpen. “Okay, then we do what we can and get things in order. You can’t really plan for how long he’s going to be out, can you? I mean, it’s treatment dependent, right?”

“Minimum three or four months. Probably more like six or eight. More if she doesn’t…” I look away, unable to think about that outcome. “Fuck.”

Ellie wraps her arms around me, pressing her cheek to my chest. “Hopefully the treatments will work,” she says softly.

“Hopefully.” I wrap my arms around her. “I hate this.”

“Me too. Tell me what you need. How can I help?” She steps back, ready to pull my life together and forsake her own. “Do you have someone in mind for his position?”

“No. Rick’s been with me since the beginning. He helped open my first warehouse in the States. He’s earned more than a title and a paycheck. He’s family.” I pace. “It’ll take weeks to find someone qualified and teach them the way we do things, and I know Rick. He’ll worry every minute about his team and the project when he should be solely focused on his family. I’m not putting a stranger in his job while he’s sitting in a hospital with his wife.”

She studies me and nods as if she can read my mind. “You’re going to take over the project, aren’t you?”

“I have to, sweetheart.” It kills me to say it. “He’s given me his best every day for years. I owe it to him to make sure the project stays on track and give him peace of mind.”

Her eyes glisten, proud and breaking at once. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“No. I’m lucky to have people worth standing up for.” My fucking heart is breaking at the idea of leaving her. I draw a breath, knowing my next words will gut us both. “Come with me, Ellie. I know it’s a lot to ask, but—”

“It’s not a lot to ask,” she says, holding back tears. “But I can’t leave my dad for months at a time.”

“Then we’ll bring him with us” comes out as desperate as I feel.

She shakes her head. “He’d never go,” she says, her voice barely a whisper.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. That was unfair.” I draw her into my arms, touching my forehead to hers. “I don’t want to leave you, but I have to do this.”

“I know.” Her voice trembles.

“I don’t know how to make it easier.”

“It’s not your job to make it easier. You have bigger things to focus on.”

Her voice trembles, but as she steps out of my arms, it’s her strength that nearly does me in. She isn’t just compassionate, in the same way she doesn’t just see beauty. She feels it in her bones, and I want to protect that special part of her with everything I have.

“Not bigger than you,” I say, holding her gaze.

She forces a smile. “I knew you were a generous, rootless wonder when we got together, and you knew I was chained to my father. That’s who we are. But we’ve been apart before, and we’ll be apart again, many times over. This time will just be for a little longer.”

God, I love you. “I’ll come back as often as I can,” I say, my voice rough with emotion.

“Don’t stress over it. We’ll be fine. When do you have to leave?”

“Tomorrow. The sooner I get there, the sooner he can wrap things up and get home.”

Tomorrow swells like a villain between us.

Ellie turns suddenly, looking around, waving her hands, as if she’s flicked an internal switch, and says, “We should go so I can get your travel arrangements underway.”

My heart breaks for Rick and his wife, but I’m not going to let that steal this time away from Ellie. I take her hand and press a kiss to her knuckles. “After we see the bridge.”

We walk in silence, making our way over the hill. Ellie’s delicate fingers tighten around my hand, and I feel the weight driving them. The same weight that’s pressing on my chest.