Nine Years Too Late
Chapter 18 - Nine Years Too Late
Caleb took Mara to the old baseball stadium.
It had been renovated since the night they sneaked inside years earlier.
But the seats behind home plate were still there.
Mara laughed when she realized where they were.
“You remembered.”
“I remembered everything.”
They sat side by side.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Caleb removed the faded white ribbon from his pocket.
Mara stared at it.
“I thought Eli lost that.”
“He gave it to me.”
Caleb wrapped it around his fingers.
“I spent nine years angry at you.”
“I know.”
“I built an entire life around proving I didn't need you.”
Mara looked down.
Caleb continued.
“And then you came back, and I realized the anger was easier than admitting I never stopped loving you.”
Mara's eyes filled.
“Caleb…”
He shook his head.
“I'm not asking you to forget anything.”
He took her hand.
“I'm asking whether we can start from today.”
Mara cried quietly.
Then she smiled.
“No secrets?”
“No secrets.”
“No people making decisions for us?”
“Never again.”
“No fifty-thousand-dollar wedding?”
Caleb laughed.
“That feels oddly specific.”
May you like
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
For the first time, their future belonged only to them.
