Walking Away (5 page)

I looked up just then and saw that Larkin had flipped his sign around. In huge letters it read: SHE SAID YES!!!!

***

Six months later, Charlie and I married in a small ceremony, with his brothers and father and Dali and Rudy in attendance. There were a few colleagues, and Abi and Colton in attendance as well. It was beautiful, simple and elegant.

Nine months later, Charlie and I welcomed our daughter into the world. She was absolutely perfect. We named her Lily Belle, after our mothers.

I heard from Blake one last time after that day I broke my hand hitting his truck. Abi and I had decided to take Lily to the park one day while Colton and Charlie worked on a new project. While I was watching Abi push Lily in a swing, I noticed Blake making his way up the path behind them. I stiffened immediately, but quickly reminded myself that he could no longer hurt me. Blake spoke to Abi as he walked past her, and I could tell by the look on her face that she was just as confused as I was at his presence.

“Hello Cora,” he said when he reached me.

“Hello, Blake. What are you doing here?” My tone was a blend of surprise and confusion.

“Your husband told me where I could probably find you. I was hoping that we could talk for a minute or two.” He motioned to a bench a few feet away.

“That would be fine,” I said and walked over to sit down on the bench.

Blake sat down beside me and nervously ran a hand through his hair.

“Why are you here, Blake?” I asked gently.

Turning to face me, he spoke. “Listen, Cor, I was wrong to leave you the way I did. It′s taken me this long to decide whether or not you should know the truth. I feel like I can′t go another day without telling you so here it is.

“I couldn′t give you what you wanted. You wanted a life and a family and I knew I couldn′t give you those things. No, not couldn′t. Didn′t know how. You needed someone who was going to be there for you through all of it. Someone who
wanted
to be there. I couldn′t do that. I couldn′t be that person. So, I did what I thought had to be done. I left. I waited for you to leave for school, and I packed my things and left. It had to be done, Cora. I wasn′t the guy you really wanted or needed.” He wrapped up his speech with pleading eyes, and I knew he was right.

At the time, I couldn′t see it. I didn′t want to see it. Blake had been mine for so long. He had been the one who I had made plans with for two whole years and I couldn′t see past that. So when he left, I was crushed. But hearing him say these things now, it all made perfect sense. It was the wake up call that I needed.

Blake stood up and I stood with him. Before he left, I reached out to him for a final hug. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I squeezed him around his neck. Stepping back and away, I looked up at into the face of the man I had pinned my entire future on for so long and said the only thing I could think of.

“Thank you,” I told him with a smile. “Hearing you say that, explain it, it makes me feel a lot less crazy. I really appreciate it.”

“You′re welcome.” Before he walked away he nodded in the direction of Abi who was still pushing a giggling Lily in the swing. “She′s beautiful.”

With that, he turned and walked out of sight leaving me with a sense of peace and realization. Blake′s leaving me made it possible for me to find Charlie, my happily ever after, and taught me the importance of walking away.