Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Finally, I came to understand they never would for me. I packed my bags and sat staring at the stars one last night. Peter joined me, sitting down with a sigh.
“Ready?”
I nodded in the darkness. “It’s time, Peter.”
“I’m grateful for every day you gave us.”
“I’ve arranged for supplies to be delivered monthly. If there’s something you need, all you have to do is call. Me or John. Whatever you need will be sent.”
“That’s incredibly generous.”
I barked out a laugh. “No, Peter, what you do is incredibly generous. You devote your life to these people. The clinic, the people, and the kids—this orphanage. You and Edwina. If I can make your life a little easier by sending food, necessities, and medical supplies, it’s the least I can do.”
“You’ve given months of your time to me—to these people. You’ll be missed.”
“Thank you.”
“Where are you going?”
“I need to take some pictures. Happy ones. I’m going to work my way back to Toronto.”
“Will you try to contact her?”
His words hung in the air, heavy between us. I had finally broken down and talked about Ally to Peter and Edwina. Talking about her helped, but it didn’t take away my pain.
“I don’t know. I check my old phone and with Sean. She hasn’t tried contacting me. I think–I think maybe it’s over. I wasn’t what she needed.”
She was what I needed, though—then and now.
“You need to talk to her, Adam. Find some closure.”
I didn’t reply.
His voice was filled with understanding. “There isn’t any closure for you, though, is there? You still love her.”
“I always will.”
“Then find her. Open a dialogue with her.”
“I don’t know how to find her. I still don’t understand what the hell happened. What her parents did or said to take her away. I thought she was getting stronger. I thought she had finally figured it out, but…”
“You still think they were involved in some way?”
“Yes. I know that as surely as I know she loved me. She just wasn’t strong enough without me beside her. They knew how to get to her—wear her down. I never should have left.” I sighed as I scrubbed a weary hand over my face. Elena had been so right on that subject. Ally’s parents’ cruelty knew no bounds.
“Are you planning on returning to your old life? Flying around the world and never putting down roots?”
“She became my roots. She was the only home I had ever truly known since I lost my parents.”
“Then find her. Once and for all, sit down and talk to her. Ask her what happened. Try to fix it.”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“Hire someone again—find her.”
I had been thinking along those lines—deciding it was time to try again. Hire new private investigators and look into her parents as well. Track down Emma. Not stop this time until I found her. I hadn’t been in my right mind when I left—I was too broken and weak from my recent illness. I had given up too easily. My head was clearer now, and Peter was right. I needed closure.
“Then what will you do?”
“I’ll go back and decide. Maybe take Sean up on his offer to take destination photos. Or maybe I’ll do some of both. I’m not sure I’ll stay in Toronto. I may sell the building and go elsewhere.”
He stood, extending his hand. “Whatever you decide. If you need me, I’m here.”
I looked at him curiously as I shook his hand. “Will you ever leave?”
“Yes. In a few years, I will. But this is where I have to be now.” He smiled at me and clapped me on the shoulder. “You, my friend, need to be somewhere else. Go and find your life. Don’t give up if she’s where you have to be. Fight for her.”
Then he turned and walked away, his form swallowed up by the dark.
A knock startled me from my memories, and I rushed to the door, wrenching it open. Emma and her husband, Alan, were there. I had never met him until now. His expression was as grim as Emma’s.
I stepped back to allow them inside, offering them a drink. Emma shook her head. “Thanks, Adam, but I have a feeling you’ve drunk enough for all of us tonight.”
“I’m fine. Confused as fuck, but I’m fine.” My head was clear. I’d burned off the effects of the alcohol with the slow, simmering anger that coursed through my veins.
We sat down, and I didn’t bother wasting any time. I’d wasted enough.
“Why doesn’t Ally know me, Emma?”
She held up her hand. “First off, Adam, how did you find out about the party? I thought you left town.”
“I did. When I returned the first time and found out Ally had broken things off with me, I couldn’t stay. I thought if I left, she could come back to her life here. So, I returned to Africa.” I huffed in disgust. “I’ve only been back a few days. I saw the announcement in the paper the day I got back.”