Page 6 of Ardently Yours

She peers back up at me, her pale blue gaze steady on mine.

I break eye contact and offer a hand to assist her to her feet.

Charlotte waves me away and struggles to a standing position on her own. “I’ll call you about the insurance policy on Monday.”

She takes a few steps toward the parking lot but halts with her back to me when I call her name. “Yes?”

“Anything you want to tell me about these people, I’ll believe you.”

She turns slowly. “Why would you trust a stranger when people I knew my entire life turned on me?”

“It’s a feeling.”

“The law doesn’t care about feelings,” she says.

“I’m not ‘the law,’ Ms. Miller. I’m a man.”

The expression on Charlotte’s face says she doesn’t believe me. “It was years and years ago. There wasn’t enough evidence to even get an arrest warrant.”

“If you need help, foranyreason, call me.”

She assesses me with narrow-eyed suspicion. Finally, she dips her head, a queen acknowledging her courtier. “I won’t need you, Mr. McRae.”

Bittersweet Symphony

The Emails

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Dear Mr. McRae,

I apologize for my rudeness the day we met. I realize this will sound like an excuse, but I wasn’t myself.

If I’m honest, I was pretty sure the life insurance money was some kind of scam until it actually landed in my account. I didn’t touch it for weeks, waiting to make sure it was real or it didn’t have strings attached. I told you I had no gratitude left to give, but I managed to find some. Thank you for your help.

Right now, I feel like I’m driving a car through fog. All I can see is what the headlights illuminate directly in front of me. I’m not taking one day at a time. I’m surviving minute-by-minute.

I met the private investigator you sent. I considered being offended when he asked me prying questions, but after I thought about things, I figured Steve had spoken to you about Polford already, and you were taking over where he left off.

I doubt you’ll get far with it. It’s nice of you to try, though.

Sincerely, Charlotte Miller

PS: The baby is due in less than six weeks, but I’m still calling her “Baby.” Mom says they won’t let me bring her home from the hospital without a name, but I haven’t found a single one I like. I want something unique, but not made-up or off-the-wall. I’ve been asking everyone, so I may as well ask you too.

Do you know any good baby girl names?

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Dear Ms. Miller,

Your apology is unnecessary. I wasn’t offended. For myself, grief has always felt like being trapped in a tunnel with the weight of it crushing down on top of me. It feels suffocating and endless. I won’t tell you to look for the light at the end of it, yet. Only you can determine when you’re ready for that. You’re surviving. That’s what matters.

As you suspected, the private investigator uncovered no evidence that would stand up in court.

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