Page 79 of Pervade Montego Bay
James was my refuge, my savior, and no amount of denying this was going to make it any less true.
What we once had was sacred. The very life he secretly craved with me could be ours, but he was refusing himself this happiness.
This relationship was the very thing we all deserved.
“It’s our time,” I muttered against his lips.
“I know.”
Emily
The silver framed photo of Victoria showcased her large, kind eyes. It was easy to see why James had fallen so deeply in love with her. She had a sweet face with a cute button nose and dimples in her cheeks.
Xavier had actually met her before he’d been transferred out of MI6. He told me she’d been in her late twenties when she’d died under tragic circumstances.
My chest ached with the thought of what had happened to her.
And my heart ached for James, too. He’d lost the woman who was meant to be his life-long partner. Thinking of his grief filled me with sadness. He’d never gotten over her.
Being in his bedroom was wrong, but Victoria was a missing part of him, and this was me trying to understand him on a deeper level.
The room was sparse…cold…as though he’d removed every personal item, leaving the space barren. I doubted this attempt to push memories of her away even worked.
I turned my attention back to the photo, wondering when it had been taken. The garden behind Victoria was easily recognizable. It had been shot with her standing in front of the tall palm trees. I imagined them happily wiling away their summer days by the pool. Pure love was reflected in her pose, and I knew James had taken the photograph because her affection for him was reflected in the depths of her eyes. I was glimpsing a moment in time between them.
Wanting to see if the photo was dated, I unclipped the back of the frame and eased it open. Inside was a folded piece of paper. I set the frame on the dresser and unfolded the note.
From down the hallway, I heard the sound of voices.
Quickly, I read the letter…
Dearest James,
I cannot think of any man I’d rather have undertake such a tremendous responsibility. These are difficult times. Impossible in so many ways. A mistake has been made that is both a blessing and a curse. Our future rests in your hands, James. His existence must remain a secret. It is no small thing you do for us.
I skimmed down the page with the seconds I had left…
The boy is yours now.
Love him as we would have…
Yours,
E t S
The signature was faded as though someone had purposefully smudged it.
A thousand questions swirled around in my mind as I tried to make sense of it.
The boy is yours…
James’ voice reached me from down the hallway. “Where’s Em?”
Quickly, I folded the letter and shoved it back behind the frame. Then flicked the catches closed.
I turned my head and saw Xavier hurrying towards me with a glare of disapproval. He snatched the frame away and gently placed it inside the drawer, shutting it quickly.
Then he spun me around and held me in a protective embrace. Wide-eyed, I looked toward the door.
