Page 30 of Big Risks

Remembering that day, I laugh through my tears.

I'm not asking for forgiveness. I just wanted you to know the truth. All of it. Because even if this is goodbye, you deserve that much.

Walker James Ellison

I lower the letter, my cheeks wet. The silence of my house presses in around me. All this time, I'd been angry because I thought Walker had been playing games with me. But he'd been drowning in guilt, convinced his past made him unworthy of love.

Of my love.

I think about the man who wrote those letters. The man who showed up at my door with the thank-you card from his daughter. The man who looks at his daughter like she hung the moon. The man whose hands shake when he talks about the war, but who still finds the courage to help others heal.

The clock on my wall reads 7:57 p.m. It's late and I know he’s getting Olivia ready for bed soon. So I pick up my phone and text him.

Me:I got your letter. We need to talk. I'll be at the diner at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Almost instantly the bubble pops back up like he’[s been waiting for me.

Walker:I’ll be there.

I can’t sleep as I try to work out the words I want to say to him. I know I will only have one chance and don’t want to blow it.

Even though I didn’t get much sleep, I wake up only to find my car won’t start.

Pulling out my phone in a panic, I can’t help thinking maybe this is my punishment for leaving town the way I did.

“Becky, please tell me you are home,” I say before she gets a word out.

“I will be in about ten minutes. What’s wrong?”

I give her the short version of what happened and ask to use her car.

“Oh my gosh, of course! I’m pulling into your drive now!”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I meet her outside.

“Go honey! I saw his car at the diner when I drove by!” she says holding the door open for me. She hadn’t even shut off the car.

“Thank you. I owe you dinner this week!” I call over my shoulder.

“With the details!” she says.

“Deal!” I close the door and head down my driveway, glancing at the clock.

8:19.

Dammit. I sent up a silent prayer that he will wait for me. Not taking the time to even text, I just head straight to the diner.

When I pull in, I see him walking out. Hopefully, he is still willing to give me a chance.

I park the car and step out. Walker freezes when he sees me, one hand braced against his truck. He looks terrible. His eyes are red-rimmed, hair sticking up like he's been running his hands through it for hours.

He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

"Hailey." My name comes out like a prayer.

"I got your letter." I say, walking toward him.

His throat works as he swallows. "I shouldn't have dumped all that on you. It wasn't fair."

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