Page 105 of Here's to Yesterday

She’s staring at mestill.

Wrapping her back up in my arms and squeezing her tightly, I say, “I love you too, Mom. Thankyou.”

“Now go do what I should have done many,manyyears ago. Be happy, Tucker. You deserveit.”

With that, she releases she me and walks back down the hallway like she was neverthere.

I look back out the window at the girl I’m madly in love with but ready to let go if that’s what is going to bring us closer in the end. I need to let her find herself, and I need to findmyself.

Taking a deep breath, I head out the backdoor.

“Can youtalk?”

Maura glances over shoulder at me and gives a singularnod.

“I’ll…uh…I’ll just go…um…somewhere,” Rae stutters, walking toward the gate on the side of the house. “Call me, Maura,” she yells, and then shedisappears.

I take a seat on the other lawn chair and fold my hands between my spread legs, staring at the ground. We don’t say anything for several moments. I look up when I hear her begin to shuffle around. She’s sitting in the same way I am, watchingme.

“I have this theory in life that when two people are meant to be together, youalwaysfind your way to one another. Sometimes the timing is off, but if it’s truly meant to be, it will happen. You’ll both sacrifice things and work together—or apart—to make it happen. That’s the way true love works to me.” I pause to gauge her reaction so far. There isn’t much of one, so I continue. “I know last night you said you wanted time apart. I’m willing to do it. I think it may be best for us. Maybe give us a chance to findourselves.”

She lets out a heavy breath. “Iagree.”

“Good,” I say. “So how about this. How about we don’t set a time limit on this. Let’s say that one day, we’ll know when we’re ready, and we’ll see where we are then. If it’s meant to be, we’ll make itwork.”

“I think that soundsfair.”

I close my eyes briefly.I’m losing her.I know deep down I’m not permanently losing her, but I’m still losing her, and it stillhurts.

“So, I guess this is itthen.”

A ghost of a smile touches her lip as she quietly says, “Fornow.”

Hope fills my heart and for the first time in a long time, I welcomeit.

Laughing softly, I give my head a shake. “I can’t help but think of that saying. ‘If you love someone, set them free.’” Holding her gaze, I say, “I love you, yaknow.”

She doesn’t move or blink. She stares back and says, “I love you,too.”

---